This was a Jr High School we stopped at on our scooter excursion through Maolin National Park (near Meinong). We stopped and played basketball with them for a little while, it was way fun! These kids are of aborigine descent, and are much darked skinned than regular Taiwanese. They also speak a different dialect of Chinese. They are known as the Haka.
This was the Gao family that I taught while as a missionary. Their mother joined the church at the time, and since then the little girl and oldest boy have both been baptized. When Becca and I visited them, the little girl was running around the apartment yelling "He baptized Mommy...he baptized mommy!" It was really cute.
This is the Chen family that we spent a couple days with. They joined the church the 2nd to last week that I was in Taiwan (during SARS). We met him originally at a post office. They are both teachers, and speak pretty good english. They took us (with my parents) out for crab and the night market one night, and we went to lunch another day. Their english names are Michael and Katherine. Mike LOVES basketball, and is a huge Yankees fan.
This is the four of us during my parents visit to Taiwan. My parents later visited mainland China and Korea for business purposes, but we were fortunate to have them in Taiwan with us for a few days. This night, given the "unique" aroma of real Chinese food, we were able to find an Outback Steakhouse across from our hotel. It was nice to eat good American food for a change. While my parents were there, we were able to see the mission home and meet the mission president & missionaries, see the church (above), some of my old apartments, the main city that I served in (Kaohsiung), and many people that I taught as a missionary (namely the Ou family, Jiang family and Chen family).
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This is Monkey mountain, and probably Becca's highlight of the trip. We saw probably 50 or so wild monkey, and were able to get up close and personal from the peanuts we had gotten at the bottom of the trail. The monkeys were friendly and fun...they only turned ambitious and active when they found the peanut stash in my pocket!!!
This is the Jiang family (D-Terrance, M-Lydia, daugthers Vivian, Amy and son Henry). They are a really special family that I met and taught as a missionary. Even though there were never baptized, they represent the goodness and joy that are in millions of Taiwanese people. Terrance is a doctor, and Lydia stays home with the kids. They are planning a trip to come to America (Utah!), where Vivian is looking to go to school. After meeting them for a few minutes, you can't but simply fall in love with Chinese people in general, and realize what unique and great culture they have. My last waining hours as a missionary was spent in there home bearing testimony of the the restored gospel and eternal families. I know there is still hope!
Becca had a couple sweet concerts last week. Her Jazz concert featured renowned artist Wayne Bergeron, who was the lead trumpet player on soundtracks of Pirates of the Caribbean, Spider Man, Blades of Glory, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Rocky, National Treasure and many others. Wayne complimented Becca on how well she played the Bass, which got her pretty excited. Their Jazz Director Dr. Fullmer also announced at the concert that the Band has been invited to a competition in Switzerland next summer.
Becca also had Symphonic & Chamber Orchestra concerts as well. The Orchestra had a featured opra singer named Serena Kanig, who really blew the roof off. They also played John Williams "Hymn of the Fallen", which is the main song you hear on Steven Speilberg's "Saving Private Ryan." 
We also recieved good news this week that Becca will be performing a Concerto with the UVSC Orchestra next spring. She has worked on her conerato for many months now, and she is really excited to perform it her last semester in school.
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