Legal

Hey, I just wanted to write a short post to let you know I got my ARC(Alien Resident Card) today and I am officially legal. An ARC is not like a green card, it is more of an resident permission card that allows me to stay and work in the country. Without it legal documents cannot be signed in my name. Now that I have it I will be able to get a driver's license and drive legally. Foreigners are not allowed to get a license until they have been in Taiwan for a year. It is not the biggest headache that I have gone through but it is a pain. Anyway, praise the Lord that it is done and I will not have to worry about that for another year.

Blessings and I will talk to you later

Joshua

Organized chaos: Driving in Taiwan

I believe that I have mentioned it before, but just as a reminder part of my daily activity to get to work is riding a scooter. With my last job I drove just under half an hour north, away from the city, to get to my job, and now I drive almost exactly 30 minutes south, into the city, to get to work. And for anyone who has not had the pleasure of driving outside the U.S. I will try my best to describe the experience.

Before I get into the explanation, let me preface it by saying that I have driven in many different kinds of conditions. From the back-roads of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, which is an experience in itself. To the crowded roads and highways such as Oklahoma City, Dallas, San Antonio, and what I personal consider the most arduous, Austin. I even gave my uncle and brother quite a scare when I was 15 my my uncle let me drive through heavy traffic in Titusville Florida (http://www.titusville.com/). At one point I looked over my shoulder to see if it was safe to change lanes and I saw my brother in the back seat through a towel over his head and I assume started praying at that moment that he would service that adventure. Which I guess his prayers worked because we arrived at our destination unscathed. That might also be the reason the only other time I was allowed to drive was on a back road at night after we had eaten out. But I have digressed long enough and need back to my driving in Taiwan, which is nothing like I have experienced in the States. Even including being driven through L.A.

Now let me set the stage. You may think I am joking or being sarcastic, but I could say that there may be as many scooters in Taiwan as there are people. For that reason most roads are made with extra room or an extra lane for the scooters. This can be anything from a line from the edge about four or five feet wide, we call those small shoulders in Texas, to a full size lane that a car can drive through, which they usually do. On major roads in large cities, there is actually a divide between the “scooter land” and the “main traffic;” sometimes it is questionable which is the main traffic except for which is the bigger vehicle. And scooters and motorcycles are not allowed on the Main interstates, which is a very good thing. This is part one.

Part two of understanding what driving is like, is realizing that the traffic laws are pretty much the same as those in the states, the rules of the road are vastly different. One way in which this is seen is when scooters are mixed with the rest of traffic. It is not this nice scooter, car, scooter car line that we see with motorcycles in the states. It is a mixture of cars and scooters moving around each other trying to find what space is available without smashing into each other. Think about putting large marbles and frozen peas in a jar then pouring them as fast as possible across a smooth floor. The sight borderlines the precision of a marching band as they weave in and out of each other and with rhythm and grace and that of a elementary school playground where kids are running in a hundred different directions. You know at some point someone is going to collide into someone, else and that it will not be a pretty sight. (FIND PICTURE)

Despite the danger and possibly the insanity of it, I still enjoy driving my scooter. I like the freedom it brings, as well as feeling the wind as I drive. I do wear a helmet which fully covers my head. I do this for two reasons. First, with my mom being a nurse and having studied a bit of anatomy, I know how dangerous a head injury can be to someone who rides a “bike.” Second, is being hit in the face by a bug while driving over 20mph is painful.

While I could still go on I believe I have written enough on this subject for now. Also, the fact I haven't been involved in a serious accident is a tribute to the protective had of God. Plus this is also a way you can keep me in your prayers. Travel mercies may not sound like a serious request, but if you have ever been in a
serious accident or know someone who has, Then you know the importance of not getting hurt; whether is is a couple of blocks away to the store, or on the other side of … whatever.

Thank you for all your prayers and words of encouragement. Know that you are in my heart and prayers as well.

Blessings in the name of whom all blessings flow.

Joshua

Job

Hey everyone,

I know that I said that I would try to update every two weeks or so, and now it is almost two months. since I last posted. And I apologize for that. I was not wanting to keep writing that I was still looking for a job, which I did for nearly a month.

But praise the Lord I found a job about a month ago. It is part time and only provides 14 hours a week; compared to working 25 at my last job. However it is a job and it provides me with my ARC, Alien Resident Card.

I have also found another part time job that gives me six hours a week. So altogether I am working 20 hours a week.

I wanted to at least write this much before I let another week pass by without writing. Thank you all for your prayers.

Blessings as always

Joshua

Back in Taiwan

I am back in Taiwan. I arrived yesterday and everything went smoothly. I want to once again thank everyone for your prayers, I know they made a difference on how everything went.

I am looking for a job, and I hope to find one soon so I can get back into a routine. However it is nice to have a couple of days here without having to work so I can settle in once again.

It has been interesting coming back because I don't feel like I have left home but returned. I guess one of the ways you know you are home is when you finally feel comfortable in the bed that you sleep in.

I don't have much to say now but I thought I would at least drop a line to let you know my status.

I know I am a blessed man based on all the friends I have and how wonderful everyone has been to me.

I love you and hope to hear from you soon.

Blessings In Jesus' Name

Joshua Banda

Heading back

Hello everyone,

While I have not got to the point where I update weekly, I am at least trying to do it once every two weeks, or as things come up.

I am still in the states. I decided to for an extra week to spend time with my family. I have been spending much of the extra time with my mom, helping her work on the house.

The reason I was able to stay an extra week was because I was let go from my job. I did not want to mention this earlier because I didn't want to draw attention for myself but focus more on my dad. Now as I get ready to head back to Taiwan I ask for your thoughts and prayers to help me find a new job, and one that is suited for me.

As far as my old job, there was some tension between their expectations and my performance. I did my best to improve in the areas there were not pleased with, and for a while things improved. However I guess my employer was never fully satisfied with my performance though I did make efforts to meet their expectations.

The week that I flew back I told my boss that I would most likely have to take a leave of absence to see my step-mom, because here health had deteriorated. When I asked for some time off I was told that I could take a week off and that I would need to get back after that, it sounded bad but with everything that was happening I wasn't clearly thinking that I would need more time off.

Friday morning, my time, I spoke with the director of the program that I am with and he suggested that I take at least two weeks off and I agreed so decided to take his advice. I called a travel agent to get a flight out for Saturday. The travel agent saw that a hurricane was heading toward Taiwan, not the one that caused massive destruction, and advised that I take a flight out that night so I would not get delayed. (Do you know the difference between a Hurricane and Typhoon? The answer is at the end of this post). I called my boss and told him that I need to take at least two weeks off and that because of the Typhoon I needed to leave that evening and would not be able to come in to work that day. At first he reluctantly agreed to let me go, but after he had a meeting with the owner he called me back and said that the time I needed off was not acceptable and I did not give appropriate advance so he had to let me go.

I had a feeling that something like this would happen so I just let it go. Also because of that I have been able to extend my time at home and enjoy more time with my family.

I am still planning on heading back to Taiwan, I will be flying out Monday. I have been applying for some jobs but I have not heard back from any yet. I am not worried because I saw how the Lord provided everything when I had to leave and I know he will provide when I go back.

I still ask for your prayers when I head back that I find a job that suits me well and quickly so that I give the credit not to myself but to my Lord.

Thank you and I look forward to talking to you

blessings

Joshua

P.S.

The difference between a hurricane and typhoon is; a hurricane forms east of the International Date Line and a Typhoon forms west of the International Date Line

Road Warrier

I know that I have said it before but I cannot thank you, my friends and family, enough for all your prayers over the last couple of weeks. I have seen the love of our Savior and Lord poured out in abundance for my father, family and me through so many people, words alone are not enough to describe.

While in Taiwan I was going to write about my adventures of driving a scooter in an Asian country and title it “Road Warrior.” However I will briefly share how I have been a “Road Warrior,” since I have been back.

The day after I arrive in Texas I drive from Temple to San Angelo, about three and a half hour drive. Not much for a Texas drive but you have to take in consideration that is almost the amount of time it would take to drive from Southern Taiwan to Norther Taiwan. The following weekend I drive roughly four hours to go to a family reunion just east of Lubbock on Saturday. Then on Sunday I drive another four hours to see a good friend outside of Dallas for a couple of hours then head back to San Angelo that afternoon, another three to four hour drive. On Tuesday after the memorial service go with my dad to Oklahoma to drop off my grandma, stay the night in Tulsa, and drive into Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday.

Tomorrow, Saturday, we will be heading back to Texas where my dad will drop me off in Temple where I will spend some time with my mother. In the last two weeks I have been doing more road travel here in the states then in the last two years I before I left for Taiwan. But it has been a wonderful time of seeing family and friends, and if I could choose to do it differently I wouldn't.

I may be a bit tired from all the traveling, but I have been extremely blessed by the time I have spent with loved ones; whether it is my family by birth, or my family in Christ.

I still don't fully realize it, and I may never, but I am coming to see how blessed I am to be surrounded and loved by so many people. I may not have great sums of money but I can see that I am truly wealthy in ways money cannot buy.

I truly love you and will write again soon

Joshua

Another day

It has been about a week since I left Taiwan and came home in a flurry of events. Since I have been home I have not done that much except spend time with my dad. He is doing well, his church has been an incredible blessing to him. We have not had the memorial service yet, we will do that on Tuesday next week.

Ever since I made it back everything seemed to be surreal, while I know that my stepmother has passed away it still doesn't seem real is a sense. I am not denying what happened, it is just that the weight of what has happened has not hit me yet. However I know that we all go through grief in different ways and in different stages.

In the mean time I am just resting when I can and helping my dad as I can. There is more that I could say, however at this point I am still processing what has been going on. One thing that is certain and is the source of my strength and confidence is that we have a redeemer. Paul said that to be ascent from the body is to be present with the Lord, 2Corinthians 5:8, so it is our comfort, our joy, our hope that even though Connie is no longer with us that she is in a coveted place, that being in the presence of Jesus.

Thank you all for you well wishes and prayers

Joshua