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February 7, 2023 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:25-26

There is nothing this world can offer that is worth your soul. Let us lose ourselves in Him that we might gain eternity. Join us in praying for being faithful daily to our calling in Christ Jesus.

The people of Taiwan are very concerned with money. Pray with us that God will show them that eternity is so much more important than a certain lifestyle.

Andrew’s team is now back in the US. PTL! They will continue their training at YWAM this month before heading home. Pray for their debriefing and future service in the Kingdom.

Abby, Andrew’s co-leader, is now in the hospital in Bangkok. There is no new news about her condition. Several lesions that were found before were confirmed with a PET scan. Please pray for God to provide wisdom to those who will arrange for her to return to the US to continue medical treatment.

The Home of God’s Love is still in need of a social worker, a caregiver for our 2-18 year olds, and a Taiwanese director. Please ask God to provide Christians people to fill all of these roles.

John’s next visit with the surgeon is today, Feb. 7th. Please pray for us to be able to arrange an appropriate time for surgery on his left shoulder.

We are grateful for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Join us in praying for being faithful daily to our calling in Christ Jesus.

2.  Pray with us that God will show the Taiwanese that eternity is so much more important than a certain lifestyle.

3.  Pray for Andrew’s YWAM students as they debrief and think about future service.

4.  Please pray for God to provide wisdom to those who will arrange for Abby to return to the US to continue medical treatment.

5.  Please pray for God to provide Christians to fill the needed positions at THoGL.

6.  Please pray for an appropriate date to be arranged for surgery on John’s left shoulder.

 

Posted on February 6th, 2023 by dunns
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February 1, 2023 Prayer Note

February 1, 2023  Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

This is a quick update on Abby, Andrew’s co-worker. Her mom was able to receive a passport on an emergency basis. She will be traveling to Cambodia meet up with Abby and travel with her back to the US hopefully in the next few days. Abby continues to be in the hospital. After having an endoscopy and a CT scan it was determined that she has a tumor in the atrium of her stomach. There are other tumors in her body as well. The doctors highly suspect it is a type of lymphoma. Please pray for all the traveling that will be happening for Abby’s mom, Abby, and the rest of the team. 

The team will begin their travel on Thursday night here in Asia, as they take a night bus to Bangkok. They will fly from Bangkok on Saturday.

Thank you for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1. Pray for Abby’s healing from some type of cancer.

2. Pray for safety for everyone as they travel.

Posted on January 31st, 2023 by dunns
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January 29, 2023 Prayer Note

Dear Family and Friends,

“And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up—and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.” James 5:15-16

As Christians we understand the need for prayer and have often heard these verses. We ask that you join us now in confessing your sins to God and then praying together for these requests.

Andrew is presently still in Cambodia with his YWAM team. He has asked for prayer for his fellow leader, Abby. She woke up this morning throwing up blood. Her platelets are low so they have not yet done a scope to check for bleeding. It is assumed that she has a bleeding ulcer either in her stomach or esophagus. They are seeking information and wisdom in order to decide whether she should be moved to another country for medical treatment.

We are in the middle of Chinese New Year break with the children at The Home of God’s Love. We presently have 9 at the home while 3 are still out with family members. We ask for wisdom, strength, and endurance as we continue to spend a lot of time with the children.

The Home of God’s Love is in need of a social worker and a caregiver for the children.  We would really like to find Christians to fill these position. We are also still seeking a Taiwanese person to fill the role of director of THoGL. We really need to have these positions filled as soon as possible.

John returns to the doctor on February 7th to have his right shoulder evaluated and to hopefully make plans for the surgery on his left shoulder. His right shoulder is doing well. He still needs to continue therapy in order to increase his range of motion and to recover muscle strength.

Thank you for joining us in prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl 

1. Please pray for Abby, Andrew’s fellow leader, with the team in Cambodia as they determine her condition and her need for medical evacuation to the US.

2. Please pray for us to have wisdom, strength, and endurance as we work with the children at THoGL during the Chinese New Year break.

3. Please pray for THoGL to find the needed employees and a Taiwanese director.

4. Please pray for John as he makes plans for his second shoulder surgery.

Posted on January 29th, 2023 by dunns
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October 23, 2022 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:3-5 NET

During the past month the Home of God’s Love has been through a trying time. Many of the older children first were sick and then the babies were sick. Some of our workers caught Covid as well. It made for a busy time. Some people handled it with grace and joy, while others tended to complain. It is interesting when we choose to respond with joy and look for what we can learn through tough situations we grow as people. The difficult situation also goes by more quickly. Pray with as we continue to learn from the difficulties of life.

Thank you for praying for us during the covid outbreak. John spent two weeks in quarantine with the babies. He often had three or four babies at one time, but at times more. Two of our nannies became sick as well making it more difficult for the nannies that took care of the rest of the babies.

We are also grateful that we are having some people apply for the caregiver positions. Please join us in continuing to pray for God to send the right people for these positions to us.

As many of you know, John had a bicycle accident last April and has struggled to regain strength and movement. He also continues to have pain when making certain movements and at times when lying down. He has been to see a couple of other doctors since returning to Taiwan. It has been decided that he needs to have surgery to keep his shoulders from trying to come out of joint. Certain motions are causing the bone to rub against bone which causes wearing on the humerus bone. John will have surgery on his right shoulder on October 28th, this coming Friday. Then after a time of recovery he will also have surgery on the left shoulder.

Thank you for praying.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1. Please pray for us as we learn through the difficulties of life.

2. Thank you for praying for us during the covid outbreak at THoGL.

3. Thank you for praying that we will find caregivers.  Pray we recognize those God desires us to hire.

4. Please pray for us as John has shoulder surgery on the 28th of October.

Posted on October 24th, 2022 by dunns
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October 7, 2022 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.”  II Corinthians 9:8 NET

The above verse is in the context of giving, and I believe it applies to our situation at The Home of God’s Love. THoGL has been blessed with ample resources and often shares those with other organizations, churches, and individuals. God promises that even in our generous giving He will provide what is necessary to do the good works that He gives us to do.  We are trusting for God to provide needed workers at THoGL while we continue to serve the children placed in our care. We still need a baby nanny, and a caregiver for children on the older side as well. We also still need to find a Taiwanese Christian to fill the role of director. Please pray with us for these positions to be filled.

So after having a week and a half of covid on the older side of the children’s home, now it is on the baby side. John started caring for one little guy on Wednesday afternoon and by bedtime there was a second one sick.  By bedtime on Thursday there was a third. John is caring for two little girls and a little boy all over a year old.  Please pray the rest of the babies stay well and John does too.

We have been having torrential rains in our area. We had a little water come in the old building today. We now have sandbags in front of the doors. There have been landslides as well nearby.  Please pray for the rain to decrease soon.

Thank you for praying.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1. Please pray for the workers needed at THoGL

2. Please pray for the babies that are sick and the rest to stay healthy.

3. Please pray for the rains to stop or decrease soon.

 

Posted on October 7th, 2022 by dunns
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March 27, 2022 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“The Lord is near all who cry out to him, all who cry out to him sincerely. He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.”  

Psalm 145:18-19

It is amazing to look through scripture and see how many people God delivered or saved when they called upon Him with a sincere heart.  When we learn to put God’s desires above our earthly desires and follow Him daily, then God is prepared and ready to act when we call.  Join us in seeking to put God first and then expecting Him to respond when we call.

Rejoice with us over the baptism of Annie Fu.  She was baptized two weeks ago. Please pray for Annie as she learns to walk with Jesus daily.

Please pray for Lillian in John’s Thursday evening group.  Lillian has been growing in her faith and leading people to the Lord.  Recently, when Lillian and her minister were discussing baptism with one such lady, an evil spirit began to upset this lady.  The minister prayed over the situation and the spirit left, but it was Lillian’s first such encounter.  Lillian was left a little shaken and concerned about her friend.  Since then we have been encouraging Lillian to be strong in the Lord.

Please continue to pray for Andrew and the YWAM group that he is helping to lead.  Their passports with visas did not arrive on time.  They have rebooked tickets for this Thursday.  Please pray for their passports to arrive and they are able to leave for Cambodia.

Thank you for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Pray that we will continue to put God first and will always pray believing He will answer.

2.  Pray for Annie Fu as she grows in the Lord after her baptism.

3.  Pray for Lillian to learn to rely on God’s Spirit to guide, strengthen, and encourage her.

4.  Pray for Andrew and the YWAM team to be able to leave this Thursday for Cambodia.

Posted on March 28th, 2022 by dunns
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March 16, 2022 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.  For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God.”  I Corinthians 3:18-19a

We are flooded by information in this world.  We also receive many ideas from many different sources as how to live and make decisions.  If we are not in the habit of seeking God first, it is easy to leave Him out of the decision.  We need to be careful to remember to always seek God’s wisdom.  Pray with us as we seek God’s wisdom for our daily lives as well as for the work we do at The Home of God’s Love and in making disciples in Taiwan.

We ask that you pray for Caleb, our one jr. high school boy. He has little patience in situations where he has to wait to gain what he wants. He also can be very stubborn.  At times he loses his temper over small things. He is also wise in his own eyes. (Did I say that he is in jr. high?) Caleb is a Christian, but he needs to learn to trust God for direction in his life.  

Please pray for The Home of God’s Love as we search for nannies for the nursery, a lead social worker for the foster care department, another administrative secretary, as well as a Taiwanese person to eventually become the director at THoGL.  

Please continue to pray for opportunities for us to affect Cheryl’s fellow students in her Masters Degree classes. She has a few people that she spends quite a bit of time with each week.  None of them are Christians.  Please pray for Cheryl as she works hard in her second language to earn this degree.

Andrew will be helping to lead a group of YWAM students to Cambodia later this month.  They will leave on March 24th.  They have several activities planned with youth and some with adults as well.  Andrew is still seeking support both for this trip and for his monthly support.  If you would like to write to Andrew and encourage him or ask for his newsletter, he can be reached at junddunn@gmail.com. 

Thank you for praying.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Pray with us as we seek God’s wisdom for our daily lives as well as for the work we do at The Home of God’s Love and in making disciples in Taiwan.

2.  Pray for Caleb as he grows up to learn to follow God’s leading for his life.

3.  Pray for the worker needs at THoGL.

4.  Pray for Cheryl as she works on her Masters Degree to be a light for Christ.

5.  Pray for Andrew as he serves with YWAM and leads a group to Cambodia.

Posted on March 17th, 2022 by dunns
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September 16, 2021 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’” 

Acts 23:11

Paul was certainly in a difficult situation.  He was in the hands of the Romans, who could be brutal.  Many of the Jewish leaders all over Asia & in Jerusalem viewed him as a blasphemer and an enemy.  They were so upset with him that they agreed to a plot to murder him, but God is also involved in the situation.  God spoke to Paul and gave him encouragement.  He basically told him that he was safe and would not die at that point, because he had more for him to do.  What would you feel like if God spoke to you as He did Paul when your problems seem very difficult?  Actually, He does speak to us.  He speaks to us through His written word, through the Holy Spirit, and through other people.  So the next time you feel like you don’t know what to do ask God for clarity.  I am sure it will come from one or more of these three sources.  Join us in seeking God for His direction daily.

The THoGL children have all started school for the fall semester.  Sunnie is in a new school as she begins jr. high school.  Caleb is in his last year of jr. high school and will have to prepare to take high school entrance exams.  All the children at times have struggles to face at school since they live at the children’s home.  Please pray for our children as they face their individual situations.

This past week at the end of the John’s English group, Peter said that he believed, but was afraid that he could not live up to the commitment of serving only Jesus and doing so much right.  We spoke to him about some of his concerns, but he is still unconvinced.  Please continue to pray for Peter to come to a saving relationship with Jesus.

Cheryl’s Wednesday evening ladies group is meeting again.  They continue to be consistent in their attendance.  Please pray that they will desire to grow deeper in relationship with God.

Ted & Bev Skiles continue to ask for prayers for themselves and their children as they grieve the passing of their youngest son, Brad.  Ted & Bev’s original day to return to the States was this coming Tuesday.  They had to leave in a hurry causing them not have everything taken care here as they would have chosen.  There were many goodbyes that were not said.  Please pray for the Skiles family as they grieve and adjust to new situations.

Please pray for Nathanael as he travels for work these next two weeks in Africa.  He will be checking on a few of their international sites and helping another organization with a project.  Please pray for everyone to remain safe and to not get sick.

We also ask that you remember Andrew in your prayers as he is raising full-time support to serve with Youth With A Mission, YWAM.  He is finding it more difficult to raise monthly support than to raise a lump sum.  He will be able to send people receipts for their giving. Andrew’s email address is junddunn@gmail.com if you would like to send him a note to encourage him.

Thank you so much for standing with us in the gap for the people of Taiwan.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl 

1.  Please pray for the THoGL children as they begin this new school year.

2.  Please pray for Peter in John’s English group as he battles with the decision to follow Jesus.

3.  Please pray for Cheryl’s Ladies Bible study as they study the life of Jesus.

4.  Please continue to pray for Skiles family as they grieve the death of Brad. 

5.  Please pray for Nathanael as he works and travels in Africa these two weeks.

6.  Please pray for Andrew as he seeks to raise full-time support to work with YWAM.

Posted on September 15th, 2021 by dunns
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July 19, 2021 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence? If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be. If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the other side of the sea, even there your hand would guide me, your right hand would grab hold of me.  Ps. 139:7-10

The psalmist took comfort in the fact that God is always present, willing and able to guide and protect. Even in the a little hotel room while in a two week quarantine God has been with us.  He has given us time to rest, pray, read, learn new software, etc.  He has kept us from getting sick too.  It does not matter where you are presently, God is with you.  He is willing and able to guide you through your present dilemma.  He does not just meet you on the other side, He goes through the darkness with you.  Join us in praising God for His constant presence and praying for those in times of struggle.

Please continue to pray force Taiwan during this time of stress due to tight restrictions to help control Covid-19 infections.  It makes it difficult on families, especially those with young children and older members.  Pray as well that this situation will bring an opportunity for the gospel to be heard and received by many people.

Please pray for our re-entry into ministry with our discipleship groups and at The Home of God’s Love.  We hope that restrictions on groups meeting together will soon be lifted.  We  also are praying for God to direct us to how He would have us specifically serve at THoGL.  There are so many places and ways we can serve, but we need guidance as to how we can best serve at this time.

Please pray for our family as we all adjust to being on opposite sides of the world again.  

Pray for John’s sister-in-law, Florence, as she has had radiation treatment for cancer and is facing a preventive surgery in the coming months as well.  

Pray for Cheryl’s parents as her mom takes medicine at home to fight the lung disease and infections she has.  

Pray for Moriah as she adjusts to living in an apartment with her roommate and faces many new decisions.

Pray for Andrew as he continues to serve & train with YWAM.  He is currently raising support and trying to decide what God would have him to do in the fall.

Thank you for always lifting up our concerns to God.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl 

1.  Praise God for His presence.  Pray for those who are going through struggles.

2.  Pray for the people of Taiwan to come to Jesus through this time of struggle with Covid.

3.  Pray for our re-entry into ministry with our discipleship groups and at THoGL

4.  Pray for our family as we are across the world from each other.

     Florence as she is treated for cancer.

     Cheryl’s parents as they deal with her mom’s lung disease.

     Moriah as she continues to grow into adulthood.

     Andrew as he serves with YWAM and seeks God for the future.

  

Posted on July 20th, 2021 by dunns
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May 9, 2021 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“As for me, I will sing about your strength; I will praise your loyal love in the morning. For you are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble. You are my source of strength. I will sing praises to you. For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.”  Psalm 59:16-17

How strong are you?  Strong enough to face the challenges of parenthood, aging, losing a job, losing a spouse or a child, failure, prejudice, depression, or the temptations to live for self?  Well, if you know the Savior you don’t have to be.  He is willing to provide all the strength you need to face all the challenges of life, both physical and spiritual.  All it takes of us is to place our faith in Him.  So let’s choose to allow Jesus to be our strength and sing His praises wherever we go.

We ask that you pray for the Home of God’s Love as there continue to be new challenges each week. Presently, there are three domestic adoption cases that are having difficulties. Several children that were placed at THoGL as foster children have gone to live with family members, but they remain on our list of children for several months, keeping us from receiving more children until we can hire an additional social worker.  

John’s sister-in-law, Florence, has been diagnosed with breast cancer and recently removed a small tumor as well as a lymph node.  She will start radiation treatments this week on Tuesday.  Please pray for her treatment to be successful and her reaction not to be too severe.

Thank you for praying for Andrew and his teammates as they were serving in Africa.  Andrew did receive his passport in time to return with his team last week.  He will continue his training with YWAM until the first week of June.  He is planning to take additional leadership training beginning the 3rd week of June.  Please pray that he will able to raise the needed support for that time.

Thank you for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1. Please join us in choosing to allow Jesus to be our strength.

2. Please continue to pray for THoGL. 

3. Please pray for Florence as she begins treatments this week.

4. Praise God for bringing Andrew and his teammates back safely.

Posted on May 9th, 2021 by dunns
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