Gratitude and Blessings!

#2024-0928

September 28 is a special day for teachers in Taiwan. It’s a national holiday that marks the birth of Confucius, also celebrated as Teachers’ Day.

As the English Wikipedia notes: “The ROC government uses this day to honor teachers' contributions to their own students and to society in general. People often make use of the day to express their gratitude to their teachers, such as paying them a visit or sending them a card…” This is still true today, although it was even more so in the past.

Today, the Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan (台灣聖公會) celebrated its 70th anniversary at Advent Church in Tamshui (淡水降臨堂). My son, Rev. Antony Liang, attended the service with his wife and our two grandkids. I heard that over 700 people gathered for the Thanksgiving Service this morning.

Jean and I didn’t make the trip ourselves, but we’ve been praying fervently for this special occasion.

We also felt called to go back to Dajia, where Jean’s mother lives. We spent the afternoon with her, and she was eager to attend a party hosted by her son, Anzhen. We shared a lovely meal together, and I managed to snap a few photos and even film a short video (see below). May the Lord Jesus bless them and us in these very different moments of life.

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  家族聚餐 @ 西海岸餐廳     (2024)

2)  Visiting My Mother-in-Law     (2024)

3)  又回大甲 (With 6 Old Photos)     (2024)

4)  端午節 (The Dragon Boat Festival)     (2024)

歷史建築："南投稅務出張所"

#2024-0926

Today, Jean and I were invited by my sisters, Xiuzhi and Xiuqing, to join them for a simple but special "lunch and afternoon tea" at Fu Rui Tang (福瑞堂) in Nantou City.

Fu Rui Tang is a beautifully restored historic building, originally built as a tax office by the Japanese government in 1936. After the Republic of China government took it over in 1945, it continued to serve as a tax office for about fifty years. The stories from this era are too vast to fully take in, but the striking black-and-white photos on the walls—reproductions of old originals—captured my imagination. They sent my thoughts soaring, as if I were floating through a dream-like world of nostalgia.

§ 摘錄 "福瑞堂" 官網資料如下：

• "南投稅務出張所" 於西元1936年落成，是日本當時在台灣設置六個稅務出張所之一，屬日治時期官署建築也是目前全台僅存的稅務出張所，位於南投縣南投市......
• 2009年4月23日公告登錄為南投縣歷史建築；​現由【福瑞堂 云深茶館】 營運。
  ------詳見 https://www.furuitang.com.tw/nantouwhitehouse

§ 關於 "南投稅務出張所" 歷史建築之沿革：

　　（請參閱下面 倒數第五、四、三張 圖片）

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  Walker Cafe (行者咖啡)     (2020)

2)  New Era Art Resort (牛耳藝術渡假村)     (2011)

3)  Wenxin Garden & Caffè (文心園 ● 花園咖啡)     (2018)

A Stroll:《散步》

#2024-0920

《散步》

午後獨行時

秋風做我師

荒山尋步道

老樹見新枝

圖／文：Mookoo Liang

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The following translation is completed with ChatGPT's help:

"A Stroll"

Walking alone in the afternoon light,

The autumn breeze becomes my guide.

Through wild mountains, I follow a hidden trail,

Where old trees greet me with new branches in sight.

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Note: This poem reflects a quiet afternoon walk. I wandered in the cool autumn breeze, searching for a trail nearly hidden by wild grass and weeds. To my surprise, I found new branches sprouting from the old tree trunks!

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  喜見花開     (2020)

2)  《日夜二景》     (2024)

3)  望月峰 ● 獻堂登山步道     (2019)

4)  七月即景：New Life on the Trees!     (2024)