Windows and Fences

Friends,
Once we were there, the Skiles showed us several things they wanted us to fix up and wash while we were there.

First Mr. Helgesen washed the backboards of their basketball hoops. The children were often out on the court in the evenings and we were excited to be able to fix up the posts for them. In the evenings and on the weekend, the dads played basketball with some of the older boys and girls.

The Skiles also asked the dads to repair a broken fence that had gotten run into by a car. The dads got it fixed but it took some time to paint because it rained so much.

(the almost finished project)

We were also asked to clean the windows of the orphanage. Out of about 600 windows we finished roughly half. The children were very excited when we told them that we were working on cleaning the windows. Each night they would ask if we had cleaned their windows yet.



Thanks for reading!

~Annah

The Apartment

Friends,
While in Taiwan we stayed at an apartment that Mr. and Mrs. Skiles rent. It was a very nice apartment within walking distance of the orphanage. We are so very thankful that they allowed us to stay there during out visit.

 (the kitchen)

 (the living room...really liked those chairs)

 (the girls bedroom, the red mat is the Taiwan-style bed)

 (this was the dad's bathroom, Chloe has to stoop in it and the dad's are at least 6" taller)

Many times we came across signs on our walk to the orphanage, that had been translated into English, but had lost something in the translation. For example...

(see the orange sign)

More coming later!

~Annah

Beginning of Our Journey

Friends,
I wanted to start posting some pictures of our trip. We will start at the beginning and work through the trip, using pictures taken by all the girls.

On Monday, September 27th the team left from Denver International Airport for Seattle, Tokyo, and eventually Taipei. We were blessed in our going out by the presence of several family members of people in the team.

Once in Seattle we got breakfast and boarded a plane for Tokyo. We were on the plane for what felt like forever.

As we flew into Tokyo we were greeting by these amazing proofs of God's creative abilities and amazing power.

 (Mt. Fuji)





The Tokyo airport is very pretty. They have decorated inside with tasteful arrangements or displays and with large picture windows.



Finally, after 27 hours of travel, we landed at the Taipei airport. Thankfully all our luggage had also kept up with us and we were able to pick up all the suitcases right away.

We were starting our trip to Taiwan on Wednesday the 29th, although we still can't figure out where we lost Tuesday...........

One day younger,

~Annah

We Are Home

Friends,
We wanted to let everyone know that we all arrived home safely last Friday. The experiance was life changing and we cannot wait to share more stories with you.

Once our lives settle back into 'normal' we will concider posting more stories and/or pictures.

Thank you very much for your prayers!
~Annah

Happy Birthday Kendra!

Friends,
Wanted to let you know that tomorrow is Kendra's birthday and she will be 19! Woohoo!

Tonight we are celebrating with the children here at the orphanage. We went and got a nice cake from the best bakery in town, and a huge bucket (like the ones at Baskin Robins) of vanilla ice cream. The children are so happy and Kendra is having a blast!

Lets work together and write Kendra lots of birthday wishes and blessings on this post.

Kendra, you are a very special and precious friend and God loves you very much. I'm so glad that He made you, you are one of His finest creations. Love you!

Celebrating in Taiwan!
~Annah

Ahhh...The Tea Fields

Friends,
I forgot to tell you about the tea fields in my last post, so you are going to get two posts today.

Soon after we arrived here, Mr. Skiles graciously took us all out to see the tea fields. There were only about four fields, but they were breath taking. Tea here is grown on bushes in precise little rows. The field that we saw was hedged by a very lovely bush with bright orange flowers and was complemented by a hazy Pacific Ocean backdrop (Yes, I do have pictures of this, but they are for my Mommy to see first because she is the Queen of tea at our house, love you Mom!).

Then we went up into the tea shop. Now, in Taiwan tea is a very big event with much ceremony. We sat in the tea shop drinking tea for at least two hours while the owners made us several kinds of tea in a specific way to tantalize out taste-buds.

First the tea is placed into a cup and boiling hot water is poured over the leaves and left to steam with occasional stirring for a couple of minutes.

Then the tea is poured into little Chinese teacups (For those of you who don't know, Asian teacups hold maybe a quarter cup of liquid and have no handles). We enjoyed several flavors of Oolong tea, some significantly more than others. Once we were done, we simply had to buy some, and here are some example of the beautiful packaging options that they had.

These next packages actually contain tea for China, which is technically a better quality of tea. Apparently the quality of tea varies from country to country, and the better tea is grown higher up.

Another interesting fact that we learned is that all Oolong tea comes from one bush, the only difference (besides the elevation of growth) is how the tea is dried and processed. For example, my favorite tea at this shop was a tea that had been dried and toasted over charcoal, it has almost a coffee flavor but absolutely no caffeine. :) Speaking of caffeine, the owner also told us that even if a tea says that it has caffeine in it, you can brew it in cold water the caffeine is not released.

So take time today to brew a cup of tea, inhale deeply, and pray for the children here and for us.

Coming home tomorrow, see you all soon!
~Annah

Temple Pictures

Friends,

The babies have all laid down, so I wanted to take this time get some pictures up. We finally got the uploader to work, so you should be seeing many more pictures, Lord willing.

This is the picture that I was telling you about in the last post. The people are putting their incense sticks into the burner, while at the same time a maintenance man is throwing them away.

This next picture just shows the trashcan full of discarded incense sticks that are still smoking, I think this is a really sad picture of how God sees their offerings and idolatry.

On a much happier note, we have over half of the orphanage windows cleaned! The children were very excited when we told them that we had been washing windows all day. Now every night they ask us if we have washed their windows yet.

Right now the rest of the group is taking a break before lunch time. They really serve the best meals here. Chloe will have better culinary pictures when we get home, but here is a sample:

Thank God for the rice!
~ Annah

A post from the dads - "Living out James 1:27"

Greetings to our families, friends and co-laborers in the Lord! We miss you all and are excited to share what He has been doing in our lives for the past week...

Serving orphans in their affliction is HUGE to the Father. Imagine how stretched thin we as parents feel trying to love on and disciple each of our children in our relatively large families. Now consider how to do that when you have more than 30 ranging from new born babes to those in their teen years. What Ted and Bev Skiles and their staff are doing through His strength and power here at The Home of God's Love is incredible. We are thankful to be a part of this work even for a few short days.

Since our arrival on Wednesday, what James 1:27 means for the six of us is vastly different depending on the day, hour or individual. Thus far it has embodied washing down moldy playground equipment and mending broken fences, holding babies in our laps (after we washed our hands), changing diapers, hugging on five year old "Lucy" and ten year old "Bobby" and teaching them English (names changed), playing hoops, or roughing it up with the boys to be the dads they don't have; even for a short time. Saturday night it meant encouraging the kids and staff with beautiful and feminine worship dance. Sunday night it meant hanging out with one of the teen girls, encouraging her with the Word and the girls teaching her how to crochet.

Today James 1:27 means serving the staff by removing, washing, drying and re-hanging more than fifty windows; every single one of them. Things they have absolutely no time to get to. It is an honor for us to be here and appreciate so much the prayers and support from every one of you!

- In Christ, Bryan

Romans 12:9 talks about love being sincere and further on in verse 10 about honoring one another above yourselves.  Both of these principles have to do with living for others and not ourselves.  We have had the privilege every day to be challenged by these directives and to purpose in our hearts to be servants.  The surprising thing is we seem to get back more than we are able to give. It has been our joy to interact with these precious people and build new relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to witness this mighty work going on here for the King! In a land of much darkness (false god's/false religions) the"Home of God's Love" is a beacon of light to this nation of Taiwan.
-Scott

Since we have arrive here in Taiwan we have witnessed God at work.  We have all read books about God providing when asked for specific things or God providing before the need was even known.  On a daily basis we have witnessed this very thing, God providing in all different areas here at the Home of God's Love.  That is what it is all about here, God's love.  It is a privilege to be a part of what God is doing here with these children.  We have been able to learn a little about these children by sharing meals with them and spending down time with them.  They are better at the English language than I am with the Chinese language.  Where language fails to communicate love takes over.

We have been able to get to know Ted as he has taken us to some sites here in the beautiful island of Taiwan.  We have seen the creativity of our God in ways we couldn't in the States.  Our drive time has allowed us time to learn who Ted, Bev, Anna, and Michelle are and the deep love they have for these children.  It is a joy to sit in the baby area holding a child while listening to stories from Bev of how God is working in each life here.

This is an amazing place ... and the country isn't too bad either.
-Walter

Toroko Gorge & Temple Musings

Friday Sept. 30th

Hello! Ni Hao!
Ted Skiles took us to Toroko National Park. Taiwan has 6 national parks and Toroko is famous for its unending beauty. The gorges along the mountainside are carved out of majestic white and gray marble. God certainly made a masterpiece here in Taiwan!

This was the first time that Chloe and I have ever been on a train and that was a really cool experience. Ted kept feeding us lots of amazing food - we all really enjoyed an egg-cooked-in-a-crepe-thing while on the train, then we ate noodles and fried rice for lunch (I still have leftovers that need to be eaten), and then he fed us these round pastry dough balls with different fillings - peanut, sesame, coconut, red bean, green bean, the list goes on...I personally thought that the food here would scare me and it turns out that it is mostly very yummy!

We stopped at the Turtle Waterfall (a.k.a. Eternal Spring Shrine) to eat our lunch. There are shrines all over the island and this was one of many. It amazes me that people have been so far led astray from the truth that they would turn to millions of false gods for comfort and protection. The Chinese literally do have millions of gods and goddesses, which are being celebrated at the hostels in the neighborhood nightly. These people desperately need the Savior! Who else can satisfy but Him? Who else can fill the void and longing of our souls? No one but the Savior!!!! These lost people need our prayers as well.

We also went to the Pacific Ocean. This was Annah's first time and she was absolutely in love with it! I always am filled with a sense of total wonder and awe when I see the expanse and fullness of the ocean. The sand is a beautiful black sand and the wind along the coast was cool and refreshing, as we had just been in a very hot car!

The 8 babies have been loads of fun, and so have the girls we have gotten to spend time with. There are 4 other girls volunteering here right now (with more girls coming) and they have been teaching us the ropes of multitask baby care.

~Kendra
P.S. Sorry there aren't any pictures, but the picture uploader isn't working. We are trying to fix it.

Note: Previous version of this entry concerning Annah's health has been modified. We aren't sure what exactly happened but it was probably heat stroke or dehydration. Thanks for all your prayers!

Sunday Oct. 3rd.

Friends,
I was supposed to write about the amazing things that we saw yesterday. However, we have just returned from hiking up to the huge temple, and I would like to share some things that are on my heart.

The Buddhist temple sits above the town of Lou Dong where the orphanage is, so we decided to hike up the trail this afternoon while the babies were napping. We stopped at the trail-head and prayed for protection and eyes to see God, then we started up the long trail of steps.

The steps gradually wound up the mountain for about 10 or 12 flights and as we climbed, dark storm clouds began to gather as lightning flashed. Taiwan is a very beautiful country, and this path was no exception. The vegetation was very green, and flashes of pink flowers could occasionally be seen among the bushes. Beside the stairs there was a small river and occasional small waterfalls, God made a masterpiece when He made Taiwan.

Once at the top, the temple stretched out before us to the very edge of a cliff. The building itself was a simple white color, but the roof was pagoda-style and was decorated in red, green, blue, and yellow tiles (I would be showing pictures, but the uploader is not working, so I am trying to create a good word picture). Brown stones and marble made up the walkways and floors, which made walking slippery as the rain increased.

We walked around to the front of the temple and just stood there for a while. The temple comes right up to the edge of a cliff and from the edge we could see Lou Dong stretched out in the valley below, a lake filled by water from the stream along the stairs, and other cities further out. Daddy began to pray for the people of the valley, that God would take back what was His and that the enemy would have no stronghold in Lou Dong. As we stood there, a crippled man on crutches walked by us supported on both sides by men as he tried to hurry towards the idols within. I think that it was at this point that my heart broke and I started to cry. The storm also began to pick up and soak me with the tears of God in the form of rain.

For a while I couldn't bring myself to go inside, so I watched the many worshipers come and go. There was one man that spun around in circles until he was dizzy in front of a huge idol. God reminded me how futile all works are without Him, they really do lead nowhere. My heart hurt for all Gods people of Asia, my people, who are blinded and bound to satan.

When I did go inside, I was faced by more bondage. One man danced in front of an idol with liquid moves and when I looked at the idol it was a snake; the man was imitating the motions of the snake. Do you remember who the snake represents in the Bible?

I wish that I could upload the picture of this next scene because I think that it was the most insightful and heartrending. I climbed up the stairs to watch the people as they were offering gifts to the idols and there was an ornate black incense burner. The worshipers would light their sticks of incense, bow before the idol and then place their sticks into the incense burner. While I watched, dozens of people placed their incense sticks carefully into the burner and continued in their idolatry. Soon, an older man came by and began to take out the sticks and toss them carelessly into a metal trashcan. I was taken about by this obvious picture. The worship of these idols was only so much trash. The prayers ascended no higher than the trashcan, yet the worshipers, oblivious to the inconsistency continued to place their incense sticks into the burner as the man yanked them out and put them into the trashcan.

I cried for Asia as we climbed back down, but I was so thankful that we have a God who hears our prayers and who we can talk to personally. He does not require burnt offerings but obedience, He does not want gifts He wants relationship.

Aren't you glad that you serve and worship the true God, Yahweh? I am.

Lovin' it here!
~ Annah

We Are Here!!!

Hi Everyone and greetings from Taiwan!
We made it in at 1:30 am on the 29th and Ted Skiles picked us up at the airport. Since then we have all been letting the jet lag wear off, playing and feeding sweet babies, and eating really good authentic food! Yum!
The Home of God's Love rests in a valley/mountain/jungled area about 1 1/2 hours from Taipei city. We took a walk around Plum Blossom Lake which was very lovely. The area is covered in butterflies! It is so nice here and everyone who voluteers at the orphanage are very nice and the kids think we are pretty funny.
We might not be able to get pictures up for a little while.
-Kendra

PLEASE PRAY

Friends,
My family just found out that one of my dearest childhood friends from Texas was instantly killed after being hit by a drunk driver no more than a couple of hours ago. He was 18.

Please pray for me as I need to sleep tonight, only God could provide that sleep now.
Please pray for the rest of my family who are staying here as they prepare to attend the funeral.
Please pray for Daddy and I as we continue on to Taiwan and do not get to attend the funeral.
Please pray for the family of this boy and especially his sister.

When we are weak, He is strong. This timing is not an accident. With God there are no accidents.

Thank you, we desperatly need your prayers.

~Annah

Three Days and Counting...Plus Colds

 "I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." - Job 42:2

Today this is one of my verses. One of those verses that I am going to cling to in faith.

You see, we leave for Taiwan in three days (possibly two if you count like some people...). This is a fulfillment of one of my life long dreams and the beginning of what God is calling me to do in Asia. However, this morning I woke up with a very sore throat; red swollen and all.

I don't know if you understand how frustrating that can be when you have been non-stop sick for two years, and this is the first time that the doctors have said to 'go ahead' into Asia.

That said, God is so much more faithful than my finite mind can comprehend. Look at these verses that He gave to his trembling child this morning:

"The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O Lord is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works for Your hands." - Psalm 138:8

"I will go before you and make the rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars...
So that you may know that it is I,
The Lord, the God is Israel, who calls you by name." - Isaiah 45:2, 4

"Heal me, O Lord and I will be healed;
Save me and I will be saved,
For You are my praise." - Jeremiah 14:14

Is He not good? Talk about a personal relationship with His children, He knew just what my weary heart needed.

I am going to trust in the Lord today and sing His praise. Oh yes, and use our cold herbs quite liberally.

Take time this chilly morning, to sip a cup of warm tea and bask in the grace and lovingkindness of the Lord. He wants to speak personally to you too.

- 3 days and counting!!! (I don't think that you could be as excited as I am, but you could try.)

~Annah

Window Washing Worship

Friends,

We found out a couple of weeks ago that the number of infants at the orphanage has significantly decreased (as in, over 1/2 have been adopted). This is good news for those children, but my spirit was a wee bit disapointed when the orphanage told us that now they would like us to wash windows.
A few days ago my Bible study had me look at a disappointment in my life and figure out how satan might want to use that to discourage me, but how God wants to use that to grow me. I desided to look at the lies satan might try to tell me about washing windows, and look what God showed me!

Satan: Washing windows is not really an important job.
God: It would really help the Skiles, and I do not see one job as more important than any other, I look at the heart.

Satan: You know that you don't really enjoy washing windows, you want to just be with the children.
God: I need you to serve in the way that I am leading you, not in the way that you want to be lead. Which do you really think will be better for you?

Satan: Washing windows is not your idea of a lot of fun.
God: Who said that I am sending you for fun? Not that you can't have fun, but I am sending you to be a servant and a blessing in whatever way that you can. Plus, with this wonderful team of girls you are worried about having fun??? (can't you just hear Him laughing at that one...if you know the three of us, you are in hysterics.)

Satan: God is trying to frustrate you and ruin your trip, you know that you have looked forward to this forever.
God: I only give you what is best, and I am the one who truly knows what is best. I am your father, and I never turn my back on My children who seek My face.

Satan: You know, you really don't have to do your best now, because this is not what you signed up for.
God: You told Me over and over that you would go anywhere and do anything. Window washing comes under the heading of everything. I want you to be the best window washer in all of Taiwan becuase you represent me, you are My servant. Are you ready to do anything?

Satan: O.K. look, washing windows is a really dirty job. Oh and by the way, do you know how big the bugs are in Taiwan? Don't you think that some of those are going to be in or on the windows?
God: I sent my only Son into the world and He washed the dirty smelly feet of His diciples. Oh and by the way, these diciples had been all over Israel, do you honestly think that they smelled like a rose of sharon? My Son washed feet, why can't you wash windows?

Wow, can you see what satan is trying to do? He is trying to ruin my witness and my service in Taiwan by this simple little dissapointment.
The good news is that God is still incredibly faithful and He has given me the example of Jesus washing feet to encourage me.

Satan, stop your discouraging and leave me.

I'm having window washing worship!

Are you worshiping too? Get a cup of tea and just worship for a while.

-6 days and counting! (is it fair to count by hours???)

~ Annah

2 weeks and counting.....

Hello Friends!
We are so excited about this trip, what a privilege it is to serve as missionaries in God's Kingdom! Our team has 19 days until we fly to Home of God's Love Orphanage. Wow, we serve an awesome God!
Just a quick reminder...
The day to return the coin collection boxes for the orphanage children is the 19th of September. We are trying to raise enough money to take the kids out for dinner while we are there. This is a great way for the kids here at home to be involved in our trip.
Blessings in Christ,
Kendra