Halfway Home

I am writing this from the airport in Tokyo. I made it safely here and have two more flights till I reach home in St. Louis sometime this evening. I can't believe I'm sitting here waiting for my plane and that six months has already passed. My last night at the Home was as perfect as could be. Because it was also Ted's birthday, a bunch of the older kids that are in college or living elsewhere on the island came home to celebrate. It was a celebration even bigger than Chinese New Year. So many gifts, so much food and laughter, such a great testament to how much Ted has blessed the children and how much they love him.

So my last day was filled with celebration and thanksgiving. Jhong Hau was home and he took me on a scooter ride up to the tea fields on the other side of the mountain. Every turn he made, he leaned back and asked if I was scared. :) He also didn't have a helmet for me, so he told me not to tell my father because he might be angry at him. :)

After devotions, I gave cards/letters that I had made out to all the kids and got to watch more birthday festivities for Ted. The littlest girls put on a song/dance combo for him and the night ended with a ton of pictures and everyone spanking Ted's bottom- a birthday tradition at the Home.

Of course, I cried when saying goodbye to Show Hwa and to Meredith, but they were tears of joy as well as sadness. One of the older girls, Chyou Rho made me a card and gave me a milk tea for my ride to the airport the next morning. Such a sweet girl!

I have been so blessed by my experience here in Taiwan. Memories I will cherish forever and heart changes that I pray will last as I figure out the next steps for my life. Leaving the Home, I can say with a full heart that some day I will be back there again.

Looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family in a few hours and in the upcoming weeks!

David's Birthday!!!

I didn't have time to write yesterday, but yesterday was David's 1st birthday!!!!! Oh, what a wonderful blessing and joy he has been to me. If I could take these little babies home, I would! We celebrated by having all the babies come to a special party for David, where as the guest of honor, he got to sit in the middle of the circle and wear a really cool paper hat. Shr Mama made him a little blueberry muffin and we lit one candle for him to blow out. We sang and he made a wish! We also made a wish for him, which was to be home with his family as soon as possible. Their paper work is going so slowly and there has been lots of mix-ups with it being sent back to Taiwan, so please be praying for God's guidance and hand to move the papers where they need to be quickly.  Here is a video of David's party. Enjoy. :)

PRAY!

Please pray that God would change Chiou's and En Chr and Yu Ping's birth moms' hearts. That God would give them wisdom and a selfless heart to give their children up, so that the babies can have a better life and go to a home where they can be loved and provided for. Pray for God's will and protection over these two babies and girl. Pray against pride and wrong motives to take their babies back. Pray that God's love would cover everything.

Thank you, God for these wonderful babies whom you love so much. Thank you for their smiles and the breath you have given them. I praise you for the work you are doing here in Taiwan at The Home of God's Love. We know you are sovereign and that you want only good for these babies. Please change their birth mothers' hearts, so that they may still be adopted into wonderful, loving families that will teach them about you and your love. I trust that you are working and thank you for getting to be a part of these children's lives. In Jesus' powerful name. Amen.

We also got two new babies today. Chen Hwei Jen is four and a half months and Ou Dz An is five days!

Nearing the End

I have two weeks left here at The Home of God's Love. I think it really just hit me tonight that when I leave here I won't wake up the next morning and get to peek in on Ethan Matthew and get his first smile of the morning or see David Jeremiah's sleepy, confused morning face. I am not yet ready to leave the people that I love here- the babies, Show Hwa, Ted and Bev, Anna, Meredith, and all the older kids. I haven't been keeping track of how many days I have left, mostly because the only reason I will be happy to leave is to get to see my family and friends in America, not because I want to leave here. I wish I could have both my family/friends in America and the babies/kids/friends here in Taiwan in the same place.  Gwo Hwei told me yesterday that I only have fourteen days left. He told me that when I leave his heart is going to cry. Isn't that so sweet? He's been a really good friend while I've been here. And he is such a good helper, feeding and holding the babies when he stops by.  There are so many great people and kids here that I wish I could still have as a part of my every day life. I wish I could get to see all the babies I've helped care for grow up. I wish I could continue being an older sister to all the girls on the other side of the orphanage. Ya Wen told me the other day that she is going to cry when I leave, too. It broke my heart. Bah......no more talking about it. Such great people, such great memories I'll cherish forever.

To stay on a sad note......Baby Chiou (Timothy Joel) is being taken back by his birth mom. This is the second baby for his adoptive parents to lose (Baby Shih was the first), so please be praying for comfort and encouragement for them as the find out the news and continue back at square one with their adoption process. I am really sad that Timothy won't be going to them because they seemed like wonderful, wonderful people. Sometimes when adoptive parents lose a baby because the birth parents take him back, they keep the same name they had picked out for the next baby the are allocated. When Timothy's parents found out that Baby Shih (Elisha) was being taken back and that they were now allocated Chiou, they wanted to choose a new name so that they could keep praying for Elisha.

Happier news......We are getting two new babies this Thursday! One is a newborn, and the other is a four month old. Also, all they other babies are doing well. Ethan Luke rolled over for the first time, En Chr got a hair cut, David is able to put some weight through his legs and stand up with help, Rylyn is working on more teeth and eating better, Ethan Matthew has been less fussy and much more giggly, Mia and Maleeya are growing soooooo much, Brecken and Tristan are doing better with tummy time, James is still super cute, and David Jeremiah is smiling more and wanting more conversation.

Other good news......Meredith and I have enjoyed two wonderful days off in the past two weeks. Last week, we went into town with Anna and got new glasses and helped her run errands. Then, Meredith and I ate lunch at a new little restaurant by the lake. They serve really good waffles! This week, we went into Luodong and ate at a Chinese place and then got bings, Meredith's first! Later that day, we went on a walk with Jong Hau around the lake and then I got to play basketball with him and some of the other kids. I also got to hang out a little bit with Ya Wen and some of the littler girls. One of my favorite moments of the day was when Yu Ping, Ying Ju, and the social worker's daughter ran up to me calling, "Jie Jie (older sister)!" because they wanted to play. Best day off yet!

I need to get to bed, since I'm on early morning shift and it's almost midnight here. Thanks for caring about me and my time here. Thanks for your prayers!

Prayer requests:
- God to watch over Baby Chiou as he goes back with his birth mom
- That Rylyn's adoption would go through, that the case worker would be able to find her birth mom, so that the paperwork process can continue.
- For James' diaper rash
- Rest for Bev and healing for a lump on her eye
- For eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that can see God's heart and love here
-Strength to finish my time here with even more love each day for the babies and people I with whom I work
- God to be preparing my heart to come back to America and ending my time here in joy and thanksgiving

Coming and Going

We have a new little one in our midst as of today. His name is Chen Jie, not to be confused with our other baby Chen Jie En. :) He is a baby from another Home that does adoptions on the island. The woman who runs that operation is named Deana Pawn, and Ted sometimes helps her out with paper work on some of her adoptions. This time Ted is finishing the adoption, so the baby came to stay with us until the rest of the adoption is finished. His adoptive name is James, and he is a sweetie. He is six months old and was all smiles when he arrived. He has had some troubled getting settled down at nap and bed time, but is doing well for his first day here. He reminds me a lot of Kwen in some ways and of Elijah in others. It's funny how any baby I meet I am not going to compare it to the little ones I've taken care of here.

As it seems to happend around here, when one comes another one goes or vice versa. We got the sad new today that Baby Chiou's (Timothy Joel's) birth mom wants to take him back. If Ted and Bev can't talk her out of her decision, this will be the second baby that Timothy's adoptive parents have lost (Baby Shih was the first). Although it's good that the birth mom loves the baby, it is hard because when a baby gets taken back, I always wonder if it will get the care it needs and am saddened that it will most likely be raised to worship idols.

Please pray for Baby Chiou's birth mom that she will come to know the Lord and that she will have a soft heart to give him up to his loving, God-fearing family in the States.

Also, I am now into Ezekiel in the OT. The idea of God's people being unfaithful to Him and His anger/hurt over their prostitution seems to be the theme, as well as his restoration and unfailing love for those that turn back and seek and love him. It's been interesting to ponder on. It is pretty much the meat of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, so it is pretty important to God's heart. I am still hoping to at least finish the Old Testament while I am here. If not, I have a long plane ride home to get some reading done!

Cherish Every Moment

I have been so bad about keeping this up the past two months! Here's the rundown, short and sweet style:

- My parents and brother left almost a week ago and made it home safely. It was such a joy to have them here and be able to show them what my life has looked like, as well as experience old and new parts of Taiwan with them. Besides going to Taroko, we were able to go into Taipei for a day, go to Su'ao a fishing village for an afternoon, drive up to the tea fields in the mountains behind the Home, shop in the Luodong market, and play with lots of wonderful babies. I think my mom wanted to take a few of them home! :)


- Jennifer left the same day as my parents, so the help is down to Meredith and me plus Show Hwa during the week days. Bev took over the night shift where Jennifer had been working. It really doesn't seem like the work load is any different. We actually have been getting to go to bed earlier than before!


- We have eleven babies right now. David, En Chr, Rylyn, Ethan Matthew, Brecken, Tristan, Feng (now David Jeremiah), Lin (now Ethan Luke), Chen (now Maleeya), Chiou (Timothy), and Hwang (Mia). I think Chiou and Mia are the two new ones that I haven't ever written about on the blog. They are both about three weeks old. We got them when they were just a few days old. Chiou was the baby we brought back from our Taroko trip. If you are good about paying attention to the babies we have....which I'll be impressed because I've made it very confusing :)....you will notice that two babies are gone. Chi baby, the Vietnamese baby, whose English name was Ethan Luke, was taken back by the grandparents of the husband to the birth mom. So Chi's adoptive parents were then allocated Lin, which is now why his name is also Ethan Luke. I know, confusing, right? The other baby that is no longer at the Home is baby Shih. He was also taken back by his birth mom. We are really praying for both of those babies, especially Shih. My mom fell in love with Shih when she was here, probably because she has a soft spot for screaming babies. :) He was very fussy, just ask Tyler. His mom is a single mom that has a child in high school, 3rd grade, and a two year old, and now she has Shih, as well. Please pray for his well-being and for the mother to find strength, patience, and Jesus.


- Rylyn and the twins had their courtdates. Please pray that the rest of the process would go smoothly for them and that their adoptive parents would have encouragement and patience in the hardest waiting stage in the adoption.


- I have decided to keep my original plans and come home on March 14th. I am hoping to work at a summer camp this summer and then go to grad school in the fall to get my masters in social work or something that will prepare me to work with a non-profit/mission organization.  There are still lots of things up in the air about all of this, so please be praying for God's sovereignty and guidance...that he would make things especially clear and that he would give me the will to follow through.


- My church has asked me to skype into their chapel service for the grade school kids this week. I am really excited to talk to them and answer their questions. Please pray that God would speak through me and that our interent would work on Thursday morning, since it has been so finicky lately.


I only have a little less than a month left here. Time in the last few months has slowed down compared to the first three that flew by. I am really trying to cherish every moment I have with the wonderful people and babies here. I want to be able to clse my eyes and see everything just as it is here when I get home. I think I will be ready to come home to see friends and family, but I don't like to think about leaving this place yet. It has been a place of solace and peace for me. I have learned a lot about love, service, and truth. I am so grateful to God for bringing me here and am looking forward to meeting with Him and learning even more in my last month. Thank you to all of you who continue to pray for me and those here in Taiwan.

Family Time!!

This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but the internet was acting up, so pretend like it's yesterday when reading it! :)


My parents and brother made it here safely. There was some delays because of weather and some changing of flights, but they finally all made it yesterday. My parents got in really late on Friday night. I was able to go with Ted to pick them up at the airport, which was so special. Nothing like seeing your family after 5 months! Tyler's flight from New Jersey got delayed by about 5 hours, so he missed his connecting flight in Tokyo, but was put up in a nice hotel and flew out the next day. He arrived yesterday evening. We've had a lot of fun catching up and just being in each other's company. It's so good just to have them to talk to. They've now experienced a full day on the job, and I think are really liking it. Being here is so different from anything else they've ever experienced, so it's fun for them to be in a new environment. They love the babies and are doing a GREAT job with them. Tyler said the only one he is scared of is a new baby girl we got the day my parents arrived. She is only five days old and is sooooooo tiny!!!! Only 5.6lbs!

Tomorrow Ted is taking us to Taroko Gorge, a beautiful national park. It will be a day full of beautiful scenery, great food, and lots of walking! On our way home, we get to pick up a new baby at the train station. I'm really excited to see this process first hand, since normally, I wouldn't get to go pick up a new baby.

And now for today......

We experienced the Gorge and it was beautiful! No words can describe the view of lingering fog settling on the tops of the towering mountains- so GREAT!! There wasn't much walking today, but we definitely ate our weight in food!

The day started off with feeding a few babies before we got out the door at 8:00am. Then, Ted got us don bings, egg and onion filled crepes topped with soy sauce, for a delicious breakfast on the train. We took the train to Hua Lien, about a fifty minute ride, and then rented a car to drive up to the National Park. Before we started driving, Ted took us on a quick stop next door to the car rental place for some history lessons on old Chinese furniture and rice tools and to get some mochi balls. Mochi balls are a ball of pounded sticky rice filled with different flavors. My mom and dad had peanut mochi balls, which were filled with peanut powder, Ted and I had coconut filled ones, and Tyler was brave and tried the green bean mochi ball. I had a bite of his and it wasn't horrible. It didn't have a whole lot of flavor. The green bean paste on the inside just tasted a little sweet. I really liked my coconut one. The weirdest part is the texture. It's kind of like swallowing gum that sticks to the roof of your mouth, but if you can get past that they are good!

After our mid morning snack, we started our drive up into the mountains. Ted gave us the tour of the welcome center and all the information about the island and the species found there. We watched a informational video about Taroko, especially in English for us. Ted told us before it started to wake him up at the end. :) He takes so many adoptive parents and other American visitors to the Gorge that he could probably quote the movie verbatim. The rest of our time in Taroko consisted of driving on the winding mountain passes and getting out to walk a short while or see the cliffs, pagodas, or bridges. We ate another delicious meal for lunch at a beautiful pagoda with waterfalls running down underneath. Ted and I had fried rice and the rest of my family had fried noodles. Ted also bought us honeydew melon, pink dragon fruit, bell fruit (it's kind of like a pear apple), bananas, and plums. Sooooooo good!

Besides viewing the breathtaking scenery, which of course warranted a picture every five steps, we also walked across a swinging bridge. I had been on it the last time I was in Taiwan and really enjoyed it again, as I enjoy  heights, but I think it's something both my mom and Tyler felt they could have done without. Along the way, we also stopped at a Presbyterian church started by Chi-Oang, the first aborigine Christian in Taiwan in 1925. She was from a tribal family in the mountians of Taroko and is know as the Mother of Taiwan Aboriginal Faith. Her faith and courage led many people to know the Lord. She would often conduct church services in a cave near the church because propagation of any religion at that time was illegal. We got to walk down into the cave and stand where they used to have services. We also stopped by another little church that also has a hostel connected with it. This was the hostel out group stayed in for a few nights last time I was here.

I had also visited the church and the places where Ted took us in the mountains the last time I was here, but this time it was really neat because my family got to see in person the places and scenery they had only been able to see in my pictures. I felt like they were getting to experience what I experienced three years ago. I really like being able to share this with them.

After all our stops, we headed out of the park, but not before Ted stopped to get us an ice cream treat! (Oh, the never-ending food!) We headed back to the train station, but.... that's right, MORE food. Ted wanted my family to try the pineapple cakes Taiwan is famous for, and he decided to throw in a few more mochi balls (strawberry this time). We got to the train station with plenty of time to get some drinks at the 7 Eleven and meet the social worker who had the baby for us. His name is Chiou Bau Lo and he is nine days old. I got to hold him the whole way home on the train as he slept!

We got back to the Home and, with still full bellies, forwent dinner and jumped right back into feeding and loving on our babies. It was a great day! Pictures will be coming....

Caleb, Logan, and Fun!

Here's some long awaited pictures.

Here's some of me and Caleb. He was the first baby I ever held when I got to the Home. He has a very special place in my heart! He is now happily home with his parents.

Sweet, sweet boy!

Caleb and I playing soon after I got to Taiwan. 

When Caleb was little, he was really fussy. Sometimes the only way for him to fall asleep was to take a nap with him!

Caleb stealing Logan's pacifier.

This was taken a day or two before he left.

Here are some of Logan. He leaves tomorrow with his parents!

:) This is Logan surprised to be getting his picture taken!

Best smile award!

I'm going to America!?

I also thought you guys might enjoy some group picture shots.

The original nine minus Eugene.

Little baby feet!

Jennifer and me during play time.

Meredith and me playing with the babies. As you can see there are a lot of new baby faces. This was just taken yesterday, Jan. 24, 2011.

The new set of babies, including Logan, minus Rylyn, En Chr, and David.

Monday, Jan. 24

Hi everyone! All of the babies are doing well and currently napping. Today, we are celebrating Anna's birthday! In case some of you may have forgotten, she is the Skiles trusted friend and co-worker. She came to Taiwan to help when she was in her twenties and never went home. That's not completely true. She has been home many times, but has been living here, taking care of all money issues and being the second mom to the older kids now for thirty some years. She is so wonderful and I'm so happy to be here to wish her a happy birthday. Someone gave her pizza for her birthday that she's been generous to share, and later we will get to have Jell-o cake (a white cake you poke holes in and fill with jell-o)!

Since, Meredith has come I have been in much better spirits about working long hours. I don't know what the switch was, but she seems to help make the long hours of taking care of babies seem more fun. She is so good about keeping the focus on loving the babies all day long. And since she spent the last two years in Spain, the babies are now singing fun songs in Spanish as well as English and Chinese. Our babies are so smart! :)

My parents and brother arrive this Friday! I'm so excited to go and pick them up at the airport! Hopefully, they'll love it here as much as I do!

Prayer requests:
- I've been thinking about extending my stay here for another six months. There are many pros and cons to going in home in March and to staying for awhile longer. Please pray for clarity, guidance, trust and obedience.
- Safe travels for my family, and that time with them would be rejuvenating and joy-filled!
- Blessing for Show Hwa and her family. I just love her a lot!
- Safety and protection over the older kids as they will be going home to spend some time with their parents or relatives over Chinese New Year.
- For God to move the hearts of Baby Chi's birth parents.
- Shing Yu's adjustment to her new family and for strength, patience, and comfort for her adoptive parents.
- Freedom from oppression and God's healing and salvation for the older girl here as well as Bev's granddaughter.
- For God to show me His son and His salvation for me.

Thanks, everyone! Love and miss you all!
-

"Home" sick

Hi everyone! I wanted to update you all on how life is going over here. Currently, I am sick...again. This time it feels like strep throat. I haven't been able to shake a fever, headache, earache, or sore throat. My fever will break, but will come back again in a few hours. Please pray for my quick recovery, as while I am sick the other volunteers have to pick up my clack and work longer hours with less help.

While being sick this time, it has really made me miss home. I miss having the comfort of my own house and being surrounded by people that know me and love me. My "family" here is great, but not the same as my family back home.

Please also be praying for Baby Shih and Ethan Matthew. They are both having tummy issues and have been really upset during the days. The twins, Brecken and Tristan, have not been eating very well, and seem to have some tummy problems, as well. And finally, please also be praying for Ethan Luke, or as I call him "Chi Bow Bow."

Caleb's family and Gabrielle made it safely back to the States. Meredith, the new volunteer is settling in nicely. She is so great!! We are all thanking God for sending her beautiful (and crazy :) ) spirit here!

Logan's family comes this Wednesday to pick him up! His process has seemed to take a long time, so we are all thankful they will be here soon.

My parents and brother get here on the 28th!! I can't wait to show them what my life has looked like for the past four months and for them to experience everything I love about being here.

I forgot to mention earlier, please also be praying for one of the older girls here who is really struggling with demon possession and for one of the Aiye's who just found out she has stomach cancer.

Thanks for being prayer warriors for me and for taking an interest in my life here in Taiwan. Love you all!

Happy 2011!!

Hi, everyone! It's been way too long since I updated you all on life at the Home. I brought in the New Year changing Baby Brecken's dirty diaper while he screamed his head off. :) I hope you all had memorable New Year's Eves, as well. As usual, lots has been going on here and constantly changing. In order not to write you a novel, I'm just going to bullet point the last few weeks.

- Emily and Jonathan, Jennifer's sister and boyfriend have been here for the past two weeks, enjoying time with Jennifer and taking care of the babies. It's been fun getting to know them and so nice having a few extra hands to help hold and feed the babies. They fly out tomorrow morning to return to the States.

- Caleb's parents arrived last Tuesday, surprise greeted by Ted and Caleb at the airport. They didn't know Caleb was going with Ted to pick them up. I was a little sad that I didn't get to see the Morgans' first reaction to meeting their baby, but his mom said it wasn't a teary eye sort of meeting. Caleb was screaming in the car seat and Ted said, "He's yours!" :) Nothing like getting thrown into parenthood with a kicking and screaming 6 month old! They have been so great and are doing so well adjusting to now be a mommy and daddy. They are Wycliffe missionaries in Tanzania doing Bible translation for people there that don't yet have the Bible in their language. Rachel and Jonathan shared during devotions tonight about their life and work. It took them 1 year to translate Genesis, and 3 years to translate the gospel of Mark! Some of the people groups their organization works with don't even have a written language yet! They have to analyze their language and come up with an alphabet for them before ever beginning translations. I have loved learning about their work and am going to look further into Bible translating as a possible future career! They fly back to the States on Tuesday where they will finish their furlough before heading home.

- Also leaving on Tuesday is Gabrielle. Everyone is really sad to see her go home. She has really done a great job forming friendships with the older kids and of course loving the babies. Her and I got to spend lots of nights doing the eleven o'clock feeding the week before last and we got to spend a day together in Lo Tung on our day off this past week. God really did some good work with putting us here at the same time. I have learned a lot from her and will miss her sweet spirit and bubbly personality.

- Whenever one person leaves, the next person comes. That's what it seems like here. Meredith, the newest volunteer arrived on Friday. She is 23 and another midwest girl.  She has been great and has already jumped right into our schedule. She will be volunteering for a whole year, doing some language study in the summer months. I am excited to get to know her and share the next two months with her. God has already been good in blessing me through her as she let me go to bed early tonight, so I could catch up on some things (like writing this blog).

- The day off that i had with Gabrielle was full of many adventures. We just decided to go into Lu Tung and explore past the market. It has been my favorite day off so far. We found a few bakeries and tried some delicious pastries, we ordered coffee and tea at a road side stand (something I've been wanting to do since I got here- it helped that the stand we went to had a Chinese/English sign!), shopped around at the little stores we found, checked out the supermarket, and ended the day eating at a pizza place. The joke for the day was that I stepped in a puddle soaking my foot and jeans because I was too busy flirting with some old men who were very excited to see an American girl. I was just trying to be friendly!

- One afternoon, I went down to the lake to read for awhile and met two men and two women riding a four person bike. The bikes are rented out by the lake for people to use. They were waving hello, so I smiled and waved back. The man asked me in Chinese how old I was and was surprised when I answered him back in Chinese. They got a huge kick out of the little Chinese that I can speak. Each of them wanted their picture with me. They thanked me and left, which i thought was the end of it, but then as I was sitting on a bench near the lake, I heard giggling behind me every once in awhile, and turned around to see that the same people were riding their bike in little circles right behind me. They asked me if I wanted to hop on and ride with them around the lake, but I politely told them I was reading. It was a fun interaction.

- The older kids have been so much fun! Wan Ching painted my and Gabrielle's fingernails, and yesterday Tz Wen (12 year old boy) grabbed my hand to play a miniature air hockey game. Also, today the barber came and all of the younger boys got their hair cut. I embarrassed them all by telling them they looked handsome. :)

- We got Logan's first paper which means his parents will be coming to get him in the next couple of weeks!!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

-I am continued to be amazed at Bev and Ted and how they run the orphanage. People are constantly coming and going. Bev lives her life having to get to know new people all the time just in time for them to leave and the next person to come. Both her and Ted's generosity and hospitality astound me. I don't think I could live with the constant change and giving of energy to get to know and welcome new people all the time for my whole life. They are such special and faithful people.

God is good.