mom's prospective home

Thank God for a smooth day that our home aide was able to get mom ready to visit her prospective convalescent home. I didn't think I could do it alone. After I visited the place about 1 month ago with Kammie, I put mom on its waiting list. Thank God for Karena's suggestion to take mom there to check out the place. I can't thank Karena enough for her continual support and presence during critical & crucial times.

After we arrived, Karena quickly drew mom's attention to the fragrant star jasmines planted in front of the building. Mom didn't seem uneasy there, which was a good sign. There are still questions and uncertainties in my mind; however, I remind myself to take one step at a time, and that God has been faithful to provide what He knows the best for us. Mom's still no.2 on the waiting list, which is OK. We're not in a hurry. God has the best timing.

We took mom to dim sum afterwards. Glad that Monica was able to join us and kept us company. Just for the record: during dim sum, I asked mom, "what do you think about the place that we just went?" Mom replied, "what place?" "Do you remember what we did before we come here for lunch?" "We didn't do anything." End of story.

God is good.

random thoughts

In preparing for my AH 2010 trip, I contacted some old AH students from the past two trips. To a mature one, I wrote about my work and general state,

"... However, it's precisely because I don't need to spend as much time for work, I can spare more time and energy to other things, which are no less important even though they don't earn money for me. Interestingly, I find myself learn more about life in difficult times than good times."

Then came his reply, "我最近生活的重点还是学习，因为明年一月份我要考研究生。虽然很累但是也很充实。另外闲暇的时候我会通过internet关注新闻实事和自己感兴趣的事情等。读书和上网是我最爱做的两件事，他们都能使人开拓视野，获得知识，感悟人生。虽然我现在还没有开始挣钱，但我一直都认为钱只要够花就可以了。人的一生是很短暂的，还有很多比挣钱更有意义的事情可以去做，比如亲情比如自己的兴趣爱好。Grace一直是我心中的一个榜样，我希望自己能成为像您一样的nice person，过着自己想要的生活。"

His reply could be courteous words. However, it made me feel very humbled. How I hope he would get to know Jesus personally soon. I told the students in China that I'm not well off, and that people whom they (the students) have never met support me financially so that I can go to meet them and teach. I told them several times that I'm really not that good or nice as they think I am; it's the love and grace of God, which send me to them. I must say this again to this student, and I must say this to the new students who I'll meet in July.

Compared to other friends, my work situation is still OK. I am no less busy than when I had more "professional" work. Like on Sunday, after church in the morning, I headed to the mission-trip meeting, and then joined a dinner gathering to pray for a sister who will have a brain operation today.

Yesterday, I accompanied a friend to visit her son in Irvine, who will return to HK toward the end of May after having looked futilely for IT job in the rough market here for over a year. We really need to pray for him more fervently.

Today's time seems to be all mine to rest and do work that earns $. I'll try to bring mom to check out two convalescent homes tomorrow, have a Bible Study preparation session with the study leaders on Friday, and then take someone's dad to a church nearby his home for the first time on the coming Sunday.

In between these activities is the more regular part of life: piano teaching & related matters. Hm ... I wonder what my life would be like in 5 years, in 10 years. Once in a while I still worry. But I must say for the most part I am fairly happy and satisfied.

ah 2010

This is the team! My co-teachers include the girl standing right next to me and the handsome-looking gentleman in the front row.

無聊野

最近有天災、人禍，有朋友突然患重病，亦正在等候安排媽媽入住安老院，所以blog的題材也是悶悶的。

這兩天就作了些無聊事情，distract 一下，除了花了半個晚上、一個上午去 set up 個（免費） router （順帶要多謝San Diego 的一名舊同學，仗義電話相助，才能順利接駁成功)。 又看到門前的玫瑰有ladybug, 便拿出部G10, 亂拍幾張相，實行有殺錯，無放過。

love it

am i ready to see Jesus?

Earthquakes of magnitudes of 5+, 6+, or 7+ happen almost every other days now. In the past I only worry about the "big one" everyone's talking about that will happen in California. The western China quake yesterday has gotten me thinking: will I be OK if there's one while I am in Shanghai on my own?

One thing leads to another. I ask myself, what if I don't get to return from my China trip? Am I ready to see Jesus? For longer than a fleeting moment, these were on my mind last night.

- I need to clean and get rid of stuffs in my house before the trip.

- Have I made peace with everyone I know?

- What about mom? Perhaps to move mom to the convalescent home before my trip?

- Bank savings should be donated to my mother church in HK. Need to update beneficiary information.

- Who should get my piano? my new iPad?

- Fellowship's bible study may continue to use the 10-step inductive bible study method.

- Piano students should easily find another piano teacher.

- No need to have head-ache about finding a university teaching job anymore.

Simple. Well, it would be fine if I get new assignments with a mission from my heavenly father and continue to live, too, I think.

wedding rings

Closing my parents' safe deposit box at a local bank today, I sorted out their stuffs and found these two rings. Their names and the date they got married are marked at the inside of the rings.

As I held and studied them in my hands, I came to the appreciation of the covenant that my parents made and managed to keep. It wasn't easy. At various stages of their marriage life, there were different challenges. I was there most of the time so I know a little bit.

Towards the last decade of his life, dad expressed his wish to go back to China to live and "do something." Well, he had the heart. He also did something already through some short trips. But he wanted to be there long term. He said he didn't care for the monthly monetary benefit received from the U.S. government. But then, mom's not keen on going to China nor the idea of dad going alone. (Both my sister and) I did not want to take care of mom. Thus, dad didn't gain any support from us to fulfill his dream. After his passing, I thought about it and wondered if it would be his regret.

Looking at these rings, I thought perhaps dad's getting a bigger crown for having stayed with mom, honoring their marriage vow than if he had gone off to China and even accomplished something huge for the local churches there.

growing love ... still growing

It makes sense. It finally makes sense.

Growing love was posted in 3/21. I'm still growing it, as God's teaching me how.

I observe relationships among many of my church brothers/sisters. They pour out their love without reservation when almost any one among the group comes across a personal or family emergency. Yet, during ordinary days, relationships could be "cooler" than a cucumber. As in the world, there're disagreements, strives, non-reconciled situations even though there might not be outward display of verbal fights or antagonism.

I know what it is now. It's phileo that's being practiced. They (or I should say "we") haven't advanced to agape as Jesus taught us.

Missionary Connie shared with us that we need to practice agape among us before we go out to love and sacrifice for strangers. It's a good reminder. Oh.... I think I have the ultimately perfect target right in front of me to practice.

今年度的事奉

過了半年了，我看自己今年在團契查經的事奉，在心態上，比較起過往事奉，對神好像對得凖了一點。臨時的改變、成果的延期、人事的不太調和、不同人發出不同的意見，我也能處理和處之泰然，因為認定上帝是CEO老闆，我要專心求問、依靠祂、討祂的喜悅，其他的祂會負責，因為我只是個 manager.

還有下半年，啊，不對，還有下半世，要學好當事奉者的功課。

心郁郁

想買部iPad玩， 唔知底玩唔底玩。

changing my blog setting

My blog readers:

Thank you for having frequented my blog. In a couple of days, I will change its setting from "anybody can view it" to "invited readers can view it."

I'm sending out open invitations now to those who as far as I know may want to visit from time to time. But if I have missed some of you BY MISTAKE, send me an email or note it in the comment so I may add you to the list.

Hope you'll drop by again. Happy Easter!

地球繼續轉

今個周末的工作、會議、責任本已排得密麻麻，但一場感冒，就把大部份的事情一掃而空。

原來有或沒有我，地球也是會繼續轉的。

讓我放下擔子、好好的紀念復活節。