Salt Of The Earth V

SA was taking a nap when I telephoned to her house and had her aunt who came from Muar to help taking care of the chore. I expressed my intention to visit SA later in the afternoon. She gave the permission.

When I stepped into that familiar house, her dog in the cage near the main gates still barked very loudly. SA had just woken up and stayed in her bedroom. So I climbed upstairs for the first time.

SA looked lifeless on the armchair. A new Indonesian maid was attending her. I had already been prepared to see a frail SA, based on the description given by KC earlier and on the experience I had had with Dad who was also suffering from the final stage of cancer. However, when I thought of Marten who was still able to drive, continually sing praise to the Lord on stage and give testimonies every week, the contrast still shook me.

"Hi, sorry I wasn't able to visit you earlier. How are your sleep and appetite?"

"I'm not fine," Her reaction was a bit dull. Her voice was also much weaker than the one I had heard on the phone only two days ago. I recalled Dad who was also like that. When he talked on the phone, he would gather all his strength to give the caller impression that he was not sick at all. After hanging up, he would immediately sit back on his arm chair completely exhausted.

"I know someone in my church whose case is like yours. Lung cancer also. Now he is recovering. Would you mind if I bring him here to share with you how he has been fighting with his illness?"

"No need."

"It's OK. I don't force you then. Did you received my short message yesterday?" I had sent 'Matthew 6:34' to her cell phone.

"No, I didn't check it."

"I was just telling you 'not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble'. I had learnt it from the Bible and I thought this verse would comfort you and encourage you to think positively."

"I think I'm not optimistic enough."

"That's why I'm here to electrify you a bit! Just look at the blessings you have today. You'll realize that God loves you so much. You have a happy family with your husband and children, friends and relatives who care for you, a good job, a nice house and even a maid to look after you. Not everyone has all these you have." The sermon of Ps Mark of Singapore New Creation Church on DVD that I had watched recently had enlightened me a lot.

She did not say anything. So, I went on, "You know, if I also worried about tomorrow, I'd also feel very anxious. I'd keep thinking if I'd be able to find a good husband, if my job would still be stable, etc. When I'm thankful for what I have now, I really enjoy every day. Even today, I could have come with a negative mind and cried together with you. But I choose to believe that your health stands a chance to improve since you're still breathing. Don't give up because nothing is too late."

I did not wish to be long-winded and fatigue her too much. Before I left, I prayed for her as usual.

Sharing the good news that our Father God is offering us the free gift of salvation through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ is more difficult than selling a product. Many people might take out their money easily to buy something of which they are not sure of the quality. But the same people would doubtfully turn down the guaranteed and the most precious eternal life which is to be received simply by faith.

Jesus said to His disciples, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." (Matthew 5:13 NKJV). These two years, I appreciate more and more my brothers and sisters in Christ who have been seasoning my life with their prayers, preachings, oral or written testimonies and fellowship since I first heard about Jesus when I was a child. And I understand this verse better and better.

As long as I also claim to be the salt of the earth, I will always try to keep my flavour and add it in others' lives, including yours.

Salt Of The Earth IV

I had not seen SA for around three months, but I did not forget her in my prayers. I missed a few chances to visit her when I was in town. The two or three times I called her, either she had just arrived home from outside and needed a rest, or she had something to do. I chose to believe that she was really not available to receive me rather than avoiding to listen to my sharing.

From other colleagues who were regularly in touch with SA, I learnt that she had stopped the chemotherapy after a few treatments which were not very effective. The cancer cells from her lungs had spread to other parts of her body.

Last Sunday morning, Jagan reminded me to invite SA to the English service as the guest speaker Mary E. Adams from Alaska was going to give her testimonies, one of which was on the healing of her cancer. When I phoned SA, her voice was energetic but she was reluctant to travel to our church. I told her that if she changed her mind before 11.30am, she could always contact me. I was not disappointed with her response. Even as a believer of Christ, I used to ignore Jagan's numerous invitations to Sunday services or other church events, let alone someone who was of another faith.

Later in the afternoon, Marten's miraculous recovery also bore testimony to our Lord. By faith in the name of Jesus, Marten had been made strong and given healing. God's promise is stated in the Bible (Acts 3:16).

I was very encouraged. I made up my mind to try to visit SA again to give my witness. Monday afternoon, KC happened to call me and talk about SA whose health was deteriorating. When she knew that I had tried to bring SA to church and that I was planing to see SA the next day, she told me in a polite manner, "I think it'd be better not to talk about religions with her in these days."

"KC, In my church, a Sarawakian was also diagnosed with stage 4 of lung cancer like SA. Now he's recovering very well. If I don't tell her what I've heard and seen, I'll regret later."

"I'm sorry for what I said just now."

"Never mind," I answered, "I've heard a lot of testimonies like that." Actually what I was trying to say was that many unbelievers consider Christians' keen sharing of the gospel with them a nuisance.

"How was SA's response to your previous visits?"

"Quite good. I simply told her to think positive and prayed for her. In her case, I suppose she's rather glad to receive blessings through my prayers, isn't she?"

Before I hung up, I felt compelled to tell KC with a gentle voice, "You know, even when we keep rejecting God, God will never reject us."

Salt Of The Earth III

I paid several visits to SA at the end of last year, either alone or with a friend or colleague. Every time, she looked fine when she received us. When I asked her how she was going, she would admit that there were moments she was in deep depression due to all sorts of negative thoughts, which resulted in her sleepless nights. The following mornings, she would feel very sleepy. She was also suffering from a pain in her back which caused her difficulties in walking.

When there were just two of us in the living room, it was easier for me to share with her my own testimonies to our God of hope who filled me with all joy and peace as I trusted in Him (Romans 15:13). I told SA that my confident expectations of good had made me a much more optimistic person.

SA listened without asking me any questions. Sometimes she seemed to understand something and would utter to herself, "I should think more positively."

"Yes. Because you're staying at home, now you spend more time with your husband and children instead of focusing on your job. Because you're absent from work, I think of seeing you more often. Sometimes we're so busy that we don't notice so many wonderful things around us. Now because you're sick, you have an opportunity to slow down and rest. Think of some outings you will go for with your family members when you recover. That's going to give you motivation for fighting against your illness. So, stay strong!"

"Yes, I should stay strong."

"And know that there's a Father in heaven who loves you," I added, with my forefinger pointing upward. "When you're anxious or insomniac, just tell Him, in Jesus' name, to remove all your fears and diseases. He's always listening and waiting for you to go to Him."

I usually stayed around half an hour in her house and prayed for her before leaving. Sometimes I also left a sermon on CD, a testimony on newspaper, a booklet of "the Daily Bread" or CLA magazines that Jagan had asked me to pass to her, hoping that one day she or her family members would be touched by God's grace.

"Thank you. You're a good Christian." She gave this compliment to me at least two times.

If I am good in her eyes, that is all because Jesus in me is good.

Salt Of The Earth II

When Marten made an announcement on his illness in front of the BM congregation during one of the services in November, it was about three months after I had been informed of SA's health condition.

The same lung cancer. Stage 4.

Marten liked to greet us with the Hebrew word "Shalom" (which meant peace) and a sunny smile before he led the musical team to start the worship. He was blessed with a pretty wife and a lovely daughter Pamela, who danced together with Ps Albert's daughter Sarah. I had merely known them when I was invited to their house to celebrate Pamela's birthday. What a privilege to be the only Chinese among other ethnics of Sabah and Sarawak. Their friendliness was so genuine. You could tell from their smiles!

There I met his sister and twin brother. When the siblings were standing together, you would believe that the Argentine football talent Maradona had some lost cousins in Asia!

According to Marten, he had been coughing for months but he did not take it seriously in the beginning. When the symptom persisted and manifested itself more, he finally went to the doctor and got the diagnosis. He attributed the cancer to the second-hand smoke he had inhaled in his previous working place.

While we were listening to his testimony with a heavy heart, Marten was trying to make light of his illness. We could tell that he was worried, but all he would do was to trust God totally for the healing.

The following Sunday afternoons, Marten still led the worship sometimes. I began to notice Marten's cough and his weaker physique. His face was pale and his coat and long pants were much looser due to the weight loss. However, his smiles did not fade. Ps Albert always led us to pray for his healing in every service. I also put him in my prayer when I thought of him.

Marten always updated us on his health. He had started a vegetarian diet and a few sessions of radiotherapy. If the results of the treament were positive, he wanted to avoid the chemotheraphy which would destroy his body. His siblings helped financially. His friends gave him all kinds of advice, supplement and mental support. But he agreed with a book he read stating that Jesus was the best medecine. It was his faith in Him, who had come down from heaven to give life to the world (John 6:33), that could keep him strong. Every morning when he woke up, the first thing he did was to thank God. If that was God's will that he was going to die, he would still rejoice in His unconditional love. Despite his illness, he travelled a lot to testify Jesus who was in control of his healing.

He also told us about his younger days, his reconciliation with family members, etc. At the end of the testimony sessions, he always sang a song to praise the Lord. His voice was full of feelings which touched me more than when I had first heard his singing. There were moments he got so emotional that he would sob for a short while, not because of grievance, but gratitude.

Last week, Marten's face was shining with smiles when he stepped into the hall. He brought us the good news that the specialist's report showed that his lungs were recovering very well. To a patient who had been diagnosed at stage 4 of lung cancer, the chance was small. Yet with God, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37)! He praised the Lord for the healing and thanked Ps Albert and the congregation for our consistent prayers.

I think only a person who had escaped death like Marten would really apprehend how great God's love is.

Salt Of The Earth I

Last year, I learnt the sad news that two persons I knew had been diagnosed with the stage 4 of lung cancer: One was SA, my colleague; The other was Marten, the worship leader of the BM service.

SA was among the first Chinese colleagues I had known when I started working on this campus. I joined her and GK a few times for lunch at a Chinese restaurant during the first weeks. Later, I hardly went out with them because their meal time was too early for me. As I taught a different subject from SA and that our offices were in different blocks, I did not meet her very often either. When I walked past her office, I dropped in occasionally to chat with her. She was a caring senior who always gave me advice on my career development.

Several days after SA's absence in September only I was told by KC about her illness and medical leave. My first reaction was "Why lung cancer?". SA never smoked; She worked in a non-smoking environment; She was always careful of what she ate; She practised "Tai Chi"; Her husband was a doctor. Thousands of reasons would have dissuaded me from believing that her lungs were the battlefield of her cancer cells.

Colleagues who were quite close to SA collected money to buy food supplement for her. They also arranged a date to visit her together. I was having classes when they left for her house, thus could not go with them. The next morning, I called her but nobody answered. The following week I had a trip abroad.

After I had come back to Melaka, I contacted SA again. As she went out quite often either for medical consultation or other matters, I had to call her just before I went to her house to make sure that she was around.

That was the first time I drove to her house. She had been getting traditional medicine treatment all this while. She looked well though thinner.

We held a casual conversation. I tried to cheer her up by encouraging her to keep her thinking positive.

"You've grown up," She said to me,"And are getting prettier."

"Since the Lord Jesus has been living in my heart. I used to be very hot-tempered but now I'm much less. I think that's why more joy and peace are reflecting on my face."

Then I briefly told her about my disputes with Mum after Dad's passing, and how my relationship with her had improved tremendously since I had learnt to listen to God.

"Spend more time with your mother," SA added.

"I do, because I don't want to have any regrets in the future." I answered,"And now I also know that I have a Father God who loves me."

"I won't become a Christian. But anyway, you're a good Christian." I was planning to leave when SA gave her comment.

All the glory to my Lord who had transformed me. I responded to her with a smile.

"Never mind. Come, let me pray for you," SA let my hands hold hers. Our heads were down and our eyes were close. My prayer in Mandarin was simple. I asked that the Lord opened SA's heart to know Him, to believe that she also had the same Father God who loved her and that she could receive healing from His beloved Son Jesus Christ who had conquered the death.

Was SA receptive to my prayer?

A Nice Dentist From Iraq

I was having toothache on and off after the fillings of my premolars and molars had cracked more and more. The pain was unbearable especially during the Chinese New Year season, when I drank hot soups and cold soft drinks. Even chewing fruits taken out from the fridge was a torture.

I finally made up my mind to go to the dentist's, which I had delayed since the end of last year. I had been to the government clinics and the private ones. So far, thank God I had not had any nightmarish experiences with dentists.

I drove to the Alor Gajah dental clinic early in the morning on the Monday after my mid-semester break. I did not wait too long before my turn. About one and a half year ago, my previous dentist was a pretty and friendly Chinese lady who later moved to Selangor to set up her own clinic after her marriage. This time, the one on duty was a man with a Middle-East face. So, I decided to speak in English first. His accent in English strengthened my belief that he was a foreigner.

After the check-up, he told me that some of my fillings were to be redone and the molar where I was having most pain needed root canal treatment if I wanted to save my tooth. As this kind of restorative treatment was not available there, he only covered the hole of that molar with temporary filling and advised me to go to a private clinic. Otherwise, an extraction would be the last option. I then fixed another appointment with him for the filling of other teeth.

That Friday evening, I had a cell meeting. At the end, refreshments were served. After I had munched on some extra-hard muruku (an Indian snack), I could feel with the point of my tongue that a part of the temporary filling was missing!

The following Monday morning, I went out for breakfast with Jagan. While I was eating chicken rojak (salad dish), my teeth must have crushed on some bones which broke the filing some more.

The episode did not end there. In the afternoon, I visited my former neighbours to wish them a happy Chinese New Year. While chatting with them and savouring all kinds of cookies and snacks, a big piece of the filling cracked again!

So, most the filing had gone within one week instead of one month which had been predicted by the dentist. But I thank God that the small piece left was big enough to cover the root.

Almost two weeks after the first treatment, I went to the clinic again. The same Dr Hussain received me.

"Good afternoon," he gently said to me after I had greeted him with a smile, "so what's your decision?"

"Good afternoon, Doctor," I answered, "I'd like to keep my tooth, but can you please do another filling for me before I go for the root treatment, because the one that you did last time has already fallen after one week. The miracle is that I didn't feel pain at all."

"Oh, it has already fallen?! No problem, I'll do another one for you. Now I'm going to do the other fillings first. Do you need injection?"

"It's okay. I can stand the pain," While lying on the dentist's chair with my mouth wide open, in my heart I called Jesus to be with me.

Instantly, no fear, no pain.

When there was a pause, I finally asked him the question which I had been keeping since my previous visit.

"Doctor, you don't look like a local. Where do you come from?"

I guess he was not expecting a female patient to ask about his identity. Nonetheless, he answered with a cheerful voice, "I'm a Malaysian!"

I knew he was joking. Indeed, after a few seconds, he added, "I'm from the Middle East."

"I know."

"I come from Iraq, the most dangerous country in the world!"

"Don't say that, Doctor!" How I wished I could tell him that the Eden garden, the place of happiness of innocence that God had created for Adam and Eve, was somewhere in his homeland.

It was not a suitable occasion to talk about the political situation. Thus, I changed the topic.

"Doctor, I think I should change my habit of eating nuts."

"But you don't have many nuts here. In my country, we have all kinds of nuts: hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios...Sometimes, I ask my family to send them to Malaysia."

He did altogether two permanent fillings at the left side and a temporary one at the right ride. It took about more three quarters to accomplish the whole task!

When everything was done, Dr Hussain said to me,"Don't bite with your left teeth within the next twenty-four hours, OK? That's all. Thank you for your patience."

"Thank you very much, Doctor," I was the one grateful for his patience. "And God bless you!"

That was the only present I could give him. He nodded his head with a smile.

Before I left, he reminded me, "Remember, don't eat nuts!"

Like A Weaned Child With Its Mother

LORD, my heart is not haughty,

Nor my eyes lofty.

Neither do I concern myself with great matters, or with things too profound for me.

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with his mother;

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

(Psalms 131:2-3 NKJV)

Papa, Abba, Father!

My colleague KC, who recently started her own blog, likes to share anecdotes of her pet cats and dog.

When I was a teenager, we had kept, during different periods, tortoises, guinea pigs, a dog, and a record high four-generation family of nine cats at home! I was especially crazy for cats. I fed them, talked to them, caressed their bodies and played with them, especially those who loved my attention and who were not timid to approach me. I collected calendars, book marks and greeting cards with pictures of cats.

Yesterday, KC spent a few moments telling me about her old cat who had just died peacefully at a good age, her young cat who had left its waste on her bed, and her dog who only barked at certain people. Now, listening to stories of the small animals I used to care a lot for does not make me excited anymore.

This morning, I received an email from Ah Yu about his son Yuri:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Recently he calls me Papa, I don't know if he knows the meaning or not, but I am so happy...
In the morning, when I am going to work, he will hold me tightly and not want to let me go. I remember when I was young, Dad went to banquets every night but I always didn't let him go...
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Which greeting touches your heart most?

Your kitten mewing at you, your dog running towards you or your toddler calling you Papa?

Which situation stirs your emotions most?

Your cat rubbing its head against your feet, your dog licking your face or your child holding you tightly in his arms?

To those whose father is still around, do spend more time chatting with him. He is eager for your expressive love towards him like you used to do when you were small.

To those who have lost your father, you still have a Father God, who is patiently waiting for you to hold Him tightly, and who always rejoices in hearing you call Him "Abba, Father!"

Lunch A La Française

I have been teaching my first batch of TESL degree students for three consecutive semesters. Last year, we had two times French-style breakfast together in the classroom. This time, they wished to have something grander, for this is their last semester with me. As they were still quite free at the beginning of the semester, they were keen to hold a lunch at one of their places. So, we fixed the date on the Tuesday after the Chinese New Year break, which was yesterday.

I left the preparations to them as usual. I was only planning to bring mandarins and cookies.

Monday afternoon, the class representative Syahida called me to ask if I could buy French loaves for the "petit déjeuner tomorrow". As I started my class with them at 8.30am and I had to reach the city campus early to get a parking space, I would not have time to stop at Tesco on my way to work. And since she had mentioned "petit déjeuner", I assumed that they had changed their mind to have breakfast. So, later in the evening when I received her message telling me they needed sponsorship for ice, ice-cream and French loaves and that they could go shopping together with me after my class at 12.30pm, I was very confused. When I sent my reply to ask for confirmation of the meal appointment time, Syahida was already asleep and did not read my message.

Everything was clarified when I met the students yesterday morning. Syahida had had a slip of the tongue. Our lunch was still on. She, Hani and Ridhwan would need a lift from me to do extra shopping and to go to Aafina and Maslinda's apartment where the lunch would be held. Hazween popped in with sleepy eyes just before I was about to dismiss the class. She had slept at 3am in order to get the main dish cooked. Actually, I expected something simple. But they told me, "Mademoiselle, with us, it's always gonna to be something great!" I had no doubt about the ability of these energetic young people with whom I always enjoy the interaction. And it is always entertaining to watch their role-play in the classroom. So, like what Ridhwan said,

"Let's go for the fun!"

The apartment was in Banda Hilir. When we reached there, it was almost two o'clock. The chef Hazween was still busy grating cheddar cheese on the salad.

Other dishes were ready. The sous-chefs and assistants just needed to cut the French loaves into small pieces and make the drink with syrup, water and ice cubes.

The menu was typed out in French. We were supposed to have hors d'oeuvre, two types of salad before the main dish and dessert.

Everything sounded quite French but... the table manners were totally a la malaisienne!

First of all, nobody was formally seated at the table. We were casually sitting on the floor.

Ariff looked a bit lonely without the company of his good buddies Farril and Syed who could not join us.

Secondly, the dishes were not served one after another. It was actually a buffet. We could take our own food as much as we desired at the same time instead of passing the dishes among one another.

The formalities? Who cared! Let's attack the table and bon appétit!

This was my first-round serving.

The cheese-mushroom omelet was a bit salty but went well with the coleslaw and the lettuce-orange salad. The lamb stew had been so perfectly cooked during two hours that the juicy meat just melted between the teeth. When I dipped a piece of bread spread with cream cheese into the hot and slightly spicy soup and then put into my mouth, the taste was heavenly!

I was not the only one to make several trips to the table. But my following servings were moderate. I merely added another quarter of omelet, some salad and bread to my plate to accompany the rest of my lamb stew. Even then, the intake still exceeded what I had planned for the diet after the Chinese New Year heavy meals.

Maslinda, who had gone out for awhile before the lunch was started, came back to the apartment which she and her two housemates were keeping clean and tidy. There was more than enough food left for her.

The lamb stew was really filling. But when jelly, vanilla ice-cream, cookies and mandarins were cheerfully saying "bonjour" to us,

nobody's stomach could resist the temptation.

Calories?

The word was temporarily missing in our French-English dictionaries.

I must thank God that my filing had been done at the dentist's the previous day so that the tooth was able to stand the heat and the cold again.

After the grand meal, all were too full to move the bodies from sitting comfortably in front of the television.

I had the whole afternoon to rest for the digestion before my MLM class at night. The students, poor things, their next class was at 4.30pm.

Only now I realized that they were smart enough to use disposable dishes.

And I totally agreed that Hazween's lack of sleep was worthy...

Merci beaucoup de ce grand repas, mes chers étudiants!