苦難之後的恩典
常言道：福無重至，禍不單行•我從來未想過禍不單行的事會突然臨到我的家，且在我父親及我的身上•我在零八年四月確診患上初期癌症，跟住過了兩天我父親確 診患上腦癌•他的腫瘤很大不能做手術，其他治療也幫不了他•只有順其自然了•他進醫院後幾天就不能行動，跟住吞食困難•先父僅住院兩個月就辭世返天家•其間我做了兩次小手術，不用做任何治療•但在我自己身心靈都軟弱之時還要天天跑醫院關顧我父親，那些日子真不容易過•幸有角聲癌友關懷小組成員Suki上門探訪、祈禱及鼓勵•最使我難忘的是Suki跪在我父親的病床前為他代禱，那真誠的心打動了我•我曾多次對她說：“待我健康好轉，我會加入你們的行列，因我自己及家人落在困境中得到上帝藉著角聲的關懷給我們安慰、力量及支持，我也應該將這愛延伸•”
果然上帝給我醫治，我內心深知這是神的恩典，我應該以行動回報神之恩•同年十月我參加了角聲癌友關懷培訓班後並開始參予關懷活動•
我正在關顧的家庭與我家一樣，父女同樣得了癌症•我與另一位義工一起探訪他們，聆聽他們的苦衷及給他們在精神上的安慰與支持•及致這位伯父由不喜歡與任何人談話到很樂於與我們傾談•還有伯母因看 < 恩雨之聲 > 節目受感動並請我們為他們父女代禱，他們夫婦也早晚同心祈禱上帝給他們平安•目前女兒病得醫治，父母親亦接受了耶穌為他們的個人救主•最近伯父住進療養院，他看到我們探訪他及為他代禱，他顯得很開心與安寧•我們為此感謝上帝給一切困苦患病人的恩典•我深盼世上無論心靈或肉身困苦的人們都樂於來到上帝的面前求他的看顧及得平安•
當我病復原後，對賜人平安的上帝有很多的感恩，心裡亦思想生命該像什麼才有價值•上帝給我提示:
生命如臘燭，為照耀而燃燒自己
生命如鹽，為調和而失去自己
這是多美的生命•我覺得我們角聲癌友關懷的義工，一群願意成為臘燭、鹽的人，將給這灣區帶來從上帝而來的關懷與溫暖•
綺 雲 二零一零年夏天
Suffering leading to grace
A testimony of Holly Quon
The saying, “When it rains, it pours.” aptly described the calamities landing on my family. In April 2008, I was diagnosed to have early stage cancer. Two days later, my father was found to have brain cancer, with an inoperable tumor. No treatment was available to him, and he was left to die. Shortly after being admitted to the hospital, he lost his mobility, and had difficulty swallowing his food. He passed away only two months later. During that time, I underwent two operations, but did not have to endure any other treatments. In my weakened state, I still had to go to the hospital every day to care for my dying father. Those were indeed very challenging days for me. I was thankful that Herald Cancer Care sent volunteer Suki to visit and care for me. She prayed for me and gave me encouragement. What moved me deeply was when Suki knelt at the bedside of my father to pray for him. Her praying from the heart touched me. I told her more than once that when I regained my health, I would join her to be a cancer care volunteer. I had come to know what it meant to receive care during tough times. God’s love was reflected through His servants at Herald Cancer Care. I was encouraged and strengthened, and I want to share that kind of love with those who need it.
God was merciful in healing me. Deep inside, I know that it was God’s grace. The right thing for me to do is to reciprocate that love with my action. In October of the same year, I received the volunteer training of Herald Cancer Care and began my caring service.
The family I am currently caring for happens to have a father and a daughter both suffering from cancer. I am partnering with another volunteer to visit them, listen to them, and offer emotional and spiritual support to them. Through this caring process, the father was transformed from an isolated person not wanting to communicate with others to one who enjoyed our visits and opened up to talk to us. His wife watched the “Showers of Blessing” broadcast and was moved by the stories in the program. She requested our prayers for the family.This elderly couple even started to pray together mornings and evenings asking for peace from God. Their daughter was healed from her cancer. The couple made a decision to accept Jesus as their Savior. The father was recently admitted to a convalescent hospital. Our visits filled him with peace and happiness. I truly wish that all cancer patients who suffer physically and emotionally may be drawn to God to be blessed with the same blessing of peace and protection.
Recovering from my own illness, I have come to experience much of God’s grace. I have also come to realize the true meaning and value of my life. God has revealed to me that:
Life is like a candle, bringing light to others, at the expense of losing itself
Life is like salt, seasoning others while giving up itself
What a beautiful life it is to be light and salt. I truly feel that all my fellow volunteers of Herald Cancer Care are like candles and salt, bringing God’s caring and warmth to many cancer patients in the Bay Area.
|
李國輝樂領基督情
面對嚴重疾病，很多人都會感到懼怕和無助，但亦有人能在當中重新領會生命的真義，體味世間的溫暖，現年77 歲的李國輝便是其中一個。
李國輝原籍中國台山，長大後到北方就讀化工學院，並在就學期間認識太太，兩人畢業後分別成為北京化工廠的科技部幹部。李國輝與妻子育有數名兒女，生活一直安穩豐足。1979年，中國改革開放，為了兒女的前途，李國輝帶著家人移民到香港，經營小生意。在香港生活了7 年後，李國輝一家在1986 年舉家移民到美國三藩市。
雖然是人地生疏，但李國輝一家在三藩市的生活尚算安逸無憂，直至在2007 年，身體檢查報告證實，李國輝患上第二期肺癌。
「我不吸煙又不飲酒，心情開朗，工作積極，」李國輝回想起當日獲悉這壞消息時的心情。「患上這病，感到不服氣，但沒辦法, 唯有照醫生方法辦。」
在2008 年1 月11 日，李國輝接受了癌細胞切除手術，之後又要接受化療。看著自己的頭髮因藥物副作用而慢慢地脫落，精神萎靡, 食慾不振，李國輝沒有自怨自憐，反而更積極的面對病情和人生，他能持有這樣正面的態度，主要的原因是愛。
「我並沒有要求，是林生(基督教角聲癌友關懷網統籌)發現我，」李國輝說。「無條件來幫助和關心我，我從來未見過這麼好的人。」
李國輝表示，以往也曾接觸過基督教，應朋友邀請，參加教會聚會，但覺得聚會內容枯燥，不感興趣，再加上自小受到中國無神論學說的影響，因此，並沒繼續追求基督教信仰的慾望，不過，疾病和別人無條件的關懷， 改變了他的想法。
「阿Joe (角聲癌友關懷網義工) 帶我參加他教會的聚會，」李國輝繼續說，「我今次的感覺和第一次截然不同，可能是自己有病，需要寄託，一入教堂，覺得很舒服，又有人傾談，講道理。」
雖然當時還未信主，但在教會弟兄姊妹的關懷下，李國輝深深感到基督教的愛。
「08 年12 月28 日，睡到五時多醒來，睡不著，想到教會對我的幫助很大」李國輝說，「既然是這樣，不如打開心霾信主，於是寫了一首詩，決定信主，後來將事情告訴Joe，他開心到不得了。」
李國輝在09 年7 月12 日接受涭禮，只要身體狀況容許，他都會參加教會在星期五舉行的團契，以及星期日舉行的崇拜。他還特意為他的教會寫了一首藏頭詩:
溢華耶穌恩，樂領基督情。
華燈初上日，人間春暖時。
浸禮洗罪孽，信主得永生。
會眾齊侍奉，好果共甘甜。
醫生發現李國輝的癌症已擴散到腦部，由於化療影響他的健康情況和免疫力，故需暫時停止接受電療，只能接受口服化療藥控制病情，雖然是這樣，但李國輝並沒有怨憤和恐懼，反而心情平靜，充滿盼望。
「將一切交託神, 自己就不用想那麼多,」李國輝表示, 「我有信心神一定會照顧我。」
李國輝每天不絕地禱告, 除幫助保持心境開朗平靜外, 病情亦有好轉, 他在六月底, 會再次接受電療。
陳清梅
|
|
New Life Through Cancer
- a testimony of Mr. Kuo Li
Faced with the life-threatening disease of cancer, most people will be overcome with fear and helplessness, but there are a few exceptional patients who find love and new meaning of life despite this adversity. Such is the testimony of 77 year-old Mr. Kuo Li.
Mr. Li is from Toisan, China. He met his wife in college while studying chemical engineering. They both graduated and served in the Beijing Chemical Engineering Plant in the Technical Cadre. They had children and raised a family, living a comfortable life. In 1997, China opened up to the outside world, and Mr. Li took advantage of the opportunity to emigrate with the family to Hong Kong, seeking a better life for the family. After running a family business for seven years, he took the family to San Francisco. Despite being in a foreign land and unfamiliar environment, Mr. Li managed to provide for the family. Then in 2007 during a routine physical checkup, he was diagnosed to have stage 2 lung cancer.
“I don’t drink and I don’t smoke, and I always maintain a positive attitude to work hard.” Mr. Li recalled how he reacted to this bad news. “I felt that it was very unfair for me to have this disease. But what could I do but to follow the orders of the doctor.”
In Jan 11, 2008 Mr. Li went through surgery and underwent chemotherapy. Side effects of the treatments caused him to lose his hair. He began to feel very depressed. To make it worse, he lost his appetite. However, he did not feel sorry for himself. He kept up with his positive attitude to face his illness. The main reason why he was able to do so was because of the power of love.
“I was not expecting much, but Mr. Lam (Herald Cancer Care coordinator) reached out to me.” Mr. Li recalled. “He cared for me and helped me unconditionally. I had never experienced such love from a total stranger in my life.”
Mr. Li did have some prior knowledge of the Christian faith. He had been invited to church meetings, but often found them to be dry and uninteresting. His atheistic background growing up in Communist China also biased his thinking, quenching any desire to know anything about God. Nevertheless, the unconditional caring he received began to change his thinking.
“Joe (Herald Cancer Care volunteer) took me to the meetings in his church.” Mr. Li said, “I felt different this time, possibly because of my cancer condition and needed the support of others. I felt very much at home going to church, and I enjoyed talking to people and listening to them talking about their faith.” Although he did not make a decision to accept this new faith, he continued to receive the caring and love of his new Christian friends.
“On Dec. 28, 2009, I woke up at a little after 5 am and could not go back to sleep. I thought of the caring I received from the church and how it has helped me.” Mr. Li remembered. “I decided that I might as well open my heart to receive Jesus. In making this decision, I also write a poem to commemorate the occasion. When I told Joe about it, he was overjoyed.”
Mr. Li was baptized on July 12, 2009, and continued attending the Friday night fellowship as well as the Sunday worship service regularly. He wrote another poem to honor his church:
Bathing in the grace of Jesus,
I joyfully receive the love of Christ,
Lights are turned on while dusk is approaching,
And I found myself bathed in the warmth of my fellow men.
Washed away are my sins as testified by my baptism,
My eternal life is now assured through my faith in the Lord.
Serving henceforth with God’s people,
How sweet are the fruits of our labor.
The doctor discovered recently that Mr. Li has cancer metastasized to his brain, but due to his suppressed immunity caused by radiation therapy, he can only receive oral chemotherapy to control the disease. Despite this setback, Mr. Li has peace and hope, not fear or resentment.
“I hand over my trouble to God, and do not dwell on it.” Mr. Li said. “I have faith that God will take good care of me.”
Mr. Li continues to pray everyday asking God to keep the peace in his heart, and to grant him healing. He is scheduled to receive more radiation therapy. |
|
癌奪不走喜樂與盼望
健康的確是很重要, 小小的病痛, 就足夠令人渾身不舒服, 提不起勁做事, 不過, 有一位身患惡疾的婆婆, 她不單止無因為身體的軟弱疼痛而厭世消極, 反而更把握時機, 盡力傳廣福音, 希望有更多的人蒙恩得救, 用她的生命來效忠自己所愛的神。
許鄒秀勤在中國韶關出生長大, 婚後約十年, 帶同兩兒一女移至廣州與身在當地工作的丈夫團聚, 根據她的女兒許斌, 許鄒氏為人有毅力, 脾氣好又能幹, 對兒女的需要照顧得無微不致, 是一位不折不扣的好媽媽。
在今年五月初, 醫生證實許鄒秀勤患上末期胰臟癌, 由於她的兒女都分別住在外州或外國, 只有她一人獨居在加州屋崙, 所以, 她的女兒許斌就至電基督教角聲的癌友關懷, 尋求關顧和協助。
「我很榮幸能與許太太通電話, 更清楚了解她的需要, 」角聲癌友關懷統籌林爾羊表示, 「我們有一段長談, 由開始至結束, 從未發覺她有絲毫的恐懼, 無助或絕望。」
林爾羊形容, 許鄒秀勤在面對惡疾時, 心裡平安, 充滿盼望, 在絕境時仍能熱愛自己的生命, 感謝和神有美好的關係, 「這令我明白, 她的確深切認識她的神,」 林爾羊說。
許鄒秀勤信主的經過並無甚麼特別, 是循序漸進式, 最初由女兒許斌先介紹基督教信仰給她和丈夫認識, 經過一段長時間的了解和祈禱, 許氏夫婦兩人先後信主。在1996年, 許鄒秀勤和她丈夫一起接受洗禮, 讓眾人見證他們重生得救的喜悅。
「她(許鄒秀勤)最初都沒有那麼勤力讀聖經,」許斌憶述說。 「爸爸在兩年後過身, 她就很用功讀, 還可惜自己信得遲, 浪費了時間, 她很有毅力, 後來讀得很好, 並接受了門徒訓練。
許鄒秀勤在教會裡經常關心別人, 時刻禱告, 沒想到在今年, 她竟然患上和丈夫一樣的絕症, 為了不想負累兒女, 她自己要求入住療養院。
「普遍來說, 長者都抗拒入住療養院, 但許太太就例外, 」林爾羊說。 「她並不是為了自己, 而是希望籍此機會, 向療養院的住客傳揚耶穌的故事。她從不會諗自己的好處, 即使是在癌症的緊急關頭, 她仍樂意地去奉獻自己。」
鐘鳳美是角聲癌友關懷的義工, 她負責探訪許鄒秀勤, 關顧她的需要。她表示, 療養院的床位本來很滿, 但後來不知為什麼, 很快就有空床位。
「許太太認為這是神的恩典,」鐘鳳美說, 「她說神既然擺她在這裡, 她就要把握機會侍奉神, 幫助老人家認識神的美好。」
雖然身體受到癌病的折磨, 非常疼痛, 但許鄒秀勤卻沒有迨慢, 每天起來, 必找緊機會, 向療養院的院友傳講福音, 關心他們的需要, 為他們代禱。還和對信仰有興趣的護士一起查經, 並向來訪者作見證, 傳福音。
「從表面上你看不到她有甚麼痛苦, 但其實她的下腹是很痛的,」鐘鳳美回想起在療養院探訪許鄒秀勤時的情景, 「她長期用熱墊敷著下腹, 但她就無呻吟, 亦從來無埋怨。」這是神用大能的膀臂在下扶持。
在療養院住了數星期, 許鄒秀勤熱愛生命的態度, 以及其對神不撓的信心, 為不少的院友帶來新的希望, 雖然她最終在五月底離世, 回歸天國, 重投神的懷抱, 但她的故事, 卻為後人留下美好的見證, 鼓舞著每顆意志消沉的心, 正如林爾羊引用聖經, 向許太太致敬一樣, 「他雖然死了, 卻因這信仍舊說話。」
陳清梅
|
|
Cancer Cannot Take Away Joy and Hope
- a tribute to Mrs. Xiuqin Z. Xu
Health is important. Even a slight ailment can throw a person off balance and sap his energy. Mrs. Xiuqin Z. Xu was an elderly lady who was terminally ill, but nevertheless was able to persevere and still shared with others the Gospel with a sense of urgency. She only hoped that more would be saved, and that the remaining days of her life would be used to serve the God whom she loved. Not even cancer slowed her down.
Mrs. Xu was born in a small town in Southern China. Ten years after she got married, she took her young children to the provincial capital, Guangzhou, to join her husband where he was assigned to work. Her daughter Bin remembered her as a capable, hard-working and gentle mother, affectionately and meticulously caring for her children and family, sparing no effort in doing her best to be a model mother.
In May of 2010, Mrs. Xu was diagnosed as having terminal pancreatic cancer. Her children all lived either out of state or out of the country. Bin therefore called the Herald Cancer Care, requesting a caregiver be assigned to her to provide support.
Herald Cancer Care’s coordinator Ernest Lam recalled, “I was very privileged to talk to Mrs. Xu on the phone, in an effort to understand her needs. What struck me was how peaceful she was, showing not a trace of fear or sense of helplessness or hopelessness, which is so typical of cancer patients we intake. I had a most wonderful long conversation with her.” Ernest recalled further that Mrs. Xu faced her deadly adversary with peace and hope, with her love for life undiminished. She was full of thanksgiving for her loving relationship with her God. “It was quite evident to me that she knew her God.” Ernest commented.
There was nothing unusual or dramatic about Mrs. Xu’s coming to know Christ. It was a progression, starting from being introduced to the Christian Faith by Bin. After a period of searching and praying, Mrs. Xu and her husband independently put their trust in Jesus and were both baptized in 1996, testifying their joy of being born again.
Bin continued to recall, “My mother was not that much into His Word initially, but after my father’s passing two years later, she became serious in studying the Bible, regretting not doing it sooner. Her diligence paid off, motivating her to make very good progress. She even took discipleship training.”
Mrs. Xu routinely cared for others, constantly praying and petitioning for them. It was shocking to everyone when she was diagnosed as having the very same kind of cancer as her late husband. She did not want to be a burden to her children and voluntarily asked to be moved to a nursing home.
“Normally, most seniors would be dragged to a nursing home kicking and screaming. Mrs. Xu was a conspicuous exception.” Ernest observed. “She was not thinking of herself. She was thinking of the opportunity this would open up for her to share what she referred to as ‘Jesus stories’ to other seniors there. It was not about her, but about the salvation of others. She gladly offered herself to serve God.”
Nora Chung was the Herald Cancer Care volunteer assigned to be Mrs. Xu’s caregiver. She recalled that the nursing home we had in mind for her was full, but somehow, an opening came up and we were able to get her in. “Mrs. Xu was convinced that it was the grace of God.” Nora recalled. She felt that if this opportunity had so obviously come from God, she needed to seize it and help the elderly residents to know God.
Though her health was deteriorating, and the pain caused by cancer was obvious, she pushed forward everyday, seizing every opportunity to get the Good News out, caring and praying for others. She even got together with some staff to study the Bible. She was proactive in greeting visitors and sharing her testimony with them.
Nora observed, “It may not be very obvious to people, but if you were to observe closely, you would notice that she was in great pain in her lower abdomen, always holding a heating pad to ease the pain. However, there was never any moaning and groaning, and never any complaint.” God was sustaining her.
Mrs. Xu was in the nursing home for a few weeks, during which her love of life and her faith in God impressed many residents, and brought hope to them. Although she departed in the same month to be in the bosom of her Heavenly Father, she left behind a glorious testimony that lifted up the spirit of everyone who would listen to her story. Ernest concludes that just as the writer of Hebrews wrote about Abraham, the same may be said about Mrs. Xu, that “by faith she being dead yet speaketh.”
by Natalie Chen, translated by Ernest Lam | |
