Taiwan- Taidong

Our first few days were spent in Taidong, a countryside city with beautiful landscaping. This region is poorer and consists of many Aboriginal people who were the native people in Taiwan before the Chinese came over and established the country. Earlier in the Fall, there was a massive mudslide that damaged much of the land and homes. There were many bridges and roads destroyed which disabled help to come in and out. However, the city is beautiful. Cindy's father pastors a church here where we stayed and hosted an English camp, youth night, and helped in Sunday morning service. Here's some pics..

For English camp, we took our classes to McDonalds and the airport to practice different types of vocabulary.

English camp at the Airport.

My wonderful team.

making glass beads in the Aboriginal village

Hot Springs Spa.. after 40 hours of travelling ... :D

Taiwan #5

Just a fast update with where we are/where we've been. The past few days we have been staying at an AIDS orphanage in Taipei (the capital city). We helped out and kept about 15 children under the age of 2. One day we even took the to the park and the night market. We also visited the older adult branch of the organization which was so sad because those patients are very sick. Yesterday, we took a two hour bus ride to Taichung. It's another pretty large city but is also more spaced out. Here, we are staying with our host missionary family. They are from America but have 3 daughters all college age or up who were all born and raised here. Most of them are fluent in Chinese. The house is wonderful though, and very much closer to home. We are spending our time here at an English Christian school which is like a boarding school for children whose parents work in China, Taiwan, etc. They all speak English (obviously it's an English school). So it's just about hanging out, forming relationships, and loving on teens. Today we are also going to a halfway house which has some teenage boys. Unfortunately, I am home today because my eyes are so allergy infested that I can't open them outside or in light. I am trying several different remedies and hoping prayer surpasses them all. Maybe I will get some time to just pray and read. Either way, it's no fun being in Asia while confined to indoors. I would really appreciate your prayers for healing. If we have faith, He is more than able to heal. If we agree, He will answer. So please join me in praying these allergies out so I can be effective and at my best to be used to glorify Him in the small amount of time I have left. I appreciate all you who are following the blog. Know I am also praying for you. I know many of you are going through times of change, seasons, and new beginnings so you are each on my heart. I love you! Brandy

Salvation in Taiwan.

I have so much to write about. I have seen three miraculous things but I have to tell you about the one that kept me up last night. The last thing we did yesterday was head to the Taipei Night Market. After dinner and shopping, we headed home on the MRT. Cindy Lee's friend who we had been trying to reach all night finally called us while we were headed home on the train. We decided to go meet her anyways. This friend named Olga is the manager over all the Timberland stores in Taiwan (she's a big deal). She's also a mentor and Christian friend of Cindy's. We met her at one of her stores and this beautiful woman was shining at the first glance. After introductions, the very first thing she asked was if we would pray for her store manager. We had just gotten to the store and thought we would look around but God had bigger things in store. She introduced us to the most precious, naturally beautiful 29 year old friend named Dada. This had to have been the most divine appointment I have ever been apart of. Dada is an unbeliever but said it was ok that we pray for her. Olga wanted so bad for her to know Jesus and felt like the Lord brought us there for that specific purpose. So, she took all of us to the back of the store to a small "warehouse closet". Me, Olga, Cindy and Dada all fit in a little nook while the rest of the team lined the walls. Without knowing anything about her except she was not saved, and with prayer completly by translation, I laid my hands on Dada. As we prayed, the Holy Spirit flowed out of both me and the translator. I just prayed so hard bc I knew this was way to coincidental to not have purpose. I　ｐｒａｙｅｄ　ｂｏｌｄｌｙ　ｉｎ　Ｊｅｓｕｓ’　ｎａｍｅａｓｋｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ｓａｌｖａｔｉｏｎ　ａｎｄ　ａｌｓｏ　ｒｅｌａｙｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｄｓ　ｔｈｅ　Ｌｏｒｄ　ｌａｉｄ　ｏｎ　ｍｙ　ｈｅａｒｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｅｌｌ　ｈｅｒ　ｈｏｗ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｓｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｌｏｖｅｄ．　Ｉ　ｔｏｌｄ　ｈｅｒ　ｔｈａｔ　ａｔ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｐｏｉｎｔ　ｍｏｎｅｙ，　ｍａｎ’ｓ　ｌｏｖｅ，　ａｌｃｏｈｏｌ，　ａｎｄ　ｓｅｌｆ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｎｏｔ　ｂｅ　ｅｎｏｕｇｈ　ｔｏ　ｓａｔｉｓｆｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｍｐｉｔｎｅｓｓ　ｉｎ　ｈｅｒ　ｈｅａｒｔ，　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉｎ　ｈｅｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｔｉｍｅ　Ｇｏｄ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｂｅ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｔｏ　ｄｏ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｔｈａｔ．　Ｈｅ　ｓｐｏｋｅ　Ｈｉｓ　ｓｏｖｅｒｅｉｎｔｙ　ｔｏ　ｍｅ　ｔｈｒｕ　Ｒｏｍａｎｓ　９：１６．　Ｉ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｋｎｅｗ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｓｔｉｒｒｉｎｇ　ｈｅｒ　ｈｅａｒｔ．　Ｗｈｅｎ　Ｉ　ｆｉｎｉｓｈｅｄ　ｐｒａｙｉｎｇ，　ｍｙ　ｔｅａｍ　ｌｅｆｔ　ｂｕｔ　ｍｅ，　ｄａｄａ，　ｏｌｇａ，　ａｎｄ　ｃｉｎｄｙ　ｓｔａｙｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｏｏｍ．　Ｉasked about her life and she informed me that she lives with her boyfriend and wants to try church. At this time, the Lord moved me to share a little bit of my story and then just that He wants her to be loved, satisfied and complete. My heart raced as she cried and the translators went back and forth. Even though it's completely agaisnt Asian culture, I wrapped my arms around her and told her Iｌｏｅｖｄ　ｈｅｒ．　Ｗｅ　ｌｅｆｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｌｏｓｅｔ　ａｎｄ　ａｌｌ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ａ　ｔｅａ　ｓｈｏｐ．　Ｉｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｅａ　ｓｈｏｐ，　ｌａｓｔ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ａｔ　ｍｉｄｎｉｇｈｔ，　ｖｉａ　ｔｗｏ　ｔｒａｎｓｌａｔｏｒｓ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｐａｓｓｉｏｎａｔｅ　ｇｒｏｕｐ　ｏｆ　ｂｅｌｉｅｖｅｒｓ，　ｔｈｅ　Ｌｏｒｄ　ｇｏｔ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｃｈｉｌｄ　ｂａｃｋ　ｉｎ　Ｈｉｓ　ａｒｍｓ．　

Ｄａｄａ　ａｓｋｅｄ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｏｕｒ　ｒｅｌｉｇｉｏｎ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｈａｄ　ｇｒｏｗｎ　ｕｐ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｐａｒｅｎｔｓ　ｗｈｏ　ｐｒａｃｔｉｃｅｄ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｔｙｐｅ　ｏｆ　Ｔａｉｏｉｓｍ　ｂｕｔ　ｓｈｅ　ｗａｓｎ’ｔ　ｂｅｌｉｅｖｉｎｇ　ａｎｙｔｈｙｉｎｇ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ．　Ｔｈｅｎ　ｓｈｅ　ｓａｉｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｎｅ　ｔｈｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｌｉｔｅｒａｌｌｙ　ｍａｄｅ　ｍｅ　ｂｕｓｔ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｅａｒｓ．　ｔｈｅ　ｏｎｅ　ｔｈｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｈａｓ　ｂｒｏｋｅｎ　ｍｙ　ｈｅａｒｔ　ａｌｌ　ｙｅａｒ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｓａｉｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｓｈｅ　ｈｕｒｔｓ，　ｓｈｅ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｇｏ　ｏｕｔ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｈｅｒ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ｄｒｉｎｋｓ　ｕｎｔｉｌ　ｓｈｅ　ｉｓ　ｄｒｕｎｋ．　Ｉ　ａｓｋｅｄ　ｈｅｒ　ｉｆ　ｔｈａｔ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｓｏｌｖｅｄ　ｈｅｒ　ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ　ｏｒ　ｈｅａｌｅｄ　ｈｅｒ　ｐａｉｎ　ａｎｄ　ｓｈｅ　ｒｅｓｐｏｎｄｅｄ，　Ｎｏ．　Ｉ　ｔｏｌｄ　ｈｅｒ　Ｉwas crying becuase Iｈａｄ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ．　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｒｉｅｄ　ｆｉｌｌｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｖｏｉｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａｌｃｈｏｌ　ａｎｄ　Ｉpromised her that just like now, it will never heal her pain. I told her that love from a man would not fill it either, I'd tried that too. At this point, my precious friend, Cindy spoke for a few moments about a relationship with Jesus in Chinese. None of us know what was being said, but our spirits and hearts were intertwined. We all just prayed and prayed for salvation. All of the sudden, Cindy turned to us and said, ok She wants to accept Jesus. Astonished, we all laid hands on her and prayed. Cindy told us that she told Dada that she didn't have to make a decision now but that God was always ready for her. But, Dada insisted that she wanted it now. His kingdom came down and grace was at it's best.

I guess tea will forever remind me of this precious moment. At midnight, my new sister, Dada was born. The Lord answered prayer, and even used me in His bigger plan. We also prayed over Olga and the coninuing of discipleship and friendship. When we were leaving, Iｒｅｃｅｉｖｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｈｕｇ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａｎ　Ａｓａｉｎ　Ｉhad met in a closet just a few hours before. I'll neverfor get the night salvation came at a Tea Shop in Taipei, Taiwan. Glory to my Jesus.

Taiwan #4- More of You and Less of Me

This morning, I titled my journal page "More of you and less than me."
You know those days where you wake up and literally nothing goes right? For example, this morning I woke up late. I had to take a shower which here in Asia means nothing really because you sweat the moment you turn the water off. Therefore, my hair never leaves it's ponytail. Anyways, I was late for breakfast which I ate too much and then felt way too full. You all know it's a horrible thing to feel huge on Sunday mornings. haha. We were to lead church this morning by doing a song and also I would share my testimony. I then heard it had to be only 10 minutes so once again, I was a little frustrated. The morning is almost in action when we were practicing our music in the room and I broke a string on my guitar. UH only 6 min. before the service started and the time we've used to practice, all put to waste. Boy oh Boy. Fortuanately the song really only uses this string like once so it didn't affect the sound. (not that I'm aware of)

With all this craziness, I ran to the throne. Literally, as I was journaling and praying over my morning I just could only ask Him to come help. I needed Him to speak. For some reason, I was just really adamant about them understanding what He wanted to tell them. The Christians here are similar to those in America who are just walking around like mummies in the Church. Dead to the actual life that comes when one walks with Jesus. I knew at this point that I had come to an end of myself this morning. I knew it. My teammates knew it. HE knew it. HE LOVED IT.

The Lord loves to be our strength in our weakest moments. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Good thing, huh? I was able to finish my testimony and play the song. During the testimony, the Lord really went into action in the lives of the people. I was really glad I stepped out of the way to let Him speak. It's a beautiful thing to see His people hear not only with their ears but with their hearts. The woman who was supposed to lead the verse even got a little choked up. hehe.

To close, I want to tell you what the Lord shared through me this morning. Something I too easily forget. HE REALLY LOVES EACH ONE OF US. He doesn't want us to feel lonely, deserted, unloved, scared, fearful, or caught up in things that can't fill that void in our hearts. He is more than enough to feel that void with life. He loves us so much despite our weaknesses and wants us to follow Him. He wants to be with us. And, He wants to use us.

When asked why I come to Taiwan, my response is always this: I want to share with others the LOVE that Jesus has shared with me. It is only when you really know the Father's love for you that you can truly love others. Please grasp that today. How great the Father's love for us...

1 John 4 "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. We love because he first loved us."

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galations 5:6
I would encourage you to really love others today. Express Yourself.

Taiwan ... 9 days.

In just 9 days, I will be getting on a plane to head off to Taiwan. The next two weeks will be quite stressful; I can take it. Last night my precious Mom and sister met me in Auburn and together we served the graduate ladies of Hosanna Home. I have been working on a slideshow for their gift and we watched that after dinner. I am still in love with this ministry as much as I was the day I started. It is incredible the way the Lord will break your heart for where you are. It's funny to think that a little over a year ago, I wrestled with the fact that Jesus loved me. Now, I grasp and cling to the fact and it allows me to pour out and love so many others who are in desperate need. I thought I went out to Hosanna to serve these women. I have received haircuts, prayers, encouragement, countless meals, hugs, laughter, fun times, and plenty of memories. You always are blessed more in return. I am going to be gone while these ladies leave in June, July, and August and the Lord keeps reminding me that even though I want to hold their hands as they walk out the door, His hands are bigger than mine and they are holding them forever. He is also reminding me that it is Him IN each one of the ladies that draws me to them. I am so excited to meet the women in Montana where I am working this summer. First I am excited about being back in Asia. Honestly, I don't know what to think/how to feel/what to say. I just never thought I would be back again. I am excited but I am depending on the Lord to prepare my heart in His timing. I am a little under the weather and finals are this week so I would appreciate your prayers to just persevere through this and then my journey for the summer will begin!