Does God Yell, “GOL”?

We at the Bush house have been watching quite a bit of the 2006 World Cup Soccer tournament. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat have been experienced by many, to include us (the fans). This couch-potato spectator sport has caused us, however, to think seriously about theology as we often feel the urge to pray in real time for our favorites teams. Therefore, we have contemplated a good dissertation topic for future study: Does God Yell, “GOL”?: The Divine Perspective on Lutheran and Catholic Football Squads. If you would like to contribute some additional topic suggestions or maybe even a resource or two for our study, please drop us a note.

Travel warning

The US Department of State issued a travel warning on June 16 for the Philippines in light of the various bombings in the past week.

"The Department of State urges American citizens to consider carefully the risks of travel to the Philippines and continues to warn against all but essential travel throughout the country in light of heightened threats to Westerners."

Now that does that mean to us, who are leaving in a few months for the Philippines? Do we know about the danger? Yes, we do. Though we were assured by the missionaries there that westerners in Cebu City are rarely a target, we have thought about the potential danger for being there. I am not too worried about myself, since I don't look "western" at all. However, Dan and Kioni look different. But am I being fearful for them? Not really. We are pretty clear that this is the place where God is sending us for the next two years. Exercise common sense, don't do stupid things, and we are going to put the rest in God's hands.

The safest place on earth is at the center of God's will.

One of those guys!

Amy: "You are one of those guys!"
Dr. Cook : "What one of those guys."
Amy: "Those guys who drive their motorcycles on the sidewalk." (Look closely in the photo how the pedestrian actually YEILDED to the guy on the scooter ON-A-SIDEWALK!)

I was talking about motorcycles in Taipei with Dr. Cook. We were in Taipei at the same time some 20 years ago, I believe we lived in the same 10-mile radius, but never found out until we started chatting a while back. What a small world!

My experience with motorcycles in Taipei was limited, other than on one occasion, riding with a guy friend for 3 minutes, he was showing off his brand new cool muscle bike, he insisted that I'd be his first passenger. Most of the time, I was just hoping they wouldn't kill me. It would not be cool if my mother receive a call saying that her daughter was killed in a motorcycle accident while walking on a sidewalk.

I had a very close encounter with a motorcycle within the first week after I arrived at Taipei. (For those who didn't know, I got my undergrad degree in National Taiwan University (Tai Da).) Just walking from campus along a narrow sidewalk to get some fruit, a motorcycle zoomed up from behind me. At first I heard a loud motor roaring towards me, not knowing what it could be, I turned around to check it out. Then I saw this long-legged guy on a scooter charging towards me in full speed. He had a helmet on, which I found out later was pretty unusual, so I could not see his face. In a split second, I hopped to the side of the sidewalk, but I was blocked by a line of at least 10-15 scooters that were parked on the sidewalk. I managed to squeeze in between two scooters, just in time for the motocycle to zoom by. That guy's long leg actually touched my skirt! That was close.

They drove on the sidewalk because the road is jammed up, or not jammed up, it doesn't matter. Well, for one thing, there is no traffic lights to obey on the sidewalk. Dr. Cook even said this was the one "traffic law" that his friend told him when he first got his motorbike: "When the road is jammed up, use the sidewalk." (Now I wonder if that long-legged guy I encountered was him!) I was in awe when I saw for the first time a family of 5 all on one motorcycle making a turn on a busy street, with the mother holding a toddler and a huge watermelon! After a few years of seeing people carrying all sorts of cargos on their motorbikes, I was not surprised anymore.

Dr. Cook said since then the mayor of Taipei has cleaned up the messy traffic. I do hope so, since I have not been back since I graduated. There are many amazing things that Taiwanese do with their motorbikes or scooters. If China is the bicycle capital of the world, Taiwan is definitely the scooter capital of the universe.

Also check out You know you've been in Taiwan for too long when....

Where in the world

Now that the time for us to leave for the Philippines is drawing close, our friends and families start to realize that we indeed will be living on this land for the next two years! But where in the world will we be in the Philippines? For some of you who are geographacially challenged, you might even think, "Where in the world IS the Philippines?"

It is in South East Asia, to her north is China, south is Indonesia, and west are Myanmar (formerly Burma), Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. It consists of about 7,000 islands.
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. It has a population of 89,468,677 (July 2006 est.)
We are going to Cebu City, the second largest city in the Philippines, where Megellan landed. It is located in Cebu province in the middle of the country. (Click on map to enlarge.) To the south is the big island of Mindanao, where most of the country's Muslim population lives.

What is most well-known about the Philippines? Other than the large number of professionals and workers who live all over the world. Geographically, The deepest known spot on the planet, Challenger Deep, is found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, just east of the Philippine Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Sounding of the depths in the Mariana Trench measure 36,198 feet. This is approximately 7152 feet deeper than Mount Everest (29,022 feet)! Click on the map below to see a fly-by video of the Mariana Trench. They even found fish there! (Click here to see the fish video).
And of course, you can't talk about the Philippines without talking about the white sandy beaches.
Anyway, it is a hot and humid place that will give your books a good coating of mold. Will tell you more when we get there.

World minus America Cup Soccer

When the world (I am not exaggerating) is going crazy over FIFA 2006 World Cup Soccer, I cannot even find one channel in Direct TV (satellite TV) that airs a game during primetime! I was floored! I had to search all one hundred and some channels and eventually, found one airing Germany vs Poland, in Spanish. Yep, I had to go to a Spanish speaking channel in order to watch a game.
Last night when I was happy to see that they were showing Czech Republic vs the U.S. at 9:00pm on ESPN, but when I went to that channel at 9:00, they were showing college baseball, still in 8th inning. I sighed and Dan said, "Be patient, it will be over soon." Well, he doesn't understand, soccer fans cannot wait for a slow-moving-nobody-cares-about-but-Americans game to be over, in order to watch World Cup soccer, you are talking about WORLD CUP SOCCER. The baseball game lasted another half an hour before they put the soccer game on. If this happens in any other parts of the world, the TV station if not swamped with angry soccer fans, would have their phone lines jammed already.
Today I was talking with a student who is going to be a missionary in Eastern Europe, he said, "If you are going to be a missionary outside of America, you better know soccer."
He was right, only Americans don't care about soccer. Even with the U.S. team making it into Group E this year, Americans are mostly ignorant about what is going on in Germany right now. I told Dan that I feel isolated. Tomorrow when I go to work, NO ONE will talk with me about how Germany scored during the last two minutes. How they hit the crossbar of the goal twice in one attack, how the Polish was playing with one less man because of a red card. NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE will talk about it. Rather, if I am in Hong Kong, I would be walking into an elevator at work and everyone will be talking about it. Strangers are not strangers anymore because of soccer.
I am glad that I will be watching the 2008 Beijing Olypmics in the Philippines, and hopefully, I will be watching the next 2010 World Cup Soccer in SCOTLAND! Hurry!

Want and Need

I want so many things, why is that? Do I just turn my wants into needs and then convince myself that I actually need those things rather than just desiring them? I guess greed is the culprit, or just plain selfish, because I want to satisfy myself with all the stuff that I think I "need". This picture becomes painfully clear now that we are clearing our house to move out, we have so much STUFF! My goodness! I will try from now on not to accumulate anymore, I don't need all those things to live a productive life. OK, it is not too late to start getting rid of things, things I even think I need. After doing without for a while, I am sure I will realize that those are just things I want.

Litter OR Trash

While driving through Wisconsin to the UP in Michigan, a sign by the road says:
"Do not Litter OR Trash along the highway"
So you have to say both "litter" or "trash" in order to get the message through? That give "cheese-head" a new meaning.

SOLD!

Our house is sold! 9 days on the market, it is sold tonight!

The story goes like this:

Day 1 (Tuesday) - I told people about it, sent out an email to my co-workers at work. The real estate lady brought over some colourful flyers for potential buyers to take when they come to see the house.

Day 2 (Wednesday) - Late afternoon, someone made an appointment to look at our house tomorrow! Wow! We cleaned until 1:00 in the morning.

Day 3 (Thursday) - They cancelled the showing right before the scheduled time, they changed their mind on the price range. We were disappointed. But then in the afternoon, we got another phone call asking for another showing that night!
In the mean time, I was putting flyers up around campus, but only 5 were allowed. Therefore, I was wrecking my brain trying to think where else should I post something. Well, yes, there is an e-classifieds on the Trinity International University website, but I know not many people know about that site, but hey, something is better than nothing. Later that day, another party called and came to see the house. Good. We went out for our 10th wedding anniversary dinner, so we can get away from the house for a 7:30pm - 8:30pm showing.

Day 4 (Friday) - No activity, no offer, no phone calls. The real estate lady brought over some more flyer packets, because I wanted to post some colourful ones on campus. We told her we are leaving for a trip next Thursday, so if someone wants to see the house, feel free to let them come. She said, "Maybe the house will be sold by then." Dan said to her, "I hope you are a prophet!" She walked away with a smile.

Day 5 (Saturday) - No activity, we went to the park with Kioni.

Day 6 (Sunday) - Went to church, had a restful day. The phone did not ring.

Day 7 (Monday)- I went to work, 4 Trinity related people asked about the house while I was at work. By 4:30pm, I was wrapping up for the day when the phone rang, I thought to myself: "This will be my last phone call of the day."

"I teach at Trinity College. I am looking into buying a house this summer. I saw your ad in the e-classifieds in the Trinity webiste. I would like to know more about your house."
"Well, are you on campus?"
"Yes, I am."
"I have colour photos of the house, if you would like to take a walk to my office, I will show you some photos and talk more about the house."
10 minutes later, he was sitting in my office. We talked about half an hour, from the house to taking a year of sabbatical to go teach overseas! Obviously, our conversation went beyond the townhouse.
"I will ask my real estate agent to set an appointment to look at the house."
"Sure, but don't feel pressured into buying a house. Make sure you feel comfortable when you walk into the house, and can see yourself living in it."

Day 8 (Tuesday) - Our real estate agent called and said there was another showing request at 2:00pm. It was right in the middle of Kioni nap time. Dan scrambled to find a place to let Kioni sleep. After several phone calls, Dan found Iris Feinberg who was available at home. They went over for a few hours. Kioni took a shorter than normal nap. But the house was available to show.

Day 9 (Wednesday) - We were invited to Donna and Ernie Manges' home for dinner. While we were eating dinner, Dan got a message. It is our real estate lady. I thought it was a call for another showing. I thought to myself, it was good that we cleaned up the house before we leave. After hanging up the phone with the real estate lady, Dan said with a smile. "We got an offer!" What?!? Several phone calls for negotiation and the deal is done! (The offer was made by the person whom saw the house yesterday afternoon.)

During the last phone call, the real estate lady said, "The buyer likes your lights." But we are not selling the lights, those are custom made mission style lights. So we credited him $500 to go and buy light fixtures. Dan asked if he can find out the name of the buyer, when Dan told me the name, I was floored - it was the Trinity professor!

We could not believe what God has done for us. He has shown us in so many ways that he wants us to be in Cebu as soon as possible. Using people saying things to us that was prophetic, even though that person had no clue what they were talking about. He let us share this great news while we are with friends. The Manges are not just friends, they are fellow missionaries teaching in Cebu Graduate School of Theology who are on leave! What a wonderful thing to share this piece of great news with them while visiting them. Ernie Manges prayed before we ate, Dan made a comment about him not praying for the selling of the house. Little did Dan know at that time that a decision was already made in the buyer's mind, there was no need to pray for the selling of the house anymore.

We signed some papers tonight, the house is set to close by July 28 (my sister's birthday). I will decide on a date to resign my position, we will have to start packing and ready to go to Michigan.

God is able! There are six other units that are of the same price range as ours selling in our subdivision. Some have been there for months. But ours is sold in 9 days! Dan said it right, other people do not have God as their real estate agent!

There is nothing more I can say, other than that our God is able and powerful. He provides in ways that we cannot even imagine. What else can we do than to praise him!

Almost there

We are almost there, we are at 90% of our monthly support pledge! We thought it is going to be a long time before we reached it, but before we know it, we are at 90%. That is just 9 months after we started having any fund-raising activities. And during these 9 months, Dan spent 6 months writing his thesis and took his comphrensive exam and I did not do much at all for support raising. All that is to say are two things:

1) God is powerful and he does provide as he has promised
2) God's people are willing to sacrifice

We are grateful for God's provision through his people, during this process, it just shows how alive and great our God is. If he can raise the funding for us like this, we are fully convinced that he is going to sell our house for us. People of God who are reading this post, please pray that God will sell our house quickly, just like how he has send in the funding.

10th Anniversary

Went out to dinner at "The Melting Pot". Kind of a new experience, but crazy expensive, do not recommend it. Oh, we are underdressed also, and it took us three hours to finish the "experience". I guess I am just too cheap to eat like that.

Who is your real estate agent?

We are tired this morning because we cleaned the house until almost 1:00am last night. Our real estate agent company called yesterday afternoon saying that someone wanted to look at our house. We didn't think it will be that soon when someone responded, with the house on the market less than 36 hours, we were going to have our first showing! So we put Kioni to bed and started cleaning, last minute painting, stuffing things in the closets, but still have to keep the closets relatively tidy, etc.. When all else fails, there is always the garage. People don't care much about your garage being a bit messy.

So this morning, though tired, I could not sleep.
I had the following conversation with Dan:

"I couldn't sleep."
"Are you excited that someone is coming to see our house?"
"No, I am worried that our house won't sell."
"Why don't you think it will sell."
"I looked it up on the internet, there are at least 6 other units selling at the same price range in our subdivision."
"OK... but I bet they don't have God as their real estate agent!"

Now, that's faith in action. Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary, it is good to know that I am married to a man of great faith.

House on the market

We finally put our house on the market. It is a big step for us because it indicates that we are soon leaving the country! It is a complex feeling, worried if the house doesn't sell, since the real estate lady said there are many houses on the market now. But once it is sold, then I will quit my work at Trinity, I will miss my friends so much. Afterall, I have worked here for 4 years and have built up relationships here.

Selling of the house also means that our adventure and ministry to the Philippines will start, which is exciting and challenging at the same time. Much anticipation, much to learn.

A new phase of life always has two sides to it, no matter what we will be encountering in the future, we just have to make sure we are in the center of God's will, and we will be fine.

Skype

Wow, what were we thinking, it took us so long to decide to download it, and now we have it, and we wonder why we did have it earlier! Yep, I am talking about the voice and video over the Internet thingy called Skype. Absolutely amazing invention for poor people who are like us. All that are needed are for the parties who are conversing to:

1) download Skype for free
Don't worry about those SkypeIn and SkypeOut things on the website, those are for people who don't have Internet access but would still like to call you.
2) have internet connection and be online
3) make sure your computer has a microphone and a speaker, which most laptops have those built in already

Then you can call people who have also downloaded Skype anywhere in the world and start chatting as long as you want FOR FREE. To add some fun, plug in a webcam and you can show you call them first thing in the morning and you are still in your PJ!

What's the catch? I guess since quite a number of people still do not have Internet access, or are not that desperate to talk to people using the computer (like my mother), but still prefer picking a phone with a land line or mobile phone, then you can subscribe to the SkypeIn or SkypeOut thing, that's where it costs money.

I know I might sound a bit too excited about this 'new technology' which is not that new for some technological advanced folks, but if you are not in that catagory, this is really something to be excited about. I was skeptical for a long while, we finally downloaded it last night and 'called' a missionary friend in the Philippines. We saw him and him us, and we talked a little bit. Chuck, our friend said, 'Skype is a true life-saver for us missionaries, all of us here have Skype."

Hey, if you want to talk to us for free while we are in the Philippines, download Skype and call us when you see that we are online, yes, you will see an icon indicating we are online. For my friends in Hong Kong, you can talk to us for free while we are still in the U.S., try it out, it is great.

Finally!

With Trinity granting this degree to Dan, Trinity is telling him that he has 'mastered' theology, at least in the area of Systematic Theology. We'll see how true it is when he starts to teach in Cebu Graduate School of Theology. Dan's mother came in a wheelchair: bad-because she was in a car accident and had a big old cast on her leg after knee surgery, recovery could be slow and painful. Good-because of her, we got handicapped parking everywhere we go. You know how it was like trying to find a parking spot during graduation, we had no problem at all, right at the front door, there they are, handicapped spots.

When I was a little girl

When I was a little girl
I imagined flying up to the stars
I thought if I could reach the diamonds
I would stay on those sparkling islands

When I was a little girl
I considered what life was all about
I pondered why the ant-like people
Toiled aimlessly in sweat and soil
Why were there deep lines on their faces
Why were there tears on their lashes

When I was a little girl
I speculated if the clouds would be a good hideout
I wondered why the universe so vast
What possibly was behind this mysterious mass

When I was a little girl
I asked who governed the moon
Why did it come up only when dark
Why did the sun appear to make its mark

When I was a little girl
My heart was a puzzle
There were so many pieces missing
I questioned why people talked about blessings

Many years later
A Prince found all the pieces
Without me knowing
He quietly completed the puzzle
He then declared: Everything's settled

He is from where the diamonds decorate the heavens
Where the moon meets the sun
The clouds were His pillows
He is the only Son

He chose to forgo
All that He had for me
A little girl whose heart was a hopeless puzzle
But now it's complete and free

Shower Ministry

Anne Perdicaris is a TEDS graduate, we became friends in the course of her taking Field Education courses. Anne is now serving in Athens, Greece at the Athens Refugee Center sharing the gospel of Jesus with refugees, many from Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq. There are increasing number of refugees that are from Africa also. Most of them are Muslims. In her recent newsletter, I read this most amazing story about their "shower ministry", I would like to share it with you, maybe God will bless you through Anne's words and her work in Athens. The following are Anne's own words:

It seems like just yesterday that I arrived in Athens, but time is quickly flying by. My prayer is that every day, I’ll allow the Holy Spirit to keep me near to our Lord, and to work in and through me to show the many refugees at the Athens Refugee Center (ARC) how they can have that same nearness with Him.

There’s so much to tell you about what God is doing at the ARC, so much evidence of Christ being shared and so many remarkable, touching incidents that occur here.

One of these happened a week or so ago during the ARC’s “shower ministry.” This ministry allows the refugee men—many of whom aren’t privy to showers of their own—to clean off the grime of living, working, and often sleeping on Athens’ very dirty streets.

To you and I, cleaning up is a given, a basic need, but for the refugees, the 7-minute stream of hot water that the ARC provides is nothing short of a luxury.

Of course, as a woman, I’m not out and about when the shower ministry is in gear. Instead, I’m in the ARC’s office, getting ready to teach the new believers’ class. But I can hear the whole process through the thin walls: the missionary guys warmly welcoming the refugee men, the refugees’ grateful murmurs as they take a towel and soap, the whoosh of the shower jets, and the genuine glee and gratitude that the men express as they leave the ARC and step out onto the street clean, with renewed dignity.

One man who came to the shower ministry, perhaps an African from Somalia, seemed to glow with gratitude after his shower. "Very nice,” I heard him gush to one of the male missionaries. “I’ll never forget it! Yes, I'm clean now, very nice."

Last week, my roommate Susie told me that a Somalian mother and her children (the same family that I told you about in my last letter) wanted to use the showers. I thought to myself, can you imagine the shame it must cause this woman to ask strangers—foreigners and folks whom your own religion considers to be “unclean” (as some Muslims believe non-Muslims to be) to use their shower?

But the woman came, looking world-weary, toting her garbage bag of possessions, trailed by her thin, solemn-eyed, very perceptive children. As Susie turned the showers on, I was surprised to hear something that I never thought I’d hear: children’s laughter, and singing in the shower! These kids, so sad and serious, were laughing and singing in the shower, delighted at being clean again, and perhaps delighted at having this one element of their normal life restored, if even for 10 minutes one afternoon.

I stepped out of the office to see the kids getting dressed in the new clothes that Susie had given them. Iman, the little daughter, was thrilled with her new Halloween-themed socks. She leaned over, giggling, and looked at us from her upside-down position—the sort of playful gesture that any normal little girl might do, and suddenly little Iman and her family became much more human to me. I saw how giving a cup of cold water—or, in this case, a warm shower and clean clothes—in Jesus’ name, can restore life to weary, hopeless people. The mother hugged us tightly as she left, reminding me again of how so little can mean so much to those in need. Please, pray for Iman and her family. Pray that she and her mother and siblings will find physical and emotional rest and security in Greece. And, that they will find ultimate peace and healing, and new life, in Christ.

Coming to an end

The semester is coming to an end, a student just asked me what am I going to do on my 'summer vacation', I told her I don't have a summer vacation, she was shocked to learn that I have to work through summer. The end of the Spring semester is the busiest time for me. Reading through about 200 sets of paperwork from students is not exactly a small project, but I do it twice every semester. Professors will have papers to grade, unlike me, they will have a summer break to catch their breath.

My time at Trinity is also coming to an end. Not only that, we will go all the way over the big pond to the Philippines. People always ask me if I am excited. I don't know how to reply. Yes, I am excited that we are going to launch into a new phase of our lives, doing new ministries, and for me, being able to stay home with Kioni and not having to shoulder the responsibility of being the bread-winner anymore. I am excited about all the new changes that are coming our way.

However, I am not that naive about ministering and living cross-culturally. I have done it once 10 years ago, adapting cross-culturally, I have to say is not on my list of 'favourite things to do'. There are many challenges that I would rather not have, but looking back, they have built my character and patience in ways I did not know before. It seems like whenever I get too comfortable, God always moves me out of my comfort zone. He did it to some people, but for others, He will keep them where they are all their lives. I don't quite understand that, but God is God, what can you say.

I am also starting to feel a bit sad about leaving Trinity, because I am going to miss the interactions with students, the administrative assistant ladies whom I become close to, faculty members whom I have gotten to become friends with. I will miss all these. However, as a follower of Christ, I am glad to go where God is leading us to.

I pray what will NOT come to an end is the relationships that I have developed at Trinity. I am thankful for emails, the Internet and blogs, as evil as many people think they are, they do bring people together. I have a track record of keeping in contact with my Hong Kong friends through emails, even after 10 years physical absence in my home church in Hong Kong. Much have changed in 10 years, but friendship does not change, feelings do not change.

OK, got to stop, something is bothering my eyes......

God Sighting in a Bottle of Tylenol

It seems like Kioni gets sick whenever we go out of town. We visited Park Hills Evangelical Free Church in Freeport, IL, two hours east of our home this past weekend. Freeport is a good size town, with a population of 26,443. On our drive there we made note of how the town is dotted with numerous churches of various denominations.

While in Freeport we stayed with the senior pastor and his family. But that night Kioni got sick, screamed many times because she felt congested, and threw up all over me at 2:30 AM. We didn't know the town and didn't want to wake up our hosts for help, so we just suffered though the night as a miserable trinity. (The pastor and his wife don't have small children, so they wouldn't have had the drugs we needed anyway.)

The next morning, Kioni felt a little better. Yet she wasn't up to going to church, so Dan went to the church alone to share our ministry, while Kioni and I stayed back at the pastor's home alone. A few hours later, Dan came back and we packed up and began our trek back to Mundelein.

On the way out of Freeport, we decided to stop by a pharmacy to pick up a bottle of Children's Tylenol for Kioni. The pharmacy at Cubs Food was the first one we came across. Dan went in by himself to get the Tylenol. When he came out, he told me the amazing story that follows.

Dan picked out the Children's Tylenol, but because it had something special in it, it was kept behind the pharmacy counter. By asking for it, Dan caught the attention of the pharmacist. In the process of paying for it, the pharmacist took the medication and scanned it and then took a card out from his wallet and ran it though the register. To Dan, it seemed that perhaps the card was something special needed to activate the register or to login the pharmacist as the presiding cashier. When Dan went to present his credit card to the pharmacist to pay for the medicine, the pharmacist handed Dan the Tylenol in a small bag nicely stapled and accompanied the gesture with the startling statement, "Good luck in the Philippines!"

Dumbfounded, Dan stood there for a moment and then asked, "How do you know we are going to the Philippines." The pharmacist replied, "A few years ago, we had a couple who were from the Philippines stayed with us a couple of months." This, however, didn't explain his knowledge of our trip. But then he came clean, "I was in the first service at Park Hills Church this morning. But I didn't have the opportunity to talk to you after you shared your mission to the Philippines. In fact, I exited out of another door, since I needed to go home quickly so I could report here to work this afternoon."

It then dawned on Dan that the card that the pharmacist had pulled out of his own wallet was not an activation or log-in card. Rather it was his own personal credit card. The pharmacist had purchased the Children's Tylenol for us and stapled the receipt to the bag.

I was in absolutely astounded as I listened to Dan tell the story. Through Kioni's sickness, God showed us, even in the smallest area of life, that He was still sovereign and was still taking care of us through his people. Think of all the 'coincidences' that happened: (1) Kioni got sick when we were in a strange town. (2) We picked the first pharmacy that we came across, which (2) just happened to be supervised by someone that had gone to one of the many churches in Freeport, and (3) the church he went to just happened to be the one where Dan shared the ministry that morning. (4) The pharmacist wasn't obliged to pay for Kioni's medicine, but the Spirit moved his heart towards us in charity. And (5) before Dan even had the opportunity to say a word, or even notice what was taking place, the transaction was complete. The funny thing is that the pharmacist didn't even utter a word to Dan until he handed him the medicine, certainly he must have been setting Dan up and got a big kick out of the shock and awe on Dan's face when out of the blue he made his pronouncement, "Good luck in the Philippines!"

Do you still think daily events are just random occurrences? It's when we pay attention that we see who God truly is. Are you paying attention?

Past, Present, Future

Since I have started auditing the Chinese Church History course this Spring semester, every Monday when I left the two and a half hour class, I left with a heavy heart, I would find myself arriving home without knowing how I got there, which is quite scary. Not that Dr. Cook did not do a good job explaining the subject, quite to the contrary, he is doing such a good job that the history comes alive, everything suddenly means so much to me, and THAT is what is weighing on me. The past 200 years of Chinese history was nothing but a vast display of chaos and hopelessness. I can't help but ask where is China going in the future with this much baggage on her back?
I came to partial realization of my identity as a Chinese on June 4th, 1989, when the tanks rolled into Tienanmen Square, I found myself weeping uncontrollably in front of the TV. I remember my mom looking at me with a strange expression on her face, then she said, "It's OK, the tanks are not in Hong Kong." I was there for every single protest rally and memorial service, until I got married and left Hong Kong in 1996. (There were rumors that some secret service people video-recorded those rallies to see who were in there, so I am not worried that this exposure will cause my name to be listed on a certain blacklist, because if they indeed did that, they already know who I am. If this rumor is just a rumor, then, oh well, as Forrest Gump said, "stupid is as stupid does.")
Growing up in Hong Kong, I never felt oppressed as someone living in a colony. The British has brought countless good things into Hong Kong, an excellent law system, sound civil education, laissez faire policy, and using English as the official language has no doubt helped Hong Kong advanced to the status of a major international city. One thing that was never stressed in the classroom though, and understandably so, was that we were Chinese. We were taught that we were 'citizens of Hong Kong'. This made perfect sense since those of us who were born in Hong Kong held British passports with a big old UK seal right in the middle. Inside, where it said 'Nationality', it was printed 'British'.
At the time when I was born, China had just gone through the Great Leap Forward, where millions and millions of people died of starvation. There was virtually no news coming out from China, except 'rumors' of people dying. Not only did we not know what was going on in China, it did not seem like we cared, even though one of my father's older sisters, whom refused to flee to Hong Kong in 1949, was still in China. It was not until at least 10 years after her death that we learned that she was sent to a labour camp in Xinjiang. With her being the daughter of a wealthy landlord, I will not be surprised if she was put into the catagory of 'extreme rightist', which guaranteed her life and the lives that were connected to her (her husband's and two sons') extraordinary difficult, however, starvation took her life first. I need to find out more about her life from her two sons, whom eventually fled China by swimming to Hong Kong for days in the South China Sea, fighting off sharks. They are now in their 50s, living comfortably in Hong Kong.
My father often told us that the communists took EVERYTHING away from them. My paternal grandfather was a landlord and a businessman, he was an extremely wealthy man with seven wives, the seventh one being my grandmother. He owned blocks and blocks of prime real estates in Guangzhou, my father still remembers the huge house they lived in. My maternal grandfather was a chic entrepreneur, he owned a construction company in Shanghai, extravagant business luncheons and parties were everyday events for him. (Later while in Hong Kong, he disapproved of my father pursuing my mother, saying, "The tip I give to waiters in a meal is more than what that guy (my father) made in a month!" My mother verifies that it was true. My father at that time worked in my grandfather's construction company. Don't you think it should have prompted my grandfather to consider paying his employees better?
When the communists took over in 1949, both grandfathers lost all that they had. My paternal grandmother fled to Hong Kong on foot with seven kids in tow and with practically no money. At that time, my paternal grandfather had already past away. My father remembers the hardships they had to endure when they struggled just to stay alive after arriving in Hong Kong. My maternal grandfather was able to go to Hong Kong with some money and opened up a construction company again in a much smaller scale. My mother was born in Hong Kong into this relatively well to do family. So she has less things to say about the communist. However, she did go to a Kuomintang school, so she got some 'education' as to who the communists were also.
When China finally opened up, my father was the first one in his family to go visit. The reason being most of my uncles were in the Royal Police Force, and my oldest uncle was actually in the political section of the police force, namely, they kept the communists' activities in check! They were afraid to go back, I guess the memories of the how everything was seized from them was still fresh in their minds. My parents, my younger brother and I boarded a big ship in Hong Kong, overnight we arrived in a port in Guangzhou, that was August of 1980. In the warm summer morning mist, we stood on the deck overlooking China, it was the first time (except my father) that we saw China. The first words my father said were, "This place has not changed in 30 years!" As I look at the land, I was thinking, 'This is my root. But how can it be? How can it look so different from Hong Kong!"
Did not think too much about that trip after we went back to Hong Kong, I only remembered how inexpensive everything was, how dull their clothing colours were, and how lack of smile everyone was. Though there were 'Friendship Stores' everywhere, people who worked there were hardly 'friendly'. I was not interested in knowing my 'roots', not interested in learning about China at that time. Afterall, my life in Hong Kong was great, there was no need to go back to my roots and explore them. We have a new life in Hong Kong, we are a new generation. I did not consider China as my mother-land until that earth-shaking event in 1989. It was impressed upon my heart from the images on TV that those people in Tienanmen Square and I are both Chinese.
The Chinese Church History class has moved into the time period when my grandparents were adults living in China, and my father was already born. I wonder what they were thinking in this chaotic period of time. Did they see that their lives were going to be changed so drastically? Did they even think for one moment that what they had built up will be yanked right out from their hands soon?
Attending this class has given me an unsettling desire to dig out as much as I can from my father, what happened when he was a teenager in China, what did he experienced, what does it mean for him to live under the communist's rule now in Hong Kong. I wanted to find out from my mother what did her father say about his life as an entrepreneur in Shanghai, what were the definitive events that made him decide that he had to leave Shanghai and everything that he had built up with his own hands. How has all these affect the way my parents live their lives? How does that affect us, their children? And how are we, my sister, my brother and I, are going to teach our children about our family, and about China. I want to be able to understand the past, so I can look into the future.
The future has become a bit complicated though now that I am not a 'British' anymore, rather an 'American'. It's ironical, isn't it? I am never officially a 'Chinese'. Though I know full well my identity in Christ, I have never come to full grasp of my identity on earth.
I never liked history, never understood it, never treasured it. Now I can see why people study history, and why people like Dr. Cook are crazy about it. We study history because the past is the present, and the future too.
P.S. My dear blog readers who are from Mainland China, it is a privilege to know you, I have learned from you how China has evolved all these years, and what China is like at the present time. This is a lesson that I will never learn from my family since they are not there to witness all the tremendous changes. The purpose of this post is not to criticize China, rather, recording the point of view that my parents have presented to me towards the life under the early communist rule in China.

No more fun?

What am I doing? Not even thinking about this very important day of the year! Therefore, nothing is planned. I used to love this day, you can pull all the pranks you want and people will just laugh and say, 'Yeh, I forgot it's April Fool's Day." They never get mad, what a great way to have some fun.
A fellow blogger pulled a pretty good one on his faithful readers. You have to know Jeff to see why all these people cried and lament about the 'news' that he put forth in his blog.
Maybe next year when I can map out all the important fun days, I can plan something fun. There is always hope.

Afterthought of a lecture

I am auditing a Chinese Church History class at TEDS, taught by Dr. Richard Cook. The class took a field trip to Marquette University for this year's Casper Lecture. Speaker Dr. Jonathan Spence gave an informative and inspiring lecture on "Thinking it Through: Chinese and Catholics in the Seventeenth Century".
The purpose of my writing is not about what I have learn from Spence, (though I do have something to say about the lecture, well, I always have something to say about anything), rather, what I have learned about myself after the lecture.
Last night's lecture was the first time in two years and two months that I was out by myself, without Kioni and Dan, doing something that I enjoyed.
After the lecture, several of us rode back to Trinity in a van, during the course of conversation, systematic theology came up, we explained to an auditing student, Rebecca, (a lady from the community), what systematic theology was and other issues about studying theology. We also talked about our experiences with Mainland Chinese scholars and our time spent in China, etc. We had a wonderful time.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the non-theology related conversations we had with the ladies at work. What I have forgotten was that I can still think academically and talk theology even though I graduated from seminary 10 years ago and haven't been "in the loop" all these years.
This field trip was more than just a lecture to me, in fact, going back to the classroom this semester unearthed the desire to learn, a desire so strong that led me to go to seminary in the first place. I have, unknowingly and gradually, let this desire sank to the bottom of my heart, buried it deep all these years, thinking I have other more important duties to fulfill, namely, to put Dan through school and to be a mother to Kioni.
Dr. Cook's passion for Chinese Church History, classroom interactions with fellow students and the readings all help me discover something inside that I have long forgotten.
I thank Dr. Cook for offering this class, it attracted my attention, so much so that I actually took time off of work to audit ( I have to thank my boss for letting me take the time off!) I am also glad that Dr. Cook arranged for us to go to this lecture, which leads me to rediscover the part of my 'brain' that I have forgotten exists.
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Another milestone reached

Dan just finished his ThM thesis oral defense, he passed! It was a two hour defense with Dr. Vanhoozer and Dr. McCall. He will have about half a day of clean up work to do on the thesis as requested by the professors, then he will be officially done with the thesis. All that is left is waiting for the result of the comprehensive exam. He came home after the oral defense, feeling a bit lost, everything, as far as his ThM program is concerned, is almost done. Sure he still have lots of things to do in other aspects in his life, but the ThM is done.
For me, it is a huge relief. We are, again, waiting for Kioni to wake up, then we will go to Cheesecaske Factory for an early dinner to celebrate this date that we have anticipated for so long. I take today off, need to stay home with Kioni when Dan was at school.

Thank you, Lighthouse.

What a wonderful day we had a Lighthouse Community Fellowship today! We not only received a warm welcome as the missionaries they are supporting, we also have gifts to remind us how great God has been to us through his faithful people. Marian, chairperson of the Mission committee, welcomed us into the church with beautiful corsages. Kioni was then escorted to the nursery, where they have lots of toys for her to play with. Then right at the beginning of the service, the children came holding colourful paper flowers that they made, they also held up cardboards saying, "Welcome to Lighthouse Community Fellowship, Mr. and Mrs. Bush and Kioni." I was so moved that I got tears in my eyes. Then the children walked up to us one by one to give us the flowers! Wow! I bundled them up, knowing that Kioni would absolutely love this beautiful bouquet of flowers.
After the service is over, we were invited to lunch at Ken's house with the Missions Committee. We had a great time learning more about each other. I found this group of Christians so down to earth, caring and interested in our missions that I caught myself thanking God over and over for bringing these people into our lives. Kioni was given a Noah's Ark pop-up book and a hand-made bunny toy as presents.

The big surprise came after lunch and the 'out-of-this-world' tiramisu was consumed. Mirian pointed at the center-piece, which is a beautiful vase with an incrediable flower arrangement in it and said, "Amy, this is for you." My mouth dropped. Then she said, I made this vase. For those who are artistically challenged, I mean she MADE the vase, yes, she painted it by hand and put it in her own kiln!

At the time when we were most discouraged, (when we were at only 23%), God sent this church to us and lifted our spirits. He again sent them to let us know when we are in the Philippines, our brothers and sisters in Lighthouse will be praying for us. How do I know they will actually pray for us? Well, friends, you will have to meet them to know.

Mr. Rahman, when I see you in heaven...

"Abdul Rahman, 41, has been charged with rejecting Islam, a crime under this country's (Afganistan) Islamic laws. His trial started last week and he confessed to becoming a Christian 16 years ago. If convicted, he could be executed.
But prosecutor Sarinwal Zamari said questions have been raised about his mental fitness.
"We think he could be mad. He is not a normal person. He doesn't talk like a normal person," he told The Associated Press." (Fox News)
Police arrested him last month after discovering him in possession of a Bible during questioning over a dispute for custody of his two daughters. Prosecutors have offered to drop the charges if Rahman converts back to Islam, but he has refused." (AP, photo by AP)
He doesn't talk like a 'normal' person? Well, so are many Christians who are touched by God's grace and love. Tell me who in their right minds would quit their good paying jobs and comfortable lifestyles to enter seminary so that they could be better equipped to serve Jesus' church? I see hundreds of them in the four years I have been in TEDS working as a Field Education Coordinator. Not to mentioned I did just that myself 13 years ago, and Dan started on the same path 4 years ago. Tell me who would pour out their resources and pray for those whom they might never meet, simply hoping that the good news that Jesus Christ brought 2000 years ago would reach them? Tell me who in their right mind would hang on to a God whom he cannot touch nor see even as the risk of his own life? Plenty. Plenty of people are acting like they have 'mental problems'. All because of someone named Jesus Christ. Are we all crazy?
What is this Afghan man trying to do? What good does it do to his daughters if he is put to death? I can almost hear people crying out, "It is just a religion, pick one that benefits you, choose a god who can save your life, so you can still live and be a father to your daughters!"
When I told my non-believing parents I was going to attend seminary, my father did not even want to talk about it, my mother broke down and cried. They didn't understand why I had to "go that far". If only they knew, what I did was nothing comparing to the thousands of Christians who put their life at risk for the sake of Jesus Christ every day, some paid the ultimate price.
"Hundreds of men and women are in prison serving sentences that range from a few months to life. They are not criminals who have robbed or murdered other citizens but Christians who were put on trial for their faith in Christ and found guilty. They could have avoided prison by simply denying allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, they are literally “doing time for God.”" (Voice of the Martyrs)
Don't know how this trial will turn out. No matter what the outcome is, I want to remember this face, I would like to meet Mr. Rahman in person when we enter into the glory of God someday. I want to tell him I saw him on American TV saying, "I am a Christian, I believe in the Trinity." He did not look scared, he was smiling joyfully. The only explaination I could have for someone who is facing possible death to act that way, is that he has a life so abundant, a promise so true, and a hope so great that he is at total peace. What happened to Mr. Rahman reminds me of the lyric of this song:
My peace I give unto you
It's a peace that the world cannot give
It's a peace that the world cannot understand
Peace to love
Peace to give
My peace I give unto you

It's done!

Dan just called, he is done with his major comprehensive exam for the ThM program. He said he could answer any of the questions, he just picked those he knew the best. He said, "I am well prepared." He thinks he is going to pass. Click here to read his own words on the comp.
The result of the exam will come in 2-4 weeks. There are other work to do on various fund-raising engagements, e.g., preaching and presenting our missions in a supporting church next Sunday, and he has to prepare for a 3 hour lecture for another potential supporting church.
The extreme stress is over, whew! What a relief! Both for him and for our family.
In the mean time, we will wait till Kioni wakes up from her nap and we will go out for lunch to celebrate.
Photos (left): Dan holding the last Red Bull from a box of 4 that he bought at a gas station at 5:00am this morning when he went to school to study. (Right) Dan collapsed on the blow-up bed that he has been using in the living room so he can study late without waking me up.

March with God in March

There is a sign outside of the Presbyterian Church near our house, it says, "March in God in March." Kind of hard when it looks like this though. Probably should change it to, "Ski" with God in March.

幾幀舊照片

爸爸警察學堂畢業照片（最後排右邊第四個就是我爸爸）

(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)

爸媽結婚照

(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)

1965年祖母六十一壽筵（香港灣仔六國飯店）我正在向堂姊嘉潔搜集盧家歷史資料，會在這?加上。

(click photo to enlarge 按圖片放大)

Laughter is cholesterol-free!

I am convinced that few things are more important than a good sense of humor in leading a balanced, joy-filled, peaceful life in a fast-forward world.

Laughter, stress, and worry cannot coexist for long. Stress inflates our balloons to the popping point; laughter slowly releases the pressure. Laughter is cholesterol-free and contains no MSG, no fat grams, and no negative side effects. Although it got me into a ton of trouble in fifth grade, laughter never committed a crime or started a war, and there is no record of anyone who died laughing. It has finished many an argument, however. I have seen laughter disarm, revive, motivate, encourage, and cheer. Laughter is the shortest distance between two people, and it is one of the few things the government still doesn't tax!

From Who Put My Life on Fast-Forward?, copyright ? 2002 by Phil Callaway. Published by Harvest House Publishers.

Spring Break

It is March.
It snowed.
It is Spring break.
Obviously, spring is taking a break. There are four inches of snow on the ground. This is the woods behind the Rodine parking lot at Trinity. Snapped this shot before walking into the office this morning. This is Chicago.

王昭君與我

當年在中國神學研究院有師兄師姐同學稱我為王昭君。不要誤會了，我被冠此名非因我有沉魚落雁之容、閉月羞花之貌，而是我與一名番邦男子訂了婚盟，神學院畢業之後就要冒著「風沙」，遠嫁到塞北番邦之地去「和番」了。對我這個生在香港的女子來說，美國真是塞北之地， 不因其荒無人煙，乃因其氣候與香港比較實是寒冷。搬到芝加哥之後，就更深體會到詩人林升在七言詩裡描述的南方景象﹕「山外青山樓外樓，西胡歌舞幾時休，暖風薰得遊人醉，直把杭州作汴州。」

看王昭君的生平，她的性格有一點與我挺相似的。「昭君寧為玉碎、不作瓦全，怎也不肯賄賂宮廷畫師毛延 壽，結果被毛延壽醜 化，在她的雙頰上加上了一顆豆大的剋夫痣，所以，昭君入宮幾年間，都沒有機會見到皇帝。」王昭君明明知道她倔強的結果就必有如此下場，被冷落在後宮中，連皇帝的背影也見不到，但是她仍然堅持不行賄。她要不是真笨、就是壓根兒不願意被皇帝寵幸，要不是她就真的有骨氣。有時候我硬脖子（或稱笨）的程度與王昭君不相上下，明明知道是要吃虧的了，但仍堅持己見。事後想想，也沒有甚麼好的理由，只是倔強，堅持「原則」而已。不要以為這是跟隨耶穌後所結的「屬靈果子」，我在信主前就已經是這樣，就是倔強。所以嘉洛（我妹妹）多年前對我說我最好找一份有使命感的工作，要不然，我做其他的工作是不會滿足，不會長久。我想倔強加上願意冒險，就形成了「王昭君」和我所做的抉擇﹕拋下一切到「塞外」去。

另一點我和王昭君相像的地方，是我們都是自願嫁到 「番邦」 的。王昭君自動請纓嫁到匈奴之地（今內蒙古），沒有人逼她去。她隨夫到匈奴地之後，很快就會習慣了那裡的生活，生了一個兒子。住在異地習慣不習慣也都要 儘量適應，不然的話，就會像一些海外華人那樣，一生住在華埠、不單家在唐人街、平日上班、買菜、探朋友、看醫生、看電影都在唐人街。我想在匈奴之地並沒有 大量漢人聚集的地方，我剛來美國的時候，因為嫁的番王是美國空軍軍官，住的是空軍基地，朋友沒有一個是中國人，更不用說是會說中文的中國人了，要說廣東話 就只有打電話回家的時候說幾句。要買中國菜要開車到隔鄰的州去買。快點適應當地生活是有利無弊的。

回到王昭君，在她遠赴塞北之後兩年，丈夫匈奴王韓邪單于就死了。王昭君上書朝廷要求返回中原，可是漢成帝命她依從胡人風俗，於是她唯有再嫁給她亡夫髮妻所生的兒子。（不知道那漢成帝所持的是甚麼理由。）以下 這一點我就絕對不像王昭君，我和番王結婚快有十年了，雖然像王昭君那樣也生了一個孩子， 但是相信若神容許的話，我們會有好些年日在一起。我也想過如果番王蒙主寵召，比我早回到天家享天福，我會怎麼辦。雖然我沒有漢成帝那樣的人物命令我怎麼做，我深信到那時候我的主耶穌會叫我知道我是要留在番邦還是回到「中原」，又或者有別的地方神是想我去的。

見 到王昭君被逼再嫁，真是為她傷心。我現在的想法是希望神不會叫我再嫁，嫁一次就夠了。再嫁又要重新了解另一個人的一切，太累了。嘗試了解番王十多年了，還 是不大見成績 。可是若我的主讓我再嫁，那麼相信他會叫我嫁一個我心甘情願嫁的人，累一點也沒辦法了。番王不喜歡與我談這些事，我對他說不談就不代表這些事情就不會發表 生，在事情沒有發生之前輕鬆地談談，總比事情發生之後手足無措，不知怎麼想的好。誰也不願意面對這 些事情發生的可能性，但是聖經詩篇九十篇中說我們沒有人能夠數算自己的日子，誰又說得準我們的將來會是怎樣的呢？（番王看不懂我這篇日誌，不然的話，他又有話說的了。）

如果你預備作「王昭君」，是個「王昭君」，娶了個「王昭君」，又或者認識「王昭君」，歡迎在此頁上留下意見。

Who does she look like?

I once wrote on a previous post asking readers to vote on who Kioni looks like: mommy or daddy. The truth is, since Kioni was born, EVERYONE from my side of the family said she looks like her daddy. Here in the states, the result is half and half. Strangely, Chinese tend to say she looks like daddy, and half of the Americans said the same. The other half said she is a good mix. Well, I think they just want to make me feel better by saying so.
Today, I got an email from my cousin Canty from Hong Kong, she sent me a photo of myself when I was... I don't know how old. It seems like I do look like Kioni's mom! Well, at least, we both share a lack of hair. By the way, doesn't my dad looked pretty handsome?

我在前幾個月放了兩張照片在網上，叫你們看看祺祺像我還是像DAN。老實說，自從祺祺出生以來，所有在香港的家人朋友都說她像DAN。在美國這邊的人的看 法是一半一半的。奇怪的是，在這邊的中國人全都說她像DAN，美國人有一半說她像DAN，另一半說她是我和DAN的混合。（我想他們這樣說法是讓我有點安慰。）
今天收到香港的堂姊嘉潔電郵給我的照片，是我小時候所拍的一張照片，不知道那時我有多大了，從這張照片看起來，我沒錯是祺祺的媽呢！起碼我倆都沒有多少頭髮。你們看我爸年輕時挺帥的，是不是？

何處是吾家？

很想用中文寫一點東西，但是苦於沒有時間在家用電腦，所以遲遲都沒有寫。這幾天DAN出外工作四天，我要請假在家照顧祺祺，是在家用電 腦寫中文的大好機會，可是要寫得快，因為是趁祺祺睡午覺的時候才可以用電腦，不然的話，她起床後就要叫我陪她玩，沒時間可以靜靜的坐下來寫東西。
今 年九月十五日就是我來美國十週年紀念，真不能相信已經過了那麼長的時間。我仍然是那麼想家，仍然想念在教會朋友之間的親密溝通，想到鮮蝦雲吞麵、豉油王蒸 魚、芥蘭炒牛肉仍然垂涎三尺。話又說回來，有好多香港的”特別之處“我一點都不惦記，如街上人多車多、空氣污染、噪音嚴重、居住環境狹窄等。
可是我仍然以自己為香港人引以為豪，雖然在美國住了十年，由於DAN在空軍的原故，我們這些年來搬了五次家，住了三個不同的城市，去過四間不同的教會，總有點是游牧民族的感覺。何處是吾家，真難說得準。
希望在今年下半年搬回亞洲（菲律賓）去住兩年，時間雖然不長，但仍然十分期盼那天的來臨，能夠與香港接近一點總是好過一點。但是這兩年後，很可能會到歐洲去，那之後怎麼樣，就只有神知道了。
四十二年歲的人許多都在打算怎樣安定下來，但似乎我才開始走動走動。
無論將來如何，深信都是在神手中，我所渡過或將會渡過的日子，祂都知道，祂都計劃好了。

One third of a chocolate bar!?

A study of older men in the Netherlands, known for its luscious chocolate, indicated those who ate the equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar (about 10 grams) every day had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of death. The men who ate the most products made from cocoa beans — including cocoa drinks, chocolate bars and chocolate pudding — had lower blood pressure and a 50 percent lower risk of death.
Dan was jumping up with joy upon hearing this yesterday. I am not a big chocolate fan, but come on, the reality is, who can stop at one-third of a chocolate bar!!! I guess if you can stop at that, there are lots of things that you won't overdo in life, that pretty much says why you might live longer.

Will it ever end!?

I was out of the office for two days for being sick, today is the first day I came back, but the drugs did little to help my attention at work. I am miserable! Our house look like a CVS drugstore, name a drug, and we have it, both for adult and children.
I haven't been this sick for years. Not only the coughing was bad, it is also the headaches and the nasal and chest congestions. Drugs do help, but not to the extend where I can function. I am thankful, though, Kioni is getting better, she sleeps through the night without waking up with a stuffy nose. Dan put a blow-up bed in the middle of our tiny living room, so I could lay down there while Kioni plays. She didn't understand why mommy doesn't want to get up and play with her, but mommy will jump up and clean her nose at soon as she saw her runny nose.
I am pretty useless at work, I am more worried about spreading the virus then having to take sick time off. Whatever I have is ferocious, not a good thing to catch.
Last night when I was coughing my lungs out, I wonder if this will end. I know, it will, but when you are suffering, days seems like years.
For all those who are believers, don't you long for the days when we don't have to combat stuffy nose and achy bones anymore? Jesus, come back soon.

All Bushes down

All of us are sick. Kioni started to have fever on Feburary13 (Monday), on Thursday, I started to feel bad in my throat, Friday, I had a fever, it lasted two days. Last night, Dan started to feel really bad. And along with that, are extremely bad coughing, green slime, sleeplessness, etc. Kioni is getting better, though she still coughs like crazy, I am over with the fever, but still in bad shape. Came to work this morning, but I lost my voice, so I am pretty much useless staying here. I 'talked' to my boss, upon hearing my 'voice', he just said, 'Amy, go home.' This is the first time in the Bushes' history that all three of us are down. It is worth writing it down in a post.

The safest place on earth

No, I don't mean the safest place in the world is the Philippines.

Mudslides buried the farming village Guinsaugon of Teyte province in the Philippines, there were 2500 villagers who lived there. Our friends and families might be concerned for us since we are leaving for the Philippines for missions work. However, I want to make it clear that we are not going to a village, rather, the second largest city in the Philippines, Cebu City in the Cebu province. It is the 'second most important metropolitan center in the country', after Manila, the capital.
While I want to stress that natural disasters like the above mentioned is not a direct threat in a metropolitan city like Cebu City, I do have to quote Psalm 90 詩 篇 90 篇 to show how fragile our lives are.
Anything can happen to us anytime, our lives are not in our own hands. Know Jesus Christ and his salvation is the only way to live in this world without being overwhelmed by the incredible frailty of life. Being in the center of God's will is the safest place on earth.

(A prayer of Moses the man of God. 神 人 摩 西 的 祈 禱 )
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
主 啊 ， 你 世 世 代 代 作 我 們 的 居 所 。
2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
諸 山 未 曾 生 出 ， 地 與 世 界 你 未 曾 造 成 ， 從 亙 古 到 永 遠 ， 你 是 神 。
3 You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
你 使 人 歸 於 塵 土 ， 說 ： 你 們 世 人 要 歸 回 。
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
在 你 看 來 ， 千 年 如 已 過 的 昨 日 ， 又 如 夜 間 的 一 更 。
5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning-
你 叫 他 們 如 水 沖 去 ； 他 們 如 睡 一 覺 。 早 晨 ， 他 們 如 生 長 的 草 ，
6 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
早 晨 發 芽 生 長 ， 晚 上 割 下 枯 乾 。
7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.
我 們 因 你 的 怒 氣 而 消 滅 ， 因 你 的 忿 怒 而 驚 惶 。
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
你 將 我 們 的 罪 孽 擺 在 你 面 前 ， 將 我 們 的 隱 惡 擺 在 你 面 光 之 中 。
9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
我 們 經 過 的 日 子 都 在 你 震 怒 之 下 ； 我 們 度 盡 的 年 歲 好 像 一 聲 歎 息 。
10 The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
我 們 一 生 的 年 日 是 七 十 歲 ， 若 是 強 壯 可 到 八 十 歲 ； 但 其 中 所 矜 誇 的 不 過 是 勞 苦 愁 煩 ， 轉 眼 成 空 ， 我 們 便 如 飛 而 去 。
11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
誰 曉 得 你 怒 氣 的 權 勢 ？ 誰 按 著 你 該 受 的 敬 畏 曉 得 你 的 忿 怒 呢 ？
12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
求 你 指 教 我 們 怎 樣 數 算 自 己 的 日 子 ， 好 叫 我 們 得 著 智 慧 的 心 。
13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.
耶 和 華 啊 ， 我 們 要 等 到 幾 時 呢 ？ 求 你 轉 回 ， 為 你 的 僕 人 後 悔 。
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
求 你 使 我 們 早 早 飽 得 你 的 慈 愛 ， 好 叫 我 們 一 生 一 世 歡 呼 喜 樂 。
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
求 你 照 著 你 使 我 們 受 苦 的 日 子 ， 和 我 們 遭 難 的 年 歲 ， 叫 我 們 喜 樂 。
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.
願 你 的 作 為 向 你 僕 人 顯 現 ； 願 你 的 榮 耀 向 他 們 子 孫 顯 明 。
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
願 主 ─ 我 們 神 的 榮 美 歸 於 我 們 身 上 。 願 你 堅 立 我 們 手 所 做 的 工 ； 我 們 手 所 做 的 工 ， 願 你 堅 立 。

A comment by Patrick

Our family is part of a post that my friend, Patrick, posted in his blog. If you can read Chinese, you will be able to verify, through Patrick's own words, how difficult a person I was (actually still am) before Jesus found me. It took Patrick a long while to pound the gospel in my head and to convince me that Christian fellowship is necessary for my spiritual growth. Patrick is a fine example of a 'good and faithful' servant. I am not upgrading him to a saint, what I am saying is that if we have more believers like Patrick, whom relentlessly shares the gospel in spite of rejection, the Christian church will be more vibrant and alive. Looking back, I am grateful for God putting someone like Patrick in my path. It has been 19 years since I first worked with Patrick, God has been true and faithful all these years.

Super dogs

This bull terrier Rufus won the Best in Show in the 130th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night. I love dogs, but still think that dog shows are quite a unique way of demonstrating how humans dominate the world. You breed a bunch of dogs, raise them, train them, groom them, ship them all over the country in cages, groom them some more, put them in the ring, make them run, show their teeth, their coats, that is suppose to tell people how good a specimen your dog is in that particular group, in fact, it is to show how great a job you have done. Is the prize for the dog? Or for the humans.
I don't know, I have lots of emotions when it comes to dogs. After I lost Meme, I don't want to have another dog, don't want to go through that pain of having to decide life or death for a dog that I have come to get so attached to. But anytime I see a dog, I still smile and stare. Oh, no, that won't happen when I see a baby, sorry for all of you baby-lovers out there.

Thank God for creating dogs. It is hard to imagine a heaven without dogs. ( I know you dog-fearers would beg to differ). You might think I have some problems with my theology, but if you cannot show me proof from the Bible that there will be no dogs, then I am going to believe there will be. And dog-fearers, don't be afraid, you won't be afraid of dogs anymore when you are in heaven, I am sure you won't see any ferocious dogs either.

Photo provided by Associated Press, Reuters and AFP.

Cholesterol and others

Just came back from a free cholesterol, HDL (High-density lipoprotein, good cholesterol), LDL (Low-density lipoprotein, bad cholesterol), Triglycerides and Glucose screening test on campus. While I had extremely high LDL before, so much so that my doctor put me on medication, however, after eating oatmeal for six months every morning, it seems like my cholesterol has come down quite a bit. THAT is something to be thankful for. My glucose is at a desirable range, and so is my triclycerides.
Ah, how do you age gracefully? Have Christ in your heart. That's the best antidote that I know of.

What in the world?

Kioni woke up last night at 2:30am coughing her lungs out, when I went in her room to check in on her, she was hot! She had a 99.2F temperature, after she took some Motrin, (that's the only thing I could find in the dark), I held her and rocked her for a while, before she would go back to her crib. She coughed throughout the night, and at 7:30am, her fever was subsided. At 8:00am though, it sort of returned.
I got up at 7:00am, made some brown rice soup for her. She asked for an egg for breakfast, adding the rice soup, I guess she is OK. Then Dan woke up feeling not so good, had some stomach problem and 'output' problems.
Our friend at church, Mary Kay, offered to have Kioni twice a week so that Dan could study for his ThM major comprehensive exam. She was suppose to take Kioni for the first time today, however, both daddy and Kioni are sick, so I guess they both have to stay home.
Why is everyone sick on a Monday morning? Well, I said yesterday while we were driving to church that I was thankful that Kioni has not been sick this whole winter, my words came out too fast? Don't know. But I am sure Kioni appreciates all the drugs she needs to take. In fact, she was chipmunking some food when I told her it's time for taking medicine, she hurried up and swallowed the food so she could take the drug! I wish I was that eager to take drugs. After she took the pink Motrin, she wanted the purple Tynonel too.

The Ohs took this photo for us while we visited them last month. 

The slience

I have not much to say these days, which is very odd for a person like me whom loves to talk about everything and anything. Work is stressful, because I know my boss would like me to give him a date when I will resign, but I cannot, since we don't know when the 100% support will come in. The home front is exciting for the reason of the growing Kioni. She has been such a joy and blessing to Dan and I.
Dan told me Dr. Feinberg would not let him take the comprehensive exam in May, rather, he will have to take it in mid-March, that means he has 35 days to study for it, which I am sure, is sending his stress level to the max.
Well, God will not put us through things that we cannot handle, and His grace is always sufficient.

The treadmill of life

Felt like that before? Running and running on a treadmill of endless events and stuff to do, that don't really matter that much, but you just got to keep running? It is easy to say, just be still and stop that treadmill. Once in a while, I feel like I can slow it down, but doesn't seem to be able to get off that treadmill. I guess I can't get off until I see Jesus face to face. In the mean time, I will have just have to make sure I keep the setting of the treadmill on low, though it seems like it automatically turns itself to various 'training' options with hills and valleys all the time. C'est le vie!

Tired

Haven't done much in any of my blogs, I am just tired, physically and emotionally tired. If you are a Christian who is reading this post, please pray that God will give me grace to sustain me through this busiest time of the semester and the trip we are going to take next week to D.C..

Two years of being a mom

My little girl is two today. The day when I went to the hospital early in the morning to have the C-section is still fresh in my mind, but that was two years ago. I still remember vividly asking why she was not crying after the doctor took her out, her temperature was lower than they wanted, she was not breathing at first, the doctors fixed those. Then the nurse put her on my neck (yes, on my neck, because my arms were tied down for the operation) so I could see her. I remember thinking "that's the face we have longed to see for so many months, that's my daughter, she is so pretty."
It seems like being a mother is an instinct, with all the hormones going crazy, I am sure some were responsible for being super protective of my new born. She was cold, so the nurse brought her to me to do some "skin to skin" holding. Yep, she warmed up, but I was soaked with sweats! That didn't matter.
God, I thank you for our little girl, through her, you have given Dan and I joy that is beyond words.

This makes me proud!

The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal released the 2006 Index of Economic Freedom today.
"Once again, Hong Kong ....lead(s) the pack." Singapore follows, and these are the only two Asian countries in the top 10. (For the press release, click here.) Yes, that means Hong Kong enjoys the most economic freedom in the world. China only ranks 111 (and falls in the mostly unfree catagory.) The U.S. shares the #9 spot with Australia and New Zealand.
The authors generally examined data for the period covering the second half of 2004 through the first half of 2005. To the extent possible, the information considered for each factor was current as of June 30, 2005. (See FAQ for how they rated the countries.)
The 2006 Index of Economic Freedom measures countries against a list of 50 independent variables divided into 10 broad factors of economic freedom. Low scores are more desirable. The higher the score on a factor, the greater the level of government interference in the economy and the less economic freedom a country enjoys.

Donald Tsang (Chief Executive, HKSAR) and Edwin J. Feulner (President, The Heritage Foundation)