2004-02-22

Bell’s Newsletter Feb 22, 2004

Praise God!
For the past few weeks we have lived in a guest apartment and visited our own remodeled apartment daily (up 3 floors) to clean the tile floors, wash out cabinets to prepare for the arrival or our crate. Late last week, we were able to move into our apartment and rough it for a few days. We borrowed towels and linens for our pre-purchased bedroom suite, and we were able to get our offices set up. Each day we accomplished as much as time allowed.

Our crate was delivered to us on Monday (Feb 16th) and customs didn’t even open up any of our stuff to take a look! So far we have found nothing broken! We still have about 30 plus boxes to open, but expect to find everything intact. We have the kitchen set up so far so all we need is a trip to Costco for some fresh meat and groceries and we will start cooking again. Other than preparing bacon, eggs and pancakes a few times while in the guest apt, we figured up last night that we haven’t had a home cooked meal since the end of December! (We don’t really count breakfast food as a real home cooked meal.) Once I start cooking, I don’t think I want to eat out for a month. We are real pleased with how our new home is shaping up and how my grandmother’s dining room furniture fits in our little dining room as if it was made for it!

We both have jumped back into our ministries – Jackie goes to the office daily and is enjoying returning to the Men’s BSF class. They have a new Teaching Leader (Alex), and hope the class will begin to have some stability and begin to grow.

The Day Women’s BSF class has embraced me upon my return and the class is very healthy and in great condition for growth. I admit I was very stretched this past week with the arrival of household stuff, and God was faithful to enable me to prepare for the leaders meeting and the lecture on the book of Micah. We are both very thankful for the 3 sets of helping hands that showed up unexpectedly on Monday and pitched in to help.

Life is never dull here!
Where else in the world could you see…
• 3,000-5,000 people in one afternoon during a shopping spree
• 50 scooters racing a bus off the red light starting line
• A dog crossing a six-lane street with the “walk??? sign – no owner in site
• A family of 4 on a scooter – one of them wearing high heels and a Burberry mini skirt
• A baked sweet potato vendor urinating between two parked cars behind the church (there goes the appetite)
• Be told by an elderly woman at a bus stop “you are pretty???, knowing she is just practicing her English
• While dining in a café named “Grandma Nittie’s???, her cat rubs up against your leg
• When you ask for an English menu at the local spaghetti house, the waitress runs outside to remove it from the signage because the owner’s toddler hid the only other English menu

Just info:

Paige and Travis renewed their lease for another 7 months – sharing an apartment is working well.
Both of our mom’s celebrated healthy Birthdays this month!
We will begin Chinese language study as soon as we get our house settled.
NEW!!! You can phone us for free – we purchased a Dallas line & it rings in our Taiwan apartment!
Remember though, we are 14 hours ahead of you.

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf, for our ministries and for the safe arrival of our crate.

Love,
Jackie & Fran

Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

P.S. For those who need it, a time chart is below

Here is a chart to make it easy for you. Please clip it out and put on your refrigerator.
We will issue a new chart when Daylight savings time kicks in.
If we do not answer you can leave voicemail (if you let it ring enough).
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DALLAS vs TAIPEI
5:00 PM 7:00 AM
7:00 PM 9:00 AM
9:00 PM 11:00 AM
11:00 PM 1:00 PM
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5:00 AM 7:00 PM
7:00 AM 9:00 PM
9:00 AM 11:00 PM