I experienced a bit of Immanuel this past weekend. Immanuel means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and we took our children to visit with the elderly residents of Emmanuel Convalescent Home this past Saturday. The kids woke up early on their Saturday morning, came to church, baked cookies, made Christmas candles and potpourri jars for the residents. We wanted to teach our children that Christmas is for giving more than for receiving gifts from others and to show them how blessed they are to grow up in this kind of community with one another, where they are never lonely or neglected. It was amazing to see them; they weren’t scared at all, each of them boldly approached the grandpas and grandmas they met, said a hearty, “Merry Christmas!” and shook and held their hands. They sang Christmas carols with all their hearts. We shared with them that Christmas is when God came near and we wanted to share that joy with them by coming to be with them. Their faces lit up as they saw the kids and it made us all realize again the precious gift of the good news that we possess that we can share with others.

This past semester was my first opportunity to be one of the teachers for the Free English Class offered by the International Student Ministry (ISM). One exciting moment for me was when I invited my students over to my house for a BBQ lunch over the weekend along with Jesse and his students. We had roasted chicken along with a side of asparagus and pasta with two different types of sauce. I’m not sure how accustomed they were to our American portions or taste but they expressed their thanks and much appreciation to me later on. That lunch was a very fond experience for me because it was after that event that one of the attendees really began to connect with me. He has since been coming out to our ISM Friday Forum events and is very well plugged in with many of our members.

What is more amazing is that this scholar had English teachers back in his hometown that had ministered to him for a year before he came to the states. That is why he has been so curious about church. I just think about the odds of this individual hearing parts of the gospel message and now being connected to our ISM group through an ad he saw about our English class that was posted near his housing complex. It’s so amazing to get glimpses at how God orchestrates incredible circumstances in peoples’ lives.

I recognize that many of my English students are top-notch, cream of the crop, stellar scholars from around the world. Being able to hang out with them and to share an occasional meal was a real treat to me because it has been through these times that we were able to bear witness of Christ’s love through our actions of love toward them – and if all it takes is some pasta, then sign me up again!

At first sight of the TsingHua International Student Activity Center where our bible studies would be held, we were struck by how big the room really was. It had a nice stage area equipped with speakers, projector and screen. In a separate partition, there was a café area with 3-4 square tables, nice bar-style seating at the outskirts of the room looking out full-length windows, and nicely furnished with couch sets. We thought the room was simply too big for our purposes – and could only dream of the future where we can utilize the stage for praise and pack such a big room. However, this was by far the best-lit and cleanest room on both campuses and also allowed food, so there was really no other choice. We thought we should just section off part of the room to create a cozy atmosphere and not intimidate the students.

How quickly did all of that change after Pastor Ed and Kelly’s visit! From their wisdom and guidance birthed Friday Night PLUS or Zhou Wu Zhi “Jia”. PLUS in Chinese is “jia” which is also the word for “family.” This branding of our bible study captures the vision inspired by Pastor Ed and Kelly: we hope to make our bible studies the most happening thing on Friday, something a bit more (plus) than your normal Friday night, and a place where people can experience community (family).

As I walked into our very first Friday Night Plus two weeks ago, I already sensed a complete change in atmosphere. I felt like I was entering something big. I was officially welcomed by Caroline’s friendly face and a registration table filled with Koinonia-Hsinchu brochures and Friday Night Plus flyers. There were also additional resources available with Chinese titles of Mere Christianity, Problem of Pain, Case for Christ, etc. People were seated in circles throughout the room caught up in conversation within cozy family-like groups and enjoying homemade, delicious Italian pasta, garlic bread, and salad. Then the night continued with rocking praise by our Hsinchu praise band and finally our bible study led by Eugene with his interactive Powerpoint presentation. It brought back a taste of home – all the effort and care that is poured out into each bible study, all the preparation, just doing everything it takes to make it attractive and appealing and something you would want to come back to. It was definitely a step toward making this the most happening thing on campus so that people would be drawn. 15 students came that night, and for the first time, there were more students than our Taiwan team.

Week two, we only expected a handful of people to come. People had said they wouldn’t be able to make it, and yet, God was faithful in just bringing so many people. The room that we thought we couldn’t fill anytime soon was actually packed. We had just enough food –luckily Allen and Cynthia brought the extra buns – the Philly cheesesteaks were scrumptious and quite a hit. People kept trickling in throughout dinner that I was losing track of the faces and then we found ourselves out of chairs! A total of 25 students came. The awesome thing was that they came from all different venues – the BBS postings that Kan has now mastered, Phil’s English class, the NTHU English corner that Phil/Greg lead on Wednesday, and even some contacts whom our SMT members met. The majority of them stayed for our post bible study activity. The night ended on a sweet note. The remaining students – some first-timers, some regulars –right alongside us, helping us re-arrange the room, clean up, and load the van. It was a touching and beautiful picture. One student captured it best – saying that he thought a lot more people would want to come to this and exclaimed how he definitely would invite his friends. We were all astounded and amazed throughout the night and attributed it to all your prayers at home. Thank you for all your prayers and support!

Life is not about me. It’s about God, the gospel, and what He is doing in the world. Life is all about what God is doing and not about what I am doing and what I can do. The first week of my stay in Cambodia, I was struck by the level of poverty that I saw and I was heart-broken by the kind of circumstance and environment that people and children were living in. Many of the houses that I saw were but planks of uneven wood put together with a sheet of metal used as roofs. As I saw the children that came to Life University, many of them did not have shoes on, their clothes were dirty, and their teeth were all rotten and black. It was hard for me to see these children being dropped off at their homes, as their homes were located in alley ways and they were living in destitute conditions. Going to Tuol Sleng on our way to Life University was unbearable, as I was brought to imagine the tragedy of this unspeakable evil that happened not that long ago. And seeing many people on the streets, children who were so lost, simply struggling to make a day to day living made me really sad and I started to wonder how things are really going to get better.

Then I looked at our mission team’s efforts during the first week of my stay: running short 30 minute chapel times for one week, teaching different kinds of classes on English, Art, Music, etc. and constantly thinking about how to better communicate & serve the students at Life U. Frankly, I felt that our efforts were so small and I began to doubt what difference can we really make during our short time here. I found myself getting teary-eyed many times just thinking about the people, their tragic history, and their destitute conditions.

But God started the work of changing my perspective as I went out to visit people in the villages. On Tuesday of our first week, a group of us had a chance to visit a mother of one of the kindergarten girl at Life U. Her name was Salet and when we told her that we came from the US to share about God, she told us that she already believes. She agreed that because people don’t know God, people commit all kinds of bad things – that she even see older men going to bed with young children and she grieved over human wickedness. She also told us that she has a neighbor who would like to hear about God and called her over right away. Her neighbor’s name was Hea-An and we presented the bridge gospel presentation to her and when we asked her what she thought of it, she asked “How can I be a good Christian?” I think I told her that with any broken relationship, you come to tell the other party sorry and ask for the relationship to be restored and same with God. She told us that she cannot attend church because she had to take care of her family and work on Sundays. I responded that new Christians are like newborn infants who need spiritual feeding from mature Christians who have known God longer. I also tried to encourage her by telling her that God knows the number of hairs on her head and that God will make provisions for her and her family. We asked her if she wanted to make a decision to become a Christian, she emphatically said, “Yes”. I confirmed her understanding of the bridge, then the fact that she is a sinner and she said yes to all this. I felt humbled by her simple trust in what I had shared and we prayed for her decision. After we were done with prayer, I couldn’t contain my thankfulness and amazement of the moment and I was reminded of what Jesus said about the whole heaven rejoicing over one sinner that repents. I felt so joyful as I shared this with her and she shed tears with me. The amazing thing is that the following Sunday, she came to church with Salet on a moto even though it was raining quite a bit. I really did not do or say much, but it was God who had been at work in this woman’s heart to prepare her for the moment. My eyes begin to open to see God at work.

I also visited another family with a mom, dad, and a grandmother who happen to visit her grandchildren. We shared the gospel with them and the man’s response was “How can I have a relationship with God?” Although he did not make a decision he told us that he wants to learn more about the Bible so that if others were to ask questions to him, he would be able to respond “confidently” and “sincerely”. Apparently he has been listening to a Christian station on the radio in the mornings from 4:30 – 5:30am. With this and many other visits, I felt so encouraged to know that the message of Christianity and God’s love & truth was being communicated. So many people that I met in the villages have already heard about the gospel or they were at least very open to listening.

I think that the best experience that I had on this trip that broadened my perspective of God being at work was through our overnight stay at a village called Bot Veng. This village is a snake capital of Cambodia and was a remote place that we needed to go on a boat. We got a chance to spend 3 days there and I got to really bond with the children through teaching and playing. They were so affectionate and open towards us and were eager to learn and spend time with us. I got a chance to really bond with a group of first grade girls and they were so attached. I loved the singing time, especially when they sang “Your Love is Deep” and I really felt that God loved these kids so much. Who can really separate them from God’s love? The answer is “Nothing!” With the little that we do, they loved it and I was so thankful that we were able to teach and put in their hearts the seed of the gospel and the truth about God’s words to them. I got to visit some of their parents and families as I did door to door evangelism and I was encouraged to hear that they have heard the gospel at least once and some were part of a cell group, where a Bible leader would come and teach the Bible. I felt so much hope for this village because the gospel had come.

“My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17). What I saw and experienced these past 2 weeks made me realize that God is indeed at work and I am simply called to join and participate in what He is doing already. So many times this past year in doing ministry, the focus was usually on me – in terms of what I needed to get done, what I needed to say, what I needed to think up, etc. In giving my efforts and energy, I often found myself losing steam and getting tired. It was because I believed that so much of what’s going to happen and what has been happening depended on me. But through this mission trip, it became so clear that God is the main character who is doing the work of drawing and moving people to himself and working in their hearts. As Tony and I will be involved in leading a Kairos group this upcoming school year, I want to simply allow myself to see what God is already doing and join Him in His work. I feel like the shift happened from trusting myself and what I can do to trusting in God and what He can do.

What I was really inspired, rebuked, and challenged by were the Christians that I had met throughout the trip. A group of Bible students came with us to Bot Veng village and they were so servant-like and humble, taking care of everything for us, from buying all the food for our 3 day stay, bringing mats, and other amenities we would need for sleeping and cooking. They would wake up and start cooking breakfast from 6 in the morning, only to start preparing for lunch, then dinner for about 30 of us. They were squatting most of the time to cook, wash, and so quick to meet whatever need we had. Furthermore they would stay up until 2 am to keep the generator going just in case any of us would need to use the restroom. Doing all this and more, they were cheerful and rather grateful to us for doing what we did for Cambodia. One Bible student named Jesse, on our last night’s stay in Penom Penh, cleaned all our rooms and bathrooms while we were out eating breakfast. I was humbled and rebuked by their service and humility, as I thought about how I often want to do things for my own satisfaction, to gain recognition from others, or doing things with a grumbling heart. These Bible student’s were full of gratitude and cheerful service and I could not but to term their lives as “beautiful”. Their lives really melted by heart and drew me closer to them. Timothy Rhee at the leaders’ Bible study group shared how being a spiritual leader is not so much about preaching and words, but about living out the gospel with our lives on a day to day basis. It is with my life, the way that I am serving, interacting with others, the way that I am spending my time, money, and energy that the gospel can be communicated to the people around me and I committed to the people around me and I repented of having driven by many wrong motives.

Another lesson that God taught me regarding my attitude towards starting Kairos ministry is that I really had nothing to point to as an excuse to say that I am not ready. Many Christians that I met who were doing ministry and evangelism in the villages, leading even more than one church at a time were so young. They were in their early and mid 20s but they did not waste time thinking, hesitating, saying that they are insecure about this, inadequate in that, or even needing to take care of their personal lives. Rather, with what they learned in Bible school and what they knew to be true, they went out boldly, trying to meet the spiritual needs of so many people in numerous villages. They understood that people are so needy and they did not waste time mulling over anything. Compared to them, I had been a Christian longer than they have, have been trained in the Bible and even apologetics so much more, and have had the blessing of being part of a strong and supportive Christian community, and it would be so inappropriate of me to try to hide behind some small insecurity or inadequacy that I felt. I have received so much and have been trained so much and I am more than ready to be fully involved in God’s work.

One concrete application that I want to apply is to live a life of gratitude and simplicity. Being out in the villages made me realize that I take so many things for granted. I am thankful for the clean water that I can wash with, for drinking water, for hot water that come out at the turn of a faucet, for roads that I can walk on without having to worry about leeches or snakes biting or being sunk in very deep mud, for soap, for food, for my cushioned bed, etc. While so many of these villagers don’t have access to these things, I somehow have the privilege to enjoy them, and I ought to always thank God for all these and should never complain about anything. Furthermore, I realized that I need to live a life of simplicity if I am going to live a focused life of living out the gospel and doing God’s work. The Christians that I met who had the most impact on me were people like sister YoungRan, Bunny, Maria, etc. who really had no concern for their personal comfort, possessions, and desires, but spent their time, money, and energy in showing God’s love and truth to people. YoungRan was always on her feet trying to arrange meetings for Christians (nursing students, Christian lecturers/professors), non-Christians so that more people at Life U can become Christians and for Christians to grow more in their faith. Brother Bunny was someone who graduated from Bible School at Life U, and is currently pasturing 2 churches, and works at Life U as a secondary teacher for his income. He is very poor, but he uses part of his income to sponsor 2 students to get education/go to school. He has such a burden for people and he would do whatever he can to meet the needs of the people.

What also really struck me through visiting many different village churches in Cambodia, as well as meeting Christian leaders there is that there are so many people who suffer for the gospel. In fact, there is really nothing they can gain or benefit from preaching & living out the gospel, and they are simply struggling to be faithful to their ministries because they believe that the gospel is true. Our team visited a church in a village that had many Muslims and a mosque & I heard that this is one of the villages where some people attempted to burn houses down because of the Christians. I really felt for the pastor whose very life and his family was not stable and in danger, and these experiences really opened my eyes to recognize that there are so many people suffering for the gospel. In contrast, as a Christian, I gain and benefit in so many different ways: resources, relationships, co-laborers, help with many different aspects of my personal life, etc. and these blessings do not necessarily follow every believing Christian. I committed to pray more for the brothers & sisters in other parts of the world who are trying to remain faithful and stand up for the truth of the gospel.

I am so thankful that I had an opportunity to go on this mission trip to Cambodia and for the many lessons that He has taught me. I only pray that I will never be the same from the insights I gained and the commitments that I made.

There is so much to share about the four weeks I spent in Cambodia – how God answered prayers, how God spoke to me in personal ways, how God shared with me his broken heart for this ravaged country and for the whole world. But I want to focus specifically on the medical missions portion of the Cambodia 4 trip – what I experienced and what I learned from it. I thank God for the awesome privilege of bearing his name, being called a minister and an ambassador of Christ, and serving alongside my brothers and sisters as we shared the gospel message and carried out God’s work of salvation.

The medical mission team was headed by Dr. Jonathan Shun, an internal medicine physician with many years of experience under his belt, and further comprised of Angell (a 5th year MD/PhD student), Annie and myself (both nurses who just graduated with our masters). Obviously we relied on Dr. J, who was essentially the backbone of the team. In addition to the providers were the other crucial components of the medical team: the health educators (Christina Park and Danielle Park), the triage nurses (Richard Tjhen, Vanessa Ramirez, and Mike Fu), the charge nurses (Ray Wong and Helen Park), and the pharmacists (Hannah Shun and Irene Youm). At each village, there would be a church founded and supported by Pastor Koo’s Life Church, and in the building we would set up a clinic with two registration/triage desks, a pharmacy, and three stations with Dr. J as the attending physician who would float and tackle difficult cases. It is estimated that we saw over 700 people over the course of 7 days of village outreach. What amazes me is that each of the patients we saw and treated was able to hear the gospel, many perhaps for the first time, and most of them were prayed over. I thank God for the wisdom of having a medical-gospel team that could share the good news to those who came for medical services. Through sister Hannah’s testimony of God’s miraculous healing when modern medicine had reached its limit, through evangelistic talks, through 1-on-1 gospel presentations, and through brother Bunny simply preaching, God was able to open people’s hearts to the gospel message. About 40 people had indicated that they wanted to follow Christ, and some of them were confirmed to be genuine salvation decisions. Paul wrote in Colossians 4:3, “And pray also for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…” Looking back, I am so thrilled and humbled that God would use the medical team to open a door for people to hear the gospel. It was really exciting in the village of Ankozolm, 2 hours from Siem Reap; we learned later that day that our visit was the local church’s first village-wide evangelistic push, which meant that over 200 people heard the good news of Jesus Christ for the very first time!

Yet, it was in that same village where I met Nampung, a 3-year old boy carried in the arms of his grandmother.

[journal excerpt] Patient #102: 3yo male complaining of high fluctuating fever for the past few days with one episode of vomiting but no diarrhea; also complaining of cough x 15 days and of “fast breathing.” Has not been drinking much fluids. Oral temperature: 103.7F. On examination, the lung sounds were coarse rhonchi throughout, tachypneic breathing rate, and nasal flaring indicating air hunger. Diagnosis: bilateral pneumonia. Prognosis: very poor. Dr. Jonathan said that this child was dying. We checked his eyes, and the patient demonstrated signs that he was progressing towards loss of consciousness. We gave the child one dose of Children’s Tylenol to help reduce the fever as well as the first dose of Augmentin, antibiotics to help combat the infection that had claimed both sides of his lungs. We explained to the grandmother how she was supposed to administer the rest of the medicine, and we explained how dire the situation was and how she needed to bring her grandson to the hospital right away.

As we were weighing the child, I held him in my arms and looked into his eyes, which were looking back into mine. 13 kilograms. Watching him struggle for each breath, I felt so helpless and desperate, and I could not do anything but pray to God to have mercy on his little child. It was the first time I had ever seen someone dying in my arms. I still pray for him, and I wonder how he is. Maybe he is taking the antibiotics, and the antibiotics are working. Maybe his family did take him to the hospital and he is receiving treatment. It actually hurts too much to hope, but I know that God is faithful and that he loves him so much more than I ever could.

What about the mother? She herself was waiting to be seen, along with her younger son. I called her over and explained to her that her son is very sick and might die unless they take him to the hospital. Her face showed no sign of concern whatsoever. No matter how much I reiterated the gravity of the situation to her, she was utterly indifferent. She cared more about her own health problems, which were so mild in comparison – she was complaining of dehydration symptoms, and her other son had a cold.

I was plagued with a whole slew of “what if’s?” – what if we went to the village sooner, what if I did not allow the grandmother to simply walk out of the clinic with that child, what if he does not go the hospital, what if he does not take the antibiotics, what if it was all too late? I talked with Susanna SMN, and she assured me we did the best we could and all we could do now is pray. So as the “what if’s?” subside, in its place rise the “what now’s?” What am I going to do now with this experience? How am I going to live with this in mind? As I thought about it, I realized that this boy’s story is not uncommon. If a child in Cambodia is dying from an easily-treatable infection, then for sure there is a child in China, a child in Europe, a child in Africa, a child in Mexico and even a child in our own backyard that is suffering and dying from some disease because he or she does not have access to healthcare. So should I throw myself to global medical work? I am one person, so limited in what I can do. Then should I round up every doctor and nurse and pharmacist and swell the ranks of Doctors without Borders? Ultimately it will accomplish so little in the face of the overwhelming health needs around the world. My only conclusion is that people need the Lord.

I heard from my dad this morning that my maternal grandfather in Hong Kong had passed away; he had another episode of pneumonia, but it was to be his last. He was 88, with 8 children and several grandchildren. He had attended church earlier in his life, but from what I knew, he did not believe in God or anything else. My mother and my aunt, both Christian, were with him when he died, so I hope they were able to minister to him during his final days. All people get sick, many recover, some more slowly than others, but in the end we all die. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). What is of eternal importance, then, is how each man stands before God – either redeemed or condemned. Jesus’ own mission was this clear, and his mission for the church has remained the same these past 2000 years. Yet when I look at my neighbors, my classmates, my coworkers, or even people walking on the sidewalk, they all look as if they have their lives together, comfortable and content, and it seems like God is the last thing on their minds. But their schedules and attentions are occupied with so many distractions and hollow pursuits that they do not consider the things that matter the most. God calls me to show people the truth about life and to share the message of hope and eternal life that are found only in Jesus. I recommit to the work of the gospel, to making my whole life into God’s invitation for others to come and experience his love and truth.

On the last night of our mission trip, we were in Phnom Penh and met up with Pastor Koo, who told us the story about Chan Tha. Chan Tha is a 14-year old Cambodian girl from the village of Poipet, near the border of Cambodia and Thailand, who was suffering from frequent chest pains. Five years ago, Dr. Lee, a deacon-doctor from Korea, visited that village, met her, and diagnosed her from a congenital heart defect. During those five years, Dr. Lee was working to raise funds and support for a surgical operation to repair her heart. Because the cost of transporting her to Korea and of having the surgery there was so great, Dr. Lee decided it would cost less to send the surgical team to Cambodia to perform the operation. In the matter of months, Dr. Lee was able to assemble a surgical team, and together they flew into Phnom Penh. Because the cost was much less than expected, the team was able to perform cardiac surgeries on five more children. The five additional surgeries were all successful – we saw two of the patients and they were healthy and moving actively – but Chan Tha’s surgery had complications, and she was in a coma for the 6 days following the operations.

The medical team along with Susanna SMN, Hannah and Pastor Koo went to the hospital to pray over Chan Tha. When we arrived at her bedside, the sight of her grieved our hearts. Covered up to her waist with a bedsheet, she lied on her right side, with cardiac monitor lines, NG tube, and IV lines all over the place. She was hooked up to a ventilator, and the mouthpiece was secured around her lips with tape that was saturated in blood. Her body was swollen, especially her face and neck, and her arms and legs were cold. Some of us reviewed her medical records and lab reports, which showed that her body was slowly shutting down. Her blood pressure had been gradually declining, hovering around 40/25. Gathered around her and laying our hands on her – on her forehead, on her hands, on her feet – we prayed and cried out to God for a miracle, because we understood that medically there was no more to be done. We continued to pray for the next hour, while massaging her feet, caressing her hands, and speaking into her ear. “Chan Tha,” I said, “P’own srey (little sister), preah yea-su sraal’ang neak (Jesus loves you).” I recalled during a prayer meeting recently, how Pastor Ed encouraged us to erase the artificial boundaries encircling nuclear families and to claim other people as our brothers and sisters, and how he said he wanted to claim the children of Cambodia as his own. So as I stood at her side, I wanted to claim Chan Tha as my little sister, and to pray with desperation for her.

The following morning, Susanna SMN and Hannah along with another group of our missionaries returned to the hospital to see Chan Tha again. They were able to meet the pastor of the church where Dr. Lee serves as a deacon. Once the church learned about Chan Tha’s condition, they immediately set up a prayer and fasting chain, and the pastor traveled to Cambodia, riding many hours to Poipet to bring her parents to Phnom Penh. He has been by Chan Tha’s side ever since, massaging her feet and warming her feet with hot water bottles, praying over her with tears. He even asked our team for prayers for himself, because his heart was so broken. Our team witnessed how he wept so much in prayer and with Chan Tha’s parents, and one brother remarked how he experienced a concrete demonstration of the love of Christ in that pastor. The parents themselves were believers, so humble and grateful; as the team and they were huddled together in prayer, they were crying, and the father even squeezed brother Ray Wong’s hand. They told our team that they had already committed Chan Tha to God – that if she were to die, she would be with him in heaven, and that if she were to live, she would be a living testimony of God’s power and mercy. When I heard they had said this, I was personally comforted in my heart by the parents’ trust in God. One thing I was so afraid of was that they might respond with bitterness or doubt, but God was sustaining their faith in him.

This past Monday, we received news that Chan Tha had passed away over the weekend. Although the news is so sad, God has given the assurance that he was in control over the entire situation. In addition to the five additional cardiac surgeries, the Korean medical team signed a contract agreeing to perform 20 life-saving operations for the next 5 years! Because of this one precious little girl, 100 more children will have a second chance at life. The verse I had to hold onto was Romans 8:28-39: “And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…” God, who is always at work, always has a purpose – and that purpose is so good. Who knew that this girl, who would have lived until she was 30 at most, would go through this ordeal but through it 105 people could live again? Her life is like that single seed that died, giving life to many more seeds. Coincidentally, the team of surgeons came from an organization called “Kernel of Wheat.” “What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37).

After hearing about Chan Tha’s death, as I was praying for her family and all those involved in her care, I was further comforted by other details I recalled. During those 5 years between the time Dr. Lee met Chan Tha and the time of the operation, the doctor cultivated such a close and fond relationship with her that she would refer to him as “father.” Moreover, that her parents are such faithful and godly Christians probably meant that she was dearly loved in the name of the Lord, being raised as a woman of God. And I imagine that before her surgery, her parents prayed for her and Dr. Lee prayed for her, that she would trust God during that time. Dr. J received an email informing him of Chan Tha’s passing, and in the report it said that “just prior to her expiration, she was able to see her parents and receive prayers from Dr. Lee…” God answered our prayer, and he woke her up long enough to see her parents and to be prayed over, to reassure them that she is okay. Praise God for his faithful provision! Even though Chan Tha was not miraculously healed, God had a specific purpose for her life, and she entrusted herself into his loving hands. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).