Day 1 of mourning

Today, all China began observing the first of a 3-days mourning period by a 3 minute silence. This is the first time that the whole of China mourned in-one since the communist leader Mao Zedong passed away in the 70's.

At our company today, over 600 colleagues stood as a mark of respect while all flags were flown at half-mast. As coincidental as it may sound, I was looking at The Star Online or some other news portal after the sports section and was reading the article about the earthquake and as soon as I finished reading the bit about 2.28pm our company's alarm rang. At first, I didnt know why they were all standing and it suddenly hit me about what I just read.

All China was ordered to sound raid alarms, horns, bells, and alert signals while observing this mourning. I immediately stood and instructed my colleagues to do the same. It was a really indescribable feeling.

You see, during the past few days, each and everyone of my extended family members were glued to the news getting updates as they came. I occassionally caught glimpses of the devastation etc. Although I felt sympathy, I was lacking the empathy. Perhaps I felt disconnected. But this empathy began to build up each day. Yesterday, as with during the Winter storm in Jan this year, a charity gala was organised. I've seen this type of event live twice during my 2 over years in China. It was so touching and heartwarming.

So as soon as I stood up, I really felt like crying. I try to believe that I am a 'piece of wood' or do not cry, but in recent years, I've come to terms with the fact that I am easily moved by stuff like, national pride, touching adverts (ala Petronas), and some stories of triumph over adversity. But I managed to fight back the tears for a full 3 minutes.

Then tonight at dinner, they showed throughout China, in each big city, the video clips of everyone paying their 3-min mark of respect and images of those suffering and the rescue efforts. It was so touching and I felt total empathy with those victims. I shed tears. I remember clearly each time the Malaysian anthem was played during SUKOM 1998 (Commonwealth) in Malaysia, I shed tears of pride. Each time the touching down-to-earth adverts of Petronas aired showing how the walls of race, religion, creed were all man-made and the unity and Malaysianess, I had tears of hope. Being a Malaysian and a Chinese, I felt a total difference in our national pride. Each and every Chinese I knew and saw, showed tremendous solidarity, so much unity and national pride.

They are one big family. One united family. And in the midst of this disaster and suffering, humanity shone through all the way. I write this with such pride to be in China. That the Chinese people although predominantly Han ethnicity, are all but part of the 56 ethnic groups in China. So proud, to be Chinese although not a Chinese citizen.

The whole evening until now, video clips and sounds of horns and alarms blaring, the Chinese chanting support and mourning with heads bowed during the mourning period makes the emotions of hope, unity, and harmony reverberate through my inner self. How much suffering they had to go through. Some lost everything, some are sole survivors in the entire family, so many instances. The Chinese's intepretation of sympathy is not only different from some western or asian's tidak apa attitude, the sheer degree of unity is flabbergasting. 600,000 people have signed-up to adopt orphaned children. The tremendous amounts of material and monetary donations are mind-boggling. I am so proud. In times of crisis, the Chinese will drop all 'work', differences, all that separates and unite and work as a family.

On sunday, our church sermon was about God in times of disaster. It was really powerful and encouraging. How God is still in control, hope through God's salvation, and victory over suffering.

I will again participate in this time of mourning tomorrow at 2.28pm together with my fellow brothers and sisters of China.

Dear merciful Father. Our lives are fraught with fragility and calamities. In this time of suffering, Lord you pour out your mercy and hope. Protect those involved in the rescue efforts and give them the strength to continue in their tasks. For those who are still trapped, Lord please send them comfort, send angels to direct the rescuers to save them, give them nourishment in whatever way possible to sustain themselves to survive. Let those trapped have faith and hope against all these odds stacked heavily against them. I pray for family and friends that lost their loved ones. Lord, let the doctors, nurses, relief workers, psychologists, support groups, army, police, etc. that have put the life of the victims ahead of their own have the hope, encouragement, and patience in continuing their work. For those who are helping through time, effort, material and in other forms, Lord continue to touch their heart and life that they will be blessed temselves and others around them. Show the victims how to rebuild their life. Let the impossible thoughts in their minds be replaced with possibility in You. Father, let those still trapped continue to press on their struggle for survival. Jesus, let your light shine in this time of darkness. May You show Your purpose and direction for all humanity in this ends of times. Guide us O Lord to share and shine Your light in this trying time. We pray all this in Jesus's name - AMEN

Grandma Passed Away

Grandma passed away suddenly today at around 2000 hours (19 Aug, Sat) Malaysian time.

Going back to Penang tomorrow (20 Aug, Sun).

 Contact Details:

NEW Handphone Numbers:

+6 016 411 3350 (Malaysia Mobile - use when I'm in Malaysia. My old 016 474 6617 is out of use)

+86 137 3837 6215 (China Mobile)

 Prayers and love needed...

Shocked...

:(

We went back home after 1800. In-laws were staying over at the factory. Emergency Congtingency Plan and Meeting was underway. Went back home, watch tv. Didnt seem like any worst in 40 years typhoon too me...more like heavy rain back in Malaysia...

Little was I to know that the day after, more than 100 ppl had died and counting. Scattered around Wenzhou are other towns... the only Chinese town i can remember (duh its all in chinese) is PinYang. There at least 80 over ppl died from flying debris or building collapse as a result of very VERY strong winds and rain. Deathtoll is rising. Our uncle's packaging factory was hard hit at least RMB 8 million in losses and the area PinYang alone has damages of at least RMB 4.8 billion... electricity cut, power supply cut, trees uprooted and lying everywhere, billboards, adverts destroyed, all KFC's (my cousin-in-law working there mah) glass shattered and insides soaked, houses collapsed, looting, flood, businesses with huge losses.

Quote: "I have never experienced such a typhoon with so much fury and force in my whole life."

Quote2: "I was looking down from my balcony, and i saw a group of people walking on the road trying to hold on to their umbrella's. then they met a gush of typhoon wind and in a second, they were all blown away and hit a wall"

Quote3: "Nothing is left, everything is gone, all my hard earn work is in vain."

And these are quotes from the few people i know only. I havent even read news or watched the TV yet...anyway...i cant..its all in Chinese..sigh.. like Katrina disaster...

God be with the Chinese people in this time of turmoil and suffering...May they find solace and refuge in you - our Rock and Fortress in the Storms of life. May the 'Jews of the East' (What Christians are called in Wenzhou because of their faith in Jesus and their abundant number) be light and salt to the people in need.

Guess what??? another on is coming!!!

Typhoon Saomai kills 104, causing huge losses
By Jiang Zhuqing (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-08-12 05:37

It Typhoon Time!!! biggest in 40 years!!!

As you have already read or heard, in South Eastern China, Zhejiang, Guangzhou, Fujian Provinces, it is typhoon season. I am in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. This one is going to hit directly at Wenzhou. Each summer there is numerous typhoons. Anyway, on today 10 August 2006 (Thursday), there will be a very huge typhoon.

It will be the biggest in 40 years! expect, floods, falling and flying objects, uprooted trees, flying rooftops, motorcycles, bicycles, trishaws, even dogs, etc, 3 -6 meter high waves, thunderstorms, blistering rains. It is so serious that it is making companies, factories, shops close early ....its going to start at 1700 hours right until late at night. If you know Chinese: http://news.66wz.com/jj/tfsm.swf 

Billboards, adverts, rooftops are being removed and enforced to prepare for this typhoon. so many other things....the mood / situation here is in a frenzy and ppl are very worried and preparing for the worst.

This is going to be one heck-a-va big one... everyone is stocking up on food, drinking water, supplies etc. lets hope the damage is kept to a minimum....

I'll tell you all about it after i survive this twister....

To Encourage

We do not know what we ought to pray for.
                                                                     ~Romans 8:26~

Often it is simply the answers to our prayers that cause many of the difficulties in the Christian life. We pray for patience, and our Father sends demanding people our way who test us to the limit, "because ... suffering produces perseverence" (Rom. 5:3). We pray for a submissive spirit and God sends suffering again, for we learn to be obedient in the same way Christ "learned obedience from what he suffered" (Heb. 5:8)

We pray to be unselfish, and God gives us opportunities to sacrifice by placing other people's needs first and by laying down our lives for other believers. We pray for strength and humility, and "a messenger of Satan" (2 Cor. 12:7) come to torment us until we lie on the ground pleading for it to be withdrawn.

We pray to the Lord, as His apostles did, saying "Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5). Then our money seems to take wings and fly away - we lose money; our children become critically ill; an employee becomes careless, slow, and wasteful; or some other new trial comes upon us, requiring more faith than we have ever before experienced.

We pray for a Christlike life that exhibits the humility of a lamb. Then we are asked to perform some lowly task, or are unjustly accused and given no opportunity to explain, for "he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and ... did not open his mouth" (Isa. 53:7)

We pray for gentleness and quickly face a storm of temptation to be harsh and irritable. We pray for quietness, and suddenly every nerve is stressed to its limit with tremendous tension so that we may learn that when He sends His peace, no one can disturb it.

We pray for love of others, and God sends unique suffering by sending people our way who are difficult to love (speculators/accusers/unfriendly, cause you hurt, back stabbers, handicapped, not academic, outcasts) AND who say things that get on our nerves and tear at our heart. He does this because "love is patient, love is kind... It is not rude... it is not easily angered... It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Cor. 13:4-5, 7-8).

Yes, we pray to be like Jesus, and God's answer is: "I have tested you in the furnace of affliction" (Isa. 48:10); "Will your courage endure or your hands be strong?" (Ezek. 22:14); "Can you drink the cup?" (Matt. 20:22).

The way to peace and victory is to accept every circumstance and every trial as being straight from the hand of our loving Father, to live "with him in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 2:6), above the clouds, in the very presence of His throne; and to look down from glory on our circumstances as being lovingly and divinely appointed.