October, 2024
Greetings, in the Name of the Lord. Thank you for your concern and prayers in the love of Christ. I am writing this so as to share with you my experiences for the last couple of months here in Korea.
A Bookmark
A few years ago, on the mission field, I was preparing to go on furlough. Before my departure, I had a Junior Youth Bible Camp where I shared bookmarks with different Bible verses to the teachers and the youth. Then, I left for home, returning back to the field a year later. Back in Kenya I met them all, the teachers and youth, and could see how they also experienced many things during my absence. This was true, especially for “O”, one of the teachers. He was elected as a proctor in BCEA, and had a hard year in leading the students in their duties. When he met me again, after a year, he reminded me of the bookmarks. He said, “The Bible verse on it came to my heart. I kept it with my bible. I was afraid of how to work as a proctor. Some are much senior than I and students were so different to each other. Whenever I saw the verse on the bookmark, I used to recite the verse and it encouraged me much. ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10’. This was the verse on his bookmark.
A Card
I continue to help my mum in the hospital. Though I didn’t go out often, I could sense the heat of the summer season. The sun light was strong. One day, I received a parcel from my friend. She sent me a pretty hat for the summer season, and a card. The verse on the card captured my attention. It was Isaiah 41:10, in the Korean language. I pasted the card on the drawer in the hospital room, where it can be easily seen. Whenever I saw the card, I read it and reminded myself of my God and His goodness.
Last month, when I was holding mother on her side, I could touch something hard. After CT scan, a large tumor was detected. An operation was immediately arranged because she was in pain. I had to take her to another hospital for the operation. There, I was warned about possible dangers of the operation due to the medication that my mother was taking for her cerebral infarction, and the location of the tumor. A new environment, a new system, and a new medical team – it felt so strange. There was the fear of the possibility of failure, and a loneliness to encounter such an important matter all by myself. I took the card with me, kept reading the verse to remind myself of my God being with me. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee:” There were many sleepless nights as I attended mother in pain, “be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea” I relied on His Word.
Well, her operation was done well and she was discharged back to the rehabilitation hospital.
Going Back to His Word
A biopsy on the tumor was done after the operation. The result showed that it was cancerous. Sarcoma! Very rare and hard to cure in the sense it is unpredictable and often grows back. Disease after disease, and pain after pain! Now radiation therapy is added on top of her rehabilitation therapy. She became weaker, depressed, and lost weight.
I really learned that our lives are open to anything, both happiness and troubles, without our own choice. Who could imagine a cerebral infarction, moreover Sarcoma with my mother, who had been so healthy, and active? I am thankful for God’s grace and that she is coping with the therapy and taking all this without a complaint.
However, I ask, “Lord, what is your work with us? What shall I do?” I drew my attention on the verses in 1 Corinthians “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. (7: 23, 24). The verse was addressed to slaves or servants (Christians) in those days. It encouraged them to do their best regardless of their social status. That is their Christian calling, to do their best in the place and with the people where they are. Does this apply to us? My mother and I try our best to cope with the present situation. And, God is with us.
In closing, I request your prayer for us to be strong and mindful of our Christian calling in this situation. Thank you for your love in Christ.
In Christ,
Bai, Eun Young