What do you do?

The other day our office got a phone call. It was a suprising phone call because we rarely get one, from a soon to be dad. But this wasn't just any other dad, he was a 19 year old student, calling for his 18 year old girlfriend.

Somehow, she has made it to 40 weeks without any teachers or parents knowing. This does cause concern for me as you wonder if she has been eating properly and taking care of herself. My heart ached as I talked to him when he called the second time.

Young daddy comes from an ok family, both parents are around, still married. Momma comes from a single parent (mom) family and they struggle to make ends meet, had to take out a loan for school. They go to night school and one works during the day. I do admire this strong young man and hope I can meet him and give him a hug. He has taken her to every prenatal check up and sounds like he is taking good care of her. They had seen Morning Light information on the web and realized that abortion should NEVER be an option. But now, at 40 weeks pregnant, what was their option?

In their mind, it was all planned out . "Well", he said in a very matter of fact voice, "if we come down tomorrow night and she is induced, stays the weekend and then we come back to our area on Monday." Meaning, they would "be absent from school" on Monday and then continue on with school the rest of the week like nothing happened. After all, no one knows.

Sounds like a perfect plan, and in all honestly, I can tell they really thought about it. I can also tell they are scared and not sure what else to do. So, when I had to burst his bubble, I felt awful. I unfortunately had to tell him "Have you told her parents or yours?" "Uh, no." "Well, you both are minors until age 20yr old, and the hospital can't just deliver a baby and not tell the guardian. Even if they could, what about afterwards?" You could almost tell the fear of telling the parents in his voice. "Do we have to?" I kindly, in the most comforting voice I could, "yes, it is best and really that is the only way you can get things done. I suggest you let her mom know, it is safest for all of you. You can tell her our phone number and we can talk to her to let her know we are legit. But you need to tell her parents."

By law, we could get into mega trouble if we took her in and all. Then the grandma is still guardian of baby til momma is 20yr old (unlike the USA way). The young daddy's answer was "ok, I see" and that was it.

All last night I was thinking, "Lord please, please,please don't let me see news of an abandoned baby in xx county."  My heart is so concerned that that might happen, because it has happened way to many times. The laws, while trying to protect, too many times hurt many lives here.

Our prayers this weekend are that we can reach out to help this young couple. Prayers that they can come out and tell their parents the situation and the reprecussions are not as they dream.

Lord, help us to be able to help this young couple.  Give us wisdom and understanding as to what to do for them. Lord, each and every life is precious in YOUR sight. Show them YOUR way!! Wrap YOUR arms of love and care around them, around their hearts. Protect this little life soon to be delivered Lord!!

Bottles for Change

 

This is an opportunity for you, your family, your youth group, school class, college class, home school coop, etc. to get involved in helping out Morning Light Crisis Pregnancy Center.

Easy to do:

1.     Get a baby bottle of your choice.

2.     Each day, put in spare change or any amount of money you want.

3.     When the bottles are filled, count it out and take it to the bank.

4.     You may write out a check or hit the donate button on our blog:

                     www.panfamtaiwan.blogspot.com

 

THEN you can redo itJ Easy. Simple. Fast and great way to support a ministry reaching out to moms in need.

Taiwan has an abortion rate of 300,000 – 500,000 a year! That is double the live birth rate. Morning Light CPC is working with moms in need, moms in an unplanned pregnancy situation as well as moms who keep their babies. Through your support in the Bottle for Change program, you can help keep us going.

If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me at: deanapan@yahoo.com

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

1st: Morning Light Women's Meeting

Yesterday, October 2 was the first meeting for our associations Single Moms group. It should have been the third meeting, but man, Satan just works so hard. AND it ended up being that I couldn't even attend due to an emergency need 3hrs away! Thankfully Alexia and a missionary lady helped out.



Originally I had the name :Moms Rest Stop (though literally translated it was Mom's Gas Station!!LOL!). My intention was a time for single mommas to get together, learn about baking, relax, share a devotion and pray with them. That was the plan. Unfortunately, I wasn't there, but the rest they followed the plan. But what else happened? They baked, they laughed, they shared, Alexia led the devotion, they prayed, they talked, they came away happy. They have their own name:-) "Morning Light Women's Heart" . A place where they can share their heart without reprecussions.

    



Something also came to light that I NEVER NEVER thought about, and shows how important learning about the people serve is. Too many places make titles of their activities to show who they are serving, understood. But these 4 mommas said they loved the title. Why? It didn't single them out as single moms. Our title never mentioned "Single momma's Rest Stop Activity." They said that they know they are single moms, why broadcast it?! Activities they go, they all have a group picture in front of the sign that says "X X activity for Single Moms". Has anyone ever stopped to see what they think?

                                                      

Societies everywhere have an opinion of single moms, single dad and children of single parent families. Admit it.....you as my readers do too. Poor mom, was there abuse? Poor children not growing up in a "normal" family. Poor children don't have much of a future. No wonder they do bad in school, from single parent family. Oh, I have heard these excuses alot.


This activity made me realize even more,our ministries are getting to know the real person. Not putting it down on a paper to show to someone that we had so many activities and had so many people come. Has anyone asked the attenders their feelings? Has anyone asked the outcome?



Our mommas have invited more to come next week. I am trying to limit the class and who knows, we may have to offer more in the future. Next week they learn about decorating cakes and cupcakes. They are so excited. They are doing something that they can take back and give their kids. Who knows, we may even get a small business started.



Either way, relationships are being made. Seeds of God's love are being sowed. These mommas are being made to feel they are someone, and not just "single moms".

 

  

I gotta admit.....

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

 

I am a bit exhausted this Friday afternoon. Things are going well, and when things go well you easily let your guard down. And it is right at that time that Satan SWOOPS down and BAMs you down.

See we are working on somethings for the daycare as well as an upcoming event. This event is a first event for us and another Christian association. This event, Walk for Life, honestly has never happened in our part of Taiwan. OF COURSE Satan wants to keep us preoccupied with disgruntled people and with things that aren't really of importance. This ministry is a big spiritual battle ground. Battling for lives, not just the lives of future children, but lives for mommas and dads whose life could be drastically changed for the worse due an abortion.



Let's face it folks, Satan just doesn't want that to happen. This afternoon I received a phone call from a former momma whose children are in the adoption process. Due to some circumstances, she was able to see them and the adoptive family of her older child. Yes, three children, all being adopted and by the same family. The mom called me saying thru tears she was thinking of her baby boy and wanting him back. This mom has been traveling alot to get to meet family and kids that she has never ever taken care of, she is exhausted, she is tired of her life and the way it is going. But she is a mom who saw her son for the first time in 8 months. She saw how cute he is, how easy going he is, his smiles and babbling, smelled his baby smell. Now she wants him back. She saw him in the arms of a momma who has loved him from far away. Birth mom wants him back.

 



Do I have time to deal with this knowing it is part of the grieving process? No, but I will make time cause that is the ministry here. There is no putting in the schedule "counseling for crisis", that doesn't even make sense. Crisis happens anytime and anywhere, so counseling needs to be right there. What do I say? My heart says alot of things I cannot mention here, but I also ask her "you work late night shifts in a pub. Who will watch your baby? You barely make enough to eat and live on, baby's needs?" This is not pushing her to NOT want her baby back, but at times reminding them of reality and why they made the decision in the first place. If a mom has changed dramatically and stable, you know what? I would ask the same questions and see her response.



I don't know why I am writing all this. Today, this week has just been exhausting. I might do alot, but I am human too, just like the rest of you.Today, I am tired. I admit it. I am not defeated. Nope.



Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Day 12: 9/12/2012

Today is Day 12 of Pray for Taiwan Abortion Month.

This is serious folks. Taiwan doesn't have the counselor sidewalks, the protests, the issues. So often crisis pregnancy centers often get weird looks, criticized and told we go overboard. It is nothing for government social workers to say "if the mom is poor or single and pregnant, I will help her set up an abortion, we don't need any more problems." Yeah....well, you can imagine how that set with me!!

 

Today, pray for the few crisis pregnancy centers in Taiwan. There are, including us, 5 that we are sure of. That is for a population of 23 million +. That is 5 crisis pregnancy centers for the 300,000-500,000 abortions a year in Taiwan. Wow! That gives me heart palpitations!!!



---------------------------------------------------------
Lord, today we especially pray for the 5 CPCs in Taiwan. The abortion numbers are heartbreaking, and the workers work so hard.
Lord, we pray that each center will not be discouraged as they face opposition from client's families, opposition from clinics and social workers. Lord, give each CPC the strength and endurance to keep fighting the good fight.
Lord, as the CPC workers minister to each momma that calls or comes thru their doors, give the workers wisdom, boldness and clarity of thought. Give them words to say and let them allow YOU to speak thru them.
Lord, we know YOU make no mistakes, we know YOU have put everyone on this path for YOUR purpose.
Lord, thank you for the CPCs in Taiwan that they have stepped out and respected life and are working to teach others and help others. Thank you they have obeyed the call to this mission field.

In the Precious Name of our Savior Jesus Christ,
AMEN!

This is from Monday:

Today is 9/10/2012
Day 10 for Prayers for Abortion Month in Taiwan
Pray for hospital and clinic workers.

Lord, we take this time to pray for hospital workers and clinic workers around the island of Taiwan.
...

These workers are the first ones to hear of the situations momma's are in and are often the ones who can share resources.
Lord, we pray that these workers will be bold and brave and encourage momma's to not abort. We pray that they will show resources available to mommas and talk and comfort them.
Lord, give the workers wisdom as they deal with scared mommas. Lord we know you hear our prayers.
AMEN!

 

 

Abortion Month Prayers

This month I decided to something different, hence all the Facebook posts you will see. Since September is known as Abortion Month, I have been burdened to ask others to pray with us this month for abortions. Prayers will be for students, parents, mommas, dads, doctors, teachers, centers, post abortion syndrome and all.

 

 

When I did my thesis on the beginnings of Morning Light Home, I had come across this:
"A study using questionnaires through personal interviews was conducted on more than seventeen thousand women who at tended a family planning service in Taipei metropolitan areas between 1991 and 1992. The reproductive history and sexual behaviour of the subjects were especially focused on during the interviews. Preliminary findings showed that 46% of the women had a his tory of having had an induced abortion. Among them, 54.8% had had one abortion, 29.7% had had two, and 15.5% had had three or more. The abortion ratio was 379 induced abortions per 1,000 live births and 255 per 1,000 pregnancies. The abortion ratio was highest for women younger than 20 years of age, for aboriginal women and for nulliparous women."

And this:"Sex-selective abortions in Taiwan create a serious gender imbalance, which is second only to that of China. Between 2004 and 2010, the Taiwanese gender ratio at birth was between 108 and 112 boys for every 100 girls, compared to the worldwide average ratio of around 106 males to 100 females. The government estimated that there were around 3,000 ‘missing’ female babies each year.
 
It is estimated that there are more than 300,000 abortions annually in Taiwan, a country whose population is only 23 million. Like in China, India and Pakistan, sex-selective abortions are common because male children are traditionally valued more highly than females. The Taiwanese government now wants to make the practice impossible by preventing doctors from gender screening of foetuses."

Sad, so sad. This was said about Taiwan and post abortion issues: " In Taiwan, aborted children are considered “spirit babies” who will return to haunt their parents, disturbing their sleep with special cries, ruining business deals, souring love affairs, and prompting suicides unless prayers are offered for them in the temples." (The Standard. “The Spirit Babies: Fighting Ghosts of Aborted Infants,” July 6, 1990, p 18.)

As I write this, I think of a client we had. She didn't want to abort. Alexia spent lots of time on the phone, texting, talking and praying with her. This momma was 28years old, so not like a teenager in school (not that that is a reason to abort). Her family came down from the north to find her and take her to get an abortion. We counseled, tell the dr you do not want an abortion, no one can force you. She did, and she called us and they helped her escape out the side door to Alexia and Wuli who were waiting with a car. As they drove her around talking to this angry and scared young woman, MLH staff received a phone call. The gov't social worker called and said MLH had to give the woman up to another organization. Her family it turns out called someone they knew in the gov't and made up something against us. We could only do what we were told, and the momma agreed to as she didn't want to cause problems for us she said. Later, Alexia recieved an instant message from the momma saying she had the abortion, regrets it so much, but she had no choice.

NO CHOICE! that is why we are here people..............the DO HAVE A CHOICE!!! goodness, she is 28 years old, SHE HAS A CHOICE!! Her family made her have an abortion, but what is she doing now? can she sleep? can she eat? is she suicidal? depressed? introvert? lonely? what is she going thru?

PRAY! Pray with us that we can reach more like this. We are looking to do a billboard, but we have to see what is in our budget and if we can. Please pray we can!!

Pray for abortion month in Taiwan

Summer is over......

Today most of Taiwan started back to school. Yes, I know that USA kids started already, but Taiwanese kids go til June 30. So, things might get back to normal......is there such thing as normal?

Unfortunately, during this time, the abortion rate in Taiwan is estimated to increase by 43%! Yes...you read that correctly, increase of 43%. Why? How? WHAT!!!

Summer is over and students "need" to hide what they have been doing all summer. They find doctors who will help them, pay the money and think they can get on with their lives. It hurts to think that girls around the island, girls of all ages, will be hurt physically and emotionally by abortion.

 



Unfortunately, other things happen. Around the time of the typhoon, a day after I believe, Taitung made the news. Since our county RARELY makes the news, my ears perked up and I stopped what I was doing to watch. Saddness gripped my heart as news of a guesstimated 30 week old gestation period baby was found under a bridge. This bridge (not the one in the picture)  is less than a 10min walk from our center. Worse yet, it was 3 minutes from Mackay Hospital.

As we heard the news and we posted it on our Chinese facebook, a pediatric nurse from the hospital wrote:"why? it was right next to the hospital! so many could help you!"  You know, my heart really sank. Was it a mom we had talked to on the phone? Was it a mom that we had talked to in person? Was it a mom who had called our hotline but hung up? How old is the mom? What happened? Did we do enough? Could this have been prevented?

I know you are probably saying "don't be hard on yourself, you couldn't have known." I know that and you know that, but still it hurts. As we talked thru it here, high speculation that the child washed down river from a village. I am not judging the mom because chances are, she had no choice. It could be a child from an affair, it could have been boyfriend, husband or parents didn't give her a choice and took the baby. Maybe she was lied to about it.....there are so many things that go thru your mind. But one thing I do know, there is one less child here and one more in heaven. My heart still aches to hug the momma and say "you will be ok,we can get thru this." But chances are, she is either carrying another secret with her or not allowed to show her feelings at all.

This my friends is why our ministry is so important. A woman in crisis, not just her, but also her family, those around her. She didn't reach out to us, we didn't know about her and a baby was lost forever. Friends, we need prayers and support for getting the news out about our ministry. Our ministry is to helping women in crisis pregnancy situation, helping them make the right choices. Too many are told: it isn't really a baby, you have no other choice, you can't raise a baby, no one will know.....on and on. But we can sit with her and help her figure out her choices, give her the respect and encouragement that she deserves. Sometimes when I see former moms have another baby, I can see they are different and they really care about their baby. Not that they didn't care about the one they gave up for adoption, but because of the help and counsel they received from Morning Light,they are able to have a healthy relationship.

Friends, you will soon see more information about how you can help us. First, you can see in the top left hand corner a donation button. You can donate there. Secondly, you will see fundraisers and other items for sale from our Morning Light store. Please help us out!!

Thanks for all you have been doing! We know that God has great plans for this ministry!

update

MORNING LIGHT HOME
JULY 30 - AUGUST 4, 2012
please send donations to the following address:
CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE

P.O. Box 219228 - Houston, Texas 77218-9228

*note: Luke Pan/Morning Light



I am hoping that I can get to post here regularly, how else can you

know what is going on and how to help? Our ministry is not just

temporary, though it may seem that way. Sure we have moms from far away

villages that come to stay, deliver two weeks later and then go home.

We have mommas that are 19 year old, kicked out of their apartment, no

job, family turns their head, and are here with us for 4 months. That

seems temporary, but the story goes on.

Just yesterday I received a phone call from a momma from 4 years ago!!

She is in town for the next month and with the typhoon,just telling me

to be careful! Just wanted to talk. Then a momma from over 2 years ago

calls for pictures of her son. We talk about her other children she is

caring for, one who is developmentally delayed and her hardships with

that. Then I find out she is out of food. These mommas know where to

turn, they know that we can offer help, not just physically, but

emotionally. That is our ministry.



I have been overwhelmed by what God is doing. Our mommas home, at the

writing of this letter has 4 mommas, and a 5th one waiting to make the

decision when to come to stay.

1) Momma #1: highschooler from a local church, her family visits her once a

week, but for her safety and the "eyes of the church", she needs to

stay at our home.

2) Momma #2: from out of county, heart disease, disability, 26yr old with her

own mother who has mental issues do to glue sniffing, her and her

boyfriend couldn't pay rent so the landlord kicked out a 7month

pregnant woman; boyfriend calls less and less. She deals with: will he

still be there when I get back?

3) Momma #3: just graduated from highschool, some friends got drunk one night

and while she was passed out, she didn't know what happened. She is 7

months pregnant and her family doesn't know but her family is very

dysfunctional as well. I met her for lunch and we talked and she came

over right away. She had prenatals once.

4) Momma #4: from a village far away, still lives with baby's father even

though he is an alcoholic with a temper; he is also the father of their

3yr old, but she admits,she only had the first baby to keep the man

around.

5) Momma #5: almost 20yr old momma with junior high education, the man she is

with is 10yr her senior, controlling, violent alcoholic. Her

grandmother came over to meet us to see if it was true or not that MLH

was free for those in need. Grandma about cried! She says she feels she

can be at ease with the granddaughter she raised as her own staying

here.



These are our current mommas. Will you pray for them? pray that they

will find what they need? pray they will see the Savior's unconditional

love? Our ministry is for these mommas, whether they choose to adopt

out or keep their children.



Friends, we need this ministry to continue. We need this ministry to

continue to be there for mommas like the above and many more who have

gone through our doors. While many enjoy the outcome, which is often

adoption, not many support the ministry so we can continue supporting

life. Will you support us?



Between now and end of February 2013, we need to raise 6months of

general fund, meaning support to keep our staff and ministry needs

going. That is, we need to raise $45,000US. I believe that is possible,

do you? There are many ways to do this but most importantly, you. You

are the ones who can keep this ministry going. We aren't ministering to

hundred's of orphans, or rescuing babies from trash collectors. We are

however giving a promise of life to those who walk thru our doors or

who call our hotline. Life for the unborn, the mother doesn't need to

say "I have no choice but to abort", and a new life for the mother as

she has support for years to come.



Will you? will your family? will your church? will your groups? will

you have a heart open to helping us? to giving the unborn the promise

of life?



Food Bank/Single Moms Ministry



We have relocated this ministry to a small building that has storage.

Originally it was at our church, but at times it is to overwhelming and

becomes difficult to find things. So we have a new office and building

with 3 rooms to store things. This way we can bring families in need

over and they can pick what they need as well.

We have recently received three phone calls of families needing food

and clothing. I understand that this ministry is hard for those

overseas to work with or help with. Current needs:

---diapers of all sizes

---formula

---basic staples

---tracts to hand out with the food

---books or devotionals

---shampoo

---sanitary items



Again, we understand that this is not something you can just ship over

from the USA, but if your church or group would like to raise money to

donate specifically for an item, that is great!! Or if you know of a

company that helps with funds to get these items, please do let us

know. Most of all, prayer as we minister to those physically hungry and

spiritually hungry as well!



Garden of Grace



Gog is getting so close to licensing we can almost taste it! here in

this picture the beds and shelves are being moved around for some other

things. The nannies are working hard and at full force to get things

done. We have our building permit, all our beds, shelves and most

everything. Just left is some tedious paperwork and we are ready. Pray

we can sit down and get that paperwork done! Please remember, this is

not an orphanage. This is a daycare center that will be allowing some families with
needs, needy families have affordable daycare so they can work instead of just

sitting at home waiting for the child to be old enough for kindergarten. We will be

servicing  children between ages 0-2yr.

Taitung county is one of the poorest counties in Taiwan. Taitung city

alone has close to 80,000 population (entire county has less than

200,000......some records say a bit over 110,000). But of that 80,000,

10% of those have low income status. Of the 200,000 population, 20% are

single parent families. Taitung also has the highest rate of highschool

drop out, though many junior high graduates never go on to highschool.

So that leaves this: unemployed or low income and lack of education

which then turns into what? domestic violence, alcoholism, drug issues,

gangs and so leaving children at high risk and disadvantaged

situations.

At GoG, we hope to prevent: developmental

delays, malnutrition, attachment issues and abuse. Each child will be

able to have a sponsor to help with the childs need (formula, diapers,

daycare). The child's parent will need to be working in order to allow

the child in daycare. You will have the chance to help the child and

family have a fresh start!!! Look for news about sponsorship and ways

to help.

For those of you who have promised support for the building fund,

please do keep it up. While many have promised, only a few have gone

thru with the promise. So please keep it going!! And look for ways next

year of how you can come and help with the little ones!!



Worth Waiting For, abstinence education



I am so thankful for the opportunity to speak to two different camps

this summer. It was great! It was the first time students had heard

anything like this. Something that they, in their little worlds, had

never thought about. Our prayer is that we have helped them set

straight in their heart how to save themselves for marriage and how to

love and respect others.

Today, we already have a class set up for October!! YEAH!! It is that

time of year to start getting things in order to set up new times of

teaching. Please pray that schools will open up and let us teach/talk

to these teens while it is not too late!!