Almost Chinese New Year here...

and the feeling is in the air. Seems like everyone is feeling the "vacation here I come" feeling:-). In Taiwan, we get a week off. Chinese New Year is 2/2. On New Year's Eve, 2/1 it is the "reunion meal". So everyone needs to be at home, or with someone, no one should be alone. The children are allowed to stay up til midnight, and New Year's Eve, everyone is supposed to be in new clothing. At midnight you can hear fireworks and firecrackers all around. Children line up (well, this is traditionally, but not everyone is like this now) at midnight and one by one the older family members (grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, etc) give them red envelopes and the children will say happy new year or some Chinese idiom with meanings of blessing. The red envelopes have money in them and the money is to be in even number (like you can give $20 or $26 but not $25). Even money numbers are given for happy occassions. Candy is eaten ALL THE TIME......pumpkin seed, sunflower seeds, nuts in general are eaten (not sure why so don't ask me!). Everyone just shoves their face..................eh.....sounds like Christmas doesn't it? except Christmas has the wonderful meaning of God's gift to us. Chinese New  Year unfortunately is filled with worship at the temples, people fighting to get to be the first inline to put their incense stick at the temple pot, etc. Luke though likes to preach on Chinese New Year (traditional customs) and the Passover. He has researched 10 points that are alike. Very neat.

This year will be year of the Rabbit. So we are thinking that maybe we'll have lots of little ones come through MLH?:-). I don' t know.

Recently, we had a mom bring a baby that was a week old. Sad situation, baby is healthy though. Still working on paperwork, so please pray. She is separated from her abusive husband for almost 3 years, and the baby is not his. So we have to do DNA and all that stuff. She was in hiding from her family cause no one knows she had a baby.
Also pray for Miss Liu as she is not going to have an abortion, but is not sure about keeping the baby because she is handicap, physically (missing fingers, that is all). She has a job til April. So she might come here then. We got another phone call of a mom that might come in April as well. So we need to get the house fixed.

Oh, we have been having fun with looking at colors for the rooms!!! Our ladies are having fun. Our kitchen/dining room area will be in mid shade yellow and all decorations will be sunflowers:-).....keeping it bright and cheerful!! One of the mom's room will be a lavendar on the wall, and then different shades will be used to sponge print flower shapes......trying to keep it nice......so happy to be working on this!! Keep the needs in prayer please. We hope to start painting the living room, dining room and one mom's room Feb.8, that week........will definetly show pictures!!!

Ok, off to do some work. Thank you for your prayers!

Deana