I am rather tired today. I really wish I could do what Josiah does during reading:-) Yes, he was doing his 15 min of reading out loud to me at the office today. Sure, it is not what others do for homeschooling. See, even among homeschoolers there is a big debate and sometimes arguments that "my way is best." Well, yes, my way is best FOR MY CHILD. What is best for your child is what you choose. Simple. I have heard, "your children are not on a schedule of any kind and I do not know how they will make it in the real world." Explain to me "real world." My kids are seeing and hearing it. Yes, I have to make phone calls to important people while they are sitting beside me doing math, working on pronouns and such. They have gone with us to pick up babies, to give food, to help. What part of the real world are they not seeing? (Yes, on a soapbox here!!! sorry!!!).


I have been looking forward to this below, youth group. Crazy I know, but I enjoy our teens. We have two groups: Taitung Bible Baptist Church and Shr Gu Bible Baptist Church, the two churches that Luke is responsible for. We go to play together and then come back to church to eat together and then sing songs, devotions and a game. Lots of laughs and loudness, much like a family night. These kids are awesome!!! So thankful for them!



Yesterday our association's food bank had the privilege of helping out a village pastor. Him and a coworker came to get some things for their village and the needy there. We were able to bless them with formula, diapers, rice, oil, toys and such. They were so excited!! They said it was like Christmas! So thankful for this opportunity to serve HIM this way.Luke said a prayer with them right before they left.

Due to the hot weather, I tend to start walking later. I am really trying to spend that time as my time. I am trying to keep my body healthy as I know I am needed in many places (and sometimes at the same time!LOL!) During this time, I have my music in and TRY to keep from singing outloud as I walk along the track. But many many times, it is hard to not stop and just say "WOW GOD!!!" when looking at the beauty HE has created. It is so easy during these times to forget about the stresses of things going on. I try to forget about the center's budget and where is that coming from? forget about furlough and where are the plane tickets money coming from? moms in need, activities, how is a former mom doing......not to mention: am I spending enough time with my family? am I doing enough?
Yes.......all this tends to run through my mind as I walk. Really having time to think and talk with God, it helps so much!! Wondering what HE is going to do next?:-)

No pretty pictures

in today's post, just words:-)


We occassionaly hear from some churches as we look for support "well, we support church planters." That is fine, and we understand. But obviously, some are still stuck in the late 70's when not a whole lot of churches were around overseas. In our county, there are over 100 churches. Sure, some areas need a good Bible believing church, but it is far far from easy. As the book stated, if Jesus, when asked by the needy to heal them of their physical ailments, if Jesus said, "Nah, I am only here out of concern for your soul, not here to heal your blindness." Would others believe HE was the SON OF GOD? HIS actions and deeds showed alot of who HE was and backed it up.

Just as the ministry here. Sure, we are not planting churches, but we are ministering to those in need. Recently some members of other churches have mentioned to us "your church is really doing work of God, I wonder about our church at times." Now we are not encouraging people to question their church, no!! My thoughts  here are : what are you and your church doing to back up your belief? just going to church AND Sunday School AND prayer meeting? Minister to local shelters? minister to widows? how many foster parents are in your church? special needs children? ministry to local children's home? ministry to local immigrants? ministry to pro life movements? ministry to those rescued from sex trade? the ministries are so many, but are Christians around the world getting out of their comfort zone and ministering?  or just wanting seats filled in their auditorium on Sunday?

The past few years as our ministry has grown, we have dealt with some mommas who have been hurt greatly by the church and the philosophy of "we aren't able to meet your needs cause of what you are" type mentality. Sad!!

So, what are you doing?

Highly Valued

I had a nice big post all written and ready, then I hit the wrong button and it vanished :( So I hope I can repeat it!!

I have been reading Duane Elmer's book "Cross-Cultural Servanthood". A good friend of mine recommended it and thankfully I was able to get it here in Taiwan, and in English!! It has been very good so far. I have had WOW moments and UNHUH  moments and OHHHH moments. Somethings I read made me think of other missionaries, some have made me think of things I have done or not done myself.

"God's blessing of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 informs us that the point of our being blessed is to bless others; that is, having discovered how highly the Creator values us, we are in turn to value God's creation. The ministry of blessing reminds us of the essential connectedness of the Christian life. It rmeinds us that we were created to live in relationship. We cannot live alone, counting our own blessings."

This may not mean much to you, everyone has their own take on things as everyone's backgrounds are different. But as we minister in our specific ministry, it made me realize that God has truly blessed us, it is only natural that we should turn and bless others. Blessing others through our food bank, or through sheltering them during crisis pregnancy, or thru the joy of adoption, we can share blessings.

One thing I also thought about was the statement: discovering how highly the Creator values us, we are to inturn value God's creation. Are you doing that? I see and hear about many churches here in Taiwan that disadvantaged families don't feel comfortable going to, they feel the eyes of judgement and looks of rejection. If God highly values you, do you think HE does not value the person with a sickness, an unwed mom, the child laborer or someone you disapprove of? NEWS FLASH: GOD VALUES THEM THE SAME HE VALUES YOU!!

I heard a very prominent, admired (almost to the point of worship it seems) director. This director mentioned that one day the clothes that she was wearing were all dirty and could not be helped, her shoes were beyond help so she threw them away. Since she had no clothes, she found her husbands huge t-shirt and shorts, and used somekind of cloth to hold them up. Then she had found flip flops to wear. See, originally she should have had time to go shopping before going home, but she was told there was urgent matters at hand and needed to get home that night (in a different county). She felt embarrassed that she had these clothes on and used a large hat and sunglasses to get on the subway and plane. When her husband, also a prominent director, saw her, he was embarrassed and got mad at her. Granted her story was talking about difference in ideas and all, but I thought to myself......you are helping people that are dressed like that all the time, yet you are judging them? God values the director in nice name brand clothes just as much as HE values the person in old shirt and shorts and flip flops.

How do you look at the disadvantaged? Better yet, how does your church look at the disadvantaged?  Now, not all are called to go overseas and start a ministry, but do you or your church support ministries that work with the people in need? or does your church have a ministry to them? Who would you rather sit next to you or your kids: 1) well dressed couple  2)couple with tatoos and earrings and scantly dressed 3)young couple with a toddler who has a runny nose, obviously dirty and malnutritioned 3)a young lady who is pregnant but no wedding ring
.


Remember: God highly values you, you need to value others as well!!

always playing with the blog:-)

Funny, I always find myself fidgeting the blog appearance. I am the main reason they have the templates....just click and go. I would love to have the picture on top there either bigger or be able to put another picture with it, but I don't know how. Oh well, you all will survive!

I spent two hours in the car this morning. What was I doing? let's see: two babies picked up and to the therapist for evaluation, take a new friend to the trainstation (she had 7 minutes to spare!!whew!!), back to pick up a momma who delivered her twins on Monday and then BACK to the hospital to pick up the babies to take back to their nannies. WHEW!!! never a dull moment!! All this time, my 9yr old was with me. Nope he wasn't doing math or English (he is now as I write this!), but riding along with me in the car asking his questions, listening as I talked with our social worker and nannies. He learned alot today:-) So thankful he could be with me.

Wednesday we went with a momma and her 6 yr old to visit the psychiatrist. YES you did read that right! The 6 yr old is having problems at school and officially diagnosed with ADHD and self control problems.There is alot more there I feel and I am really mad at the school. We are trying to work something up so that we can bring her here to the church and play/study with our kids say 2-3 times a week since she is not going to be at school (they don't want her back.) There is alot alot to say, but I want to say this (and the dr said the same thing): the problem is, mom, you are a disadvantaged family, single parent family. If it was an educated or business person's child who was like this, there wouldn't be any problems. It was all I could do to keep my mouth shut while at the dr's office.

I told my hubby, this is the PRIME reason that there needs to be schooling of some kind. See the church Luke preaches at first on Sunday mornings, they want to start a small school. I know now that is it legal to do and the members there are mainly teachers AND school principals......so I need to talk to them:-) HAHAHA!!!

I am so excited about what God is doing. We have been in contact with a few places about the future of adoptions. I am hoping to hear back (actually, very impatiently as I wrote them letters two days ago and nothing yet!). God has brought us together with a great group of people of like minds and most of all hearts for children in need. It is thru this that we are able to get information and contacts that we need.

As we prepare for our Respect Life Day, please keep us in mind of all the things here that we need to get done in addition to what we normally do. I do find it ironic that the social services is having an activity THE SAME DAY AND SAME TIME as ours is, though a few blocks away. My hubby says I read into things too much, oh well!!LOL! It seems this year alot taking place and it is hard to get people into it. Praying we can and praying that as we work hard to stop abortion, that we can also keep up the strength in the spiritual side of things. It seems during this time, a spirituatl battle is always running on.

Garden of Grace is coming along as well!!! I can't share pictures here, but hope to soon. We should get our building permit in 2-3 weeks and then our licensing paperwork for the day care can be entered. From that it is 2-3 months......praying it will be quick and painless!!!

Go out and be a blessing my friends!!

What's up?!

Well, thought I would give a small update on our work here. I will be sending out our e-newsletter soon, so if you are not on the list, let me know and I will sign you up.

We were blessed to have three families, yes THREE, come this past weekend and get their blessings. It is so great to see families and their new babies together. Then as we wait, to see them get on skype or facetime with their families showing off baby! I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed us to be part of this.

The families got to see how busy I am (though I don't see it being busy!). My phone was often ringing and I was going somewhere. But everyone survived!

NOW to other news: we are in need of financial help. The architect and building permit for our daycare, they decided to wait til the last minute to tell us how much. For the building and permit it is: $3500US. You can imagine my feelings when I heard that.We still have other stuff to pay as well. (list below).

building/architect:   $3500

plumbing/electric:   $1500

fireproof paint:       $1200

fire extinguishers:    $800

TOTAL:                 $ 7000 

I am so thankful that people have been praying already. Someone must have prayed that my brain starts working!!LOL! I remembered that through our last fundraiser, the money I just put aside for emergency! Well, I was able to take $1300 and send that to the bank. So then I got an email that someone tried out our donate button on the side, and sure enough IT WORKS!!!! they gave us $500US

so: $7000-$1800 = $5200

We will get it, I know we will. But I have to put out there, please consider, in addition to your regular gifts for the building fund, please consider just giving $5 or $10, it adds up!!

In addition to this, we have to have $10,000US in the bank here for 3months, that money cannot be touched. So, needless to say, we are all pulling our belts tighter til we can get licensed and going!!!That money we pulled together from past things and put it in the bank today. So please pray we get the other money needed quickly. 

Well, hopefully I have better news in the future to write about all this. We have seen God give us so much recnetly that we are really sure and know that HE will provide the rest. He wouldn't bring us this far just to drop it. We know HE will never leave us!!

Keep praying!!

Today was much better!!!

First, Wuli and I taught a sessio on "Fighting Sexual Harrassment" at a local Veteran's home. They had about 35 patients there. It was obvious some of it was hard for them to understand (and no, it was not me speaking!! I just hit the button on the power point!). Wuli did well as she has worked there before and knows the crowd. At first I was like, why on earth are we speaking on THIS topic to THESE people. Well, God kinda smacked me awake and said,"these PEOPLE face problems because THEY are weak and easily taken advantage of." As I looked across the crowd at the faces, men in wheel chairs, some dozing off, others drooling, I could tell they were really listening. At the end I was so thankful for the opportunity to be there. Maybe God will use what we taught today to help free someone from the horrors of sexual harrassement or being taken advantage of, they will now feel better about standing up for themselves.

Today we also brought a baby boy into our center. So excited as I was at the birth. The dr used this birth as a "training session" I guess for me .......weird. I normally stand near the mommas as they give birth, but Dr. Li wanted to teach me how to deliver in the event a momma should not make it on time to the hospital....sure hope he isn't prophesying or anything. But that was cool!! This baby we will see about working with a new organization and so hopefully once the new rules take in affect, we can have an agency for our baby referrals. Hate to do that, but that is the way. At least we can still take care of and love on baby boy!!

THEN Wuli and I went shopping! WOOHOO!!! Friends are moving, and they are in the "EVERYTHING MUST GO" since they already took 7 truck loads away. YUP!! not an ordinary place. This is a group of 7 families and all have 3-4 kids, living together in one big house!! So we were able to get most of the small book shelves we needed for Hagar's House and 4 chairs for Garden of Grace for less than $60US!!! Of course I bought some things for my family:-) and spent more than $60US, but well worth it.

So thankful for today. The past few days with Luke gone to China, I have seen some things I need to cut back on and somethings I need work on. I love how even though we get so busy and "forget" about going to the Throne of the Almighty, HE still waits for us and never changes, always there for advice and comfort. "It's so wonderful to be a Christian, it's so wonderful to be God's child, it's so wonderful to have your sins forgiven........" (and what is the rest of the song?)

Thanks for your prayers.....please continue to pray for Momma L as she is 28 weeks along and not feeling well. Many decisions for her to make.

I admit.....

today is one of those weak days when I am just BLAH!!! I just want to lay in bed with a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and put in some chick flic and have the world leave me alone. That is just how I feel. There, I said it.

I have a gazillion things TO DO and a gazillion THINGS I WANT TO DO. So, I just don't do anything:-) smart right? HAHAHA nope.

Today's Highlights: got to take a 28 week pregnant momma to the dr (she lives 40min one way) and then take her to a few different places to get some errands done. She is actually 11 months OLDER THAN ME! She had her 1st grade daughter with her who was full of questions: "Ai-Yi (Chinese for "auntie" which is what all women are called by little kids here)..... you look American? Ai-Yi, do all Americans kill people cause that is what I saw on TV? Ai-Yi, why are your eyes blue and mine black? Ai-Yi do you have any candy? Yup, if she was not SOOOOOOOO cute, I would have left her somewhere! LOL! Her mom chatted with us on the way home. You could tell she was happy to have someone just to talk to, what woman/momma doesn't! Then when we got to her house, we suprised her by opening up our trunk and taking out food from our food bank for her. She was trying to hold back the tears and excitement. We were able to give her daughter writing utensils, markers, book bag and such, things that momma just can't afford. This was the awesome part of my day.

Today's Sad moment: an 18yr  old who called our hotline a few days ago, she never showed up and I texted her thinking she was at school. She called me to say she was at the dr's with her mom, she was prepping for her abortion in 30min. That kinda stopped me in my tracks. I asked if I could come to the clinic and talk with her and her mom. No, that wouldn't be a good idea. She was saying she was young and all the things I have heard before and I am sure she heard her mom say.  But, they had their minds made up. My heart ached. Did she call me back as a last hope? someone to come help her? should I have been more forceful? So many things have gone thru my mind today about this. Just dampens the day.

Today's What I Can't Control : we have a family desperately waiting to pick up their child. Unfortunately AIT has suddenly said they want to have proof the birth father doesn't want baby. WELL, they make it sound so stinkin' easy! The plan I had for getting the proof today didn't work out and someone else said they were going to help and do it. So all afternoon I have been on edge waiting to hear SOMETHING but have heard NOTHING. I know God is teaching me something, just wish I knew. I wish I had a perfect answer for the family who is agnozing over this, the last bit of information so they can come and pick up their son. I really don't like being in control.

So, this is what my day has been like. The past few days I have had a migraine, totally knocking me off my regular schedule. I gotta bounce back. Satan is not gonna get me down, though he is tryin' his best. I know that I have a promise that MY GOD NEVER CHANGES and that HE is with me through everything, HE will never leave me nor forsake me. MY GOD REIGNS!!

long overdue post....

I am very busy, but shouldn't be an excuse for not posting. I really need to make a habit to blog about family, ministry and Taiwan. Hopefully I can get some readers then!! Let's see:

FAMILY: An adopting family who was here picking their bundle of blessing took these pictures for me, I am so happy!!! When Luke comes back from China, we are getting family pictures done as we do need a prayer card badly!!

                                             Joshua (13y)                        Josiah (9yr)

                                                Noah (7yr)                        Anna Joy (3yr)

While I don't get to spend a gazillion hours with my kiddies, I try to make the most of when I do. They really put up with alot!!LOL!  They have been doing well with their homeschooling and have their good days and bad days, but still proud of them. I have seen a growth in them this past year and while we still have had our trials (puberty mainly), we are still surviving. Being a parent of a teen isn't a bad thing all the time! It really brings your parenting skills and training ideas to the forefront, often wondering.....what on earth am I doing to my kids? But, we have a God-given task to raise them the best we can and that is all we can do. We are thankful that Noah has not had any episodes since end of December 2011. He was diagnosed with "Cyclic Vomitting Syndrome." Meaning, he gets a migraine and he vomits on and off for days, normally gets dehydrated and ends up in the ER for fluids.....happened alot last year. He may grow out of it, but it is a matter of making sure he catches the feeling of a headache and fixing it fast. The older two are having fun on their guitars and do special music with their daddy at church once a month. So thankful for my family, but I need to learn to not take it for granted!! While it does get frustrating being a nag (yes, I am....) I am thankful that Luke and I will be celebrating 15 years of marrige this July. Funny how young people look at me and say "is that like a Guiness book record cause that is a long time!". Then I tell them my parents are almost at 50 years of marriage and they pass out:-) 

These two lovely ladies have been life savers these past few months.

                                                Jessica                                Bethany

These two have been teaching my 3 boys and watching out for Anna as well, not an easy task. I have been informed that my 3 boys are as exhausting as 6 children......um......yup, I knew that:-)  But they have worked with the boys on lots of areas, getting schedules set and homework done. Both these ladies and my boys have learned alot. Bethany leaves us in May (boohoo) and Jessica maybe this summer. So then I will have to figure something out til furlough, which is in December. We will be praying that when we come back in May 2013, we can have a teacher with us as well or on the way. We have been so thankful for their learning spirits and servants hearts. It has been hard at times for them I know, and I know first hand how exhausting it can be. So thankful that the Lord placed them in our home for this short time.

 MINISTRY:

This picture was taken last week. We met with a momma who is really in need. We see her again on Tuesday, but thankful that she was brave enough to call us and reach out to us.

God continues to bring mommas and give us phone calls. While at times it is exhausting and at times things just don't seem to go as we plan, we know that God's timing is perfect. We are still working on and praying to have our paperwork for our baby home in this month. Somethings backed it up and made it later than usual ,but God knows why.
Keep everyone here in prayer. We have a few Worth Waiting For essions this month and next, so that is keeping us busy along with other things. Thanks for everything!

Chinese New Year

As this year comes to an end(I can say that cause it is almost Chinese New Year here!), there are so many things I could write about. This year has carried many joys and sorrow, laughter and tears, calmness and storm, but most of seeing God working in the lives of many, including myself. It has been a difficult year in many ways. The ministry of literally saving lives of the unborn, and touching souls of the needy is a rollercoaster at times.

Many times in the ministry, it is quite easy to be discouraged. Things get very tired, but not the physical tiredness that I think I can handle. But emotional tiredness as you try your hardest to not bear the burden of these mommas in crisis on your shoulders. I am often reminded of Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God reminding us to give it all, burdens included over to HIM.
                                                   
I love how God uses the most unexpected things and people, to encourage us. In ministry, we need to see God in everything, not just a few things. In our work with mommas in crisis, many times we don’t see how God is working out things right away, but later on. Like this week, I received an email from a young momma who was being coerced to have an abortion. She did not want it, yet, she couldn’t keep the baby and she did not want to lose her boyfriend. Finally, through God’s power, she came to our ministry. She gave her baby up for adoption and her daughter is now almost 2 years old. This momma, Ah J, wrote me this week.

“Shr Mu (what I am called here), I really want to thank you all for being there for me. It is because of your encouragement and company that I was able to give birth to my daughter, that decision is the best decision I will have made my entire life time. Because I believe God planned it all this way, I love God too. God gave me the greatest gift ever, my daughter. She is an angel sent from God, every baby is an angel sent by God. Abortion, is the same as “murder”, I am anti abortion. If I ever come across other women who were in the same situation as I was, I pray that you all can help them too. I watch the happenings at MLH and hope I can help out some way. I am after all “one of the MLH family.”



This my friends, is not something made up. This came at the right time, sent by our Heavenly Father. For every momma we reach, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, we actually reach more. These mommas know that we truly care about them and when they meet someone in need, they will reach out to them because we reached out to them.

I want to take this time to thank many of you who have donated items to our MLH as well as to those who have financially supported us. Through your donations, you are a part of this ministry. This ministry of working with crisis pregnancies is not the ministry of MLH, but those who are supporting through prayer or finances or material needs. If you haven’t donated yet, please consider donating to keep more babies away from the pain of abortion, as well as sheltering women from the pain of abortion.

As we look forward to next year our theme is “The Value of One.” We will keep strong our faith in God that HE will continue to work strong thru us. As Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Let us all look forward to the ministry of 2012.

Food Bank 12/13/2011

Today, Alexia,Wuli, Luke and I headed out with a few boxes to pass out. We spent most of the morning doing this. Our first momma is a single mom to 3 boys. She is divorced due to domestic violence. She made it through those first years with one baby on her back, one in a stroller and holding on to ones hand while walking around collecting cardboard boxes. Today she is doing a bit better, but still struggles. We found out that her and her boys had been bathing in cold water because she didn't have the $25US to buy a new tank of propane gas. Thank the Lord, through donations, we were able to help her get a tank of gas right away. Hugs and encouragment lifted the spirits of this young momma. Her oldest is diagnosed ADHD and other two go to therapy for developmental delays. She is doing her best.

Keeping a family together, no matter what is so important. We have single parents and both parent families. Just a word of encouragement, a hug, a smile, letting them know you DO care, it means so much. Sometimes even more than the food you bring!

This past week we received 6 blankets and 300kilos of rice!! The donators dropped it off across the street. We moved it bag by bag....about 30kilos per bag! Go Alexia!! we train our MLCA women:-)

Grandparents in Taitung often are left with the care of their grandchildren. Children's parents may or many not be married, may or may not send money home. So often, the grandparents, even with health problems, are often left struggling to take care of their grandkids. This couple is so sweet. Grandpa was almost in tears and saying "too much!" They had come to town, over an hour one way via scooter!!

While we normally distribute food, someone sent all these umbrellas!! This is awesome and a gift no one normally thinks about.

What we came back to after distributing our last boxes!!

Did you complain today about what you don't have? This momma cleaned up before we came!!

A very happy 3 year old playing with a toy given. Joy and excitment.

A reporter went with us today, one question he asked Luke was:"how come you all seem to have such a good relationship with your clients? I don't see this often, and I see alot of stories." I thought that was an interesting observation. I thanked God that HE allowed this reporter to see this difference! It is because of God we can do this, that is the difference. We are not doing this for pictures or for recognition, nope, we are doing it because God put it there before us!

Matthew 25:35-40

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.