TEAMspinella: 2007

Friday, December 14, 2007

Something different--a visual test of cultural dichotomy

Here is a visual test you can take to figure out, once and for all, whether you are more German or more Chinese--just go through these images and vote for which one you think is correct. At the end, you will know...nothing (but hopefully, you may have some "ah-ha" moments along the way.) These icons are spread about the internet in various places with the same short sentence of attribution you see on this site and the same, slightly pixelated, graphics. This is a slightly more inclusive version than some, which delete up to 6 of these pairs.

Here is the link... http://www.mingalaronline.net/story/chinese/index.htm You might note that online these are commonly attributed to Young Liu, but she spells her name Yang Liu.

For those of us between cultures, these choices don't necessarily seem all that simple! I was able to find the source of these images after some creative detective work online. You can order the book (in German) from http://www.amazon.de/Ost-trifft-West-Yang-Liu/dp/3874397335. You can visit the author's website at http://www.yangliudesign.com/

Merry Christmas from the far side!

Dr. Steve and Laura Spinella, Sarah, Joey, Robby
Da Yi Street, Lane 29, #18, 2F-1, Taichung 40454, TAIWAN
011.886.4.2236.6145, of 4.2236.1901, fx 4.2236.2109, cell 9.2894.0514
USA: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, 719.528.1702, cell 719.360.6485
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189, 800.343.3144 <www.teamworld.org>, <www.team.org.tw/spinella>, <www.team.org.tw/ccg>, <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TEAMspinella/>,
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu>, <lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu>

Monday, December 03, 2007

TEAMSpinella: December madness

It's true. I did actually pass that licensing test as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Hawaii. And in a gracious gesture, Colorado has also approved my educational background, clearing the way for me to eventually be licensed as an MFT in Colorado also--no, they don't have reciprocity! There are still more hoops to be jumped through for Colorado, though. For Hawaii all that is left is paying the fee. Thanks to everyone who asked about this. The story of my taking a test after so many years and not knowing if I passed seemed to strike a chord with many. I guess I finally found something in my life and work that people can relate to? Anyway, peoples' interest was both encouraging and sometimes almost embarassing. And I'm really glad I passed and don't have to retake the test--hopefully ever :-)

And now we're waiting to hear about another set of results--probably more critical to our family's future path. Robby and Joey have both applied to Rice University "early decision" and of course we're also applying for financial aid for them, if they are accepted. Sarah has already had a friend who works in one of the offices say, "Do you have brothers named Joey and Robby?" Before Christmas, we should know their results. If they're not accepted or don't get good financial aid, they'll need to get busy completing other applications--who knows, maybe Stanford? Wheaton? Case Western? Colorado School of Mines? Harvey Mudd? UPenn? University of Colorado at Colorado Springs? Pikes Peak Community College? You can either send your rcommendation or pray with them for their first choice, as we are. I'm listing their email addresses in case you want to email them directly.

By the end of November Laura had finished coordinating TEAM's retreat at the Oasis Guest House (with overflow housing in the local hotel nearby.) I returned just in time to join in after attending the Missions and Mental Health conference in Indiana, where I led a simulation on "Work/Life Imbalance: the frog in the kettle" together with Bill Bacheller, who works in Brazil. Patti McGeever, recently returned from Papua New Guinea, was there, too, and we all agreed we knew these people, even though we guaranteed participants the actors in our simulation did not exist. In other words, our fictional characters were a lot like us and our friends. We also got to teach a section of a DMin course for Columbia International University on caring for international ministry couples.

As you might guess, we're ready to replenish. That's one of my buzz words these days--if we're going to invest with abandon in ministry, work, or life, we'd better also be ready to replenish for the journey yet to come. Here's to a season of replenishment! And yes, we're expecting Sarah home for Christmas.

With love from the far side, Steve and Laura

PS A year ago we talked about our need for ministry partners. If you want to help as year end approaches, you can send a gift to TEAM at TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189 with a note that your contribution is for our ministry, go to the teamworld.org website, or call 800.343.3144 (US Central Time zone). Also, you can write on any mailer from TEAM "for the Spinellas' ministry in Taiwan" and use the reply envelope. Once again, we invite your partnership with us, and thank the father for the fellowships and partners who have been sustaining our ministry in 2007.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

work life balance

I actually had the temerity to volunteer to lead a simulation workshop on work life balance in an international ministry context. What was I thinking?

Between the licensure test (no, I still don't know if I passed or not), my sister and her family arriving in Taiwan, my involvement "one day a week" in our ministry organization's financial accounting this fall (covering for someone on a home assignment,) and the course I'm helping facilitate on counseling international ministry couples quickly approaching, I have become my own case study. (I've left some things out here, though I'd like to include them just to let you know how impressive my problem really is ;-)

I was reflecting on this in a small group (that has actually been meeting since 2000--longer than I've ever lived anywhere else, much less been in a small group!) My dear neighbor had the gall to observe that I have struggled with overcommitment in the past. Actually he did not quite finish the thought before I interrupted him, reminding him that after all these years I also knew his besetting challenges. In fact, we quickly proceeded to run through our little group (men for mediocrity, we once called it*) showing we knew each one's besetting challenges. There are some benefits to longevity, after all.

Now over the years we have celebrated some victories in our small group. Lots of victories, actually. But the scenery in some ways doesn't change very much! I still like being busy much more than I like being bored. Change stimulates me and I like stimulation--until I crash and burn again. The signs of mania are at the door.

Now at this point, if you've read this far, you may be thinking one of two things: (a) Steve is so much like me, or (b) We're so different. Honorable mention goes to a third option: (c) Steve still doesn't have a clue!

My friend, let's call him "Bob," did say one nice thing. He said, "Still, you do get stuff done." At least, I think that was nice. So what am I losing? Availability. The more commitments on my mind, the less present I am in each conversation. The more likely I am to forget an appointment. The more likely I am to catch a cold virus. The less able I am to keep up with Laura on a bicycle. The more games I play of spider solitaire, the latest in a long line of mental distractions over the years.

So where's the balance? "Forgetting what lies behind, I press on toward the goal." Maybe the goal isn't an achievement, but a relationship. Maybe all those things I mentioned in the second paragraph are just part of the scenery. Maybe today I have one more day to enjoy with the companions the father has given me for my journey, whether they're my favorites or not. (They're some of the very best, in my opinion!) Maybe it is still today, and today I can do some things that are good, with joy in my heart, not out of obligation, but out of the overflow of a sincere and grateful heart. Maybe it is still today!

Tomorrow will come tomorrow. Then, if the father allows and I do not die, I'll get on an airplane, travel to San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, and Indiana, each in their appointed time, be present with the people that I find there in the best balance I know how to strike, while remembering those I've left behind on this side of the world. If all goes according to plan, I'll be back before Thanksgiving, ready to participate in the retreat Laura is planning for TEAM Taiwan even now. Let's keep remembering each other in our journeys--and in our work life balance!

With love from the far side, Steve and Laura

I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let those of us who are "perfect" embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways. Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained. (from the NET Bible at bible.org)

Saturday, September 22, 2007

TEAMspinella: The test is over

When was the last time I actually took a test I could pass or fail? The best I can figure it was probably 1989.

What made it worse is that this test was a sneaky one. It required me to know "conventional wisdom" and respond to options of relative truth with the same priorities as my dear American professional compatriots in whose world I participate to a lesser extent in more than one way. It did NOT reward out of the box thinking, unlike therapy itself. So I panicked. I sweat. I crammed. I set aside a final jet lagged week to absorb material that was new to me and presented in new ways.

Then after four hours in front of a 15" curved screen displaying test questions in a manner reminiscent of Windows 3.11, I walked away not to know the results for another couple months. If I don't pass, I'll do it all over again, most likely including the 24 hour flights and the jet lag. Humbling. But also encouraging.

Did you know that Rice University students can relate to test pressures? They pr'yd for me. Thank you. My father-in-law said he pr'yd all night--sorry you couldn't sleep, Bob, but thanks. And of course Martha took care of me all week so I could give it my best. Thank you. Laura and Joey pr'yd with me over Skype before they went to bed. And Bob in Taiwan, and so many more. All I can say is that 51 year old test takers apparently need and get a lot more pr'yr than younger folks, because if I had this kind of support when I was younger, I sure wasn't paying attention.

So I hope I passed, but I can live with it because being loved and encouraged is worth more than one more piece of paper or set of initials to tell people who have no better basis for knowing that I meet a minimum standard as a marriage and family therapist. (In case you don't remember, the test is for licensure--actually, in Hawaii, which accepts my existing credentials as qualifying me to take a test and be licensed.)

Meanwhile, I discovered that Colorado may not see its way to even approving me to take this test. Apparently the fine print gives them the discretion to declare my training inadequate if it was not all done in one "qualifying degree." That was not encouraging news as I prepared to take the same test for Hawaii. No one likes to be questioned, much less found wanting. The outcome is still in doubt, but I can only try to present my training to them as thoroughly as possible. Perhaps pr'yr will make a way there, too. No matter, there are many others who have been turned down one place or another for one credential or another, and the same father and master is over us all.

So the tension is slowly being released and I'm in the air heading to see those Rice folks and Bridgepoint BblCh folks, my nephew, and perhaps a few others in Houston--but especially my young adult daughter.

Meanwhile son Robby is in Malaysia on a soccer team trip to play in a tournament there--can you imagine such a thing? If it happens to you, just remember to keep your passport under your control at all times.

And we have something else to anticipate. My sister Carolyn, her husband Brian, and their four kids are mobilizing in Kansas to head to Taipei, Taiwan. Step by step they're uprooting for a family adventure of bold proportions. They'll arrive in Taiwan only 3 days after I return, L'rd willing and we do not die. (That's how James says we should make our plans, a rather good reminder.)

So in the midst of all this, I remain alive, traveling the world, with the hope but not the assurance of another piece of paper thanks to a testing odyssey and grace beyond measure.

Yours from the far side, from Laura anyway, in the one who keeps,

Steve

PS I'll let you know when I hear if I actually passed the test, just in case you still care a couple months from now!

Saturday, September 08, 2007

TEAMspinella: Praying in high school

Joey writes (for a school assignment, of course)...

Senior year has been really crazy so far. Saying that reminds me of the phrase "too busy NOT to pray." I think I do pray a lot, but I don't have times for focused prayer. I have never prayed on my knees for more than a few minutes, and can never keep my eyes closed either. The time that I do pray is in the mornings when I wake up. The other times I pray are through the day at random times when I am reminded of God. I'll be in a conversation, and then remember about my savior, my God, and how I had almost forgotten the reason I was alive. Then I kind of have two conversations at once, one catching up with God, and another carrying on with the person I'm with. These times are usually refreshing, but I also feel somewhat guilty for getting distracted from God. Is it possible that someone could think about God for a whole day? I guess so- He is the most interesting subject around. If I could spend a whole day with a girl's face in my mind, then I could definitely also be considering God.

Last Sunday, I had kind of an abnormal experience with prayer. I was tired out from the week, and had not had time to read my Bible that morning, having slept in too late for church from the class retreat. That night after washing the dishes, I decided it would be a good time to read my Bible. Usually since I read my Bible in the morning, the time is quite rushed, as I only spend about fifteen minutes. This time I decided that since I had plenty of time, I would just relax and talk with God. I had had some encouraging conversations with friends over the class retreat, and wanted to lay it all before God. As I sought his will and laid my requests before him, I soon found myself frantically flipping through the New Testament, trying to find specific passages I had read before. This was a new experience, as usually when I read I just go straight through the New Testament, and am not trying to find a specific place. It was really cool to see how much I knew about God's word, and even cooler to see how much wisdom there was in it as I thought about different issues and found direct answers in the text. Soon I was lost in the powerful words spoken by the Holy Spirit through God's people and Jesus Christ. I realized how fruitful it was to intentionally seek out specific issues and look for God's view on them. Needless to say, when I looked at the clock when I was about ready to start working on homework, I was amazed to see that over an hour had passed! An amazing thing about prayer is that no matter how much time you invest in it, it's always worth it!

Love, Steve and Laura, Sarah, Joey, and Robby

PS I leave Friday to take the marriage and family therapy licensing test in the US, but meanwhile, my sister Carolyn and her family in Kansas are mobilizing to come to Taiwan. Brian (Drevets) will be teaching middle school in Taipei, about two hours away from us, at Bethany, which is part of the Morrison Academy system that our kids are part of and for which Laura is a board member. They are scheduled to arrive October 3, so please think especially of them with us in this chaotic, emotional, and stressful time of transition. Monday Laura will travel to Taipei with me to get some things into their apartment. I'll be going up to TEAM's Taipei office, as I have weekly since July, to help out with our area's financial accounting. Robby is playing varsity soccer and preparing for a bassoon concerto with orchestra later this month.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

TEAMspinella: take a vacation, see a typhoon

It's been a while since I've written. Thanks to all of you who continue to partner in our ministry again and again--I'm glad no one waits for me to send an update before partnering--or if you do, let me know as that might just motivate me to send email updates more often ;-)

Right now we actually have a family here visiting us on their vacation--from Tucson, Arizona. So aside from the kids playing Settlers of Catan, Monopoly, launching catapults (Joey's engineering impetus), and playing frisbee, what have they actually done? Well, of course, there's the Museum of Natural Science, the department store in three connected 10 story buildings (each with three or four basement stories also,) and eating chinese, indian, italian, french, mcdonaldian, japanese, et al. Then there are the hikes up the mountainsides, walks in the woods, and bike rides (actually they didn't ride bikes, but Laura and I did anyway.) Oh, and the bookstores, night markets, tropical and asian fruits, and different kinds of tea drinks for everyone in the car. And a personal highlight for me, hearing Joey's new worship song as an offertory at our international fellowship last Sunday.

Now, I don't mean to pressure you, but if people do short term missions trips like they were camps, why not do a family vacation and come see us? Who knows how it might impact you--or us. And we didn't even get these new friends to the beach, to the national aquarium, or to Taroko Gorge--they did go up Taipei 101 (tallest building, fastest elevators in the world) and see the National Palace Museum in Taipei without us.

But saving the most sensational for the end, we're "eagerly" awaiting arrival of super typhoon Sepat, still on track to come straight through us, but dawdling as it transitions from a "medium sized, intense" storm to a large, strong storm. Just think, an actual category 5 storm on your Asian vacation--how exciting is that?!

We now have less than a week until Sarah returns to college, and we're very aware of that. Meanwhile, I'm preparing for a marriage and family therapy licensing exam, which I will return to the US to take in September. Yes, it's a little scary to take a test like this after so long out of school, but I have now officially put it off as long as possible, and I would still like to pass on the first try. (Just think, over the last couple decades I have avoided all risk of failing by simply not taking it. What a strategy.) Seriously, licensure has now become an expected thing for people in my role and so I am seeking to comply with that expectation. I would appreciate your intercession.

Our sons Joey and Robby start their last year of school in Taiwan next Monday. It's hard to believe they've been in this same school (all or part of) every year since kindergarten. They have done well and we hope they will also be able to finish well this last year.

In him who keeps us--even in typhoons--yours from the far side, Steve and Laura

PS Typhoons, like the father over all, are not to be predicted. We actually read an article on CNN about how the typhoon was "lashing" Taiwan before it ever arrived. (Creative reporting, eh?) But this morning it finally did come, straight over the top of us here in Tachung, essentially. However, as it hit the 12,000 foot peaks to our east it became a very big storm and therefore also a much less intense storm. So if we didn't know it was a typhoon we'd think it was a windy day, then a rainy day, and that's about it. I guess we'll find out by about tomorrow how bad it actually was on the east side of the mountains where it hit straight on and how bad the mud slides in the mountains themselves might be, but we are having a pretty bland day of it after all :-)

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

TEAMspinella: Which side do you like the best?

We're just finishing a 3 week vacation in Colorado. Well, mainly vacation, but it's kind of nice to actually call it a vacation instead of wincing every time someone calls a ministry trip vacation! I thought I ought to write an email update while I'm here in case some of you haven't been getting email updates that I send out from Taiwan. It's a little hard to get through email spam filters these days. So if you're getting this, but didn't get email updates the last few months, let me know. Last month's update was "back to the beginning."

No matter which side of the world we're on, people always ask us if we like it. And we do like it. Taiwan is good. Colorado is good. This world is good--not like it will be when we leave this world, but the father gives us grace for every day, the natural world is his creation, and the world people build is the reflection of his creatures' abilities working together--flawed, but still awesome in its own way.

So we're enjoying Colorado for a few days, seeing some family--the ones who could come to Colorado while we're here, walking the woods and meadows, riding the trails, buying American clothes, and visiting the local Y for raquetball. We leave again Wednesday morning for Taiwan.

Here are some things on our list:

Remember our family, spread around the globe.

Remember the TMF conference we'll return to next week in Taiwan, a gathering of people in international ministry from throughout the country.

Remember the summer. Steve is prepping for a licensure exam in the fall and an intensive course he'll be teaching in November. Sarah is tutoring and exploring ministries in Taiwan. Laura's main job for the last 20 years--coordinating this family, is still not finished.

Remember the fall. Sarah returns to Rice University in August. Joey and Robby are applying--she's sold Rice pretty well. They need to continue their academics, retake SATs, and more.

Remember the master. There are two events that bracket everything we experience--the master's death that changed everything and the master's return, which will finish what he started.

With not long till the far side*, Steve & Laura, Sarah, Joey and Robby

*I think there's a double meaning there!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

TEAMspinella: back to the beginning

[Assignment: Write about 650 words to let us know about your work

Items to include (in no particular order): The history behind your decision to become a m-person; How long you have been in your current position; What your job involves; Family updates]

You know, it seems hard to believe we've been emailing TEAMspinella updates for more than 11 years. We were sent out for ministry from NJ in 1991, when our 3 emerging young adults were all preschoolers and we were in our 30s. I still remember sending Laura off with her mom and the babies, two under 1 y.o., then packing out the house with the help of a band of brothers and driving to our first assignment in CO in a Ryder truck towing the car by myself. Of course, we didn't invent the internet and we only began sending email updates around 1995. I think we sent out our last paper update over 3 years ago.*

For the last 11 years, we've lived in Taiwan in order to care for people in international ministry and their families. To understand how we got here, I have to take you back even further. When I was 6, my parents traded their house at a loss, my father quit his job, and we moved from California to Texas so he could attend seminary and they could focus more fully on ministry. When I was 12, we moved to South America--first Costa Rica, then Venezuela--so they could mentor developing Christians there. So I got a heart for mentoring ministry, but also a close-up look at the stress on a family that leaves their comfort zone to reach out to others. What I didn't get was roots in one local community!

In Laura I found a life partner who was willing to go with me wherever, prepared by hosting people in international ministry supported by her family and faith community in Houston, TX, and by her family's international (European) roots. So when we got the invitation to come to Taiwan to provide counseling and care, we were willing to say "yes." We arrived in February 1996, by now bringing two kindergarteners and a second grader with us. Since then I've been the director of the Center for Counseling and Growth, a summary statement that lends an air of stability to an ever-changing cast of caregivers, coworkers, clients, and friends over the past 11 years. We have, though, kept the same 1200 square foot apartment for that whole time, in the midst of a city more crowded than New York City on the island republic of Taiwan, containing the world's current tallest building and a whole lot of Chinese people.

My schedule revolves around lots of meetings with individuals, small groups, and families. Everything else gets fit in around that (including these updates!) Sometimes people come to me in crisis, others meet for mutual encouragement. Almost all, though, are under lots of stress. Some people come from the community, either international or local. Many, like Laura and I, came to Taiwan or Asia specifically to care, some to shepherd the like minded, some to teach, and some to reach out to those in need. We offer words of encouragement, sharing of stories from our own journeys, and insight from our training and experience that helps to make sense of things that can be overwhelming and confusing. Most of all, we represent the one who sent us as ambassadors of reconciliation, with people and with the creator.

Laura's schedule revolves around all of us. She teaches a class of seekers, meets with other women for mutual care and encouragement, serves on a school board and a couple other ministry boards, and still coordinates our family life, including a nightly time of sharing with each other and the creator that has become central to our family in a way I have never seen before.

Right now the big family challenge is launching kids into American university. Sarah has finished one year at Rice University, and her twin brothers Joey and Robby hope to join her there after one more year of high school. Will they make it? Will it work together for their good? We are continually aware that our time with them is now shorter than it is long, but we're enjoying every day and minute we have--especially since Sarah got back last week. Next month we plan to take a three week vacation together, but it already feels like times are changing with the weather getting hot, AP and SAT exams over for now, and Sarah back home.

With love from the far side, Steve and Laura

*If you really want to receive these updates in the mail, let us know. We actually do get Laura's mom to send out a few each time to ministry partners whose email addresses we don't have! Otherwise, to get on (or off) our email update list just email us or check the yahoo group below. Though it's been a long time since we left NJ in 1991, our journey continues!