Young Moms

Today Wuli and I travelled a total of 5.5hrs, roundtrip, to visit a mom. She is 18yrs old and just delivered. Her aunt called us to ask for help. First, we are so thankful that they heard from us via an Ob/Gyn clinic! We had sent over 100 letters to clinics up and down the east coast with our brochures and news about what we do and all. So thankful that this doctor gave them the information.

First, the mom's mom and aunt met with us. Their decision is pretty much set, but after a bit, the momma came down. She delivered yesterday afternoon. At first, she just sat there starting at the table, wiping away the tears that fled down her swollen cheeks. Her aunt and mom tried to get her to talk,but she wouldn't. She wants baby. She feels the family SHOULD take care of it and all live happily ever after (ok, that part was me being sarcastic!).  She did not finish highschool, was working some, but at her age, she could only make 1/3 of what regular minimum wage is. Her mom is a widower, her older brother a police officer. She is the only girl in the family, as in the relatives. AKA....spoiled and did what she wanted to. Boy's family, divorced and both parents remarried, married and divorced, a few times each! He never attempted highschool. She commented he couldn't come visit her because he has forgotten to check in with his probation officer so was locked up (he is 17rys old!).
We got to a point where it was obvious she was not going to talk, nor was she about to be given a chance. I engaged her aunt and mom in small talk while Wuli, who was sitting directly across from her talked to her. In the end, she was continuing to say she wanted to keep baby. She seems to have it all figured out. Wuli gave her her name card and she refused. Tears were flowing and anger and bitterness were setting in.

Our center's goal is and has never been adoption. When dealing with unwed mother's we will have the unwanted babies. Our first opinion is that babies and moms stay together, that is what is natural and what should happen. After counseling and their own personal evaluation, the decision that is made is respected. Our work is to make sure they have the proper information to make wise decisions and resources available to help them with their decision. That is who we are and what we are called to.

Please pray for this momma. We do not know what the final decision is, we do not know if we will even hear from them again. But we showed them that we cared, and the adults could see that. We told them that we just want to show the unconditional love that God has given to us.

We'll see what goes on tomorrow.

It is one of those Mondays.....

We headed off this morning to a high school in Cheng Kung to teach Worth Waiting For. We taught 5 periods, and probably most of the school. I was saddened by the "lack" of innocence in the younger classes. Really, if it was my kid, I would be flabbergasted! But knowing that these kids come from poor backgrounds, and mostly are tribal children, I was not shocked. Knowing that they also probably have never heard the Gospel, was also saddening to us. But we are thankful that we could get the news of us out there and different areas via internet to reach us.

The school counselor was sharing with us about how alot of boyfriends/girlfriends live together. Unfortunately, that did not shock us either. Sometimes, I am saddened that these are no longer "shocking" things to me.  It seems like it is happening more and more in the society here. I really do not know what to say at times other than, I am not suprised.

We are so excited, there are some grants that we seem to qualify for. So please keep us in your prayers that we can get them. We will need funding. I hope to get a chipin button done soon, but am at a loss as to how much to start with!  There have been many of you who have already given generously and we are so thankful. We also have so many plans in our brains.

First, this week we meet with a new mom, please pray for her. We are hopefully moving our center out soon. We will be moving to the 3rd floor of our church, saving $350US in rent!! hopefully though, that will allow us to have more activities as well. So much going on. The church needs some redoing too, so that will take some time.

Well, hoepfully I can write some more at another time. This blog will be open soon, but I wish I could still see who sees it! But, oh well, we know that we want this blog to reach those who need to see it.

Thank you for your prayers again!! keep them coming in!

BIRTHDAY BASH!!!

Well, if you followed us on FB, you will see we started out the "cry" for "1st birthday" funds. I will be putting a ticker up soon for Birthday Bash funds. We are hoping to raise some money to cover the costs of things. We will be moving our center to another place soon as well, ok, our church!! 3rd floor, so that is going to need some help, but I think we got that covered. We are excited, yet nervous about what is going to be instor for us. So much to do.

So, how much do you think we should try to raise for the "1st birthday bash"? also, should it be throughout the summer? I am coming on to this a bit late....so....we'll see...... suggestions?

what to do...

Well, first, I want to say that we have been so encouraged with gifts that have come in here and there for the ministry. There have been somethings that God has used to talk to us, well, at least to me about and emphasize somethings.
As I write this, I am totally exhausted, feeling rather tired and dizzy. Not sure why, though I know that this week holds some special work that needs to be done. It seems like due to some recent events, we have to start this ministry all over again from scratch. But what does that entail? will we have the resources to do that? Who to talk to? where to go? what to do?
This blog will very soon go public. It will be a mix of family and ministry, though we will try to be mainly focused on ministry. We have to get the news out there about resources needed for our work. You all will soon enough hear news, so I am not going to "blow" it:-). Though in Taiwan, the Ministry of Interior is wanting to change the adoption status, meaning, emphasizing domestic. Ministry of Interior has stated that they have plans to have their new regulations made into law to go into affect January 1, 2012. If that does happen, we no longer do adoptions. Ministry of Interior wants to control everything, even those who do domestic and international adoptions. It is sad that no one is considering the children in Taiwan. Taiwan regulations want to keep ONLY healthy infants in Taiwan and the rest go international. That will cause a number of problems, but the main ones I see are: Taiwan society doing away with special needs children or making them an outcast, and what defines special needs (currently ADHD children are special needs). There are lots of things that the gov't has not set up yet, and just wants to go with it. So, this will need lots of prayer!

Here at MLH/CPC, adoption has never been our first ministry. It has been and will always be to the women in need, women in crisis. So, with adoptions soon to be out of the picture, that leaves us without resources. That sounds bad, but everyone knows our resources were coming because of the "donations" via adoptions. So we need to show others around Taiwan that our needs are for women in crisis. Crisis means alot of things to everyone. Crisis pregnancy could be due to age, special needs, health obstacles, number of children, finances, etc. But one thing for sure is that women in crisis pregnancy NEED love and support no matter what. So, that is our goal.
MLH/CPC is soon to be one year old. We are looking to raise money for rent and needs for the cpc and home. We have new future goals, new plans. We also have God on our side. I am excited about what is coming, but I can't share right now. God is working. God can work through you and your community. Please be praying about the future and what you can do.

Ok,  I need to get off here, but hopefully these next few weeks I can write more. Thank you all for your prayers!!
****PS...we just got a phone call from an 18yr old,please pray for her!

Life is a gift....

This is something we all know. Yet, some people take it for granted, ok, alot of people! A quote from Mother Teresa " It's poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." That is something that we really face alot in this ministry. The selfishness of human nature. Weeks ago we had a call from a group that helps single mothers. The social worker asked if we could do pre abortion counseling. Sure! Not a problem! She was so happy because another organization had told her "no! if the client wishes to abort, it is not your position to change her mind, that is against work ethics!" This social worker went on to tell us, the client's boyfriend WANTED the baby, but the 25yr old young lady said "I don't want to give up my job to take care of a baby." That hurt so much. Selfishness. This young momma never showed up to the appointment the social worker set. We don't know if she aborted or not. Selfishness.

We recently have had a 37yr old lady (weird when clients are the same age as you!!) with a great job. She has found herself pregnant and alone. Her boyfriend has left have hearing of her being pregnant. At 37yr of age, she wants to keep her baby. YEAH!! But her biggest fear? Telling her parents. She is not sure how they will take it. She is keeping her job til she gives birth. She will have alot of mouth from coworker I bet. She is coming to our dr for prenatals, but she lives OUT of county. Yes, she travels here by train for her prenatals. Sad that such a happy time should be such a time of keeping secrets.

Please pray with us as we minister to these moms. There is alot ahead, alot of what needs to be done. Some don't get it. Call us "saints" or "wonderful people" and the such. If everyone just helped one person, think of how many people we could be helping? Instruments of God, that is all we are, instruments in the hands of the Master.

Please pray for our Respect Life Rally on 5/14~