Week twenty was one of my better weeks, except for a few days. Monday was a busy day as I joined two USA friends and their friend for lunch and my neighbors family for dinner. The USA friend surprised me by visiting my church the day before. My tears welled up upon seeing an old friend.
The next day was a little teary. A friend introduced me to a man who kept his wife's urn at home too. The man who lost his wife eight years ago told me he had no problems even though he did not seal the urn top. The man did not remarry, but his last eight years were characterized by misery in the first year, lost in the second to six years, and loneliness in the last two due his kids growing up and his frequent travel. He was so open, honest and vulnerable acknowledging his pain that I cried with him in prayer, so did my friend. I cannot identify with someone more.
Wednesday was a calm day. I spent an hour preparing four coworkers to coteach with me over two days of training for overseas coworkers at the end of the month. Hope it bears fruit.
On Thursday I have a friend from Singapore suddenly arriving in town for a conference. We had lunch in Central. He has a blessed ministry now, but he had such an unbelievably hard time after his first wife died and he remarried. It almost ended his ministry. We both remember the songs in my car that comforted him at his lowest point when he visited me in Los Angeles. I wish I can listen to the album again to comfort myself, but I gave it away upon leaving USA.
On Friday our department welcomed visitors from Taiwan. I must say our department coworkers did a good job. At night I had dinner with Doris' middle sister Faith and her husband Chiu before we joined Fellowship together, they at newcomers group because Chiu is a new believer. Over dinner Faith told me they are planning to visit her mother's grave urn in Sunday Chun Yeung festival and wanted to have dinner with me afterwards. Doris and I seldom go to cemetries for the years she had cancer. Faith said we can have dinner at kwai fong nearer where I live. I said, I can come to Hong Kong and save you guys a trip. She said, No I plan to pay respect to little sisters 小妹 urn at your home. I was shocked because she disagreed with keeping Doris urn at home out of the fear she had from seeing Doris depart the last day at home. I turned to her husband and said, You better come to join dinner too. Your wife is afraid. He asked his wife, Are you afraid? Faith answered, Of course. Finally all's well that ended well on the urn.
On Saturday I shared with a coworker the latest events in my life, including how easily sad events made me cry nowadays. True, others pain and conflict grieved me as well. In the sharing I could not help but felt it again. At night I rushed home after Fellowship because one of Doris' former students were waiting at home for me so that he could take books Doris wanted to give away to benefit Macau students.
A song 我的神 我的父 touched me deeply Sunday morning. At prayer meeting I sobbed after knowing a church leader in the same prayer group that day has cancer and needs operation on 26th. After prayer meeting I rushed to buy Doris favorite fish 班, clams and mogua, and roast pork for Chiu before heading home for their arrival including younger sister Marion. It was first dinner for us four at home and the first time using and washing so many utensils. Doris had lots of flowers, from my lilies to the yellow and white flagrant flowers 香花 Faith. Faith cried in front of urn before they left, triggering me as well. Praise God the family can move on and maintain peace.
Finally, a verse that comforted me this week: Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Oct 11
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