Celebrating Joy!

"For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."

Luke 2:30-32

2005 has whizzed by and the past four months have been especially demanding on both of us. We are both in school this semester. Jacqui has taken the opportunity to take some classes in speech and language, an area she’s long had some interest in. On days when she’s not at school, she does some billing and administration in a local landscaping company. Hwok Aun decided to also take the plunge and take four courses, instead of the regular three, and continued work as a teaching assistant. He reached his first important milestone when he passed the first (of two) comprehensive examinations (“comp”) in July. Unlike the Australian/British system, required coursework prior to starting on one’s thesis is the main reason why doctoral degrees take at least four to five years to complete. If he successfully completes his final comp in January 2006, it will be a significant milestone for him.

Besides experiencing drastic changes in our schedules this past year, we moved into a new apartment just off campus at the end of July. We had been contemplating the move here for several months because of our hearts’ burden to open our home and be closer to this unique community of international students. Although we miss our previous abode and separation from student life in quaint Northampton, we are now extremely thankful for the reduced rent (especially since heat is included!) and proximity to the campus.

Some of our highlights of the past year include our trip home over the winter break in December/January, visiting friends in various cities, dabbling in some gardening (now mainly confined indoors), being guinea pigs for each other’s cooking and baking, and growing to love and care for some of our international friends here. We also had the opportunity to play host to some visitors from Malaysia this year. In late July, our good friend Colin visited, and in mid-August, Hwok Aun’s younger brother, Hwok Chuen, stopped over en route to Calvin College, Michigan. Later in October, Hwok Aun’s mother pampered us with good food and warm company when she spent a lovely autumn month with us. We continue to be blessed by the IVCF (Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship) graduate fellowship that meets on Friday. This semester we’re co-leading a bible study group for explorers to the Christian faith with a wonderful Ghanian friend. We also helped with the organizing of our fellowship’s first retreat and had a smashing time that weekend in early November.

2005 marks a landmark in time; we pass the 30-year mark since birth. Some realities of growing older have also started to sink in … like Hwok Aun’s Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (a.k.a. pain in the kneecaps), and Jacqui’s numerous imaginary diseases.

In retrospect now, the past year has brought many lessons, many reminders that learning happens all over again. Approaching this academic year, we had been a bit apprehensive about course loads, work loads and their impact on our lives, and pensive over some why-are-we-here issues. In light of various uncertainties, we’ve been tested to trust in God fully, for all our needs. Every time we feel we have made progress in trusting God to provide for our needs, God raises the bar and puts us to another test. Once in a while, we get doubt pangs – are we doing the right thing? Especially when Hwok Aun does not seem to understand the lecture notes, at all? Jacqui also struggles with a sense of belonging and purpose here at times.

We’re looking forward to another year of study and friendship, resuming life with people with whom we share this journey. We miss our friends and family in Malaysia, of course. While we’re literally sojourners in a foreign land, we’ve also been amply reminded of our alien status here on earth.

May you find renewed strength and joy as you grow in understanding of God’s amazing love in sending Jesus this Christmas season and in the coming year.

BLESSED CHRISTMAS!