Our children performed three shows for elderly citizens just before Chinese New Year, Taiwan’s biggest holiday. That is the time of the year when these folks feel especially lonely because either they have no more family, or they are not able to be with them. We made New Year’s cards for all the guests at each show, and a bakery donated enough cake for each person to have a piece.

TV crews filmed two of the programs, portions of which were broadcast repeatedly on primetime news and seen by about 10 million people. “This family is doing this service out of Christian love,” one commentator explained on the air.

“We’re especially interested in publicizing your work during the New Year holidays,” said a program director at another station, “because we hope your example will inspire our viewers to do more for others.” 

One reporter who was reassigned at the last minute to cover our event said he was delighted to be able to report on something positive for a change. He usually works in his station’s crime department. “Meeting you has given me new faith and hope in life and mankind,” he said. “How wonderful it is to see people living and working in harmony, and doing things for others.”

For our last program, we were invited by the city government to perform at a special dinner given for elderly people who live alone. The mayor of Kao-hsiung, Taiwan’s second largest city, enjoyed our show so much that he got up on the stage and sang the last song with our children.

After each show, the children passed out the cards we had brought, hugged each person, and wished everyone Happy New Year. Many were moved to tears. One woman couldn’t stop crying. When a reporter asked her why, she said that she didn’t have a daughter and was touched that one of our girls would be a daughter to her for a while. They all needed and appreciated a little love!