SO much to tell about.

1.) MOMMA.
My momma came. It was such a blessing to have her here. She has quite the testimony about it as well! Her and Logan made it back home safely!! I really loved the time I had with her here and I am glad that she got to experience part of this with me. I was so ecstatic to see her in the airport and it was difficult to say goodbye. While she was here, she gave me the nudge I needed to finish what I came here for. :) Thanks Momma, I love you!

2.) LOVE.
While Momma was here my friends Tanya and Michelle took us out a couple times. The first time we went to this sports park. It was absolutely gorgeous. We walked around and fed fishes and a duck even ate off my hand! Then we went up to this little mound thing that was a big hole in the middle. You can walk around the outside and see a lot of Lo-Tung (the town we live by). Michelle and Tanya grabbed my mom and I's hands and counted to three. Then they ran down through the middle of it and up the other side. It sounds trivial, but it was really fun!! It was such a beautiful day and we really enjoyed getting to know them and spending time seeing Taiwan.

The second time we got to go out with them, Tanya's husband, Boison, and her daughter, Stacy was there. As well as Michelle's daughter. The took us to the cultural village. They were so good to us! Boison bought us this stick full of strawberries that was covered in what looked like glass sugar. Then, we went to this photo place where they dressed my mom and I up as Chinese princess' and had us hold little fans and jewels. It was soooo much fun! THEN, we went down to this other photo place. There was a green screen and we all got in a posed. They turned out really cute.
The highlight of the day was when they took us to the ocean. My mom, nor I have ever been. When we got there, my mom started to cry. Surprised? Didn't think so. :) We walked down to the beach and let the waves run over our feet. I think they all thought we were crazy by how excited we were. It was SO beautiful. There was mountains beside us and trees and grass everywhere. They took lots of pictures for us! After the ocean, they took us to this wonderful seafood resturant right off the ocean. Boison knew the owner so we were treated like VIP. They seated us upstairs in the back of the room. There was SO much food! I usually do not eat seafood, but I did not want to make them feel bad. So, the first thing they brought us was caviar. GROSS. Then we tried things like chicken, every kind of shrimp you can imagine, noodles, fish, raw fish, crab..you name it. Some things were AMAZING and other things I could have done without. Each plate that came was all decorated with flowers and neat designs. We really did feel like VIP. It was so much fun to get to hang out with them and have them show us around. My Mom and I really will never forget them and how amazing they each are.

3.) RAIN.
One of the nights here got to be really really stressful. Katie and Ellen (2 of the other amazing volunteers here) and I had decided we REALLY wanted to go play in the rain. So, we snuck outside. It was peacful and so calming. We danced and played on the swings and talked and ran. It felt really good. You really are never too old to play in the rain. We got to talking and realized that no matter where we came from and no matter what our backgrounds, we all have this experience in common. When we feel like no one else can understand what is going on here, we have each other to turn to. These girls are so amazing and I am blessed to be able to serve alongside them.

4.) ADOPTIVE FAMILIES
Two of our boys' adoptive families got here the same day my mom flew out. One family is from Florida and the other is from Mississippi. While they were here, I got to go to Taroko Gorge with them and Ted. We took a train, which was an experience in itself! It was so fun and the sights were amazing. Then when we got to Taroko, we saw some of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. We ate lunch in front of this beautiful gorge and waterfall. Ted has also brought the best mango I have ever eaten along with some terrific pineapple and drangonfruit. Pictures do not do justice. I had a great time getting to know the families and Ted!

It was the craziest thing- while we were at Taroko, I was taking some pictures with the families. This Chinese man came up to me and asked if I would take a picture with him. I didn't know what else to do so I just stood there and smiled. Then he started asking me how old I was and where I was from and thankfully one of the families came to save me! They joked that he was probably going to mail that picture to his family and tell them I was his American wife and we had 5 children. CREEPY. We toured around some more and went up to this beautiful pagoda. There was an older woman who was taking a picture of her husband and I asked her if she wanted me to take one of the two of them together. She was SO happy. After I took it, she ran up to me and grabbed my hand and asked to take one with me. So again, I stood and smiled. Then other people came up and were taking pictures of us to. So I said thank you and tried to walk away but this crazy old Chinese lady would not let go! It was histerical! As I was walking away, another Chinese man about my age asked if he could get a picture with me. What is the deal!? Again, I smiled and stood and eventually Ted came and saved me. The adoptive families called me celebrity the rest of the day. I do not understand!

After all the picture nonsense, we went to the "swinging bridge." It was such a blast! That day we also went to this beautiful hotel and saw a church that was there. I remember seeing John 3: 16 written in English, Chinese, and a mountain language. Then, we went to this other church. It was so gorgeous. This church was famous because it was started by this Chinese lady. There was a cave where we went down into beside the church. While standing inside it, Ted told us how this lady held bible studies in there where they praised Jesus by candlelight and had to have guards standing outside. We prayed and sang "How Great Thou Art." It was so emotional and really made me grateful for the things that I have and how freely I am able to worship God. What a blessing it was for me to be able to go!

On Saturday night at our church service for us American's, one of the Dad's preached about forgiveness. It was such a great message! Before his message, we sang lots of songs while he played guitar. It was very refreshing! Doesn't get much better than an acoustic guitar and a room full of people who love Jesus!

Yesterday, one of the families left to go back to Florida. It was very difficult to say goodbye to them and their beautiful son. However, I know that he will now get the attention and love that he deserves. God Bless you guys and your new beautiful family. The other family will be here until next week! PTL!

5.) BABY GIRL
This is the tough part. One of our baby girls was about 2-3 weeks from going home to her family in America. The papers were just about done. The biological mother showed up and said that she wanted her back. We tried our best to talk her out of it and encourage her about the life her daughter can have in America. We tried to scare her away by asking a fee for all that we have provided for her baby girl. She still wants her. So, we gave her 2 weeks. If in this 2 weeks she changes her mind, then we will take her back. If not, we will probably never see her again.

How are you supposed to know what is right in this situation? This baby girl going back to the woman who gave birth to her? Or going to this family in America who has put so much heart and effort into getting her to them. It is hard not to want for her to go to her family in America where you know she will come to know Christ and she will be provided for. I have been forced to give this to God and to trust that his will will be done. We have all been praying hard, many tears have been cried. No matter what happens, I will never forget you baby girl.

6.) Emma
There is a girl on the other side who's English name is Emma. She is a triplet. She has not accepted Christ yet and she gets in trouble a lot for smoking and drinking. I love this girl so much. Of course, I love all of these kids, but I feel a different kind of connection with Emma. She is so beautiful and she has all the potential in the world. I tell her that everyday. Some nights I will sit by her at devotions and she tells me everytime how beautiful my voice is. The other night, I noticed a cut on her wrist. I went up to her and asked her if she did it. Of course she said no, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that something wasn't right. I wanted so badly to tell her everything with my experience in self- harm and to shake her and tell her how many people love her and that God loves her even more than all of us together. I do not want to push her away by any means. So for now, I will continue to pray and to love her with all of my heart.

Jeremiah 29:11
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' delares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and to not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'"

Please keep all of these things I have mentioned in your prayers!!
Love always-
JJ