love « wuhoo!

i don't believe in love

double joy Talking about the topic of “marriage” with students here in Taiwan always makes me just a little bit sad.

Most of of my students–male and female–do not want to get married. They claim they have absolutely no desire to get married. I find this SO hard to believe.

As college students in America, I and my classmates/roommates were all about getting married and there was even the “ring by spring or your money back” saying going around, and we were teased and teased others about getting an “MRS. degree.” (By the way, if that was true, I want my money back.) But, maybe even things in America have changed too . . . I don’t know . . . that was 10 or so years ago after all.

Here are some of the things Taiwanese college students (mostly female) are saying about marriage in my classes:

I don’t believe in love. It’s too good to be true kinda like fairies.
Marriage just ruins dreams.
I don’t want to get married because it just “ma fan” (trouble).
Marriage is the graveyard of love.
I don’t want to get married because of the “shu foo” (shackles) it places on you.

Every time I talk to students about love and marriage, I leave perplexed and saddened. I at least now grasp their arguments, even if I don’t agree. At first I couldn’t even understand their arguments at all.

It’s sad. And even though I’ve heard all different kinds of explanations for why my students don’t want to get married . . . the root of them all is sin. The truth is we live in a fallen world. Scripture tells us that God is love. And, I firmly believe that those who don’t know Him are unable to love others. No wonder my students are so hard-hearted and willing to deny the existence of love altogether.

Marriage and family life in Taiwan weigh heavy on Lawrance and my hearts. We aren’t sure exactly when or in what manner, but we desire to allow God to use us to minister to the broken and hurting families and loveless singles in Taiwan.

We invite you to join us in praying for us as we seek the Lord’s direction in our lives, as we ask Him for guidance and wisdom in the decisions we are facing right now. Thanks in advance!!

celebrating our marriage . . . again!!

We’ve got 47 days till our Taiwanese marriage covenant ceremony. And, thus, we begin planning another wedding. :)

In some ways it will be similar to our American ceremony and in other ways it will be very different.

We’ve asked three different groups to sing at our Taiwanese ceremony.

Here is the song one group has chosen to sing. (We decided to let each group choose the song they wanted to sing.)

I love their choice!! (The version here is in Cantonese, but I’m pretty sure they will sing in Mandarin. Not that it really makes that big of a difference to my non-Taiwanese readers.)

As things fall into place, it is becoming more exciting and less stressful for both of us.

Literal translation of the song title: “Love Does Not Hold Back” or “Love With No Reservation” or “Unreserved Love”

A translation of the non-wedding version of the song I found online:

I’ve always been told, love won’t endure.
Nowhere can one find love long and true.
The world just thinks love comes and passes through.
“Don’t make promises” is the rule…

But I still believe love can last.
Your unfailing love has made me strong.
You are there when I needed you more.
Come what may, you’ll love me all along!

Who died on the cross and took away my curse?
Great is your love, I don’t think I should deserve.
Your bleeding hands proved your love unreserved.
You’re my only joy and treasure on the earth…

Giving everything to you is all I pray.
Use my life to serve you truly every day.
I’ll hold your hands and give you all my praise.
Let the whole world know your love and grace!