Keeping in touch.....

One of the special things about the ministry is how we can keep in touch with moms. This is not done alot in many Taiwan agencies, mostly Christian ones do, but  not government or other private agencies. Recently I have been amazed at how many moms really do keep in touch with us, continuing to ask for pictures of their child and how things are going.

This month alone, I have had at least 7 moms ask for pictures. Moms that are in jail, moms that are working hard, moms that are caring for other children and moms that are moving on with their lives. We have always told our moms that they need to contact us for pictures. We don't contact them. Why? Some moms are getting over the wounds of choosing adoption, some moms keep up for a year or two and then taper off. There are some moms who families don't want them to have any news, and there are some whose families ask.

There are specific times that normally we see moms asking for pictures. Around the child's birthday and Chinese New Year. There are occassionally the ones who ask around Mother's Day, but the first two are the more common times. These days are special. Birthday's are very special to the moms. It is the day that they gave life to the child, pain of labor and the pain of what was to come, separation. Chinese New Year is the other because families all get together. Some may see others with little ones or family members may ask about the child. It is a special time, yet a bittersweet one as well.

We do our best and we so appreciate families that work hard to get pictures to the moms. We don't want the moms to have a heart that is like a donut, have a hole in the middle. We want to assure them the decision they made was the right one. They are told that the families have a place of honor for the mom in their family. Many adopting families will tell the mom that, that her picture is on their family wall, or that they pray for her every night. That is something that is very special for her. In Taiwan, among her family, she has been disrespected, neglected, yelled out, looked down upon. Now, a family that is adopting her child holds her up high, gives her a place in the family. What a difference!! What feelings flow when they hear that!!

This is another reason our ministry needs "angels" like you all!! It is not about just "saving a baby", not about adoption, but about lives. Saving the life of the unborn, yes, that is crucial, but saving the life of the mom!! This is not an easy part of her life, but at Morning Light she has a safe and stable environment to make her decision at, to be respected, to speak freely. This is the importance of our ministry. This decision she makes will affect her her entire life. It will affect future relationships and future parental skills.

Could you please consider being on of our "100 Angels"? Consider helping moms, helping us continue to help them?
www.morninglighttaiwan.org
look at the How to Help button

What do you do......

FIRST......we now have 5 Angels for our 100 Angel project...........we will be going til the end of January, so please do pray with us that we get the 100 Angels slots fully filled. We still need 95 Angels willing to give $20US a month to the ministry here. This will allow us to do our ministry with out having to think about the next bit of finances. It will help us keep serving moms like L, the one below:

When a mom sits there in front of you, and after telling her that she is a minor, she has to have her guardian (dad) to sign papers for anything.......
When the young mom is alone sitting in front of you......
When the mom is due soon, so you don't want to upset her.......
When she just sighs, drops her shoulders and looks like she is about to burst into tears........

PRAY.PRAY.PRAY

That is what you do.

This is what happened yesterday. This momma, L, just showed up. I had talked to her on the phone previously, and so as I was about to go to lunch, she just was at the door.

Her boyfriend was too scared I guess and sat on the scooter outside the door while L came in. I took her to our counseling room. And we talked. About alot of things. Her parents are divorced and dad remarried, stepmom has different ideas than her. She moved out of the house to live with her boyfriend when she was 17 yr old, and her sister has recently done the same.

To her, the thought of telling her dad she is pregnant is absolutely terrifying. Verbal abuse it seems was very prevelant in the house. He doesn't approve of boyfriend. Why don't they get married? In Taiwan, if you are under 20 yrs old, you have to have guardian approval to get married.

So, yesterday, as I sat with L, we had many quiet times. She didn't hear what she wanted, that all will be ok and all will live happily ever after. She was thinking of every possible trick and plan to keep her dad from finding out. We are supposed to talk again today about this too. Sometime today. When she is ready.

Welcome back!! A year in review......

     I cannot believe it has been almost exactly a year since I have written on this blog! I deeply apologize for this. Definetly not something to let go, communication with the world! I will try my best to recap somethings, but most of all,let you know what is going on.
  
     Last year at this time we were preparing to go on furlough. It had been 5 years since we had been back, a first trip for our 4 yr old (now 5yr old) little Anna Joy. We had a great time seeing so many adoptive families, friends, family, you name it. We were able to visit some great new churches, share in some and visit old supporting ones. Furlough is far from relaxing! Furlough is a time where, while catching up with family, it is a time where expectations are high for new support to keep the ministry going.

     While we had great love offerings that kept us going while in the USA, we still had to pay bills and ministry expenses in Taiwan. Unfortunately, our goal of $500US support was not made. So this puts us where we are now. Continuing to serve the Lord, and as that ministry grows, so do expenses.

    Now, anyone reading this KNOWS I absolutely do not like discussing money. It is just makes me feel BLAH! Really, who likes that type of thing? I always feel like we are begging for money, which we are NOT. In reality, we are putting the need out there to everyone and begging they pray with an open heart of how they can or will help the ministry in Taiwan. So, here we go.......

   As our NPO (Non Profit Organization that will be able to receive grants and help more in fundraising) is in the beginning stages,we have discussed this first option of "100 Angels". What this is a group of at least 100 people/families/groups/etc who pledge a minimum of $20US a month for at least a year (longer is awesome!!). Our current, very conservative budget is $2000US a month. So, we are looking for those who feel they are able to help us for a year. We sent out a letter to some families recently and have had one response so far. Looking forward to others though.

    What exactly does the money go to?

                                              

    Morning Light Crisis Pregnancy Center

 saving lives of the unborn and hearts of the moms

                                                Food Bank:having a Christian staff who cares
                                                 having staff to take boxes of food and clothing
                                                  to those in need

                                            Delivering Bags of Blessings to needy students
                                                  (teachers let us know of those in need)
                                            

                                             Working with the disadvantaged, single moms
                                                 moms who keep or place their children.

                                              Giving women in crisis pregnancy situation
                                              a healthy and secure place to make their decision
                                              knowing abortion is not their only choice.   

                                                Many disadvantaged and poor in our area
                                                            (home of a family we help)

                                                       Working with moms who fear they can't
                                                        care for their babies
                                                     To finding families who are waiting to love a baby
                                                    and give them a home..........
                                                    (same baby...at birth and 2 years later!)

                                                     

                                                 Being the hands and feet of Jesus

 

 

 

                                     Will you be an "angel"?  Will you help us keep helping
                                         others? Help us keep showing them the love
                                                  of Jesus Christ. Be an "angel."


Here is our stats so far for "100 Angels":


href="http://www.abcfundraising.com/thermometer/">Free Fundraising
Thermometer
from href="http://www.abcfundraising.com">ABC Fundraising

Free Fundraising Thermometer
from ABC Fundraising