The Hope, that Jesus is the one and only now who had defeated death, and is coming again to judge and crush Death for good. The Hope, is the coming of God's kingdom, where all things will be made right, and we will be perfect, without blemish, illness, pain and sadness. It will be the day, where we will be able to rejoice and praise God.
And while we wait patiently for God's will be done, and the return of Jesus, we are to call this world 'home', while looking forward to the real Home in heaven. However, if you look at it, Death is the only path, that leads us out of this world, closer to Jesus and God.
This month had been particularly sad for me. The family friend, Aunty Anita, whom brought Eric n his siblings to church, had finally lost her battle with cancer. The amazing thing was that instead of grumbling and pitied her failing body, she was only more eager to continue focus on serving the young, teenager and the international students at her church. She cared for them, like a mum. Give them a guiding hand and showing them the love of Jesus.
The funeral was a rainy day. The funeral was a day, where God's plan for her was all displayed before us. God used her, to comfort many international students whom are far from home. God used her to guide the younger people how to be a responsible citizen of God's kingdom. God used her, to bring many to him. And Eric was one of them. It was a celebration of life. Though we are sad of this short departure, we are full of the Hope in Jesus. That we will meet again.
Then last Thursday, Eric and I received the devastating news of brother Hiep passing. He had been a faithful brother in Christ from our church in Canberra. Despite his age (60s?), he will be there with us during the International Fellowship, welcoming every student, leaders, new and old. He will be there. Giving greeting you from the other end of the hallway (we all met at the hall way outside the lecture theaters) , coming up to you and give you a nice warm handshake. Yes, in his old age, he always had a nice warm hand to shake. Our church starts after the International fellowship. So you will see him, standing next to the door, welcoming and shaking hand again, greeting all who pass through the door. Rain or shine, he will be there. However, he will not stay for the service.
I often wondered why he would wasted his time, doing such trivial things as 'welcoming'. But one day, he was not there. And man, it felt odd not seeing his face at the door, getting that nice warm handshake. He told us later that his wife was ill. So he could not leave her at home alone. When she had recovered, he's back at his usual spot in church.
I often wondered why he would wasted his time, doing such trivial things as 'welcoming'. But one day, he was not there. And man, it felt odd not seeing his face at the door, getting that nice warm handshake. He told us later that his wife was ill. So he could not leave her at home alone. When she had recovered, he's back at his usual spot in church.
Hiep came to Australia, as a young government scholar from Vietnam. His future wife, was also part of the young scholar group from Vietnam. They were studying engineering. They became Christians through the uni church group, and got married. They were both very bright and hardworking students. However, during the final semester, his wife could not withstand the stress from studying, and became 'crazy'. And this mental illness stayed with her ever since. Hiep became her full time carer, only go out a few hours at a time. So every Sunday, he will travel by bus, takes about 1 hour each way, from his home to the uni (4pm), welcome the students, stayed till church starts (6.30pm), rush to the bus stop and catch the last bus home. He rush home so that he could cook for his wife. What a dedicated husband!
We were told of his illness late last year from our pastor. Even though we had already left Canberra, we felt the sadness, and prayed that he will pull through. Just like our other Pastor Dave, both of them had lung cancer, even though they were both non-smoker. Pastor Dave's Lung cancer miraculously disappeared after a few months of Chemo and Radiation. We prayed that Hiep's cancer will do the same too.
Our last updates on his health, was from our friend Jemma from Canberra, whom visited Sydney for 2 days. We manage a catch up dinner just the Friday before his passing. She gave us sad yet encouraging updates, of Hiep, now living in a nursing home, getting weaker and frail-er by each visits, but his spirit is still as strong as ever, praising and giving thanks to God for his life.
In light of the Hope in Jesus, even though it is sad to say good bye to our fellow brother and sister in Christ, it gave us strength to carry our Cross for the remainder of our lives, knowing that this IS just a temporary separation. We will see them again in full glory, without pain and suffering, in Heaven with Jesus.
kcan
We were told of his illness late last year from our pastor. Even though we had already left Canberra, we felt the sadness, and prayed that he will pull through. Just like our other Pastor Dave, both of them had lung cancer, even though they were both non-smoker. Pastor Dave's Lung cancer miraculously disappeared after a few months of Chemo and Radiation. We prayed that Hiep's cancer will do the same too.
Our last updates on his health, was from our friend Jemma from Canberra, whom visited Sydney for 2 days. We manage a catch up dinner just the Friday before his passing. She gave us sad yet encouraging updates, of Hiep, now living in a nursing home, getting weaker and frail-er by each visits, but his spirit is still as strong as ever, praising and giving thanks to God for his life.
In light of the Hope in Jesus, even though it is sad to say good bye to our fellow brother and sister in Christ, it gave us strength to carry our Cross for the remainder of our lives, knowing that this IS just a temporary separation. We will see them again in full glory, without pain and suffering, in Heaven with Jesus.
kcan
1 comment:
I am sorry to hear about your loss.
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