Dear friends,
Hope you have a peaceful year as I do. I’m happy to tell you that everything turns to positive in 2012. My health recovers well. The outcome of my regular medical check-up for breast cancer is normal. Last Christmas I was frustrated by external otitis, resulted from the immunity decrease due to the chemos. Thank God! The condition has improved. Last month, I took a five-hour flight to Singapore with my sister. Wearing a compression sleeve and a compression glove during the flight, I successfully prevented the symptom of Lymphoedema. It gave me even more confidence to visit Lancaster next year.
My family are also well. We’re busy at moving recently. It takes time to settle down in new environment, but my mum, two unmarried older sisters, and I are delighted to have our own rooms respectively. Thank my friend Joy’s uncle who did the gorgeous interior decoration with a reasonable price. Our new ‘castle’ is very close to our dream. My oldest sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew will move to another flat of the same building soon. So we are still a big family, gathering around our dinning table frequently. Update the good news about my nephew Alan who was enrolled by a national university in September, as his sister Jenny did last year. It’s amazing to see how fast the children grow up.
I’m still doing freelance work, including writing and translation. I enjoy writing Taiwan’s community stories in English for the Ministry of Culture. It encourages me to have a talk with the local people when I have a trip, which enriches my travel. If you’re interested in the stories, including my voluntary trips in Bunun Tribal Leisure Farm in Taitung and Syuetian Elementary School in Hualien, please click the following link: http://sixstar.moc.gov.tw/eng-2011/caseStudyAction.do?method=doListAll and see the articles written by Su-yi Lin. Moreover, I’ve joined a project conducted by Cosmic Light, a Christian non-profit organisation, to help the disadvantaged children in Great Taipei since June. My primary work is to assist the Weekend Children Camp and to interview some of their teachers or workers once a month. I like this job because it gives me an opportunity to spend time with children in need. It also teaches me some practical skills which might be useful in my future voluntary trips. And this week I get a part-time job offer from a missionary organization. The leader needs someone to deal with the administrative matters about twice a week in the coming year. The youth in my church is going to have a short-term mission trip in China next summer, so I might be able to learn something from this job. However, it takes about 1.5 hours from my house to the workplace by bus and foot. I’m not sure whether this is a call from God. Anyway, I’ll pray for it. If you have any suggestion or sharing, please kindly let me know.
I keep hiking with friends as often as I can. The most impressive trails this year are the St. Mary National Trail, the Taoyuan Valley Trail, and the Sandiaoling Falls Trail because they are challenging and I make it! Guided by my friends, I begin to understand why so many people are interested in bird watching. It’s fun to distinguish the features of birds and to observe their behaviours and interactions through a nice telescope.
In 2012, one of the best things is to see some friends from the UK. In Jan., our Malaysia friend SookLu had a one-week trip in Taiwan. I didn’t know she could speak Mandarin until that lunch because we always talked in English when we met up in front of our offices in Lancaster University’s Engineering Building. In Feb., Pei-chun came back to Taiwan. I was glad to know she had been baptised in Lancaster and heard the good news of Anna Plowman (Well, now her first name is Gioveni. Is it an Italian word?). In April, it’s lovely to see Kat and her husband Rado. In May, a few Taiwanese ex-PhD students had a gathering in Lydia and Hsinghao’s wedding. In Oct., our Korean friend Wonjim had a business trip in Taipei. The wonderful dinner talk reminded me of the good memory in the kitchen of Graduate College. Finally, as Daria moved to Taipei owing to her job in April, we see each other once every three months in average. After the Sunday worship this week, we plan to go hiking and our HK friend Crystal will join us.
In this warm season, I deeply appreciate your prayer and kindness in the previous year although sometimes I’m unable to reply your cards or messages instantly. I sincerely believe that you and your beloved people will have a very happy Christmas and New Year!
With much love,
Carol
近期採訪文章（暫貼）
<送炭到向陽電子報2012/11>
施比受更有福─愛心義賣會志工張文玲姊妹專訪
<台灣社區通>
Success of Nonviolent Resistance – Rescue and Rejuvenation of Chongjian Street in Tamsui 非暴力抗爭的成功案例─淡水重建街的搶救與活化
Wrestling Ring of Economic Development and Environmental Protection – Tucheng Ammunition Depot Community 經濟發展與環境保護的角力場--土城彈藥庫社區
