Thank you for your prayers for Paula. She came back to Hong Kong in late March for surgery. However, the doctor said that the cyst was getting smaller and her kidneys were stable. Praise the Lord for answering prayers. The Cambodian brothers and sisters held three days of fasting and prayer for this. God always performs miracles beyond our imagination. May His Name be glorified.

On my birthday, my devotional reading came to Psalm 84. It was God's encouraging word for the coming year:

[5] Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the highways to Zion .

[6] As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.

[7] They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion .

God reminded me on the days ahead:

1. Everyday is a pilgrimage.
2. Life is not an easy road, with the valley of Baca , filled with tears and hardship.
3. But, my strength is in God, not in myself. Keep looking up and depending on God.
4. God will make the path a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. It will be a blessing to other thirsty pilgrims.
5. In this pilgrimage, I am not alone. There are many other pilgrims going on the pilgrimage.
6. Every day I will experience God's strength upon strength.

What did I do after my birthday? I went to see the doctor and found that the gastritis had recurred. My stomach hurt so much in the night time that I could not sleep well.

These days in Hong Kong , when suddenly SARS breaks out, we may look at life differently now. Life span is really not within our control. But we can decide the kind of life we are going to live.

This world is full of paradox. Yes, life is not easy. Like the Apostle Paul experienced: "... as dying, and behold we live; ... as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything." In midst of all this, the Apostle Paul still could rejoice in the Lord: "...With all our affliction ...our bodies had no rest but we were afflicted at every turn--fighting without and fear within ... But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us ..." Therefore the Apostle Paul exhorts us, "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God."

Praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who comforts the downcast, and who has comforted us and carries us through every day.

On Monday, April 14, I had one examination in the morning and one in the evening at the seminary. I had some struggles on the two days before. Should I go to the "un-planned" meeting that was to be held for some urgent business on Saturday morning? Should I ask another group member to lead the small group for me on Sunday afternoon? I had not finished reviewing for the two examinations. God reminded me, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well." Yes, I had always told the young people to come to worship the Lord on Sunday even though they had an examination on Monday. Now, I understood the struggles of the young people more. I submitted my examination into the Lord's hands. I knew that I had to go for the urgent meeting and the small group. On Sunday evening I went to bed at 1 a.m. (i.e. Monday early morning already) and woke up at 3 a.m. for the revision. I did not have enough time to review all the lessons. God is merciful. The questions in the two examination papers were those I had gone through in the review! God is good and Christian friends are good too. A classmate brought a bottle of " Brand's Chicken's Essence" for me. She said that I must be very tired. However, I told myself, I must learn to make use of my time more efficiently in the future.

Life is still moving onward. It can be afflicted at every turn. But Jesus is always in the turn of our life, ready to comfort and walk with us (II Cor. 6:9-10, 7:6). And life is always a challenge and a learning process. Hopefully we will learn through the experiences and learn to be more disciplined, to grow wiser, to trust the Lord more, and to walk closer with Him.

The LORD bless you and keep you:
The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26)

Jesus is our Risen Lord.

Polly