Monday, June 22 was a full day. Samuel had a fruitful counseling appointment that gave him some more tools and new ways of thinking about anxiety. Porky was playful during breakfast afterwards.
Then I took Samuel back to the doctor for the third and final time. That made nine days of antibiotics and other meds (and three visits) so hopefully he is in the clear. He does seem to be healed now. My face looks like that b/c it was sooooo hot.
After grocery shopping we had a Mandarin tutoring lesson and then Evie and I got to work. I made Mexican Beef, beans, and rice. Evie made a parfait. However, our kitchen only has one usable outlet. Bruh. This creates chaos for using appliances.
In order to not throw a breaker I moved my instant pot just outside the kitchen. "First-world problems" for sure, it's really annoying.
Success!
I bought some Asian avocados...
They were very large, squishy, and the pit was different; therefore, I was in doubt. I made guacamole... but it was different. A lot more watery than Mexican avocados. The taste was similar but not creamy. It looked more like curdled milk or cottage cheese. Evie still liked it a lot.
We sure enjoyed those parfaits for our chill TV time that night.
Delish.
Tuesday, June 23 started with Terry going for a run and talking to Noah about a possible trip to Hong Kong when he visits in August. We decided against it, though, due to cost and stress. Terry also went to lunch with Henry, our CBM missionary friend. The boys played a little basketball. Terry did an English lesson with Justin where he was able to share the the full gospel with him and have a conversation about it! Then we had dinner together before he and Evie departed for Taipei. They stopped at our anniversary hotel b/c I had forgotten a bag with souvenirs there (t-shirts for the kids).
Then they stopped at the original boba tea shop for her to try it. They also got a special treat of macarons.
Evie really enjoyed conversation night just like I had the previous week.
Taipei Main Station is behind them. They go underneath that to catch their train back home.
That evening Porky was going nuts and kept us up late b/c we were so entertained by his funny shenanigans.
Wednesday, June 24 was chill at first. We noticed the model apartment behind us/next to our building had a large group of professional-looking people milling around what looked like a table to tile/paint/cupboard finishing options... I hope it looks better than this in when it's totally done.
It was Tuesday night back in the States and Noah was eating with the H's, so we called and had a little chat.
Then Terry and Evie packed their bags real quick for their visa run to Hong Kong!
Waiting for their train above the street in Linkou.
On board and heading to Hong Kong. Very exciting.
Meanwhile the boys and I loaded up and headed to Carrefour for a large grocery run. Henry had told Terry about a potential typhoon coming for us. Therefore I wanted to have all the groceries we needed.
We bought a lot. And since we have to carry everything, I needed the boys' help.
That afternoon, I had an unexpected guest in the workout room - this huge spider. When I ran to get the manager he scuttled off somewhere. The manager thought it was a friendly local cockroach eater, just like our first night in Taiwan in our dorm last summer - we let him have the bedroom. Taiwanese don't usually kill these spiders. I decided to be brave and work out even though I didn't know where he was. I haven't seen him again.
I sat outside to "cool" off. I stop the workout-sweat and start the humid-sweat. But it's nice to be outside.
Meanwhile, in the Hong Kong airport Evie and Terry were wandering around interacting with this huge cat that moved. Freaky.
They had lunch here.
After a couple hours they turned around and headed back to Taiwan. Very tired now!
I decided to make more of Evie's mousse that she had made the day before and the boys went to play basketball. The mousse was not as good as hers, though! The boys were gone for two hours and I started to get worried. I finally went down to check on them. Samuel was worn out but didn't know how to stop so it was good I went. He told me they played with these older men who were very kind to them and taught them a lot. Samuel also met and talked to a young black kid who grew up in Taiwan. Samuel did his best to share the gospel with him!
They were fine, but they were also incredibly sweaty. I was worried Samuel would get sick again, but he's been fine.
I mean... seriously. It's so hot here, people.
They arrived back in Linkou!
On Thursday, June 25, Terry and Evie slept in and I had a coffee date with Lillian in our lobby. It's so refreshing to talk to her.
We talked to Noah again. Then we had another Mandarin lesson after lunch. Evie joined us. She made it more fun... but also more embarrassing b/c she's so much quicker at picking things up and her tones are great. Then she was so worn out that she took a two hour nap. It rained a ton that night. Even though the typhoon missed us, we still got hit with the edge of it. Many parts of Taiwan flooded. Thankfully for us, Linkou is up high.
My parents adopted Jesiah and MacKenna's beautiful cat whom my dad calls Tuxedo cat but they called Koda. I love him from afar.
Noah got to meet him when he had dinner with my folks.
Friday, June 26 was a chill morning. Terry made pancakes and we watched The Price is Right (we watch it a lot of mornings now that it's summer).
Terry went for another run.
Evie worked on making a strawberry chocolate mousse pie.
Terry had an English lesson with Justin and they all played Cities and Knights.
I worked out and then cooled off on the couch while dinner baked.
Justin won! I think the quick English dialogue that comes with game-playing has been good for his English.
Justin's mom always gives us fruit in exchange for tutoring, and today she brought us two new varieties. She told us that the small balls are only grown in Taiwan (a friend said they had them in Hawaii though) and that they taste like lychee (they do). The bell pepper looking one is pretty bland, though sweet, with high water content.
We had Evie's pie for dessert that evening.
Excuse us while we get fatter in Taiwan.
That evening Terry and I went to bible study. I really enjoy it.
On Saturday June 27, Terry and Evie had a Cedar Tree meeting all morning. Cedar Tree is an English cram school they're going to help with. I worked out downstairs in our community gym. They don't keep the AC on, so it's always really hot when I go down. And now I have the proof. 85 degrees! Usually people work out in like 65 degrees. 😂
Leg day done. No spider seen.
When Terry and Evie got home, we talked to Noah a bit. Then Terry went to En Cafe for what he hoped would be an English conversation group. However, no one came. So he did a Zoom meeting for the upcoming summer camp. Evie made lemon cake and I made pizza.
She had sister friends over in lieu of the crocheting group that couldn't meet.
Porky really enjoyed her friend's basket, yarn, and needles.
Sunday, June 28 was nice. There was a baptism at church with several families represented. This is Flora along with her baby girl.
It was like a baby dedication but half of them elected to have baptism as well.
Ezra got everything he wanted after church. First a mocha from Golden Bee.
I like their succulents.
This restaurant had their pet ducks out front. Pretty sure we've seen these ducks in a baby carriage dressed in dresses and bows 🙀
Next, Ezra got his favorite fried chicken. I'd never actually tried it before. It was just meh. While we waited 20 minutes for it to fry, Terry and Samuel walked down the block and paid $4 to have their hair cut.
Proof! Ezra and I left him to it and went home.
After lunch, Terry and I went back out for our new friend's baptism and birthday party.
It was a beautiful rooftop venue they rented. But pictures cannot transmit heat. It was so hot.
Peek-a-boo.
Pastor Nanson and Summer.
Terry met another church member who can help with translating a Chinese tract. Terry and Nanson would like to make one based on the Mount Rushmore one million dollar bill tracts a friend from home made.
