Family
Xiuman
Spending time teaching English at our house to children in the evenings and studying some online seminary courses.
Aien
(Chicago, IL). Theoretical coursework for her Master's Degree (Biblical Counselling) has finished. She is now doing her practicum, along with work on Moody security. She seems to be quite exhausted but enjoying her life. It was nice that she could have a short visit to see us in Taiwan, check her teeth, and renew her health insurance.
Johann
(Oakville, Canada) is working on his Grade 12. He stays with a Chinese friend's family
Leon
was busy preparing for the entrance exams for Senior High School. He has now finished and is relaxing. Unfortunately, his marks were insufficient to enter the schools near our house. Nevertheless, he did well after spending a year in Canada (missing one year).
Ruth
has finished primary school. She look forward to entering Junior High. She spent a lot of time taking dance lessons but failed to enter the dance stream.
Snowflake
our Taiwanese cat remained with Johann in Canada. She "enjoys" playing with 3 other cats..
Ruby
, the dog, was returned to the Lion's club when we left and is continuing her training.
Jon
Teaching
-wise, I was assigned four different language courses: C (2), Scientific English (2), in addition to the course on Western Civilization Influencers, that is, Moses (Genesis), Plato/Socrates (Apology of Socrates), and Jesus (Gospel of Luke). I find great joy in interacting with students in the last class, which for many, is their first introduction to Jesus.
Rewards:
I have felt God wanted me to set up a church/fellowship for international students for a couple of years. Often they have great trouble -- due to language and culture -- trying to fit into local churches. If these Christian students' faith is strengthened, they can reach out to foreign and local Taiwanese students. Does not God use the "weak, widows, foreigners, rejects" to show his glory? I felt God wanted this to start in May. God has put the same desire into others' hearts! It is incredible to see God work.
Off-campus: Eswatini (Africa) students started a church in May on Sunday afternoon (I hope my presence can support them), renting a local church.
On-campus: students have joined me in starting Friday evening meetings for worship, Bible study, and prayer. For the last three weeks, an average of 10 of us from 5 different countries worshipped together.
Challenges:
- School passed a new policy to reduce the hourly teaching salary of "teachers not born in Taiwan" by 33%. Several teachers feel that since foreigners speak English well, it is easier for them to prepare lectures and, thus, should be paid less. So I wasted considerable time checking employment law -- it is illegal to discriminate based on sex, place of birth, or gender -- and appealing this decision. The school has now modified the document to read "teachers without a Taiwan passport" so that my salary is unaffected.
- An anonymous note from a student on my evaluation: "Teacher touches female students in English classes." With the advent of the #MeToo movement, the school takes any allegation seriously. I am now subject to 2 different investigations costing the university ~US$20,000. In the "open" investigation, I appeared five times before various committees. All I can say is: "I don't remember touching any female students during English classes." This part is complete. The second and more serious "secret" investigation is ongoing. I have no input and have no idea what is happening. Later, I will be notified to appear before that committee and hear the verdict.
- I got COVID-19 just at the time of the first on-campus meeting.
- Motorbike battery died just before 3rd campus meeting.
- Frustrations with my research due to administration. Poor Chinese means I often take people at face value rather than hearing their intentions. (e.g., Jon: "This is what we plan to do. Can we work together to process the sample?" Person 1: "Great idea, we have all the equipment. I just need to get the head's formal permission" (2 weeks later). Head: "I would like to help you, but it is not possible because I don't have..." (4 weeks later, after much effort and consultation with other researchers on my part) Jon: "I have got ... The problem is solved." Head: "I do not want your students to use the lab under any situation." So I am back to ZERO with two months wasted. But GOD is in control -- he has provided a lab that will process the samples for us -- His way is better than mine.
- Decisions of others: Generally correct, but how those in authority handle them could be much better. (but I would prefer not to write about this as the result is God's will.)
I look forward to returning to Canada with my youngest daughter for six weeks in Canada with some time spent at Camp Cherith and the rest of the time house-sitting 4 or 5 cats and proceeding with research collaboration with McMaster researcher Nafai. It will be nice to spend time with my son again. My wife expects to stay in Taiwan.
Jonathon
