I recently visited a female Elder from our Chinese service at the pallative care ward with a brother, and was simply bowled over by how immensely joyful she was.
I have never encountered someone diagnosed with end-stage cancer, given mere months to live, abound with so much life and cheer.
I had expected her to be at peace, but her energy and exuberance was so astounding and certainly only by the grace of God.
As a single lady, I wondered if she would have enough family support. Turns out her younger sisters and even a cousin-in-law had put themselves on roster so that at least 2 of them are by her side daily. Testament to how loved she is by them!
From the time we arrived till the time we left, she just kept on sharing about how God was simply amazing, sending angels (visitors and kind Christian nurses) to her from the day she was warded, and giving her opportunity after opportunity to witness to unbelievers about how wonderful God is.
A granny in her earlier shared ward said she had fear in her heart. That granny’s grandson had also come to Elder E to ask her to share the gospel with his grandma because she had told him that she did not want to be a Christian. When Elder E moved out of that ward, the granny said she was fearful of the black shadows that she saw. Elder E told her, trust in God and you have nothing to fear! Some days later, the granny said, I believe in Jesus now! And the black shadows have disappeared! I don’t have fear in my heart anymore. WOW – praise God!
Elder E also said that her doctor just could not believe that she did not experience any pain. Another girl had told Elder E that she did not believe her dad (another Elder) when he said he did not feel any pain. She and the doctors concluded that he was just enduring the pain and refusing pain medication. Elder E chastised her and said, “Your dad is a faithful believer. He would not lie. It is indeed true that God must have granted him this same abundant grace that I am experiencing. We truly have no pain!” What a testimony, what amazing grace!
She then shared of how this music therapist had come by, and asked what songs she would like him to play. She asked if he knew any Christian music. He then played Jesus Loves Me with Hokkien lyrics, and then How Great Thou Art. She said she then told him, “You must go back to church! Do you know that these three verses of How Great Thou Art speak of how Wonderful, Great and Loving God is? If you can play it, you must also go back to church!” To which the music therapist just smiled. May the Holy Spirit work mightily in convicting his heart too!
Indeed Elder E’s work is not done, and she was simply amazed at how God has been using her even in this time. Her testimony has helped church friends from the Chinese service to say, “After seeing Elder E at this stage, I no longer fear dying.” What an encouragement to Elder E!
Instead of us going there expecting to encourage her, she has lifted all of us up. How amazing to be used so mightily by God even in the final months of one’s life! All glory and praise to our God Most High.
(Recently came across this post from her relative – you can see how joyful and at peace our dear Elder E was in the flesh!)
去医院探访华文教会的一位女长老 – 起初想到她单生，没丈夫没孩子，不知到会寂寞吗。和一位英文部的朋友联系一起去，因为他在医院在职。到了那儿，才发现长老是多么受爱戴。随时都有两位妹妹看守，一位刚退休的表妹也来了。长老已经80多岁了，妹妹也有70多岁，但她们轮流天天有人陪着想必帮了她们不少的大姐。
华文教会的朋友说探访女长老后，自己也不怕死了。我以为她会很安详，但没料到她尽然还充满喜乐。这是我生平第一次遇到末期癌症病人这么有朝气，脸色甚至神采飞扬。长老说，“我没有痛。医生不相信。他按来按去，问这里痛吗？我说，你按了当然痛，你不按就没痛! 这时神的恩典！就是这么奇妙！” 长老满脸的感恩和坚信。“一个女生跟我说，我爸爸也说没痛。我们以为是因为她不想吃药，所以忍着痛，说没通。我说，你不因该不相信你爸爸，他也是长老，这是神给我们的恩典！” 长老生气勃勃的感叹。
我问她会觉得累吗，她说，“不会。我累了我会休息。我弟弟叫他太太别一直跟我说话，我会累，我说，我不累！累了我会自己休息。” 接着，她又开始分享个个见证机会。
”我没想到，来到这里，还会有这么多机会见证。我一进来，神带来了这么多天使，就像你们，看Elder David 的儿子这么经常来看我，还有这么多好的护士。那天，一个男生周末结婚，隔天就来看我，我说你不用来了，刚刚才结婚！他说，你是我的主日学老师，我当然要来看你！过后，他还用华文为我祷告！我真的很感动，很开心，他还会用华文来祷告！“
”神真的很奇妙-我跟隔床的婆婆说，你不必怕，你相信耶稣，耶稣是神，他爱你，他会保护你。起初她不肯信，他的孙子也来问我，你能和我婆婆谈谈吗？因为我们说了，他还是不肯信。我搬出那房间后，婆婆说她开始看到阴暗的东西，我说你不用怕，信了耶稣你就不会怕。一个新期过后，她说，“我信了耶稣，那些黑黑的东西都不见了！” 哈利路亚，赞美主，你看神有多么奇妙！“
”还有，一个来弹音乐的，他问我要听什么歌，我说你会弹基督教的歌吗？他就弹了一个福建歌，然后弹了How Great Thou Art。我就说，你知道这首歌每一句都在述说神有多么伟大。你唱了，你一定要回去教会！“
仁爱长老真的是忠心到底。何等恩典，何等宝贵的见证！那个星期二的午餐时间，给了我无限的鼓励。我用简单的华文，为她祷告，深深的感谢上帝，让她有这么多机会见证，让她在这些日子里，过得这么开心，这么有意义。神的仆人，即使是在生命的末期，也能充满着只有神能给予的喜乐。神的忠心仆人，满溢着神的恩典，平安，喜乐。”我一点也不怕，因为我要回天家了！“ 啊！多么强而有力的见证。
一个星期过后，仁爱长老被耶稣接回家了。我们也一定要借着她的好榜样，忠心到底。仁爱长老，我们在天家再见！
那美好的仗我已经打过了，当跑的路我已经跑尽了，所信的道我已经守住了。
提摩太后书 4:7
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