Connecting the dots

 When my twin brother, Eddy and I came to US in 1963, our plane landed in San Francisco, and missed our connection to Seattle due to stormy weather. As we walked off the plane, we only saw a sea of people in this foreign land. We looked at each other and said, ummm.... we should we do? I was so glad that I was not alone, at least to have Eddy by my side to face this situation. "LOOK, isn't that Leung Kuen Chua, church friend of our sister, Winnie?" Yes indeed it was him. He recognized us and found out our predicament and offered to take us home for the night and find another flight for us the next day to Seattle. In the mean time, he also contacted our sisters in Seattle about our arrival. This dear brother would go to airport just look for Lost sheep like us, and offered help as one of his ministry, Bless his big heart. I wanted so bad to repay him for his kindness. Unfortunately we lost contact. 

Fast forward 40 plus years, here in Seattle, we were asked to host a missionary family with 3 boys to come stay with us for a week. On the last day, while we were having breakfast, they casually mentioned some friends in Vancouver whom they would be visiting. Those names were so familiar, and they seemed to be the same generation as my sister, Winnie. I then asked What is your father's name? He said it in Chinese, Leung Kuen Chua. I said, What? He was the one whom I wanted to offer our gratitude for his kindness so many years ago. D, the missionary, quickly called his dad in Sacramento and connected us so that I could repay his kindness. D and V (his wife) mentioned to me many times during their week-long visit, his father wondered who this insane couple was who would put up with their family of 5 for one week long? God had arranged this encounter and honored my desire to repay the kindness we received so many years ago. David and Vivian became our friends and stayed with us every time they came through Seattle. 

Another 10 years went by, and during one of D/V's visits, they mentioned a couple, P and M, who also attended our church. We found each other at church and became good friends. Their daughter, C/J also a missionary working with D/V in China for many years.  Last week, when I visited with Carol, who was here visiting her parents (P/M), to our surprise, she knew my sister and nieces in Boston quite well. In addition, C's older brother is also a friend of my niece when they studied at Cornell. Just a small, small world, and all dots connected. PTL!

Willing spirit

A friend of ours confided in us that his elderly brother, who lives in Burnaby, Vancouver BC has yet to know and receive Jesus into his life. Due to my friend's current health issue, he was not able to travel up north to visit his own sister and brother-in-law. My husband and I offered to take a trip up north to visit them. Since my own brother used to work in the city of Burnaby, he knows the area well and is willing to go with us to visit them and share the gospel. I even shared this trip with my prayer group and asked them to pray for courage and clarity in sharing the gospel with this elderly couple. Just before we headed up to Vancouver, we got news that the elderly man had a major stroke and was admitted to the ICU. Oh, this was a shock, and we offered to go visit him in the hospital, but the family declined our visit or phone call. A couple of days later, I met our friend at church and reminded her that unconscious people can still hear; therefore, they contacted the Chinese Christian Mission (CCM) to see if they would have any visiting teams to the hospital. A pastor's wife was just about to go visit a patient in that same hospital and was willing to visit this elderly gentleman. Later, we learned that the pastor's wife was able to share the gospel with this gentleman, and he even showed signs that he was willing to receive Christ. Praise the Lord, and the Lord called him home the very next day. 

I felt bad for not being able to go visit him, but the Lord had a different plan. Send an angel who lives in Vancouver to deliver this important message. She is also able to help the family in the coming days. One of my prayer partners asked me how my trip went. I share the story with her with some regret. She reminded me, "Jennie, the Lord just needs your willing heart; He himself will do the work. Just like Abraham, he was willing to offer his own son when the call came, yet God provided a far better way when we obey." Wow, I am not Abraham, but this is a great reminder that the Lord accepts our willing hearts and actions. He will finish the work according to His perfect plan.