祈求和感謝2005 年 5 月
祈求和感謝
2005 年 5 月
義工心聲
----- 沈雷錦秀 ------
感謝神帶領我在零二年夏天，參加中信靈機由余廣威醫生主講的癌症講座，認識到當時靈機輔導統籌同工Judy Choy，知道中信有意成立一個癌症關懷小組，我深覺得很有意義，我母親在九八年因癌病返回天家，我在零一年底也証實得了腸癌，從過來人的經歷，我深知癌症病人和其家人所面對種種身心靈的痛苦，是需要一班同路人來支持的。當時我也有參加其他社區的癌症講座，他們提供不少醫療方面的知識和服務，但對於一個基督徒來說，我更加需要由上帝而來的平安和弟兄姊妹的鼓勵和支持。於是我便以一個病友的身份加入了中信靈機癌症關懷小組。
轉眼間，加入癌症小組已有兩年多，我也由一個病友轉為義工，看著小組的轉變，真沒法不讚嘆神奇妙的帶領和祂無微不至的愛。回想第一次聚會，包括Judy和賴建鵬牧師在內只有7個人。當時小組的活動是每月聚會一次，有詩歌和聖經分享、專題講座、自由分享、彼此鼓勵。時至今日，除了新統籌David Chan和一直支持小組的現任主席余廣威醫生和賴建鵬牧師外，我們現在一共有19位義工，當中有癌病康復者、病友、家屬和有心的基督徒。神也感動一班基督徒專業人仕為聚會主講，每次聚會平均都有35-40人參加。因著人數的增加，癌症小組也改名為癌症組。我們發現有一群最需要我們的病友，他們因在治療中不能出門或病重在醫院，所以現在癌症組除了每月一次的聚會外，工作也包括電話關顧、探訪病友和家人、在適當時候分享神的救恩和轉介初信的組員到教會、按需要作個別屬靈的栽培。在過去兩年多，神帶領了大約190人來到我們當中，其中包括63位未信主的病友和家屬，90位基督徒的病友和家屬，以及30多位有興趣的朋友。感謝神藉著癌症組，在過去兩年多神拯救了27個人，當中有4位已返回天家，到目前為止，未有一個病友離開世界時是未信主的。
轉為義工後，與牧師和其他弟兄姊妹探訪癌症病友，看見他們在痛苦和絕望中掙扎，就好像看見自己一家在母親病患時的情景。當時我未信主，和家人一同面對的痛苦，真是很難受。有時真想放棄及沒有勇氣再去探訪他們，但當看見他們因經歷到由神而來的平安和安慰，從痛苦絕望變得勇敢地面對癌病和治療的痛苦，甚至面對死亡也毫無懼怕時，我又重拾盼望和勇氣。
回想接觸到的第一個病友，她是一位七十多歲很富有的老婆婆。初認識時，她剛知道患癌，內心很痛告和絕望，脾氣暴躁，時常罵人。她四處尋找醫治方法，希望用錢買回生命，常對我們說她不應有癌病及不想死。在一次探訪中，婆婆和公公奇妙地信了主，就在當晚，婆婆很危險，被送進醫院。第二天早上我們去醫院探她時，她一張開眼晴就開心地告訴我們，雖然昨晚很危險，但耶穌救了她，她臉上沒有了以前的苦毒，完全改變了，很開心，很平安。我們提醒她耶穌當然會救她，因她昨天已經接受了耶穌為救主，成為神的女兒。她很開心地說：「說得對，就算天父要我離開世界，我也不怕，因我可上天堂。」由美國來照顧婆婆的女兒和孫兒，看見婆婆信主後變得平安和慈祥，在他們回美國前都先後信了主，我們也成為朋友。在上次電話中，她告訴我她決定去讀短宣課程，學習向人傳福音。這消息給我更大的鼓勵，更深信神要我經歷癌病，就是讓我懂得怎樣去安慰其他病友。但最近神又讓我明白祂為甚麼安排我在癌症組，除了幫助其他病友外，還藉此來幫助我走人生的前路，因神知道我是一個很易憂慮又健忘的人，神不單止要我看見祂在我身上的恩典，也要我看見祂在其他病友身上的恩典，使我不會因為有任何身體不適而失去對神的信心。
總括來說，神藉著我母親的癌病拯救了我；藉著我自己的癌病，使我明白到祂就是我唯一的依靠；也藉著癌症組，不停的經歷與神同工的喜樂(應說是神帶著我做工)。靠著由神而來的力量、平安和喜樂，學習把自己、家庭和癌症組完全順服的放在主手中。我現在生活得比未有癌病前更加勇敢、積極和有意義，因我已找到人生的目標，就是緊緊的跟隨主。
----- 鍾黃秀卿 ------
加入中信癌症關懷組做義工不覺已有一段時間了！回想當初加入，是回應一位姊妹的邀請。
事源在零三年十一月中，我與外子同往見家庭醫生，要求她為我們填寫一份例行的健康証明書。「你去照肺啦！」就是這一句簡單的吩咐，我才被檢出患了肺癌！記得家庭醫生最初告訴我，單從電腦素描不能確定肺內的陰影是否惡性腫瘤，但「癌」的機會率高達八成。那天是星期五，想到「各樣美善的恩賜和各樣全備的賞賜，都是從上頭來的，從眾光之父那裏降下來的，在祂並沒有改變，也沒有轉動的影兒」，故此我並沒有為此而慌亂。當夜除了家人，我並沒有告訴其他人。到星期日，我在教會遇見一位姊妹，她見到我時，興高彩烈的邀請我參加中信中心癌症關懷組逢星期二的探訪。聽到她的邀請，我立時頓了一頓，她為何會找我？我既非癌症患者﹝還未証實﹞；而她也知道我有一份全職工作，逢星期二的探訪，在時間上也不可能。她的出現及邀請，使我驚嘆神的安排，掌管萬事的神，難道是藉?她告訴我一些事情?？那?我若真的患了肺癌，也是在祂的旨意裏。於是我告訴姊妹，暫時我不能參加，但請她為此事禱告。若是主的安排，我絕對樂意加入。
我在零四年二月接受手術，把有問題的肺葉割掉。到七月，身體大致上已經康復。我辭去工作，加入癌症關懷組的義工行列。透過每月的例會，探訪病友及其家人，或與他們一起查經及禱告，或相約出外午膳，使我領悟到作義工的意義。
記得讀過一名女宣教士的傳記，內容大致如下：有一個年青女子，有異象要向非洲食人族傳福音。正當她懷?興奮的心情，站在火車上與送行者揮手話別之際，冷不提防火車突然開動...她從火車跌下來，其中一隻腳更被火車輾斷了！她的家人及親友，連她自己也不明白為何神這樣對待她。她豈不是去為上帝作工?？她豈不是去實踐她的抱負?？她的抱負及理想有何不妥？神為何這樣苦待她？
感謝神，她並沒有因此而氣餒。她努力學習使用義肢，終於再次踏上征途，往非洲食人族那裏傳福音。她到達不久便被食人族的土人捉住，土人預備一如過往，把活捉的人吃掉！就在那時，女宣教士把義肢除下並舉起，這突然的舉動，把在場的人嚇得目定口呆。人怎能把自己的腳拿離自己的身體？她不是人，定是神！就是這樣，女宣教士得?他們了！她後來帶領了整個部落的人歸向基督！
在宣教士康復的過程中，除了醫護人員的悉心照顧，她也需要很多輔助的器材如輪椅，手杖等；在痛楚及掙扎時需要紙巾來抹乾滿面的汗水；傷口滲出來的血水需要棉花來抹掉。紙巾、棉花重要嗎？那就見仁見智。當宣教士康復後，再上征途時，她已不需要紙巾和棉花了！紙巾和棉花不是被遺忘，更不是被撇棄，而是它們的使命完成了，是光榮的引退！宣教士不再眷戀傷痛，因她還有未完成的使命！
宣教士的遭遇使我聯想到身患癌症的人，當他們正要去實踐理想時，苦難突然臨到；在這時候，那些對他們一力承?，義無反顧的家人，豈不就是那重要的輪椅和手杖麼？而義工定是那些紙巾與棉花了！紙巾與棉花作用雖然微小，但對有需要的人是有一定價值的。
Sharing of Volunteers
---- Karen Shum -----
I am grateful that in the summer of 2002 God brought me to a cancer seminar by Dr. Richard Yu held by Linkage of CCM. I met Judy Choy, the then coordinator of Linkage, and knew that they were planning to form a Cancer Care Group. I felt that would be very meaningful because in 1998 my mother went to heaven due to cancer, and I myself was also diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001. From my experience, I knew the needs of cancer patients and their families, as they face all the physical and emotional pains. They need the support of others who are in the same shoes. I had attended various cancer seminars in the community, which provided me with medical and service information. However, as a Christian, I need peace from God and the encouragement and support of brothers and sisters. Therefore, I joined the Cancer Care Group as a patient.
It has been more than two years since I joined the Group, and I have changed my status from a patient to a volunteer. The Group went through changes; I could not stop praising God for His leading and love. I recalled that there were only 7 people including Judy Choy and Pastor Paul Lai at our first meeting. The Group's activities then focused on the monthly meeting, hymn singing, bible sharing, talks, and mutual encouragements. Today, other than the new coordinator David Chan, Chairman Dr. Richard Yu, and Pastor Paul Lai, there are 19 volunteers. They include cancer patients, families, those who have recovered, and Christians who are burdened. God also inspires Christians who are professionals to give talks at each meeting. There is an average of 35 to 40 participants each time. As time went by, we realized that there was a group of patients who needed our care the most. They were those going through cancer therapy, house bound due to illness, or in hospital beds. Therefore, we extended our services to include caring through telephone calls, visitations to patients and their families either at home or in the hospital. As time fits, we would share the grace of God with them, refer them to churches, or provide individual spiritual nurturing. In the past two years or so, God has brought 190 people to us: 63 patients and family members who were not yet Christians, 90 Christian patients and family members, and 30 odd who were interested. Through the Cancer Group, God has saved 27 people in these two years, 4 of them have since gone back to heaven. Thanks to God that up till now, there has not been one single patient leaving this world while a non-Christian.
Since becoming a volunteer, I have been going out with Pastor and other brothers and sisters to visit cancer patients. Seeing them struggling in pain and despair is very much like how my family and I faced the pain when my mother was sick before I believed in God. It was really hard. Sometimes I feel like giving up and have no courage to visit patients, but when I see how they experience peace and comforts from God and turn from bitterness and despair to bravely facing therapy and pain, and even facing death with no fear, I will be filled with hope and courage again.
Thinking back of the first patient, a woman in her seventies. When we first met, she had just found out that she had cancer. She felt very bitter and hopeless, she became very bad tempered and feverish. She looked for all kinds of medical help, hoping that she could save her life with money. She often told us that she should not have cancer; she did not want to die. Miraculously, she and her husband turned to God during one visitation. That night, her illness became very critical and she was sent to hospital. The next morning, we went to see her in the hospital. When she opened her eyes, she very happily told us that last night she was very critical, but Jesus saved her. She has changed from bitterness to happiness, and become very peaceful inside. We reminded her that she has accepted Jesus the day before that was why Jesus saved her. She joyfully replied, "that's right, even if Heavenly Father wanted me to leave this world, I would not fear, because I can go to heaven." Seeing the change of this elderly woman to peacefulness and kindness, even her daughter and grandchildren from the U.S. received the Lord before they returned home. The daugther's family and I became friends. Last time we talked on the phone, she told me that she was going to take courses at the Short Term Mission Training Centre, to learn how to spread the gospel. This news gave me a lot of encouragement. I more firmly believed that God wanted me to experience cancer, so that I understand how to comfort other patients. Recently, God also helped me to understand why He has put me in the Cancer Group. It was not only for me to help other patients, but to help me with the rest of my life. God knows that I am worrisome and forgetful; therefore, God wants me to see His grace on me and on other patients, so that I will not lose faith when I have any physical discomforts.
In a nutshell, God saved me through my mother's cancer illness, and through my own cancer illness He makes me understand that He is the only one I can depend on, and through the Cancer Group I experience the joy of working with God, (I should say that God brought me along to work with him). With the strength, peace and joy from God I leant to submit myself, my family, and the Cancer Group into His hands. I now live more courageously, actively, and meaningfully than before I had cancer, because I have found the only one that I can depend on, my goal in life is to follow God closely.
---- Maggie Chung -----
It has been some time since I joined CCM's Cancer Caring Group. I joined because a sister-in-Christ invited me.
In mid November 2003, my husband and I visited our family doctor so that she could complete a routine health verification form for us. "Go for a chest X-ray," she said; and from that simple procedure, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. The doctor told me from the CT scan she could not ascertain that the shadow was cancerous but that the chances of cancer was as high as 80%.
It was a Friday, and I thought to myself, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." I chose not to panic and, that night, I did not tell anybody except my own family. After Sunday school that week, a sister came up to me excitingly and invited me to join the CCM Centre's Cancer Support Group for Tuesday visitations. I was taken aback. Why did she approach me specifically? I was not a cancer patient-or at least not yet confirmed-and she knew that I had a full-time job and would not be able to spare the time. I was awed by how God was moving through her invitation. Did He want to speak to me through her? If I really had lung cancer, it would certainly be in God's will. I told the sister that I could not join them at that time but asked her to pray for God's plan for me in this so that I could participate.
In February 2004, I had surgery to remove the bad lung lobe. By July, I had almost fully recovered. I quit my job and joined the team of volunteers in the Cancer Caring Group. In the months that passed, through attending monthly meetings, visiting patients and their families, reading the Bible with them, praying together, or going out for lunch together, I experienced the real meaning of volunteering.
I once read the biography of a young female missionary who had a vision for missions to the cannibals in Africa. The day of her departure, she was full of excitement as she stood on the platform of the train to wave goodbye. The train suddenly moved, she fell and one of her legs was amputated by the wheels of the train. Her families, her relatives, friends, and even she could not at first understand why God had allowed such a thing. Was she not on her way to serve God? Was she not preparing to realise her mission? Why was God treating her so cruelly?!
By God's grace, she didn't give up. She was very clear about her mission and worked hard to learn how to use her artificial limb. Once again, she set out on her mission to bring the gospel to the cannibals in Africa. Shortly after her arrival, the African natives captured her and prepared to kill and eat her. At the crucial moment, the woman took off her artificial limb and raised it high above her hand. That act so startled the natives that they thought her to be a god rather than human. She won them over and eventually led the entire tribe to Christ.
That story greatly touches us as cancer patients. While the missionary was looking forward to realising her goal, hardship came. But she did not fear or draw back. She accepted it, faced it, and overcame it. Testing brought interest and excitement into her life and her strong will and faith helped her in her recovery.
She recounted how, during her recovery, she was dependent on a wheelchair and then crutches. Sometimes the struggle was so great, she had tissues to wipe the sweat from her brow. She used cotton wool to swab her wounds when they bled. Were the tissues and the cotton wool important? That depends on the individual. After her recovery, the missionary was able to continue her trip and no longer needed the tissues cotton wool but they were not forgotten or abandoned. They had merely completed their mission and could step down in glory. The missionary herself did not linger in her pain; she focused on the mission ahead of her.
The story of the missionary reminds us of the cancer patients. Hardships strike when they are on their way to realize their goals in life. At such moments are their unceasingly supportive families not like the wheelchair and crutches? Are the volunteers in the CCM group not like the tissue papers and cotton wool? Perhaps small and useful for a short time only, they are nevertheless invaluable to those who need them. And God is there for us throughout.
