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