22nd November 2006
Tomorrow will be Thanksgiving Day for all Americans. The Canadians celebrated it last month. When I was in Calgary, the kitchen in Bonita's smelled of Turkey and good food. I always loved turkey and still do, especially the Pope's nose.
Although I am no American, I shall participate in this Thanksgiving Day. I shall be thankful tonight. Here is my letter to God.
Dear Lord
I want to thank you for the work on the cross. For the love so great that you left your throne and came to save me even before I was formed. I want to thank you for not putting me in any other family but this family. A family of three children with a full time housewife and a hardworking, honest and brilliant man. Thank you Lord for making me the way I am. At first I was really unhappy with who I am. I remember asking you why you couldn't make me any gentler, any sweeter and any nicer. I remember asking why I must take so many things seriously and why I am not so brilliant. But I thank you for taking the time to unveil the works of your hands. As I look back, Lord, I am grateful you made me the way I am and putting me through many rounds of firing so that I can continue to grow into your image. What would that be Lord?
Thank you also for all the people you sent and still sending to perfect the work you started. I don't know when your work in me will end but I do know that each time as you begin to work, I am thankful you also give me the strength and the peace that transcends human understanding.
Thank you Lord for my mother. The strength she exhibits must come from you. The joy of the Lord is her strength. Thank you for giving us the time we now have with her to create memories for ourselves. Thank you for allowing me to capture as many beautiful pictures of her.
Thank you Lord for my father. The love he demonstrates for my mother is incredible. Thank you that he stays level and cool headed with confidence guiding us along the way regarding my mother's health.
Thank you Lord for my sister and her family, my brother and his family. Without them, Lord, my life will be so boring. Yes, Lord, we fight. But then Lord because of you, we reconcile. We love you because only you can bring three different families together so we can all serve you. Thank you Lord for the gift of children, all six lovely ones. Thank you for using them to cheer mum and I up when we feel tired to fight on. Thank you especially for their little hands, their big hearts and the widest smiles.
Thank you Lord for my aunties and cousins. They share their love and their hearts with us so freely with my family. Lord bless them please.
Father, thank you so much for my godsons. Thank you for using them to persuade me to stay strong and show me how I can stay strong. Thank you for using them to make sure I am physically strong, that I watch my health. Thank you for using Joshua to bring me back to church and thank you so much for allowing him to help me out in Beijing. If not for him, I believe I would be very tired by now. Lord please bless Joshua with a stedfast faith in you. May you guide him as he seeks your will in all that he does. May he decrease as you increase in his life. Thank you so much for Tianhan, he said he would have flown back to Singapore if he could. Thank you for Yifong for allowing me to be weak when I need to. And for Melvin who constantlay look for help so Miss Cheong can help her mother heal better. Bless these young men with compassion for the poor. Continue to give them a tender heart for the needy and Lord keep their eyes focus on serving others instead of just themselves.
Lord thank you for all my friends in Calgary, at work and at school. Thank you for using them to encourage me. Thank you for answering their prayers. Thank you so much for bosom friends who just wanted to buy me a meal because this was all they can do for me now. Lord, bless them richly please with more love.
Thank you Lord for sending me to the schools you placed me in. Without them, I will not have so many support during this time of crisis. I want to thank you for RGS, for Hwa Chong, for students whom you send to comfort me and cheer me on. Thank you for the students who repeatedly check on me to make sure I am doing okay. Lord please bless them. Bless them with a tender heart so that they will not be clouded by too many temptations of the flesh and of the world. Bless them with a vigilant mind and a giving heart. May you bless them with a love for their families so that they can draw strength from.
Also Lord, thank you for my colleagues. They have blessed me with love and trust. They have taught me so much about what caring for another person is. Lord bless them richly with rest they so deserved at the end of a day's work. Bless them Lord.
So Lord, I thank you for a bumper crop of kinship and friendship. I do wish for a turkey meal and so Lord, help me find one for dinner tomorrow. Thank you so much.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
20th November 2006
Mum went to the meet her QiGong friends in Macpherson estate on Sunday morning. Dad drove mum and I to have breakfast there. I grew up here in this housing estate and stayed more than 20 years there. Mum was all excited about meeting these old friends. Initially when she was in her early 40s, she was very conscious about keeping her weight down. So I told her if she wanted, she should go for the qigong exercises and I actually told her I would last and not her. In the end, I was terribly wrong. She became an instructor within a couple of months. She even performed with her friends in major occasions eons ago. If you look at her, you wouldn't know she has martial arts. She was trained by Jing Wu Association in Ipoh. Just before she was admitted to the hospital for gall bladder removal, she met her senior in the Pugilistic association who came all the way from Ipoh to attend the 85th anniversary of Jing Wu. I was there for the concert and the dinner and saw the founder's great grand son. This was the dinner dad, mum and I were to attend but in the end I went with Steffi and Tiffany.
Sunday morning, she also met another liver cancer patient. He sings competitively and was an instructor in Qigong too. When they saw mum, they all said they couldn't tell mum is sick. She had a nice chat and she told all of them she never once cried because she had cancer or over cancer. She went home later that morning. She was reading the bible as I stepped out of the house.
Church was good. There was a baptism service that morning. A few testified of God's goodness and saving grace. Quite a few were from mainland China. The title of the sermon was...today's vision, tomorrow's ministry.
What is important to know is that without vision, the people perish. Unless we see that people need the Lord and act on it, or else it will be too late.
I often find we are busy taking care of the needs of others but so often we neglect those at home. It is time to think about our family.
Mum went to the meet her QiGong friends in Macpherson estate on Sunday morning. Dad drove mum and I to have breakfast there. I grew up here in this housing estate and stayed more than 20 years there. Mum was all excited about meeting these old friends. Initially when she was in her early 40s, she was very conscious about keeping her weight down. So I told her if she wanted, she should go for the qigong exercises and I actually told her I would last and not her. In the end, I was terribly wrong. She became an instructor within a couple of months. She even performed with her friends in major occasions eons ago. If you look at her, you wouldn't know she has martial arts. She was trained by Jing Wu Association in Ipoh. Just before she was admitted to the hospital for gall bladder removal, she met her senior in the Pugilistic association who came all the way from Ipoh to attend the 85th anniversary of Jing Wu. I was there for the concert and the dinner and saw the founder's great grand son. This was the dinner dad, mum and I were to attend but in the end I went with Steffi and Tiffany.
Sunday morning, she also met another liver cancer patient. He sings competitively and was an instructor in Qigong too. When they saw mum, they all said they couldn't tell mum is sick. She had a nice chat and she told all of them she never once cried because she had cancer or over cancer. She went home later that morning. She was reading the bible as I stepped out of the house.
Church was good. There was a baptism service that morning. A few testified of God's goodness and saving grace. Quite a few were from mainland China. The title of the sermon was...today's vision, tomorrow's ministry.
What is important to know is that without vision, the people perish. Unless we see that people need the Lord and act on it, or else it will be too late.
I often find we are busy taking care of the needs of others but so often we neglect those at home. It is time to think about our family.
Friday, November 17, 2006
17th Novembe 2006
The PSI has been low. It is a good thing for all of us because we can breathe easy. But for most of us in higher institutions, we are swarmed with work and exams and marking projects. It has been a tremendous week for me because I was at work collecting assignments from my trainee teachers.
The words of encouragement poured in and the first instance was to ask about my mum. I am so touched by their care and there was a warm feeling of support and love. You can almost say there was a choir of angels but not to the tune of Mr Bean. Since my joining at NIE, I have learned and grown so much. These I will take with me back to Hwa Chong. I hope to share and give in a similar way. I have many apprehensions about going back because afterall two years is a long time. I will have to readjust and adapt again. I shared my apprehensions with some of my ex students. They are actually very happy I am returning to HCI. There are boys who are waiting for me to return because they say it is a good thing for the school. I hope they are right. I used to tell my ex students that my middle name is Tyrant or Tyranny. They still laugh at me when I introduced myself years ago. One was particularly careful to remind me that he knew I was just showing off my fangs with no sting. But they were so wrong. The sting is not as terrible as the bite. Then there are some who thinks returning to HCI will take my mind off my mother and live for myself a little.
My mother has been asking me to go out and sing and have a good time and not to worry about me. I am very grateful to her. I am slowly reconnecting with the community I used to hang out with but really have been swarmed with work. I want to thank all my ex students, trainee teachers and friends for their patience to wait for me to be ready. Slowly but surely.
I do know Florence who is checking the blog everyday is hoping I will come out and sing. I will do that. Perhaps I will give her a call later today. I also have Melvin who constantly remind me he will give me a discount on his spa. This ex student, also one of my godsons, has started up his business in spa. A short 10 min spa for 10 dollars with hydrotherapy. If you are interested, tell me.
Time for resolutions for the next year again. Do you know only 40% who actually made resolutions carried them out. So make them anyway. At least we can be the 40% one fine day. What will I do next year? Sorry, couldn't tell you. But I do plan. I plan to teach with enduring understanding in mind. I plan to inspire my students to become visionary, compassionate and give back to the society they come from.
I am always heartened when students (trainees and CHS boys) tell me that I have touched a tiny section of their life. But I really want to know how I did it. Because I am very human. I display all the flaws of a normal person. So I always ask how did I do it. This way I remember to do the good thing. So don't forget to ask people how you have touched their lives.
I shared with Joshua about my monday and he shared with me about his wednesday. Wow. He stepped out of the bus and infront of him was a woman in pain. He actually looked into the matter and even accompanied the victim of a motor bike accident to the hospital. That I can say it is about RIGHT NOW! So take time to share this kind of story too. You will realize the world is a place of love and care. There are people out there who are silly enough to do the good thing.
I wish all of us can give a little and also take a little. Giving is good but we should also learn to take a little. In order to give, we must also take. Take from others the strength to carry on, take from others the courage to do good, take from others the heart to serve others.
Perhaps it is Christmas round the corner that sends me into the mood of giving. I remember the shoe boxes in Calgary. It started with the conflict in Bosnia. The good samaritan organisation approached Foothills alliance I attended when I studied there for this shoe box project. We all pack into a shoe box with a child or teenager in mind and they are to be sent with a loonie (canadian one dollar) to Bosnia. I prepared 5 shoe boxes with 5 teenage girls in mind. I bought lipsticks, candies, etc. The first year only the alliance churches were involved. Then the second year, other churches and eventually the entire city of Calgary. Every corner of the mall, you hear children carrying their shoe boxes and filling them up saying things like "No, I think this boy will need this and this girl will need that." ; "I want to give her a dollie. She has one , I have one too." Such joy!
Every Christmas there is the Salvation Army or the BB trying to get donations of rice or canned food. Do stop and give. How about starting a shoe box project too?
When you buy a gift this Christmas, why are you doing it? Who are you buying for? Why do you think this is going to cheer this person up this Christmas? Bonita is often shocked that I could guess what she bought me for Christmas. I knew what she would buy because she was always so attentive to what I need. I carry on my Calgarian tradition in the Schaufele family in my own home. There are lots of gifts for my nephews and nieces. This year will not be a ra ra affair but it will be a season for us to be thankful for because of my mother. Take a moment and think about why you celebrate Christmas.
The PSI has been low. It is a good thing for all of us because we can breathe easy. But for most of us in higher institutions, we are swarmed with work and exams and marking projects. It has been a tremendous week for me because I was at work collecting assignments from my trainee teachers.
The words of encouragement poured in and the first instance was to ask about my mum. I am so touched by their care and there was a warm feeling of support and love. You can almost say there was a choir of angels but not to the tune of Mr Bean. Since my joining at NIE, I have learned and grown so much. These I will take with me back to Hwa Chong. I hope to share and give in a similar way. I have many apprehensions about going back because afterall two years is a long time. I will have to readjust and adapt again. I shared my apprehensions with some of my ex students. They are actually very happy I am returning to HCI. There are boys who are waiting for me to return because they say it is a good thing for the school. I hope they are right. I used to tell my ex students that my middle name is Tyrant or Tyranny. They still laugh at me when I introduced myself years ago. One was particularly careful to remind me that he knew I was just showing off my fangs with no sting. But they were so wrong. The sting is not as terrible as the bite. Then there are some who thinks returning to HCI will take my mind off my mother and live for myself a little.
My mother has been asking me to go out and sing and have a good time and not to worry about me. I am very grateful to her. I am slowly reconnecting with the community I used to hang out with but really have been swarmed with work. I want to thank all my ex students, trainee teachers and friends for their patience to wait for me to be ready. Slowly but surely.
I do know Florence who is checking the blog everyday is hoping I will come out and sing. I will do that. Perhaps I will give her a call later today. I also have Melvin who constantly remind me he will give me a discount on his spa. This ex student, also one of my godsons, has started up his business in spa. A short 10 min spa for 10 dollars with hydrotherapy. If you are interested, tell me.
Time for resolutions for the next year again. Do you know only 40% who actually made resolutions carried them out. So make them anyway. At least we can be the 40% one fine day. What will I do next year? Sorry, couldn't tell you. But I do plan. I plan to teach with enduring understanding in mind. I plan to inspire my students to become visionary, compassionate and give back to the society they come from.
I am always heartened when students (trainees and CHS boys) tell me that I have touched a tiny section of their life. But I really want to know how I did it. Because I am very human. I display all the flaws of a normal person. So I always ask how did I do it. This way I remember to do the good thing. So don't forget to ask people how you have touched their lives.
I shared with Joshua about my monday and he shared with me about his wednesday. Wow. He stepped out of the bus and infront of him was a woman in pain. He actually looked into the matter and even accompanied the victim of a motor bike accident to the hospital. That I can say it is about RIGHT NOW! So take time to share this kind of story too. You will realize the world is a place of love and care. There are people out there who are silly enough to do the good thing.
I wish all of us can give a little and also take a little. Giving is good but we should also learn to take a little. In order to give, we must also take. Take from others the strength to carry on, take from others the courage to do good, take from others the heart to serve others.
Perhaps it is Christmas round the corner that sends me into the mood of giving. I remember the shoe boxes in Calgary. It started with the conflict in Bosnia. The good samaritan organisation approached Foothills alliance I attended when I studied there for this shoe box project. We all pack into a shoe box with a child or teenager in mind and they are to be sent with a loonie (canadian one dollar) to Bosnia. I prepared 5 shoe boxes with 5 teenage girls in mind. I bought lipsticks, candies, etc. The first year only the alliance churches were involved. Then the second year, other churches and eventually the entire city of Calgary. Every corner of the mall, you hear children carrying their shoe boxes and filling them up saying things like "No, I think this boy will need this and this girl will need that." ; "I want to give her a dollie. She has one , I have one too." Such joy!
Every Christmas there is the Salvation Army or the BB trying to get donations of rice or canned food. Do stop and give. How about starting a shoe box project too?
When you buy a gift this Christmas, why are you doing it? Who are you buying for? Why do you think this is going to cheer this person up this Christmas? Bonita is often shocked that I could guess what she bought me for Christmas. I knew what she would buy because she was always so attentive to what I need. I carry on my Calgarian tradition in the Schaufele family in my own home. There are lots of gifts for my nephews and nieces. This year will not be a ra ra affair but it will be a season for us to be thankful for because of my mother. Take a moment and think about why you celebrate Christmas.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
12th November 2006
Mum is eating well. She had chicken rice the day after our return from Beijing. She missed the food here the most. Pray that she will continue to improve in her appetite. I heard one sneeze and I am already worried. She is not supposed to catch the cold or the flu. Sigh! I got the cold and now coughing. Something just stuck in my throat.
I was able to go to church today. The children's choir was singing when I walked in. I was very late. I had to do some housework before leaving for church. This is my second time in this church I am visiting. I had an interesting experience today. There was a mission festival and they shared about distributing bible in the province of Szechuan. I visited the booths that promoted the various missions the church is involved in. I checked out a mission out at Honduras and El Salvador. May be I will take time to go there in June. I have never been to Central America. Then there was the bible distribution in China. I wanted to find out more about educating children or teachers instead. I like the fact that the church is involved in missions. This is an international church with an American pastor. And the church is active with missions. The pastor was quick to remind the congregation not just to be involved in missions in foreign lands but to be involved with the neighbour next door too. He pointed out that we must realize a few things about missions. He told all of us that God commanded that we go out to preach the gospel and the job does not lie only with the pastor. We need to preach the gospel because people want to hear it. We have to because hell is real and if we don't do it, we are sending them to a real place. But of all these, he says we have to do it right now!
He brought back some memories of Calgary. I used to complain to God when people would look me up on campus just to tell me their woes and troubles. I complained because they always get me when I had my midterms (exams and tests) and I had very little time to study. I remember how one Hong Kong girl I never knew called me up late at night just to tell me how her Singaporean friend objected to her marriage to a non christian. I never knew her and she told me all these in one night. Every time after these occasions occurred I would look back and understood what just happened. Soon I learned to follow God's leading and allowed such occasions to take place. I also learn to allow God to prepare me and feed me with wisdom to know how to reach out to the person He wanted me to share with. I met Kittie later after I told her what I thought about her situation. She did marry the non Christian man. He became a christian later and she told me that too when I bummed into her a year after she graduated. It is about NOW! So how to tell when is the NOW? I guess we just have to be Operational Ready all the time.
Again, today the pastor said about our faith. It is a simple faith. It is very simple. How can you not believe what God has done for you? How true!
Please continue to pray for my mother. She needs to sleep or else she will not be able to fight the disease. She also needs to know we are supporting her in prayer and in deed.
Mum is eating well. She had chicken rice the day after our return from Beijing. She missed the food here the most. Pray that she will continue to improve in her appetite. I heard one sneeze and I am already worried. She is not supposed to catch the cold or the flu. Sigh! I got the cold and now coughing. Something just stuck in my throat.
I was able to go to church today. The children's choir was singing when I walked in. I was very late. I had to do some housework before leaving for church. This is my second time in this church I am visiting. I had an interesting experience today. There was a mission festival and they shared about distributing bible in the province of Szechuan. I visited the booths that promoted the various missions the church is involved in. I checked out a mission out at Honduras and El Salvador. May be I will take time to go there in June. I have never been to Central America. Then there was the bible distribution in China. I wanted to find out more about educating children or teachers instead. I like the fact that the church is involved in missions. This is an international church with an American pastor. And the church is active with missions. The pastor was quick to remind the congregation not just to be involved in missions in foreign lands but to be involved with the neighbour next door too. He pointed out that we must realize a few things about missions. He told all of us that God commanded that we go out to preach the gospel and the job does not lie only with the pastor. We need to preach the gospel because people want to hear it. We have to because hell is real and if we don't do it, we are sending them to a real place. But of all these, he says we have to do it right now!
He brought back some memories of Calgary. I used to complain to God when people would look me up on campus just to tell me their woes and troubles. I complained because they always get me when I had my midterms (exams and tests) and I had very little time to study. I remember how one Hong Kong girl I never knew called me up late at night just to tell me how her Singaporean friend objected to her marriage to a non christian. I never knew her and she told me all these in one night. Every time after these occasions occurred I would look back and understood what just happened. Soon I learned to follow God's leading and allowed such occasions to take place. I also learn to allow God to prepare me and feed me with wisdom to know how to reach out to the person He wanted me to share with. I met Kittie later after I told her what I thought about her situation. She did marry the non Christian man. He became a christian later and she told me that too when I bummed into her a year after she graduated. It is about NOW! So how to tell when is the NOW? I guess we just have to be Operational Ready all the time.
Again, today the pastor said about our faith. It is a simple faith. It is very simple. How can you not believe what God has done for you? How true!
Please continue to pray for my mother. She needs to sleep or else she will not be able to fight the disease. She also needs to know we are supporting her in prayer and in deed.
Friday, November 10, 2006
10th November 2006
We are HOME. The SIA ground crew at Beijing blocked two seats for mum so she could rest when she flew with us. We were all seated together and it was a good and memorable experience for all of us. Mum and dad were able to catch a little nap. The kids had a lot of fun watching the inflight entertainment. In total there were over 60 over movies to select and 20 over other TV programmes to watch but I was just too tired. I think SIA should pay me for this advertisement.
I came home with the beijing wind in my head and nose. Had to go to the doctor so I don't infect my mother with anything. My GP suggested that perhaps we want to remove the stents if the virus repeatedly attacks mum. This virus, according to him is easily caught if we stay in the hospital for too long. Interesting! Dr Li in Beijing told me that mum will need antibiotics that will be absorbed by the bile duct in the future. I was educated that there are antibiotics that the liver will take, antibiotics for the kidney to absorb and even the bile duct. Wow! I am surprised. I do know there are antibiotics for the upper part of the body and so if you have acne, Augmentin will will work.
Beijing is different for me this time round. The fallen leaves swirled with the strong winds that blew. The last two days we were there, winds died down and temperatures rose to 16. Even the littlest of the kids told us she was terribly warmed.
We had a terrible episode of not getting transport to the airport. We were confident we could get into two cabs with 4 huge bags. But we were not so confident when mum did not want to take the trouble. There was also this China Africa summit and the mini van drivers were all out. So they could rent me the van at 300 yuan for the whole day but no drivers. The drivers would cost me another 200yuan. Then there were two taxis that wanted to charge me 300yuan. In the end, Theodora, Tiffany, Rebecca and I prayed at midnight on the 9th, asking God to supply our need. Then early morning, the bell boy called saying there was a van. Happily we went down to the coffee house for buffet breakfast. Then we came up in about 90mins and the phone rang. It was to tell us, there was no van. I walked out to look for the doctor before leaving and chance upon a van with a number to call. I did, and they phoned dad to say the whole event will cost us 500 yuan. So Rebecca suggested we go for the cabs outside the hotel. We all got in! How much? Well...
Mum told me that dad seemed more lazy since we came to visit. I told her he was just relieved some one could take over for a while. Mum also shared that dad would pray with her and read to her the bible when the wrangling in the stomach would not settle. One afternoon, while we walked back from the restaurant for lunch, dad was thanking God for the work in mum. Mum was not too please because he was not sincere. So she told him to shout towards heaven and thank God for the great work in her life. He did! Wow!
I wonder is it necessary to do bible study, to do the right statures of the Christian faith and say the right thing or will simple faith be just as redeeming. What can head knowledge do when there is no connection to the heart? When we know too much and not act on it, it does us all no good.
What will God do if He were to reach out to the lost in our world? Will He reach us using the most up to date technology? Or will He bring in new things to appeal to our senses? What will God do to reach out to my parents? These simple folks, in simple ways move towards Jesus. I always ask, is listening to the still small voice of God not enough? Must we really do more to help people find God using all these methods make convenient for us. Does God want us to make it convenient for Him to reach out to people? I have no answers but I firmly believe Faith works and without Faith nothing works and Faith without works is DEAD. Working out our faith, and working on our faith are all important but I don't believe we need to HELP God by sensationalizing our FAITH.
I praise God that my soul is calmer because really there is nothing more than to see my Saviour face to face. I spoke to Rebecca about how we will end. My mum is facing it so squarely, calmly and joyfully. If she is acting, she has to act everyday about her situation. That would knock anyone. But she is not acting.
One of my favourite songs of all times...Someday the silver cord will break. And I shall no more as now shall sing. But oh the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King. And I shall see Him face to face and tell the story saved by grace.
Have a good day. Please continue to pray for wisdom to know how to help my mum. We are going to see Dr Toh and Dr London Ooi on the 28th. My mother has the best in Singapore and Beijing. We thank God for that.
We are HOME. The SIA ground crew at Beijing blocked two seats for mum so she could rest when she flew with us. We were all seated together and it was a good and memorable experience for all of us. Mum and dad were able to catch a little nap. The kids had a lot of fun watching the inflight entertainment. In total there were over 60 over movies to select and 20 over other TV programmes to watch but I was just too tired. I think SIA should pay me for this advertisement.
I came home with the beijing wind in my head and nose. Had to go to the doctor so I don't infect my mother with anything. My GP suggested that perhaps we want to remove the stents if the virus repeatedly attacks mum. This virus, according to him is easily caught if we stay in the hospital for too long. Interesting! Dr Li in Beijing told me that mum will need antibiotics that will be absorbed by the bile duct in the future. I was educated that there are antibiotics that the liver will take, antibiotics for the kidney to absorb and even the bile duct. Wow! I am surprised. I do know there are antibiotics for the upper part of the body and so if you have acne, Augmentin will will work.
Beijing is different for me this time round. The fallen leaves swirled with the strong winds that blew. The last two days we were there, winds died down and temperatures rose to 16. Even the littlest of the kids told us she was terribly warmed.
We had a terrible episode of not getting transport to the airport. We were confident we could get into two cabs with 4 huge bags. But we were not so confident when mum did not want to take the trouble. There was also this China Africa summit and the mini van drivers were all out. So they could rent me the van at 300 yuan for the whole day but no drivers. The drivers would cost me another 200yuan. Then there were two taxis that wanted to charge me 300yuan. In the end, Theodora, Tiffany, Rebecca and I prayed at midnight on the 9th, asking God to supply our need. Then early morning, the bell boy called saying there was a van. Happily we went down to the coffee house for buffet breakfast. Then we came up in about 90mins and the phone rang. It was to tell us, there was no van. I walked out to look for the doctor before leaving and chance upon a van with a number to call. I did, and they phoned dad to say the whole event will cost us 500 yuan. So Rebecca suggested we go for the cabs outside the hotel. We all got in! How much? Well...
Mum told me that dad seemed more lazy since we came to visit. I told her he was just relieved some one could take over for a while. Mum also shared that dad would pray with her and read to her the bible when the wrangling in the stomach would not settle. One afternoon, while we walked back from the restaurant for lunch, dad was thanking God for the work in mum. Mum was not too please because he was not sincere. So she told him to shout towards heaven and thank God for the great work in her life. He did! Wow!
I wonder is it necessary to do bible study, to do the right statures of the Christian faith and say the right thing or will simple faith be just as redeeming. What can head knowledge do when there is no connection to the heart? When we know too much and not act on it, it does us all no good.
What will God do if He were to reach out to the lost in our world? Will He reach us using the most up to date technology? Or will He bring in new things to appeal to our senses? What will God do to reach out to my parents? These simple folks, in simple ways move towards Jesus. I always ask, is listening to the still small voice of God not enough? Must we really do more to help people find God using all these methods make convenient for us. Does God want us to make it convenient for Him to reach out to people? I have no answers but I firmly believe Faith works and without Faith nothing works and Faith without works is DEAD. Working out our faith, and working on our faith are all important but I don't believe we need to HELP God by sensationalizing our FAITH.
I praise God that my soul is calmer because really there is nothing more than to see my Saviour face to face. I spoke to Rebecca about how we will end. My mum is facing it so squarely, calmly and joyfully. If she is acting, she has to act everyday about her situation. That would knock anyone. But she is not acting.
One of my favourite songs of all times...Someday the silver cord will break. And I shall no more as now shall sing. But oh the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King. And I shall see Him face to face and tell the story saved by grace.
Have a good day. Please continue to pray for wisdom to know how to help my mum. We are going to see Dr Toh and Dr London Ooi on the 28th. My mother has the best in Singapore and Beijing. We thank God for that.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
7th November 2006
I tried to blog yesterday but it didn't go through. Here is the latest update. The winds blew strongly for three consecutive days and I am so proud of the three kids. They dressed warmly and visited mum every morning and went home with me till the night. I exchanged roles with Rebecca. She looked after mum instead. I wanted her to know what we went through when Richard and I was last here. Because she is fresh, she may see things we could not see when we were last here too.
Mum complained about stomach wrenching and churning after we had our first lunch with her. I was not in the hospital and they did not know what to do. She mourned for about an hour and then with some actal she was okay. But actal didn't work the next night. What really happened was she had indigestion and aggravated the reaction from gamma radiation.
Dad looks really tired and older. He was so relieved that both Rebecca and I are here. He was able to eat better and will eat more when he sees mum eats. I understand how he feels because I did the same thing. I stopped eating when she could not eat at all.
Somehow with the kids around her, she will try harder at eating more food than her normal usual self.
We went to the Palace today and walked and walked for three hours. Theodora walked with us and played with Tiffany laughing resoundingly in the palace that even the late Empress Dowager would get up to have some fun. She asked us how come she walked so long and she could not see the empress and the emperor and where is the bus stop so we could take it home.
Dad was with us. He was so happy to hear that mum's stomach does not have any tumors. Instead it is behind her stomach that they found two spots in the lymph nodes there. The doctors here are not worried and that it would not threaten her life now. But with chemo, the problem can be resolved. Dr Li said that they are using the latest technology on her and she has responded well. They shot at the bile duct area where there were three tumors and three small ones in the liver also shot at. Because they fired quite near to the stomach, she gets the pains. Some patients threw up bile and could not even eat. She has done well because of the little nagging pain.
I also managed to get her some muscle relaxants for the stomach that manages to relax her muscles there so she can sleep. God is good. He leads us to where help is.
The wind died down today. Thanks for praying.
Pray we can sit together as a family so it is easy to look after mum when we fly on thursday at 450 pm. Pray for a smooth flight and that mum can rest on the plane.
I tried to blog yesterday but it didn't go through. Here is the latest update. The winds blew strongly for three consecutive days and I am so proud of the three kids. They dressed warmly and visited mum every morning and went home with me till the night. I exchanged roles with Rebecca. She looked after mum instead. I wanted her to know what we went through when Richard and I was last here. Because she is fresh, she may see things we could not see when we were last here too.
Mum complained about stomach wrenching and churning after we had our first lunch with her. I was not in the hospital and they did not know what to do. She mourned for about an hour and then with some actal she was okay. But actal didn't work the next night. What really happened was she had indigestion and aggravated the reaction from gamma radiation.
Dad looks really tired and older. He was so relieved that both Rebecca and I are here. He was able to eat better and will eat more when he sees mum eats. I understand how he feels because I did the same thing. I stopped eating when she could not eat at all.
Somehow with the kids around her, she will try harder at eating more food than her normal usual self.
We went to the Palace today and walked and walked for three hours. Theodora walked with us and played with Tiffany laughing resoundingly in the palace that even the late Empress Dowager would get up to have some fun. She asked us how come she walked so long and she could not see the empress and the emperor and where is the bus stop so we could take it home.
Dad was with us. He was so happy to hear that mum's stomach does not have any tumors. Instead it is behind her stomach that they found two spots in the lymph nodes there. The doctors here are not worried and that it would not threaten her life now. But with chemo, the problem can be resolved. Dr Li said that they are using the latest technology on her and she has responded well. They shot at the bile duct area where there were three tumors and three small ones in the liver also shot at. Because they fired quite near to the stomach, she gets the pains. Some patients threw up bile and could not even eat. She has done well because of the little nagging pain.
I also managed to get her some muscle relaxants for the stomach that manages to relax her muscles there so she can sleep. God is good. He leads us to where help is.
The wind died down today. Thanks for praying.
Pray we can sit together as a family so it is easy to look after mum when we fly on thursday at 450 pm. Pray for a smooth flight and that mum can rest on the plane.
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