Family's CNY reunion in Beijing

I really thank God for bringing us our family through this very tough period. I have much to thank God for - for healing my dad, for my dad's salvation, and for bringing our family very close together.

Dad and brother came over and spent Christmas with me, the second time since I arrived in Beijing. It is really good to have dad & bro here during this time when most of my friends are back home celebrating Christmas with their family or on xmas holidays.

Brother left earlier, while dad stayed on. But he fell very ill, and had to spend 2 months in the ICU. The doctors prepared me for the worst, and mom & bro decided to fly over cos the burden was too much for me to bear alone. I thank God for the friends and colleagues he rallied around me. For once, I really understood the significance of Guan(1) Xi(4) even in the hospital industry. Thankfully for Jessica, my regulatory manager, who knew many people, who knew even more significant individuals, my dad was well cared for. But we have never felt so helpless, as the doctors could not ascertain the bacteria that was causing his rapid spread of the puemonia and even had to put him on ventilator.

But thank God, the ordeal is behind us now, and his miraculous recovery also baffled the doctors cos of dad's old age. They said he was "lucky to have pick back his life", I say, "thank you Lord for healing daddy!" Dad also came to accept Christ as his personal Saviour! Praise God! Through this, our family also grew very close to each other as we come together daily in prayer for dad's recovery and also became a strong support for one another.

Having to spend CNY in Beijing this year, bro & I also decided to try out a couple of fireworks since this is also the first year that BJ authorities allowed fireworks within the 3rd ring road. We were delighted to have found a few small ones left at the roadside vendor, though these are nothing compared to the gallore of fireworks going off all around us on the eve of CNY! We were literally sprinting from one room to another to get our first eye-feasts of the beautiful fireworks in every direction as Beijingers were as eager to have their free play!