Life Update: We are Moving!

My wife have finally made a big decision. We have been carefully praying and seeking God's direction in our lives. We have decided to move back to Taiwan the beginning of August! 

This is a very exciting and scary time for us. We have lots to do in preparation. We don't have all the details now. However, we hope to send out a newsletter in the next month or two to inform those who are interested in praying for us and supporting us financially.

First Glance Skatepark Grand Opening

The park is officially open! First Glance Skatepark isn't just a skatepark. We are helping to develop the skate community of Akron, OH in a positive way. We want to create a park that has a focus on God and bringing skaters together in a positive way. We are going to try to have events each month rather if its a contest or something else.

We had about 40 people show up to the Grand Opening. We gave allowed free entry into the park and gave out free food. We started the events off with a Game of S.K.A.T.E. (like horse in basketball).

Alex Kuss - Winner of Game of S.K.A.T.E.

Next we had my favorite contest which is always the best trick down the stairs. I love to watch people throw themselves down the stairs trying slam after slam to get a trick. We gave them 20min. to try as many times as they would like.

Isaiah Jones - Switch fs 360

Alex Kuss - Hardflip over the hubba

Alex tried this trick many times in the past. He broke three boards in the process but managed to pull it off in the contest within two tries.

The hardest contest to judge was the mini-ramp jam. But in the end it was no doubt that the brothers from Kentucky, would take first and second place. Fifteen years old and his younger brother, who is only seven, amazed everyone at the park with their ramp skating. The younger brother was doing one-foot judos to fakie and airing out of the ramp.

We gave out 6 free boards plus 2 more from Sun Valley Skateshop, along with 7 shirts plus about 14 shirts donated by Acathla Clothing.

4th of July in Taiwan

Us American teachers decided to celebrate the 4th of July. We bought some fireworks and I called a Taiwanese friend to check on the laws. I was told to to it on the roof. Which went great for the first hour until a security guard made us stop. But it was fun celebrating while it lasted.

Birthday Bash Taiwan!

Today was my exciting 22nd birthday. They day before I got my hair cut bringing my age from (looking like) 32 back down to 15 which averages out to about 22 years old over all. The day started out with going to Zhang Hua to see one of our students, Dora get baptized at her church.

After the baptism we all went out to eat and surprised me with a bear or panda birthday cake. Which before the cake came out we ate a 7 course meal. I was pretty full when someone told me that we just got done eating the appetizers.

I wasn't sure if I should be nice or retaliate...I went with the nice option today.

In Taiwan as strange as it might sound to us, for fun they go feed cows. I am not sure all the reasons why, but we did have fun even though it isn't what I would normally think of as fun.

After feeding the cows and eating ice-cream we ran into a guy skating by himself. So I joined him for a bit borrowing his board taking turns and making a new friend. (Photo of the college there)









Later that night after hanging out at the night market, we played the elevator game. 6 of us went to the top floor of a building played some rock, paper, scissors or other style games to determine who gets kicked off of the elevator. Well, I was the first to be booted out on the 21st floor happily taking the stairs all the way to the bottom as fast as I could. While the other guys took the elevator down 3 floors kicked someone else off and so forth.

To see the short video from the elevator game follow this link to my friends blog...Travis' Blog

Thank you for the best and the worst birthday I have ever had in Taiwan!

Dragon Boat Festival

A group of us headed out for the Dragon Boat Festival in Lou Gong 鹿港this past weekend, celebrated by many people. This even only happens once a year. From my understanding it originated in China around the time of the Greece Olympic Games. It was in celebration of rice planting. One of the tradition dishes to eat here is a type of rice ball thingy. 

Many people came out to enjoy the festivities.  A few times we had people ask us to take pictures with us because we are American.

Reaching for the Flag at the finish line

Today was a very hot hot hot day, so don't forget to bring your umbrella. Luckily we found one someone forgot on the bus. I hear it is hard to find sunscreen in Taiwan...

There was plenty of food to go around. I bought some watermelon juice and some of the best grape juice I have ever had.

I enjoyed trying to suck the meet out of these tiny shells. First you suck part of the shell out, and spit it, then you have to suck the meat out. By the time you get a little meat you have put a lot of hard work into it.

Wedding and Jersey Video

It is finally done, I have finished the video documentary of my trip to the wedding and my week in Jersey working with SFNJ skateboard ministry.

I am sorry I have not been posting on my blog. My external hard drive crashed so I have no where to store all my GB's of photos/videos. This set me back a ton with the photos and video I had on my camera waiting to go onto my computer. I finally just went out and bought Memorex DVD+R 16x 4.7GB 25 Pack Spindle. I figured even after I get my hard drive back, I want to store my photos in two places this time instead of one, just in case it crashes again. I hope you enjoy the video.

Part 1


Part 2

Owen and Jessica's Wedding Photos

Here are some photos from the wedding. I did not take all of them because I am in the wedding party, but I did make all the adjustments.

Photo Taken by Andrew Nippert     In photo: Dale Nolan Jr., Will Gallison

Photo Taken by Andrew Nippert   In Photo: Me, Daniel S.,Brent W., Will G.,  Kyle Paradis

Below is the original photo before any adjustments. It was quite sad to have this ugly vehicle in the photo. So I managed to remove it. It isn't too noticeable in the "final" copy of the photo above, without me pointing it out. Though these aren't the final edits. Some of the photos you will see require more work, but I wanted to get some stuff posted up for you too see. I am somewhat busy currently in New Jersey. This photo is to illustrate us guys waiting for Owen as if he was taking to long to get ready.

Jessica and Owen Walsh              Original Photo by Paul Mackey

Below is the original of the photo above I really like the picture above, of their first kiss as a married couple. But it required a lot of adjustments to to achieve the final results. What I love most about this photo is the pastor in the background...

A tricky part of the edit was getting hat leaf thing removed without removing her vail, but it worked out.

Photo: Dale Nolan Jr.

Photo: Dale Nolan Jr.

Taken by Dale Nolan Jr.

Gone for the Week

This morning I flew from Grand Rapids at 4:02am to Ohio to Hartford, CT, arriving at 9:00am. The main reason was to go to my friend Owen and Jess's wedding. However seeing I was in the area, why not make a quick stop at New Jersey working with the skate ministry "Solid Foundation" I will be flying home Sunday afternoon on Halloween.

I will probably be posting up a few updates about my trip while I am gone.

Mark and Amy's Wedding

The wedding went great. I think Mark and I where the last ones to arrive at the church out of the wedding party. Once we finally got dressed in our suits I think the reality of the whole thing started to set in, and the nerves/excitement started flowing for us (mainly Mark). Everything went perfectly for the wedding. We were concerned knowing that the Civil War reenactment was going on in cascades park at 2, right when the wedding started. However Inside you could hardly hear any cannons or gun shots going off, unless you really tried to listen for it. I had a lot of fun, I feel really privileged for being able to be apart of the wedding.

After the Wedding
After the wedding, I went out with Paige, Al, David, Kurtis (my brother), Erica, and Justin. We got some ice cream and hung out watching a movie. Then me and David headed out to go skating. We ran into a out door concert, it was $10 to get in so we listened from the other side of the river for a little bit, then back to skating. There was this spot I always wanted to skate, but never got a chance to, but this was a different night, I got to skate it and I got my wall ride on it that I've always dreamed about.

Wedding Rehearsal

The wedding rehearsal for Mark and Amy's wedding went great. We had a lot of fun and after words got some pizza. I enjoyed the time with my good friend, who will soon to be married. I am glad I have the privilege of being in his wedding, and having such a good friendship with him. I am so excited for his wedding, being with him through his whole relationship with Amy and seeing it develop to what it is today.


Left- Me Right- Carrie O'dell

Graduation

The time has finally come were I have graduated from the Word of Life Bible Institute. It seems like it all went by so fast. Looking (above: Kyle Paradise, Dale Nolan (me)) back at the fall quarter and looking at myself now, I definitely see a big change in my life and in the life of the friends I've made. I would encourage you to attend for at least one year and let God change your life. I will miss a lot of people, but most of the people I got close to are going to be coming back next year for the 2nd year program, which I will be attending. My Parents, Kim, Kurtis, Grandma Nolan, and my cousin Evan, came to see me graduate. After all the good byes to fellow students we left at about 1:00pm not getting home until about 3 am. I will be home for a short while, I have to fly back to be there for leadership training on the 8th. I hope to become a dorm RA, which would consist of me doing devos for about 7 guys every week, discipleship with students under me, and more responsibilities. My best friend since 7th grade is getting married this Saturday. So Wednesday I have a wedding rehearsal and Saturday is the big day. It's exciting seeing Mark W. and his relationship with Amy O. progress, and develop into what it is today. (Please pray for their marriage and the wedding ceremony)