The hospital called on Friday (3rd) and radiation for 5 weeks begins Monday (6th), tomorrow. Wife is recovering as well as she could but the last cycle of chemotherapy was most tumultuous. She was sick with a fever on days 11-15 and one more day after a two days' break. Her next challenge is just as taxing. She goes back to teach at class from the middle of the month on, so traveling takes a toll. Today we are in Macau attending dinner sponsored by a school program, where she plays a prominent role. The school could not find a substitute for her session, so we are here, but we took our time traveling after the harsh lesson from last week, when she rushed back to school for an office move that never materialized and got sick the day after arriving and for the next four days. So far she stood the test at the dinner, smiling broadly much of the time, but the ultimate test is today, when she is scheduled to lead a session.
The school retreat this year ended on a high note yesterday (10th). It was a four days, three nights affair, one day more than previous years, the extra day allowing the students to quiet down before school begins. There are 12 new students this year, breaking the last two years of four each, increasing our overall enrolment for the undergraduate program at 23 while the graduate program has five new faces. Everything worked out fine for me at the retreat because Wife's chemo ended last week at the right time and she had recovered from her fever. Radiation started this week. Monday (6th), the first day, was frustrating, requiring Wife to raise her hands for more than half an hour, while Tuesday was a 15 minutes breeze, but the machine had problems on Wednesday, making the waiting period hours longer, and it was canceled on Thursday (9th) due machine problems.
It has been a busy day for Wife's first day of class back in Macau today (15th). We took a cab to the ferry on the Hong Kong side after her 810a radiation appointment and caught the 930a ferry to Macau, arriving there at 1045a. After a bite at the canteen we headed to her office for a rest, waiting for her 330p class to start. We plan to head back to HK after her class because of radiation the next morning. This is our schedule for the next month or so every Wednesday. After the class ended, Wife met me at 540p and we got into a taxi that took us to the ferry and miraculously made the standby list for 6p. There we waited patiently and were the last few to be awarded seats. Onto the Hong Kong side an hour later, we ate dinner and caught the 810p ferry back to Ma Wan. What a day.
I was sad to hear an old friend Kenny passed away while scuba diving. 20 years away, the day he first came to church, was like yesterday. Death, dying and brushes with death are inescapable nowadays. He was a young 41 and he left behind his wife Ling and two young daughters. I cannot imagine losing my spouse at any moment of my life, especially after her brush with death, so I can understand how Ling feels. No wonder seniors feel vulnerable when their friends pass away; losing a friend is like losing a part of you.
Today (22th) is the second Wednesday in a row I returned to Macau with Wife. Her radiation was at 820am but it was delayed till about 9am, which was frustrating for her as she has to teach at 130pm. On the Hong Kong ferry side we had breakfast at a cafeteria and took the 1005am ferry. The boat was about the worst ride I ever had due the effects from the Taiwan typhoon. The ship heaved up and down and I was seasick 20 minutes from departure, praying for time to fly. Once thee, Wife had less than an hour to rest to get over the hangover. I slept for more than an hour and I was sure she would be too exhausted to last for the next four hours. We went for dinner at 610pm before the return trip and we managed to get the last table despite forgetting the crush due MidAutumn Festival today. We reached Hong Kong at 815pm but Wife was too tired to rush for the 830pm ferry to Ma Wan, so we had a cone at Mickey D's, settling for the 9pm ferry instead. Another exhausting Wednesday, two more to go. It took a toll on her body the next day.
Today (20th) is the third successive Wednesday we travel to Macau together. First we had breakfast on the Hong Kong side with a longtime friend from the States who arrived yesterday. Then we caught the 1030am ferry and upon arrival paid the taxi driver $50 Macau dollars to take us to the university. The local wifi failed me 45 mins into its use, so I am looking forward to lounge in the cafeteria instead of waiting for Wife at the office. At least I am glad I brought a book. Her mini-laptop, to lighten the strain on her back, is not my cup of tea for sure. Friday is a public holiday here, so I have taken Thursday off as well to spend more time together. She is ten daily trips away from completing her radiation treatment. At the end of the day she was as thrilled as ever about teaching.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Milestones, Aug 2010
It's been one milestone after another lately. Yesterday (Jul 31st) was our wedding anniversary, which we celebrated at a local restaurant, eating our favorite German pork knuckle. However, it was Wife's worst day yet after her 5th shot four days ago, and she had a fever at night. Praise God, she was fine the next day. Upcoming milestones this month include turning half a century (16th), facing the final sixth shot (17th), living two years in Hong Kong (18th), wearing out two pair of shoes, doing mentoring ministry with a local church (September), and getting published (October). On top of that, preachchrist.com surged over 30,000 visitors last month for the first time for a single month this year.
It is difficult to make and keep friends in Hong Kong even for one as sociable as I am, so I was glad when old friends visit, one from the States last week, one next week from Singapore, and another from USA again in two weeks' time. Local people and pastors just do not have the time to socialize or chat unless it's business. I must admit my night class students are different and more mature; they love to eat out and have fellowship with me. I found out yesterday (3rd) I will probably lose another friend due to job change.
I had a great time at the Kowloon Hong Kong revival meetings today (7th), being the only day I could go. The experience and exposition were much better than last year's and I was proud that I could go two years in a row since we have been here. After worship I had lunch with one of the speakers, whom I got to know in Los Angeles. It is good to take my mind off things and it is exciting to hear a good message for a change. The speaker tells me that only 200 max would attend a similar revival meeting if held in Singapore.
How do you stop a plagiarist? A minister had plagiarized my writings since the beginning of this year. When I asked him to stop naming himself as the writer of my sermons on his church webpage, he apologized, asked for forgiveness and took down the titles I named promptly. Later I found out that he did not take down the titles I did not mention, of which one of those left was also mine. Then we did a Google comparison of the ones left on his church website and found out most writings belong to other writers who also contributed to the same website I do, which the plagiarist conveniently swiped. I wrote to him again yesterday (12th) but he no longer cared to reply.
It is my birthday today (16th) and I took the day off to accompany Wife to hospital to check whether she can get her last shot tomorrow. I am actually writing this paragraph from the hospital. We brought the PC and wifi because we anticipate it is going to be a long day, usually staying till 3 pm. At least I got to have an earlier birthday dinner with a good couple friend from the States last night. I was worried I won't get to have dinner with close friends since I do not know enough local people long enough to have that kind of deep friendship. In response to Wife's question, my birthday wish is none other than Wife's health. The checkup ended at least an hour earlier at 220pm, when she was cleared for the last shot tomorrow, which unfortunately was not the case for a lady there from Tin Shui Wai. Wife was happy as a lark, so we went for hight tea, later she bought a Mango cake while I bought half a soy sauce chicken for tonight's celebration. However, I am not forgotten this day in Hong Kong. I have received three calls from locals for lunch/dinner. Who am I to moan after seeing this video of an armless man two days later and the World Blind Football Championship highlights?
Time flies and we are into the last Monday of the month (22nd). The next week or so is crucial to wife and I. She will return to work and it would be a stern test for her. I will take some days off to be with her there. As for me, the next phase is mentoring ministry and a new quarter at school. I am looking forward to meet the new students, especially at the Master's level, which I find more challenging to teach than the Bachelor's level, where independent thinking is unpopular.
We had a scare with Wife's persistent fever that started five days ago (26th)till today (30th). A doctor at Macau's Kiang Wu Hospital said it is abnormal, but a doctor at Hong Kong's Princess Margaret Hospital today says it is normal for her condition from medication. It seems the last shot is most upsetting, but not to the doctor who said that she missed out on the reactions on her previous cycles. The reactions are usually from day 8 to 11, but this time it is day 11 to 15 and counting. We rushed home from Macau early this morning, catching the 6am ferry from Macau and hopping into a taxi to take us straight to Princess Margaret. Wife's temperature was taken at the immigration checkpoint but they did not detain her, praise God. The hospital tests were done by 1220pm and I bought groceries after our lunch while she headed home directly.
It is difficult to make and keep friends in Hong Kong even for one as sociable as I am, so I was glad when old friends visit, one from the States last week, one next week from Singapore, and another from USA again in two weeks' time. Local people and pastors just do not have the time to socialize or chat unless it's business. I must admit my night class students are different and more mature; they love to eat out and have fellowship with me. I found out yesterday (3rd) I will probably lose another friend due to job change.
I had a great time at the Kowloon Hong Kong revival meetings today (7th), being the only day I could go. The experience and exposition were much better than last year's and I was proud that I could go two years in a row since we have been here. After worship I had lunch with one of the speakers, whom I got to know in Los Angeles. It is good to take my mind off things and it is exciting to hear a good message for a change. The speaker tells me that only 200 max would attend a similar revival meeting if held in Singapore.
How do you stop a plagiarist? A minister had plagiarized my writings since the beginning of this year. When I asked him to stop naming himself as the writer of my sermons on his church webpage, he apologized, asked for forgiveness and took down the titles I named promptly. Later I found out that he did not take down the titles I did not mention, of which one of those left was also mine. Then we did a Google comparison of the ones left on his church website and found out most writings belong to other writers who also contributed to the same website I do, which the plagiarist conveniently swiped. I wrote to him again yesterday (12th) but he no longer cared to reply.
It is my birthday today (16th) and I took the day off to accompany Wife to hospital to check whether she can get her last shot tomorrow. I am actually writing this paragraph from the hospital. We brought the PC and wifi because we anticipate it is going to be a long day, usually staying till 3 pm. At least I got to have an earlier birthday dinner with a good couple friend from the States last night. I was worried I won't get to have dinner with close friends since I do not know enough local people long enough to have that kind of deep friendship. In response to Wife's question, my birthday wish is none other than Wife's health. The checkup ended at least an hour earlier at 220pm, when she was cleared for the last shot tomorrow, which unfortunately was not the case for a lady there from Tin Shui Wai. Wife was happy as a lark, so we went for hight tea, later she bought a Mango cake while I bought half a soy sauce chicken for tonight's celebration. However, I am not forgotten this day in Hong Kong. I have received three calls from locals for lunch/dinner. Who am I to moan after seeing this video of an armless man two days later and the World Blind Football Championship highlights?
Time flies and we are into the last Monday of the month (22nd). The next week or so is crucial to wife and I. She will return to work and it would be a stern test for her. I will take some days off to be with her there. As for me, the next phase is mentoring ministry and a new quarter at school. I am looking forward to meet the new students, especially at the Master's level, which I find more challenging to teach than the Bachelor's level, where independent thinking is unpopular.
We had a scare with Wife's persistent fever that started five days ago (26th)till today (30th). A doctor at Macau's Kiang Wu Hospital said it is abnormal, but a doctor at Hong Kong's Princess Margaret Hospital today says it is normal for her condition from medication. It seems the last shot is most upsetting, but not to the doctor who said that she missed out on the reactions on her previous cycles. The reactions are usually from day 8 to 11, but this time it is day 11 to 15 and counting. We rushed home from Macau early this morning, catching the 6am ferry from Macau and hopping into a taxi to take us straight to Princess Margaret. Wife's temperature was taken at the immigration checkpoint but they did not detain her, praise God. The hospital tests were done by 1220pm and I bought groceries after our lunch while she headed home directly.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Taxotere, Jul 2010
July 1st is a public holiday in Hong Kong. We were blessed with a visit from overseas church member Wilson. He said it's been a long six years we have not met. Otherwise the day was a light one. We went for coffee, bought lunch home, caught a nap, exercised after rest, and relaxed after dinner. The next day I looked on the web for Wife's next drug in chemo: the fearsome taxotere.
Wife had a scare today (6th) after her 4th injection, TAC for the first time. She thought the 150 ml dosage was too strong and she panicked, so she emailed her physician brother in UK who said the dosage was OK. Nothing can calm her at times like this, but she was happy as a lark later. Checking too many website was counterproductive this time. The steroids kept her energized, but HGH is next, from Friday till Monday, four days after TAC. Read her version.
The HGH effect set in with a vengeance. For the last three days, Wife has sleep, bowel and pain issues. There is no relief in sight as tomorrow (12th) is the fourth and final day of HGH injection. At times, she has to rest on the bed with two arms extended to relieve and release the stress. Thankfully today I bought her tiramisu, which she enjoyed the taste even though everything else has been bland and flat to her. The caffeine helped, too.
The last few days, with the 4th cycle, have been wild, reaching a crescendo two days ago at night (12th). Wife had a high fever and almost admitted herself at night into hospital. She waited to see if the next day was any better, preferring to hold it off since she was going to have a checkup in two days time. The next day the fever still refused to leave her. Only today did it subside. Come to think of it, she has not been sick since March, still it was rather abrupt.
Three days ago (13th) I dreamed of talking to a prominent pastor in Hong Kong about the possibility of coaching the newer or younger pastors in his sizable church. After nearly two years in Hong Kong, I realized my heart is in training the younger pastors who are already in the field. This is an untested ground for me and for the local church here. The pastoral side in me wants to help out the younger generation, a way for me to give back.
Hong Kong can be quite a heartless city. Yesterday (19th) four men ranging from their early 20s to early 40s sit defiantly on their MTR seats without budging, refusing to give up their seats to a nearby woman in the 50s with a little baby hanging around her neck. I stared at them to make them feel uncomfortable but they were too thick-skinned to bother to look at me. At night I returned to my apartment to witness a young man by the lobby mail boxes picking up a notice that was already lying on the floor. I complimented him but he said it was minor, all he did was lift a finger(舉手之勞). Well, all is not lost for Hong Kong then. San Diego in-law Henry forwarded a link of a Hong Kong architect who transformed his tiny apartment to 24 rooms.
I was shocked to learn a pastor took my sermon as his literally, changing my name to his name. Check out the original I posted. In fact six of his sermons under his Breakthrough series were from my "Miracle of Faith" series. The plagiarism is so blatant and obvious. Wife was madder than me. He could be in trouble if his church finds out.
Wife had a scare today (6th) after her 4th injection, TAC for the first time. She thought the 150 ml dosage was too strong and she panicked, so she emailed her physician brother in UK who said the dosage was OK. Nothing can calm her at times like this, but she was happy as a lark later. Checking too many website was counterproductive this time. The steroids kept her energized, but HGH is next, from Friday till Monday, four days after TAC. Read her version.
The HGH effect set in with a vengeance. For the last three days, Wife has sleep, bowel and pain issues. There is no relief in sight as tomorrow (12th) is the fourth and final day of HGH injection. At times, she has to rest on the bed with two arms extended to relieve and release the stress. Thankfully today I bought her tiramisu, which she enjoyed the taste even though everything else has been bland and flat to her. The caffeine helped, too.
The last few days, with the 4th cycle, have been wild, reaching a crescendo two days ago at night (12th). Wife had a high fever and almost admitted herself at night into hospital. She waited to see if the next day was any better, preferring to hold it off since she was going to have a checkup in two days time. The next day the fever still refused to leave her. Only today did it subside. Come to think of it, she has not been sick since March, still it was rather abrupt.
Three days ago (13th) I dreamed of talking to a prominent pastor in Hong Kong about the possibility of coaching the newer or younger pastors in his sizable church. After nearly two years in Hong Kong, I realized my heart is in training the younger pastors who are already in the field. This is an untested ground for me and for the local church here. The pastoral side in me wants to help out the younger generation, a way for me to give back.
Hong Kong can be quite a heartless city. Yesterday (19th) four men ranging from their early 20s to early 40s sit defiantly on their MTR seats without budging, refusing to give up their seats to a nearby woman in the 50s with a little baby hanging around her neck. I stared at them to make them feel uncomfortable but they were too thick-skinned to bother to look at me. At night I returned to my apartment to witness a young man by the lobby mail boxes picking up a notice that was already lying on the floor. I complimented him but he said it was minor, all he did was lift a finger(舉手之勞). Well, all is not lost for Hong Kong then. San Diego in-law Henry forwarded a link of a Hong Kong architect who transformed his tiny apartment to 24 rooms.
I was shocked to learn a pastor took my sermon as his literally, changing my name to his name. Check out the original I posted. In fact six of his sermons under his Breakthrough series were from my "Miracle of Faith" series. The plagiarism is so blatant and obvious. Wife was madder than me. He could be in trouble if his church finds out.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Second Cycle, Jun 2010
Wife's veins were swollen on the third day after the second injection on May 25th. Mocha was tasteless on the fourth day. We tried using a cream (Hirudoid) a colleague suggested but the effect was minimal. The domestic helper could not come last week, but we coped quite well, so we are thinking of using less help, which frees Wife to do work and think by herself at home.
Wife has been giving me ideas for the preface of my new book 比喻人生, which my editor requested. The preface is much harder to do. All I wanted to do was to complete the task, but she reminded me of my dream in expository preaching. After working on it last night and this morning, I sent it to her for checking and she replied: "I think it is great in English! I don't know after translation whether this would be lost. The preface allows more storytelling about you as a person too." I dedicated the book to her, which she declined. Rev. Choy has been most gracious, agreeing to write a recommendation of 100 words for my book on the same day (June 9th) I e-mailed him. The editor-at-large had warned me when I presented him with a recommendation wish list: "O! That is a very strong list. They are all very busy, so you better ask and send material to them as soon as possible." Recommendation deadline is end of August.
Today (16th) is SAR public holiday in Hong Kong. We have a restful day after yesterday's third injection. I bought food for soup just after my morning pool exercise, before the crowd swelled at the supermarket. Breakfast is French bread, and lunch is noodles. In between I was stuck to live TV cheering the Lakers against Celtics as they cream their rivals in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Wife's friend from college days visited her for half an hour before lunch. They had a good talk and a good walk as well.
I was powerless to help Wife who suffered a lot of pain on the third day (17th) of the third injection due to her swollen arm. She could not sleep or rest and her injected arm was black. The pain was evident on the first day as well, somehow bypassing the second day, which is a public holiday. Shortly before I woke up the next morning, I had a dream she was crying. Her San Diego sister who is visiting Hong Kong was in the dream as well. As I told an overseas church memeber, "Every day is a blessing. Everyday is a bonus. Everyday is a battle." At night we listened to Somewhere Out There.
Wife was at her functional best yesterday (22nd) after a trip to Starbucks in the morning. Her eyes were big and bright all day. It seems mocha at home does not do the same job. She is thretaening to go again tomorrow. After the caffeine wore out, she was flat, drained and listless the next day. On Thursday (24th)she woke up and yesterday's day-long headache was gone, praise the Lord.
I could not bear to listen to the USA vs Algeria minute-by-minute gamecast on ESPN. All was not well when residents erupted in cheers in our apartment complex, which means England has scored, much to delight of previously-colonized Hong Kong fans. It also means USA was on the way out unless they score, which they did 1-0 in overtime. At half-time I turned off my PC. I knew we had won the next morning when I saw the highlights on TV before going to work, but later in the day only did I realize it was done in overtime. Ghana is next.
Wife was in a happy mood today (29th). I know for sure because she was singing. We are waiting for the dreaded 4th injection next week, otherwise known as the taxotere regimen. Yesterday was a terrible day for me. I ate a breakfast that sent me to the bathroom three times. At night after the first night of the intensive class I was so tired, but I woke at 4 am and could not go back to sleep, so I was dead the whole morning at work.
Wife has been giving me ideas for the preface of my new book 比喻人生, which my editor requested. The preface is much harder to do. All I wanted to do was to complete the task, but she reminded me of my dream in expository preaching. After working on it last night and this morning, I sent it to her for checking and she replied: "I think it is great in English! I don't know after translation whether this would be lost. The preface allows more storytelling about you as a person too." I dedicated the book to her, which she declined. Rev. Choy has been most gracious, agreeing to write a recommendation of 100 words for my book on the same day (June 9th) I e-mailed him. The editor-at-large had warned me when I presented him with a recommendation wish list: "O! That is a very strong list. They are all very busy, so you better ask and send material to them as soon as possible." Recommendation deadline is end of August.
Today (16th) is SAR public holiday in Hong Kong. We have a restful day after yesterday's third injection. I bought food for soup just after my morning pool exercise, before the crowd swelled at the supermarket. Breakfast is French bread, and lunch is noodles. In between I was stuck to live TV cheering the Lakers against Celtics as they cream their rivals in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Wife's friend from college days visited her for half an hour before lunch. They had a good talk and a good walk as well.
I was powerless to help Wife who suffered a lot of pain on the third day (17th) of the third injection due to her swollen arm. She could not sleep or rest and her injected arm was black. The pain was evident on the first day as well, somehow bypassing the second day, which is a public holiday. Shortly before I woke up the next morning, I had a dream she was crying. Her San Diego sister who is visiting Hong Kong was in the dream as well. As I told an overseas church memeber, "Every day is a blessing. Everyday is a bonus. Everyday is a battle." At night we listened to Somewhere Out There.
Wife was at her functional best yesterday (22nd) after a trip to Starbucks in the morning. Her eyes were big and bright all day. It seems mocha at home does not do the same job. She is thretaening to go again tomorrow. After the caffeine wore out, she was flat, drained and listless the next day. On Thursday (24th)she woke up and yesterday's day-long headache was gone, praise the Lord.
I could not bear to listen to the USA vs Algeria minute-by-minute gamecast on ESPN. All was not well when residents erupted in cheers in our apartment complex, which means England has scored, much to delight of previously-colonized Hong Kong fans. It also means USA was on the way out unless they score, which they did 1-0 in overtime. At half-time I turned off my PC. I knew we had won the next morning when I saw the highlights on TV before going to work, but later in the day only did I realize it was done in overtime. Ghana is next.
Wife was in a happy mood today (29th). I know for sure because she was singing. We are waiting for the dreaded 4th injection next week, otherwise known as the taxotere regimen. Yesterday was a terrible day for me. I ate a breakfast that sent me to the bathroom three times. At night after the first night of the intensive class I was so tired, but I woke at 4 am and could not go back to sleep, so I was dead the whole morning at work.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Dreaded C Word, May 2010
The first day of the month started off on a bright note. We went out for breakfast, followed by Italian breakfast, took a nap and ended with a walk in the park. All went well but for a lump in the armpit at night shortly before rest. Our worst nightmare could begin again. I woke up before 5 am praying that it did not rear its ugly head again. Lots of thoughts crossed my mind, wondering what God is doing. I am sure we cannot go through an operation all over again. No doubt feelings of "being punished" surfaced. It couldn't come at a worse time. We are feeling helpless because we can only see the doctor tomorrow and chemotherapy is supposed to start in two days. Tears rolled down our eyes when we had Sunday breakfast together. Per request, I sang a song for our comfort. The emotions ran high into the night. The next day the doctor assured us the lump was unlikely cancerous.
We went on a tiring one-day trip to Macau yesterday (7th) for some unfinished business at the hospital, as requested by the school. The rains poured in the morning, stopped when we left for Macau at noon, and drizzled when we returned to Ma Wan. Into the fourth day of chemotherapy, Wife had more energy than me. I napped twice as the humidity worked overtime. Her health held up the whole time we were there but she slept on the ferry returning to Ma Wan. All praises to God. Next week is a crucial test; already her face is swollen this morning.
Into the fifth day, Wife drank two bowls of soup, with rice added, in the morning. Soup is appealing, but not food. After that the appetite disappeared the whole day, eating only a potato for lunch and bits of spare ribs/pineapple. Everything is bland except for pineapple. She feels like vomiting to meat. Wife had mocha in the afternoon after church, which made her day. Day 7 comes with acnes on the face and day 8 by swelling in the mouth. Day 9, the acnes have been aching the last two days. Wife discovered the soothing and healing power of bitter gourd for days 9 and 10, using it as paste for her hurting acnes. On day 11, after day 10's faint spell and shortness of breath, all is well. Happy as a lark, she grabbed a cup of mocha today (14th). Days 7 through 10 of the three-week cycle are supposedly the toughest to bear due to the lower white blood cell count.
The new normal since day 11 is quite pleasant even though hair is noticeable all over the tub today (day 15). On the same day we went out for Dialogue in the Dark exhibition, a worthwhile exploration into the world of the visually impaired or the blind. We were led by a blind guide into a darkened and spacious room, stepping into a grass area and then a stony (pebbles) area, feeling our way around assisted by a cane. I held on to Wife's shoulder as she led the way, later depending solely on my cane. Rich sounds of birds, rivers, and insects surround us. Without giving anything away, our guide expertly guided us as we mainly depended on our touch and cane to figure out a tree, flowers, a bench, a waterfall, fruits (orange, apple, onion, carrot, lemon). Without visual help, the visitors have to take a boat, cross the road, find a bench. A few things were lost to our sense without the guide's disclosure, including touching glass and a car.
Today is Day 17 (21st). Yesterday was characterized by sores in mouth, but hair fell like leaves today. I had to take a broom and sweep up the hair Wife left behind using the hairdryer after morning shower. The tub, too, was covered with hair; there was no escape the strands everywhere. A bald spot is noticeable at the neck behind the head. She said her worst will be in July and August. It aches to see more than half her hair gone the next day.
It's finally the last day of the first three-week cycle. Yesterday (23rd) we finished the last reflection question for the book to be released by Tien Dao in October (比喻人生). The credit was mainly Wife's. She surprised me by finishing the last four set of questions Saturday morning, two days ago, at Starbucks while I dozed off. She can really put her mind into the work once she gets going. To reward ourself, we ordered takeaway German pork knuckle and sip a can of coke together for dinner.
Last night (25th), day 1 of second cycle -we have as good a fright as any. Wife had pains in her stomach that refused to go away from evening on, so bad she thought she was dying. I asked if we need to call emergency but she said to wait till morning. In the middle of the night her bowel movements started and the pain was flushed away with the diarrhea, just in time for a brighter morning.
I finished my last class of the quarter today (27th). Two weeks ago, one of my colleagues said this quarter goes by so fast, but I begged to differ, which reminds me not to trust our feelings. This is the busiest week of activities in school so far, with the anniversary celebrations this weekend and graduation in two weeks. So far, it has lived up to expectations. On Monday's last sharing of the quarter (25th), a faculty raised hands in worship to a lively song, surprising all in attendance. Today a 1948 graduate shared in chapel, bringing tears to the faculty's eyes.
We went on a tiring one-day trip to Macau yesterday (7th) for some unfinished business at the hospital, as requested by the school. The rains poured in the morning, stopped when we left for Macau at noon, and drizzled when we returned to Ma Wan. Into the fourth day of chemotherapy, Wife had more energy than me. I napped twice as the humidity worked overtime. Her health held up the whole time we were there but she slept on the ferry returning to Ma Wan. All praises to God. Next week is a crucial test; already her face is swollen this morning.
Into the fifth day, Wife drank two bowls of soup, with rice added, in the morning. Soup is appealing, but not food. After that the appetite disappeared the whole day, eating only a potato for lunch and bits of spare ribs/pineapple. Everything is bland except for pineapple. She feels like vomiting to meat. Wife had mocha in the afternoon after church, which made her day. Day 7 comes with acnes on the face and day 8 by swelling in the mouth. Day 9, the acnes have been aching the last two days. Wife discovered the soothing and healing power of bitter gourd for days 9 and 10, using it as paste for her hurting acnes. On day 11, after day 10's faint spell and shortness of breath, all is well. Happy as a lark, she grabbed a cup of mocha today (14th). Days 7 through 10 of the three-week cycle are supposedly the toughest to bear due to the lower white blood cell count.
The new normal since day 11 is quite pleasant even though hair is noticeable all over the tub today (day 15). On the same day we went out for Dialogue in the Dark exhibition, a worthwhile exploration into the world of the visually impaired or the blind. We were led by a blind guide into a darkened and spacious room, stepping into a grass area and then a stony (pebbles) area, feeling our way around assisted by a cane. I held on to Wife's shoulder as she led the way, later depending solely on my cane. Rich sounds of birds, rivers, and insects surround us. Without giving anything away, our guide expertly guided us as we mainly depended on our touch and cane to figure out a tree, flowers, a bench, a waterfall, fruits (orange, apple, onion, carrot, lemon). Without visual help, the visitors have to take a boat, cross the road, find a bench. A few things were lost to our sense without the guide's disclosure, including touching glass and a car.
Today is Day 17 (21st). Yesterday was characterized by sores in mouth, but hair fell like leaves today. I had to take a broom and sweep up the hair Wife left behind using the hairdryer after morning shower. The tub, too, was covered with hair; there was no escape the strands everywhere. A bald spot is noticeable at the neck behind the head. She said her worst will be in July and August. It aches to see more than half her hair gone the next day.
It's finally the last day of the first three-week cycle. Yesterday (23rd) we finished the last reflection question for the book to be released by Tien Dao in October (比喻人生). The credit was mainly Wife's. She surprised me by finishing the last four set of questions Saturday morning, two days ago, at Starbucks while I dozed off. She can really put her mind into the work once she gets going. To reward ourself, we ordered takeaway German pork knuckle and sip a can of coke together for dinner.
Last night (25th), day 1 of second cycle -we have as good a fright as any. Wife had pains in her stomach that refused to go away from evening on, so bad she thought she was dying. I asked if we need to call emergency but she said to wait till morning. In the middle of the night her bowel movements started and the pain was flushed away with the diarrhea, just in time for a brighter morning.
I finished my last class of the quarter today (27th). Two weeks ago, one of my colleagues said this quarter goes by so fast, but I begged to differ, which reminds me not to trust our feelings. This is the busiest week of activities in school so far, with the anniversary celebrations this weekend and graduation in two weeks. So far, it has lived up to expectations. On Monday's last sharing of the quarter (25th), a faculty raised hands in worship to a lively song, surprising all in attendance. Today a 1948 graduate shared in chapel, bringing tears to the faculty's eyes.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Calm After the Storm, Apr 2010
April cannot come soon enough. No March could be worse. Here's a song by Alison Krauss to lift spirits up. All went well today at NPAC's English-language Good Friday worship. It was well-attended. The hymns brought more than a tear to my eyes. The clips - one of Steve Green and another of Peter - were impressive on the big screen. I was happily surprised to see Rocky and Claudia. God's angels are watching us through family, friends, brothers and sisters. We cannot ask for more.
What a miserable holiday. When sneezing replaces my allergies in the morning are replaced, then I am really sick, like I am today (5th). My throat is lousy, too. I just hope I do not pass it to others. The funny thing is all the wheezing is gone the next day (6th), so I am truly thankful.
Life has really changed since the dreaded C word. Early morning, before I go to work, I would boil hot water, pour it into a flask, do some stretching, mop the floor, and exercise in the pool (which I used to do after work), so that I can get home straight after work. Today (8th) I hope to visit the wet market after work to buy fish for dinner. It may be a weekly thing from now on since patients require fresh food. The landlord has told me rent would increase to HK$7,600 from the present HK$7,000 if we want to sign a new contract to guarantee the new owner would not raise rent, in the event the apartment changes hands. It seems he has put it on the market (for HK$2.1 million for his HK$1.75 million purchase) the day after his purchase! Hong Kong is about flipping homes, he said.
We have a turning point in our ministries in Hong Kong. Two weeks later Wife will do two days of video recording on "Bible Parents" to be broadcast on cable. As for me, yesterday (13th) a local publisher confirms they will release my new book on parables in five months time if all works out. Per my request, they will also allow me to post my online sermons in Chinese on the same series, minus the illustrations. I can live with that. With all my heart, I believe new media (internet) will drive old media (books) sales with just a simple link to the book. The target we agree on is selling 600 books first year, and 300 each year after that for the next four years. If I can do that, it goes to show my internet ministry does not hinder sales.
Today (18th) is the best day yet for us. Wife could go with me to TCAC, where I had to speak. We reached Tung Chung an hour earlier so that we can have breakfast. After worship we had buffet at Essence, a bargain at HK$128 per head. Wife tired out by lunch' end, but it was along day for her since we had left at 9 am and returned home nearly 3 pm.
I lost my cell phone last Wednesday (14th), so it was really inconvenient for me. After noticing it missing when I got off the bus at Yuen Long MTR station, I rushed to the bus headquarters to no avail. The people at the bus depot called the driver who did not see it or was handed one by passengers. It not only costs me HK$1,388 to get a new cell; it also costs me lots of missing phone numbers.
We really had to fight and refuse to give up at times, like yesterday (27th). On the way to the recording studio we left a backpack at the Ma Wan bus station. I caught the return bus from Kwai Fong as it was leaving but the driver won't allow me to board. The driver argued with me 2-3 minutes when he could simply press a button to allow me to board. My reason/neglect was not good enough for him. I shouldn't be mad but the bus left 5 minutes ahead of the 8:15 am schedule, so I filed a complaint today. All's well that ends well when I returned 30 minutes later to find the backpack untouched. It was not about the bag, but the notes we need in the bag for the recording. What riled me also was a mother and a child were refused boarding, too. Imagine not able to board the bus even when you are early to school. The reason the bus left early was they needed more buses at Ma Wan to bus people to work in the morning.
Wife admirably led a friend's father to the Lord on the last day of the month. She had shared with the person for the last two days and the harvest was ripe today. The man had brought her food when she was sick but had heart problems the last week. She visited him twice and reaped the results in his salvation.
What a miserable holiday. When sneezing replaces my allergies in the morning are replaced, then I am really sick, like I am today (5th). My throat is lousy, too. I just hope I do not pass it to others. The funny thing is all the wheezing is gone the next day (6th), so I am truly thankful.
Life has really changed since the dreaded C word. Early morning, before I go to work, I would boil hot water, pour it into a flask, do some stretching, mop the floor, and exercise in the pool (which I used to do after work), so that I can get home straight after work. Today (8th) I hope to visit the wet market after work to buy fish for dinner. It may be a weekly thing from now on since patients require fresh food. The landlord has told me rent would increase to HK$7,600 from the present HK$7,000 if we want to sign a new contract to guarantee the new owner would not raise rent, in the event the apartment changes hands. It seems he has put it on the market (for HK$2.1 million for his HK$1.75 million purchase) the day after his purchase! Hong Kong is about flipping homes, he said.
We have a turning point in our ministries in Hong Kong. Two weeks later Wife will do two days of video recording on "Bible Parents" to be broadcast on cable. As for me, yesterday (13th) a local publisher confirms they will release my new book on parables in five months time if all works out. Per my request, they will also allow me to post my online sermons in Chinese on the same series, minus the illustrations. I can live with that. With all my heart, I believe new media (internet) will drive old media (books) sales with just a simple link to the book. The target we agree on is selling 600 books first year, and 300 each year after that for the next four years. If I can do that, it goes to show my internet ministry does not hinder sales.
Today (18th) is the best day yet for us. Wife could go with me to TCAC, where I had to speak. We reached Tung Chung an hour earlier so that we can have breakfast. After worship we had buffet at Essence, a bargain at HK$128 per head. Wife tired out by lunch' end, but it was along day for her since we had left at 9 am and returned home nearly 3 pm.
I lost my cell phone last Wednesday (14th), so it was really inconvenient for me. After noticing it missing when I got off the bus at Yuen Long MTR station, I rushed to the bus headquarters to no avail. The people at the bus depot called the driver who did not see it or was handed one by passengers. It not only costs me HK$1,388 to get a new cell; it also costs me lots of missing phone numbers.
We really had to fight and refuse to give up at times, like yesterday (27th). On the way to the recording studio we left a backpack at the Ma Wan bus station. I caught the return bus from Kwai Fong as it was leaving but the driver won't allow me to board. The driver argued with me 2-3 minutes when he could simply press a button to allow me to board. My reason/neglect was not good enough for him. I shouldn't be mad but the bus left 5 minutes ahead of the 8:15 am schedule, so I filed a complaint today. All's well that ends well when I returned 30 minutes later to find the backpack untouched. It was not about the bag, but the notes we need in the bag for the recording. What riled me also was a mother and a child were refused boarding, too. Imagine not able to board the bus even when you are early to school. The reason the bus left early was they needed more buses at Ma Wan to bus people to work in the morning.
Wife admirably led a friend's father to the Lord on the last day of the month. She had shared with the person for the last two days and the harvest was ripe today. The man had brought her food when she was sick but had heart problems the last week. She visited him twice and reaped the results in his salvation.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Fog and Humidity, Mar 2010
The humid and foggy weather officially ended yesterday (Feb 28). It was so bad that the walls in Ma Wan were leaking water and an exposed cough drop in a container melted. I thought my toilet bowl had sprung a leak, leaving a wet pool in the restroom whole week. I even called the management office for service but they could not find anything. Now I realize the kitchen windows must be closed in the future in the event a fog arrives. If not, the humid air would blow through the kitchen window into the restroom, attracted by the walls there. On the same day I found the best bargain for a haircut yet locally, for HK$30 in Shum Shui Po. The lowest was HK$38 previously in North Point.
I have not blogged for two weeks due to a serious family illness. How deep were my feelings stirred. It seems like my world crashed with the bad news. No container could bottle the tears. It changes our priority. As a result Wife and I find time to walk the beach, sit on benches, eat a cheesecake and talk more often. Wife even rented an hour piano's time at the club, which calmed her spirits. As I leave for Taiwan tomorrow (14th) to teach at Logos, I am apprehensive of more challenges ahead, which I hope the Lord would spare faithless me.
It is five hours from the operation and I have been tossing and turning in my bed for the last three hours since 11 pm. I cried when I think of the surgery. What if something goes wrong? Being so far away does not help. The peace of God has certainly made a difference in us. I cannot ask for more than the courage and comfort at home.
Recuperation after a major surgery is hard on the family, but God sent a lot of angels to surround us with TLC. The doctor was kind and home help from a church sister, including cooking and cleaning, was priceless. We eat lots of pork and drink plenty of soup. Today we found out that Ma Wan has free shuttle rides for hospital checkups, which we have one four days from now. We managed to book a shuttle to the clinic and a return pickup two hours later, isn't that a miracle? We did not know about the free ride until we called for assistance to check on why our toilet bowl flushing system was not functioning today after the whole block's system was cleaned today (25th). A toilet meltdown turned into a family blessing.
Sermon Comments:
"我曾經在網站上看過葉牧師部落格十分欣賞,也十分得幫助若您是葉牧師向您致謝。楊師母"
"謝謝分享。很同意你所說："配偶是另一位的良心，而不是同謀。" 事實上，配偶是我們警衛和守望者，能提醒我們免犯過錯。願主賜福。C K"
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Chinese New Year, Feb 2010
Well, all my January visitors have come and gone. Even the weather is mellow now. We are really blessed despite the costly recession in the States that affected us. The new Masters program is on a good start in its second quarter. I have received news that five to seven new students may join us the next school year. In the meantime Wife is really enjoying teaching the Sunday school adults class. I have stuck to my resolution of writing ten new sermons a year. In fact, I completed two so far.
I am excited that an article I wrote for CCCOWE's Pastoral Magazine was in the mail yesterday (6th). Of course, the publicity for http://www.preachchrist.com/ is invaluable. I still believe that my web ministry will outgrow my preaching and teaching ministry since it is global as well as local. In the meantime my local ministry is getting crowded. In less than 24 hours I have received two invitations to speak - one for a July 1st holiday retreat, and another for a weekend retreat in May, another public holiday.
After four months at Ma Wan I finally ironed my own clothes on Friday. I had to. There are no cleaners here that cater to a shirt or two, so I may as well save time and money. Sunday's rainy day (7th) was the longest that I can remember. It rained before I woke at 7 am and did not let up after I got home at 5 pm. A tall man like me dislikes the rain because short ladies keep poking me with their open umbrellas. They open their umbrellas for no reason even under a sheltered area. My consolation is a visitor e-mailing me and thanking me for my "encouraging" message.
Chinese New Year is four days away, I am feeling it. Today I threw away most of our recycled newsletters and magazines. This year we are heading to Zhongshan in Guangdong with our relatives for the new year. None of us will be in town, so we may as well celebrate together on the tour package we booked. But before that there's still a lot to be done, especially in getting rid of old stuff. This is the part I like best about the new year - when you live in a small apartment of less than 500 sq. ft. I got a cherished thank you e-mail from a sermoncentral.com visitor: "Hello Dr.Yap thanks for the message God Bless and more power to your ministry In Christ, Pastor Alvin."
I returned yesterday (15th) from a rich three-day HK$1,500 Chinese New Year tour of Zhongshan, Toishan, Hoiping, etc. Hoi Ping was most interesting. The Diaolu (碉樓) houses, built by returnees from the States, were hailed as Guangdong's only world cultural heritage. One of the finest hotels on our tour was the famous King Century Hotel. Another delight on the trip was staying at a spa resort, which boasts of 108 spas on the premises. The food was OK, but visits to the Mongolia and Yunnan cultural centers were disappointing. After the trip I got an email from buddy Michael, who told me his family was from Hoiping. The next day Dickson of Chicago, whose parents were from Hoiping, visited me in Hong Kong. On the shopping front I found bargains in a Lee Jeans jacket for RMB$75 and a Slazenger sports pants for RMB$50. Overall, it was good to take a break. For the new year, I break in two new shirts, a new T-shirt, two Chinese New Year boxes of Kleenex and a bag, besides the new jacket and sports pants I bought.
My first day of work after Chinese New Year was the only day, as far as I could remember, I managed to catch the early 7:40 am train to Yuen Long. Today (day 5) I do not feel so good because I caught a flu in the cold just by walking to the building next door in the morning to get coffee. (Hong Kong Observatory recorded the lowest temperature of the year at 8.2 degrees Celsius) Anyway I received an e-mail from China to warm me up:
"Hi: 感谢您每次发来的信息！我虽然忘记了是在哪里订阅的您的邮件，但每次发来的这些文章都使我受益匪浅！这些文章虽然比我订阅的别的每日查经都要长，但是我看得是最仔细的，因为每次都有收获。愿神继续带领您的这些文字事工！以马内利！Bu, Lake (布拉克)"
"Dear 葉牧師，新年快樂，主恩常在。多謝你講章的分享，它對我們教導現今的弟兄姊妹對愛情、婚姻有正確的觀念。謝謝！C K敬上" (19th)
Chinese New Year comes with an expensive price. I noticed my hairline receding, which is is bad news. There is so much one can do to hold age off. Hong Kong is as humid as it gets. The humidity level here is over 90%. It wasn't like that the first year I was here, but the floors on the streets have been wet since Monday (22nd). There is no letting up. Even my bathroom floors and refrigerator seem to be leaking water.
I am excited that an article I wrote for CCCOWE's Pastoral Magazine was in the mail yesterday (6th). Of course, the publicity for http://www.preachchrist.com/ is invaluable. I still believe that my web ministry will outgrow my preaching and teaching ministry since it is global as well as local. In the meantime my local ministry is getting crowded. In less than 24 hours I have received two invitations to speak - one for a July 1st holiday retreat, and another for a weekend retreat in May, another public holiday.
After four months at Ma Wan I finally ironed my own clothes on Friday. I had to. There are no cleaners here that cater to a shirt or two, so I may as well save time and money. Sunday's rainy day (7th) was the longest that I can remember. It rained before I woke at 7 am and did not let up after I got home at 5 pm. A tall man like me dislikes the rain because short ladies keep poking me with their open umbrellas. They open their umbrellas for no reason even under a sheltered area. My consolation is a visitor e-mailing me and thanking me for my "encouraging" message.
Chinese New Year is four days away, I am feeling it. Today I threw away most of our recycled newsletters and magazines. This year we are heading to Zhongshan in Guangdong with our relatives for the new year. None of us will be in town, so we may as well celebrate together on the tour package we booked. But before that there's still a lot to be done, especially in getting rid of old stuff. This is the part I like best about the new year - when you live in a small apartment of less than 500 sq. ft. I got a cherished thank you e-mail from a sermoncentral.com visitor: "Hello Dr.Yap thanks for the message God Bless and more power to your ministry In Christ, Pastor Alvin."
I returned yesterday (15th) from a rich three-day HK$1,500 Chinese New Year tour of Zhongshan, Toishan, Hoiping, etc. Hoi Ping was most interesting. The Diaolu (碉樓) houses, built by returnees from the States, were hailed as Guangdong's only world cultural heritage. One of the finest hotels on our tour was the famous King Century Hotel. Another delight on the trip was staying at a spa resort, which boasts of 108 spas on the premises. The food was OK, but visits to the Mongolia and Yunnan cultural centers were disappointing. After the trip I got an email from buddy Michael, who told me his family was from Hoiping. The next day Dickson of Chicago, whose parents were from Hoiping, visited me in Hong Kong. On the shopping front I found bargains in a Lee Jeans jacket for RMB$75 and a Slazenger sports pants for RMB$50. Overall, it was good to take a break. For the new year, I break in two new shirts, a new T-shirt, two Chinese New Year boxes of Kleenex and a bag, besides the new jacket and sports pants I bought.
My first day of work after Chinese New Year was the only day, as far as I could remember, I managed to catch the early 7:40 am train to Yuen Long. Today (day 5) I do not feel so good because I caught a flu in the cold just by walking to the building next door in the morning to get coffee. (Hong Kong Observatory recorded the lowest temperature of the year at 8.2 degrees Celsius) Anyway I received an e-mail from China to warm me up:
"Hi: 感谢您每次发来的信息！我虽然忘记了是在哪里订阅的您的邮件，但每次发来的这些文章都使我受益匪浅！这些文章虽然比我订阅的别的每日查经都要长，但是我看得是最仔细的，因为每次都有收获。愿神继续带领您的这些文字事工！以马内利！Bu, Lake (布拉克)"
"Dear 葉牧師，新年快樂，主恩常在。多謝你講章的分享，它對我們教導現今的弟兄姊妹對愛情、婚姻有正確的觀念。謝謝！C K敬上" (19th)
Chinese New Year comes with an expensive price. I noticed my hairline receding, which is is bad news. There is so much one can do to hold age off. Hong Kong is as humid as it gets. The humidity level here is over 90%. It wasn't like that the first year I was here, but the floors on the streets have been wet since Monday (22nd). There is no letting up. Even my bathroom floors and refrigerator seem to be leaking water.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Happy New Year, Jan 2010
Happy New Year to everybody! Better say it on the morning of the first day into the new year, 2010. Yesterday we met old friends Waylon, Esther and Matthew for dinner with their family. Today we meet Chris and soon Betty and Chuck will visit; RCAC is in Hong Kong.The old year has been very good to me. My e-mailed Chinese sermons has been a hit. I am now on http://preachchrist.vinemedia.org/ and I have been out of Hong Kong twice to train seminary students and church leaders preaching, even to an unspeakable place. For the new year, I hope to write ten new sermons. I have been unmotivated in this area. For the last 15 months, I only managed to write seven all-new sermons. Next, going to another all-new city overseas to train more pastors/leaders will be an added bonus. Anther goal is to trim an inch off my tummy, which was in vain after three months of pool exercise. In fact, this morning I have started to increase another 100 high kicks into my regimen.
Today (3rd) I heard a great song (無言的讚頌) at church and Wife and I taught our first Sunday school class together. It went well, praise God.
This is such a busy week due to the start of the new quarter. I can't believe how fast I moved on Monday (4th) to get my Greek class going. Yesterday (5th) the buses skipped me three times, I was the last one to board the fourth bus to from Yuen Long to school. Today (6th) I took a later ferry to Tsuen Wan when I miscalculated the time, so I had to run to the terminal in three minutes instead of the regular seven minutes. I was glad I made it, the exercises helped. At least the students were excited by the all-new message I gave yesterday on the two builders (Matt 7).
I did the most swimming today (9th) in the new year - four laps. A pastor joined me and we had afternoon tea together. I asked him how to go about publishing my new book in HK on parables, which I finished yesterday. The content is solid, it will be an eye-opener over here, I am sure. We talked about the possibilities. One thing I am sure is not to give away the copyright so that readers can enjoy it online as well. Distribution is important as well. I hope to buy locally so that I can give to friends as gifts. There is so little one can cover geographically in a lifetime, the pen is still mightier than the pulpit.
I was so clueless yesterday (11th) that I literally took Wife's keys to work, making it a very incovenient day for her as she had to go to Macau. Last week I was caught up with the idea of putting my three published books on the internet for others to download since ordering and shipping them to Hong Kong is so troublesome, so today I went ahead and did it and linked the dowload to http://www.preachchrist.com/. You can find it at the end of all books.
It must be the American holidays, so far I have met Chris, Waylon and Esther, Chuck and Betty, Herman and Eleanor, and Karl yesterday (15th). The last three nights have all been restaurant dinners. Stanley is supposed to meet me, too, but he has not called yet. The last two weeks of classes have been great but the present concern at school is recruiting students and increasing funding. My wish is find a publisher for my new book on parables before my August birthday, I can only dream.
The highlight last Saturday (16th) was bringing Wife's old friends and Ma Wan residents Calvin and Helen to Yan Fook's evangelistic meeting that is held every third Saturday of the month. We first went out for dinner together at Kwai Fong. Calvin was so excited after the meeting that he said he was looking forward to read the Bible. To cap the night, we had dessert before returning home.
Finally I sent out the first message of the new Sunday school series on Bible Couples that Wife and I are teaching. The response has been swift, good and encouraging:
"Dear Victor, Thank you for your touching message! God bless! Luke"
"Dear Pastor Yap, Thank you very much for this wonderful sermon. Best, Ruth"
"很棒的分享，謝謝你每次寄來的資料，對我及教會有很大的幫助！名山教會"
"我很喜歡前兩天收到的有關夫妻關係的文章，當中有很多提醒，很好看，謝!! 秀慧"
One down, nine more messages to go in the series.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Christmas Break, Dec 2009
My trip OVERSEAS has been a resounding success. The people I met were warm and gentle. They thirsted for theological training in a place where they did not have any for decades. I was the first instructor in this new Bible college-based extension program, with credits and all. 20 attended the week-long course 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday. The majority of the attendees were lay preachers with primary education, but they preach two to four times a month among their many gospel points throughout the city. I was energized, too. Intensive courses are the way to go due time constrain and many of them were busy businessmen. Now I realize why another school has classes Friday to Sunday instead. Maybe I can be the preaching coach for the same people dotted throughout the big land. The funny thing was that I was invited to train the same group in a different city but there was miscommunication, so I got another invitation to train here last minute.For the Christmas break we decided to go to Beijing. Wife said I should go before I have further knee problems and cannot climb the Great Wall. As Mao once said, "You aren't a man till you've been to the Great Wall. (不到長城非好漢)." It was cold at the wall when the winds blow, but we had no other dates nor place to go. We stayed at WangFuJing, popular among tourists and we walked out for food most of the time. The tastiest black sesame dessert I have tasted for a long time is at the renowned restaurant Da Dong, The subway is the most convenient to travel and we did our share. Typical tourists we were, we visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Ming Tombs, Empress Dowager's Summer Palace, and the Olympic favorite - the Bird's Nest. It was worth the endless walks and dripping noses on this chilly five-day trip, I can assure you. If you go there, avoid the kebab silkworms and fried milk I had, with compliments from Wife. In Peking we attended church at bicf.org, an approved worship center for expats where people enter showing their passports. The HK$10 gloves I bought from Shum Shui Po did its job, even though I regretted carrying them with me earlier. I was delighted to witness two young people giving their seats to a gray-hair man on the subway train; unfortuantely, the man was me. Wife grinned to no end.
Returning to Hong Kong (8th) brought me back to reality. I had allergies in the morning again after missing them in Beijing and I started coughing today (10th). There are papers galore to grade. Hopefully I can start preparing for the book of Job. In my absence vinemedia.org notified me they have posted the first of my parables series in the simplified script as well, which will be useful to folks in China. Also, my preachchrist.com promotional pens arrived yesterday.
The next day I was sick as a dog. The doctor said I have a fever besides coughing, and asked if I had been abroad. Then he gave me some medication. I am resting today but my mind is active. At least I get to rest for the whole weekend as well. I ate lots of fruits to perk me up. After more than 15 months here, we got our first credit card, courtesy of Citic Bank.
Unfortunately I have been sick for three days in a row. An ill wind blew today (12th) and I could barely survive two hours outdoors. I hope I did not catch anything nasty from my Beijing trip. Beckoning me this weekend is Sunday school, school dinner on Sunday and alumni lunch on Monday, what a time to get sick. My coughing is gone, to be replaced by a running nose. I was touched by two things staying home: (1) Hong Kong's football team winning the East Asian Games (2) the RTHK broadcast on overseas Chinese immigration history (華人移民史). The former makes me want to go out and purchase the team's shirt and the latter makes me understand more how the Chinese dispersion around the world had impacted many lives, including mine. My mom used to work as one of the "red-headcloth" day laborers interviewed in the documentary.
I have recovered yesterday (15th) from my three days of sickness, but all is not over. I still have mild diarrhea, coughing and sleepiness. The weather is a headache. If I wear a sweater, I want to rip it off. No sweater and I'll sneeze. Drinking Chinese medicine eased my throat irritation. The funny thing is that I did not get sick in freezing Beijing but here in balmy Hong Kong. Besides finishing the doctor's medication, I have also purchased Strepsils. I am a man of various medication.
Here is my favorite among YouTube's top videos of 2009: David after Dentist. Have fun watching!
Christmas time. We had dinner Sunday (21st) with relatives at Central's HKU Alumni Association. The food there is always good, but I had a headache, so I could not enjoy myself. Our office was treated to an all-you-can-eat buffet the next day. Buffets are dangerous to the tummy. I controlled myself but still ate a lot. At night a student took me to Genki Sushi, my first time, which is so-so, nothing comparable to Sushi Gen. Tomorrow we will have Christmas luncheon/potluck at the office. After work I will go to Macau to spend Christmas there, returning on Saturday for weekend preaching at NPAC. We cancelled our upcoming Macau buffet due too much eating. Hopefully we can go to a theatre over the break - my first of the year.
Today is Christmas in Macau. We did our best to enjoy our holidays here. On Wednesday (23rd) I went straight from the ferry at 7:30 pm to Venetian's Portofino, where I enjoyed my mixed grill dinner. The next day we had a fantastic appetizer and dessert lunch at MGM's Rossio. The price is inexpensive for the fine dining, one that you cannot get in Hong Kong or Los Angeles. This morning I had veggie scramble for breakfast at our favorite breakfast place, Savory Crab, followed by shrimp eggs noodles for lunch at Wong Chi Kee (黃枝記), then dessert at Starbucks. Hot pot is planned for dinner before we head home to Hong Kong tomorrow.
We returned home (26th) to watch Bodyguards and Assassins, which was an exciting and emotional movie for me watching how much people have sacrificed for China. I highly recommend it. This is the first movie I have watched since Ip Man. Ironically, the two movies star Donnie Yen. At night I watched the third episode of History of Chinese Overseas, It was just as touching as the first episode; this time it is about how Chinese history and politics from Sun Yat-Sen on impacted Chinese overseas.
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