Christmas Greetings 2015

Dear friends

Miss you a lot! My family and I have had a good and healthy year. After I had TDM-1 target therapy from Oct. to March, the cancer effect on my bones is under control. We keep simple and good life. One fantastic thing is that my niece Jenny gets a half tuition scholarship in the University of Michigan School of Information. She studies Human-Computer Interaction  in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA now. My nephew Alan is also very good, studying hard in preparing Chemical Engineering Master Degree Graduate School in Taiwan as he wants. Both of them are our happiness.

The family in my church has rich growth too. After having a teenager fellowship reunion class in Chiayi, the Southern Taiwan, 6 girls decided to be baptized in Sep. It so nice to be with them and the others for over 3 years and understand their willingness to love and to be loved by God. I am very blessed because they are going to teach me how to play drums, and I can't wait to listen to their plan for Taipei's Kids' Summer Camp next year.

Most of you must know that our close friend Daria got married in April. Her husband got a missionary job in a church close to my house, so they kindly invited my mum and sisters to join their church's trip in Miaoli. This reminded me our good memory in Friends International. I believe God will give them many rich opportunities in our area Banqiao. 

Moreover, in April, 4 old good friends went to join Strawberry's wedding, who married with an aboriginal brave man in Lanyu (Orchid Island), in East Taiwan. God has changed a lot of things. The lovely couple are planning to get baptized next year after our friend Puppy has done it in May. I know God will do more things. That's fantastic!

Last month, after having driving trip around Taiwan island with family for one week, the doctor found my brain and cerebellum had 4 cm and 3 cm tumors affecting my language and balance. However, before receiving the doctor's check-up result, I went to climb Yangmingshan National Park, where Andy, Elspeth, Chen-yang, Irene, Lydia, Li-chin and I visited in 2011. On the way, God was with me. He told me everything is under His plan. I felt peaceful, safety, and joyful.

So no worry about my current condition. Now I am the Super Movie Star of Star Wars, having brain treatment. The only reaction is sleepy, sleepy, and sleepy. I believe I can return Sunday worship next week though I might need some more time to practice cooking, exercising, and a little bit thinking of memories, but life is still good, isn't it?

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and Lots of wonderful things in 2016, with my prayer and love,
Carol xx

Christmas Greetings 2014

Dear Friend,
It's the season to send greetings! I love the tradition of Christmas letters or cards because it's a fabulous way to say that I’m thinking of you.

I'm sorry to tell you that I become a patient again. The chemos and radiation therapy in spring 2014 didn't stop the expansion of cancer cells. They were found in the bones of my breast cavity and pelvic cavity. So I'm having targeted therapy now. However, during the break of therapies, I had good time with family and friends. We went to Mt. A-Li and Sun Moon Lake this summer. It’s kind of funny because they're the most famous tourist attractions in Taiwan, but I hadn't been there until now. Sometimes we spend lots of time to explore distant places but neglect the nearest. I'm happy I didn't miss their beauty in the end.

My last outing with Mum, three sisters, my brother-in-law, and friends this year

Waiting for the sunrise in Mt. Ali

Biking surrounding the Sun Moon Lake

My mother and sisters are good in health. I'm fortunate to have their care and love. My niece Jenny is applying for the graduate schools in USA. Though her current major is Library and Information Science, she expects to study Human Computer Interaction for the next two years. The teenagers in my church are brilliant. They had a short-term mission overseas again, and one of them volunteered for the vessel Logos Hope this summer. Now they are practicing to lead the worship by themselves. It's joyful to see their growth. And I just got a wonderful news from Daria, our dearest sister in Christ. She will get married in April. Hopefully I can take part in her wedding.

Visiting the vessel Logos Hope with the brothers and sisters in Christ

Christmas Eve is coming soon! I am delighted to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ together with you through the song 'Silent Night'. (Here is a Chinese version by a Taiwanese singer: http://youtu.be/i1jPxOvssIo.) May you and your family or beloved friends have a very happy Christmas and New Year!

Yours,
Carol (Su-yi)

Carol's Update 06/08/14

Dear friend,
How do you enjoy your summer? Last month, all members in my family had a reunion for my mum's 77th birthday. Attached the memorable photo, including my mum, her four daughters, my brother-in-law, my niece and my nephew. Moreover, in addition to exercise walking nearby, I still go hiking to relax my body and mind. The beauty and prosperity of nature is absolutely one of the most marvelous gifts from God.

Yep, you might have guessed that the treatment for my cancer reoccurrence was finished. My check-up report is good. Although cancer cells are still in my bones, their condition is quite stable. So I don't need to have further treatment for the next 6 months except for a monthly injection to protect my bones. Thank God for leading me to escape from the darkest valley.

This week, the youth in my church is having an overseas short-term mission again. We had intensive training and practice for about two months. It's joyful to see their hearts touched by God's words, their progress in knowledge, and the growing intimacy among the group. Though I won't go with them this year, I'm very blessed to have these lovely children. Hallelujah!

In my previous email, I mentioned the Dutch missionary Koert who founded my current church was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Thanks for your kind prayer. I'm happy to tell you that the radiotherapy and chemos before his surgery reduced his tumor hugely. Its size became one-tenth. Now he has recovered well. Sadly, my friend Jessica passed away on 4th June morning. Her family said she was taken up to the heaven without much pain. We believe she has rested in God's arm and enjoyed her new life.

Finally, there are many disasters in the world recently. Please kindly pray for the sufferers of aviation accidents (Taiwan's TramsAsia Flight GE222 & Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17/MH370), deadly Ebola virus in West Africa, Israel–Gaza conflict, the earthquake in Yunnan, China, and the explosions caused by gas leaking from underground pipelines in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Thank you!

With love and prayer,
Carol

Easter Greetings 2014

Dear friend,
Happy Easter! I just came back from my church. And I'd like to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with you too.

Thank you for your warm greetings. My family and I are good. This month I'm capable to do more housework and exercise walking despite of the chemos. I think the reoccurrence of cancer could be part of God’s plan about me as I can't stop thinking of the words "In order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)"

Limited to the energy, I didn't visit friends as often as usual. But it’s lovely to see Ai-I again in my church. It’s the first time we saw each other after the good year in Lancaster. What a long time! Last month, my best friend from senior high school age gave birth to her first baby. He's adorable. It's absolutely an adventure to hold a 20-day-old little boy (I hadn't held a baby less than 6 months old even my niece and nephew.), but it's fantastic to see how life continues, so does love. In addition, I met up two students who studied in Hualien Syue Tian Primary School, where I went twice for voluntary holidays. The lovely siblings came to Taipei with their parents for selling the organic sweet potatoes from their field. The younger brother grew up so quickly, and the elder sister became an excellent helper of their parents. It’s wonderful to see the family's financial condition has been improved. May God bless them!

The spring in Taiwan is getting warmer. Sometimes it's over-warm. For example, after my short walk yesterday, it's 29 degrees centigrade at 5:40 pm. However, many beautiful flowers are blooming because of the temperature. A sweet surprise from the teenagers in my church is that they gave me a bunch of flower made of paper. They used the cards to encourage me, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)” How thoughtful they are!

I do thank God for giving me a chance to see you again before my 2nd medical treatment. Though we're living far away from each other, my thoughts are also often with you. I wish you’re in good health and happiness!

Love and prayer,
Carol

Carol's Update 04/03/14

Dear friend,
Thank you for your kind thought. I am sorry that my previous emails were written in a state of trepidation. I was very anxious when the doctor said he could only manage my cancer reoccurrence rather than to cure it. But thank God! A young sister in our youth fellowship asked me why. It reminded me that "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible". I regained joy and peace. Praise the Lord!

Now I am doing well with my medical treatment, both physically and psychologically. (Yes, I'm still capable to do some English-Chinese translation for the sponsored children of the World Vision Taiwan.) Fortunately, the reoccurrence of my breast cancer is only a small spot in my rib, so my doctor is willing to give me aggressive treatment. I had 13 radiation treatments. (It is tiring but finally passed.) I have been injected with a new drug to protect my bone every month and taken chemo medicines twice every 3 weeks. The course of my chemo is 18 weeks. We expect to finish it in May. Then we will have a check-up to see if the cancer cells have been disappeared.

There is an episode encouraging me a lot. At the beginning, my doctor planned to inject another chemo drug into my body, in addition to the oral chemo medicine. As it caused hair loss and a small operation to insert a port in my shoulder, my doctor postponed it due to the Chinese New Year. Two weeks ago, he decided to cancel it because no one knew if the chemo drug was useful to me. It's awesome! I don't need to have more suffering. I guess he might be also pleased with my current state.

During the past a few months, I got some sad news. Kent, a friend from my graduate school, passed away in early December because of lung cancer. I went to see him for several times before visiting you in England, so I knew how unwilling he was to leave his wife and two children. We were all surprised that the period from his diagnosis to his funeral was only 4 months, particularly because he didn't smoke and went camping frequently with his family. But we are glad that his wife and children have begun to rebuild their lives, supported by their family and friends.

My grandpa also passed away before the Christmas. He was 97 years old and baptized in the nursing home. He was the only Christian among my family members, but we never had chance to talk about our faith because he had almost lost his memory. I believe he has been in Heaven. He might be quite happy to see that his seven children and many grandchildren got together again from the north and the south due to his funeral.

In addition, the founder of my current church Koert was diagnosed with rectum cancer last month. He and his wife Gea are the missionaries from the Netherlands, dedicating nearly 50 years to the people in Taiwan and in China. Now Koert has treatment in the same hospital of mine. I know there must be many friends praying for them. Koert will get better and better.

And Jessica, who studied in MA TEFL at Lancaster University from 2006 to 2007, has suffered from pancreas cancer since 2011. The cancer transferred to her liver in the next year. I didn't clearly know it until recently. She is looking for different treatment to comfort her state. As she and all her family are faithful Christians, hope God gives them strength and confidence. (Jessica and her husband got married at the end of 2013, and they know each other for 15 years. They are a very special couple, realizing the meaning of the wedding vow. Bless the couple!) 

Facing the death and illness, I think I'll cherish my life even more and focus on the most important things. Spring is coming, at least in Taiwan. I miss your British garden. Hope you have a nice spring too.

Lots of love, Carol

Carol's Update 09/09/13

My dear friends,
How’s your summer? In Taipei, it’s hot. The highest temperature is 39.3°C, breaking the record of the past 100 years. Thus, one of my jobs this summer is to find cooler places for family trips.

My family and I have well settled down in our new house. Daria, Li-chin, Irene, Lydia and some Taiwanese friends from Lancaster came to visit us, and we had lovely gatherings. Yesterday, I met Ai-I up on the road. She would like to visit my church in Oct. Hope she’ll embrace God’s love again.

Last month, I had a short-term mission in China. With friends from our church, including 7 teenagers who had prepared for the camp for at least 6 months, we led the summer camp of 45 kids. The local kids are adorable though some of them or their families had difficult time because of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Having simple and thirsty hearts, they accepted the good news quickly. We pray that the seeds will sprout and grow fast. To glorify our God, the teenagers did well. They cared and treated the kids like their little brothers and sisters. Facing the incomplete administrative work, they didn't complain but tried their best to support us. I’m proud of being their counselor.

In early Aug., I passed my yearly check-up although I need to do another bone scan in December to make sure that the shade in my right ankle and the 6th rib is not a big deal. (The shade is very likely caused by my last falling down on stairs in April.) It doesn't bother me because I have confidence in our Father, so my sister and I will visit London from 5th to 7th Nov. and Lancaster from 7th to 16th Nov. We were wondering about the possibility of meeting up with you. As I’ll stay in Lancaster for about only 9 days, may I know if 9th Nov has the event of International Cafe or the outing of Friends International? And Sue, do you have time to go hiking in the Lakes with us? Anyway, I do hope it is possible to meet with you.

Lots of love,
Carol

Carol's Christmas Greetings

Christmas 2012

Dear friends,

Hope you have a peaceful year as I do. I’m happy to tell you that everything turns to positive in 2012. My health recovers well. The outcome of my regular medical check-up for breast cancer is normal. Last Christmas I was frustrated by external otitis, resulted from the immunity decrease due to the chemos. Thank God! The condition has improved. Last month, I took a five-hour flight to Singapore with my sister. Wearing a compression sleeve and a compression glove during the flight, I successfully prevented the symptom of Lymphoedema. It gave me even more confidence to visit Lancaster next year.

My family are also well. We’re busy at moving recently. It takes time to settle down in new environment, but my mum, two unmarried older sisters, and I are delighted to have our own rooms respectively. Thank my friend Joy’s uncle who did the gorgeous interior decoration with a reasonable price. Our new ‘castle’ is very close to our dream. My oldest sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew will move to another flat of the same building soon. So we are still a big family, gathering around our dinning table frequently. Update the good news about my nephew Alan who was enrolled by a national university in September, as his sister Jenny did last year. It’s amazing to see how fast the children grow up.

I’m still doing freelance work, including writing and translation. I enjoy writing Taiwan’s community stories in English for the Ministry of Culture. It encourages me to have a talk with the local people when I have a trip, which enriches my travel. If you’re interested in the stories, including my voluntary trips in Bunun Tribal Leisure Farm in Taitung and Syuetian Elementary School in Hualien, please click the following link: http://sixstar.moc.gov.tw/eng-2011/caseStudyAction.do?method=doListAll and see the articles written by Su-yi Lin. Moreover, I’ve joined a project conducted by Cosmic Light, a Christian non-profit organisation, to help the disadvantaged children in Great Taipei since June. My primary work is to assist the Weekend Children Camp and to interview some of their teachers or workers once a month. I like this job because it gives me an opportunity to spend time with children in need. It also teaches me some practical skills which might be useful in my future voluntary trips. And this week I get a part-time job offer from a missionary organization. The leader needs someone to deal with the administrative matters about twice a week in the coming year. The youth in my church is going to have a short-term mission trip in China next summer, so I might be able to learn something from this job. However, it takes about 1.5 hours from my house to the workplace by bus and foot. I’m not sure whether this is a call from God. Anyway, I’ll pray for it. If you have any suggestion or sharing, please kindly let me know.

I keep hiking with friends as often as I can. The most impressive trails this year are the St. Mary National Trail, the Taoyuan Valley Trail, and the Sandiaoling Falls Trail because they are challenging and I make it! Guided by my friends, I begin to understand why so many people are interested in bird watching. It’s fun to distinguish the features of birds and to observe their behaviours and interactions through a nice telescope.

In 2012, one of the best things is to see some friends from the UK. In Jan., our Malaysia friend SookLu had a one-week trip in Taiwan. I didn’t know she could speak Mandarin until that lunch because we always talked in English when we met up in front of our offices in Lancaster University’s Engineering Building. In Feb., Pei-chun came back to Taiwan. I was glad to know she had been baptised in Lancaster and heard the good news of Anna Plowman (Well, now her first name is Gioveni. Is it an Italian word?). In April, it’s lovely to see Kat and her husband Rado. In May, a few Taiwanese ex-PhD students had a gathering in Lydia and Hsinghao’s wedding. In Oct., our Korean friend Wonjim had a business trip in Taipei. The wonderful dinner talk reminded me of the good memory in the kitchen of Graduate College. Finally, as Daria moved to Taipei owing to her job in April, we see each other once every three months in average. After the Sunday worship this week, we plan to go hiking and our HK friend Crystal will join us.

In this warm season, I deeply appreciate your prayer and kindness in the previous year although sometimes I’m unable to reply your cards or messages instantly. I sincerely believe that you and your beloved people will have a very happy Christmas and New Year!

With much love,
Carol


近期採訪文章（暫貼）

<送炭到向陽電子報2012/11>
施比受更有福─愛心義賣會志工張文玲姊妹專訪

<台灣社區通>
Success of Nonviolent Resistance – Rescue and Rejuvenation of Chongjian Street in Tamsui  非暴力抗爭的成功案例─淡水重建街的搶救與活化

Wrestling Ring of Economic Development and Environmental Protection – Tucheng Ammunition Depot Community  經濟發展與環境保護的角力場--土城彈藥庫社區

Carol's Easter Greetings

Dear friends,
Have daffodils brought the smell of spring? We have beautiful berry blossom in Feb. and Mar. Now I am looking forward to the white Tung blossom, also named May Snow, in Apr. and May.

Easter is coming soon! To share the love of Jesus Christ and follow His teaching to be alive, I invited the teenagers in our English bible study to write Easter cards for the elders in British, who might live alone or in nursing houses. I’m happy to know that most teenagers like this activity and show their interests in English although some of them might write their first English cards in their lives. Here is the card cover. Isn’t it lovely? If you receive my request to pass the cards to those whom you know, please kindly do us a favour. We’re grateful for your kind help.

The recovery of my health goes well. My weekly hiking and volunteer jobs are continuing. To do something more for my health, my family took me to see a Chinese medicine doctor since mid Feb. Interestingly, the doctor said my pulse showed a climacteric symptom after using his finger to feel the pulse on my wrist. So his first prescription was to improve my sleeping condition. He acupunctured and gave me some Chinese medicine. He also asked me put my feet in hot water for at least 20 minutes once a day. Amazingly, my sleeping condition and stiff shoulder have been improved day by day. Some muscle strains and a twisted ankle due to the hiking were also cured. Last Saturday, he said it’s time to improve my ‘chi and blood'. I think the traditional Chinese medicine can play some roles when the western medicine has done its work. :-)

At the end of this letter, may I ask you two things in your prayer? First, I haven’t known which position God would like to put me in. So I’ll use the period of time to do the things close to my dream. I’ll have voluntary vacation in East Taiwan from tomorrow to 7th April. For the first week, I’ll stay in an indigenous park initialed and managed by a priest. For the second week, I’ll return the elementary school where I served last year. May God bless my trip and keep guiding me. Moreover, I’ll have my yearly check-up in May. I believe and declare the result will be ‘cancer cannot be detected’. Amen!

Love, Carol

Christmas Letter 2011

Christmas 2011
Dear friends,

My family and I are thankful for your friendship and prayer. We wish you all the best during the Christmas season and the coming New Year. This year is full of God’s grace and mercy. My treatment ended in March, and the prognosis of breast cancer went well. I gave up my doctoral study in Lancaster and denied full-time job opportunities because the priority of my life was changed. Before I clearly know what our Father in Heaven wants me to do, I prefer to spend time with my family, close friends, Christian brothers and sisters, other breast cancer survivors, and the kids/teens who haven’t known how valuable they are.


Family BBQ with neighbours in the Mid-Autumn Festival and some gathering with family and friends

Being a freelancer, I take a few translation cases from friends and write travel notes for websites. If you’re interested in my English notes, please see the links. Every suggestion is very welcome. http://www.hometown.org.tw/eng-2011/caseStudyAction.do?method=doDetail&&engId=17
http://www.hometown.org.tw/eng-2011/caseStudyAction.do?method=doDetail&&engId=18
I’ve never been so relaxed after I grew up. With limited workloads, I’m able to cook dinner for my family, to have deep conversation with close friends, and to borrow interesting books from libraries. I think it’s a testimony of Matthew 11:30 – “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Finally, I learn how to ignore the evaluation of the world and simply count on Him.

Try to be a good cook for my family. :-)

To find my way ahead, I take part in voluntary activities, which I was interested in but had no courage to devote to. I continue being a volunteer translator for the World Vision Taiwan. Recently they shift me to translate children’s letters from Swaziland. The children’s living environment seems worse than that in Latin America and East Europe. Some children couldn’t pay the remaining tuition and got their school reports before getting the gifts from Taiwan’s sponsors. Some orphans, whose parents had been passed away because of AIDS, were looked after by neighbourhood care points. These true stories remind me of the blessing I have received. I cherish my current life and hope that God lighten the lives of the children on the other end of the earth.

In addition, this summer I participated in two voluntary vacation programmes in East and South Taiwan (Hualien & Pingtung) respectively. Our main job was to assist local students’ homework and to accompany them, as I shared before. The four-week experience taught me how wide the rural-urban divide was. Interpersonal trust relationship was established over time, so a short-stay volunteer could be a helper at most. The rural communities needed local residents or long-stay volunteers to come forward and to be the kids’ spiritual guides. As a social worker said, “some kids are tired to pretend that they like to play with big brothers and sisters from urban areas.” I realized that rural areas in Taiwan couldn’t be my harvest.

Fortunately, God opened a window in Taipei City. I became a volunteer tutor for the Champions Education Association R.O.C. The Christian founders of the association thought that social problems could be decreased when young people rooted in correct value. Hence, the association designed course materials and invited Christian brothers and sisters to teach in Taiwan’s junior high schools. The materials included how to value oneself without bias, how to deal with problems and emotions, and how to get along with friends whose gender differed from his/hers. Until present, over 400 schools have been allied with the association. Last year, our priest started to teach in a junior high school near our church. This term, I joined his team. It’s nice to see students’ changes in the classes. Our priest’s wife told me that last year a student promised to face his drug-taking problem after our class. They also discovered some potential family (sexual) violence cases and then were able to prevent it.

At church, I serve as a greeter on Sunday worship and coordinate an English Bible Study for the youth group. We had the Bible Study twice only. I’m still learning from doing, but I thank God and our priest giving me the chance to share what I had learned in England with the teens. To celebrate Christmas, we’re having a party in the park beside our church this Saturday afternoon. Our youth and kid groups will perform one of the shows. During the past three months, they have practiced drumming and dancing once a week very hard. I’m indeed proud of them.

The voluntary activities and the drumming and dancing practice of our youth and kid groups

For the reason of health, I’ve taken a walk once a week for about one year. Green forests, blue sky, and the creatures in the Nature refresh me whenever I feel sorrow. It also provides me a less burdensome situation to talk with my family, friends, and other breast cancer survivors. Furthermore, it’s good to meet friends up for a walk instead of for a meal because I’m still fighting for the weights gained in the chemos. (Awwww…why do Asian women always fight for weights?) When Elspeth and Andy visited Taiwan, we went to Mt. Yangming together. (Dear Sue, they can prove that I’m better in hiking now. I’ll demonstrate it when we visit the Lakes again.) But I found that I had little knowledge about the Nature in Taiwan. Thus, I registered to be an environmental volunteer in the Zhishan Cultural and Ecological Garden. I enjoyed the training lessons and gardening work there, with the smell of soil and grass.

Go hiking with friends for the Nature beauty and the warm friendship.

Next year, my biggest challenge is to face the psychological shade in my mind. I’m weak when I hear news about cancer reoccurrence. I’m also easily to feel frustrated about my poor health. For example, my immunity is not as good as before. My nail, skin, and ear are infected in turn this year. After a surgery for the nail disease paronychia, it took me six months for the recovery. Last week, my aching right ear was diagnosed with otitis externa. After the first three-day medicine, the condition wasn’t improved. So I’m taking stronger antibiotics now. Taking flight becomes a complex thing due to my upper extremity lymphedema following treatment of breast cancer. I need someone to go with me and lying down for 30 minutes when we arrive at the destination airport. However, I believe I’ll getting better when I get used to my current condition.

Praise the Lord! My family are all in good health. The most wonderful news this year is that my niece Jenny was enrolled by the best university in Taiwan. My nephew Alan will take the University Entrance Examination next year. Hopefully he can pass the exam without stress and have a good result like his sister. Another good news is that we will move to a four-room flat next year. Each of us, my Mum, my two big sisters, and I, will have our own room. I’ve been thinking of the interior design for over two years because it’s part of pre-sale homes*. Thank my family giving me such a big present while I was having chemos. It brought me lots of fun and hope.

(*Briefly to say, pre-sale homes refer to new homes that are being offered for sale before construction, in order to decrease the funding stress and the sale risk of the constructors. It’s a unique real estate system in Taiwan.)

Wish you and your beloved ones have a happy Christmas and New Year,

With lots of love and prayer,
Carol

Carol's Update 09/08/11

Dear friends,
How's your summer vacation? In July, my big sister and I had a voluntary vacation in Shuhai, a peaceful aboriginal township beside the Pacific Ocean in southern Taiwan. A foundation arranged us to live in the local church for three weeks. In the morning, we supported the teachers in a local kindergarten to look after the lovely kids. In the afternoon, we taught a few aboriginal students English and computer skills in addition to their homework. We did enjoy the hot spring, the seasonal butterfly ginger lilies, and the sunrise by the seaside. We also understood how simple our life could be.

During the last week of July, it's so wonderful to see Elspeth and Andy again in Taipei. The time seems to return to the good days in Lancaster. On Friday, we went to Yingee Pottery Street and had dinner with my BIG family. (Yes, I drew a family tree afterwards.) On Saturday, Chen-yang and Irene led us to go hiking in the Yangmingshan National Park and then visited the Palace Museum. It must be an unforgettable experience to hike up a mountain in 35 degrees centigrade and 82% humility to Elspeth and Andy. :-) On Sunday, we had worship in Chen-yang and Irene's church and then a small farewell party in their house. The happy gatherings reminded us, the returnees from Lancaster, the gorgeous outings and International Café activities. We dreamed to visit our friends in Lancaster some day.

About my future, I am still praying for the direction, with strong confidence in our Lord. I don't have instant economical pressure due to my insurance compensation and family support. Currently I write some travel articles and take a few translation cases for interests and the allowance.

No big change about my health condition. I had a physical check-up last week and will have bone-scan in late August in order to check the dark areas (hot spots) in my bottom. If things go well, I will have my routine check-up every half a year. It's good news to me because I will feel closer to normal.

Thank you for keeping me in your prayer. I wish you know you are in mine too.

In His love,
Carol

Carol's Update 07/06/11

Dear friends,
Has the summer gone to your country? In Taiwan, it has been quite hot. The temperature is about 35 degrees centigrade at noon, and it will keep increasing in July and Aug. Truly to say, I don’t like the hot and humid weather at all. Hope I can continue going a short hike in the forest, my weekly sport, rather than taking a nap in an air-conditioning environment this summer (finger crossed).

And thanks God! I passed my first 3-month check-up at the end of May. The result is fine. They only found a little bit uncertainty on my hip bone. Both of my doctor and I agreed that it was very likely caused by a small accident – I fell off the stairs a few weeks ago. I will have another Whole Body Bone Scan three months later. But I believe I have been cured by God’s mercy.

My one-week voluntary vacation in the Hualien Syue-Tian Elementary School is awesome. My dearest friend Daria Tsai, the 2007 volunteer in the Friends International Lancaster, also went there. We had a wonderful gathering after 3 years, the Christian Outreach voluntary vacation in Cambridge.
The students in the Syue-Tian school are very lovely though some complex social problems are hidden. For example, some kids are from grandparents-breeding family. They are generally watching native soap dramas with their grandparents after school time instead of doing their homework. In addition, the local resource to provoke their learning is limited. As the principle said, “We held the graduation trip in the cities for our 11 or 12-year-old kids. I was surprised to know that it’s their first time to take a lift when they were excited at the look outside of the lift door was different.”


Limited to the time, I did nearly nothing during the week. But I am glad that I am alive and able to keep thinking of what I can do for the rest of my life. In July, my sister and I will have another volutary vacation for the aborigines. I expect that I will learn more from them.

At the end of this letter, send my warmest congratulations to Mike onyour arriving baby. Please tell Frances that she is as pretty as usual even with a ‘growing bump’. :-) And I am looking forward to Elspeth and Andy’s visit to Taiwan. If there is anything I can do, please feel free to tell me. Finally, thank you for your continuous support. You are always in my prayer. May God bless all of you.

Lots of love,
Carol

Carol's Update 24/04/11

Dear friends,
Happy Easter day! Hope God's richest blessing on you and all the people surrounding you. Has the spring come to your country? I saw the news about the coming royal wedding in London. It's really a big event, isn't it?

Today I went to Arne and Vicky's engagement in Taiwan. I think some of you know Dr. Arne Strauss. He is a Postdoc in the department of Management Science at the Lancaster University. When we studied the PhD programme, his office was next to mine. Today he and his girlfriend have a lovely ceremony. He has his best Chinese speech on the stage. It's really touching to see the prince from Germany and the princess from Taiwan begin to build their own castle (home), and the first brick is from Lancaster. His slides recall lots of memories in the UK. I miss your warm friendship.

However, I'm sorry to tell you that in the short term, I won't continue my study because my two-year medical treatment has changed the priority of my life. I learned life might not be as long as I had thought. I had better follow my heart and do the things which are very important to me a.s.a.p. So this year I'll be a free lancer and take part in more volunteer work in addition to the translation for the World Vision. For example, next month my friend and I will have a one-week voluntary vacation at an elementary school in Hualien, a relatively poor area in the eastern Taiwan. May God be with us, and I'll share what I learn in my next letter.

Hope God keeps strengthening my body and spirit, so I can be ready to visit my dearest old friends from Europe next year.

Much love,
Carol

[Note 25/04/11] Is this the reality of life -- happiness and sadness come together? This morning I got a heart-breaking news. Christine, our ex-departmental secretary, lost her cancer battle on Thursday when she passed away surrounded by family and friends. I believe Christine has rested in the Heaven with Him coz she was always so patient with our students and brave in her battle. She is and will be always alive in my memory.

Carol's Update 17/02/11

Dear friends,
Do you know it's Chinese New Year recently? Today is the Lantern Festival, the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration. Traditionally today, we try to solve riddles on lanterns and eat tangyuen, a kind of glutinous rice ball. But nowadays, we focus on family reunion instead of those activities. If any of you has Chinese friends nearby, hope you also enjoy the atmosphere of reunion.

Shared an exciting news. In addition to my hair is longer (pls see the photo), I completed all the therapies on Tuesday. Hooray! What a spiritual release after 22 months! On 1st March, I will have a surgery to remove my port, a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin for chemo injection. After that, I'm only requested for check-up every 3 months. Then the gap will be longer and longer. Though the doctors and nurses have been my friends, I'm delighted that I don't have to visit them so often.

And there is a small testimony about my port surgery. Forty-five days ago, my doctor strongly suggested me to keep the port for the next 2 years in case of (cancer) reoccurrence. To maintain its usefulness, I had to return the hospital once a month for an injection, in order to melt the impurities in the port. I asked the brothers and sisters in my small group at my current church to pray for this because I believe Jesus Christ already cured me. Then my port was stuck in the next chemo. The nurse found my port had got stuck for 4 times, so she said I should be able to remove the port a.s.a.p. The conclusion was reversed so quickly, and the following decisions went so smoothly. I think it's the response from Jesus to our prayers. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

May God be with you too.

With my warmest greetings to all of you and your family,

Carol

Carol's Update 24/12/10

Dear friends,
Are you having a white Christmas? Glad to tell you that my check-up in November is ok. There are only three targeted therapies left next year. I’m expecting the coming of 2011 though it comes a little bit fast. But I think it’s very difficult to be READY for a new year, isn’t it?

In Taiwan, the weather is pretty warm when the day is sunny, so I did some hiking and biking with my family or friends. My right arm was slightly swollen after the relatively intense exercise, but it has returned to normal after I wear the compression glove at nights.



My church’s Gospel music concert was successfully completed in 11th December. Praise the Lord! Four of my friends came. Many non-Christian, who had got our leaflets on the streets or through their schools, also took part in this event. The attendants are over 600 persons except for our nearly 100 God’s servants. My church will have another small-scaled music sharing and Christmas lunch this Sunday. Hope it goes well too.

I use two photos to make the e-cards this year. The 1st one is some records for our Gospel music concert as I think you might be interested in my family in Christ in Taiwan. The 2nd one is my mum and I taken in the Taipei International Flora Exposition, a big event in the place where I live. I hope the Poinsettia in the background can add more seasonal greetings in my card.



Hope you and your family have a truly happy Christmas and New Year.

In His Love, Carol

"Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love." (2 John 1:3)

Carol's Update 25/10/10

Dear friends,
I'm sorry it has been so long since I last wrote to you. But as the old saying, no news is good news. You must understand how happy I'm to restart a new life after such a long time to recover from the operation and chemos.

I'm delighted to tell you that I'm getting better although the whole medical treatment won’t come to the end until next February. I passed the yearly check-up last Sep. It points out some uncertainty in my left breast, so I'll have another check-up in Nov. I am learning to cast my anxiety of re-occurrence on God. I believe this is a special lesson for me to learn how much God loves me and how much I can count on Him. As Reinhold Niebuhr said, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

After my healthy issue, let's have some British conversation. Recently, the weather in Taipei is cooler though there are heavy rains occasionally. Only a few leaves turned to yellow, but it's very comfy to have a walk on these lovely autumn days. As the fresh air benefits health, I set a new goal – hiking out within the forest once a week at least. I've done this for about one month, and my physical strength has been significantly improved. Kind of regrets for why I didn’t hike often when I was in Lancaster?

And this year, sowing the seeds is the goal of my church. We'll have a Gospel Music Concert and Christmas lunch in Dec. Before that, there are a few warming-up events. One week ago, we had an outing. (It reminds me those wonderful outings organised by the International Café Lancaster and the Chaplaincy Centre.) I invited 4 friends and their family to go with me. Here is a photo including us five. I'm very beloved to have their friendship from the junior high, from the university, or from the graduate school. Some of you might recognise Jennifer, who studied in Manchester and went lots of events with me. May God soften their hearts and bless our events in Dec.

Yours in His loving care, Carol

Carol's note 26/05/10

Dear friends,
Thank you for your kind prayer for my family, my friend and me. Although I'm still having targeted therapies every 3 weeks, I'm recovering well from the radio therapies and feel much stronger. The attached photos are taken in family outings. This year my Mum had a happy Mother's Day, the 2nd Sunday in May. Thanks God, no more surprise. :-)

About my faith life, I returned to my church for Sunday worship. And I've been an English-Chinese translation volunteer at home for the World Vision Taiwan since April. World Vision is an international Christian organisation. Its mission is "Let my heart be broken with the things break the heart of God." (Yes, our friend Daria, the ex-volunteer of Friends International Lancaster, works there now. But the job was told by Kat, a Taiwanese PhD graduate from Lancaster. She has been its translation volunteer for a long time. What a small world!) I'd like to do some international mission after I got so much support in the UK. This volunteer job isn't a big deal, but I'm delighted at this start. I believe it is a response from God to my prayer.

I'm very touched by the letters written by the children from Bolivia, Colombia, Romania or Salvador, who use simple words to introduce themselves and express their thanks to their sponsors from Taiwan. For example, a child wrote, "I have at home a very nice library and that thanks to you: with your support I collect the books I needed for school and not only." Another child's mother wrote: "In the Christmas time... he desired a special present, a truck. He was happy because he received another present from Santa." The children and their family show me how content they are with their lives. They might be poor in physical needs, but they are rich in soul. I hope I can have such simple desire and pure confidence in God as they are.

If there is anything you'd like me to include in my prayer, pls feel free to tell me. Thank you.

Love and blessing from Carol

Carol's note 15/04/10

Dear friend,
How's your Easter vacation? Hope you and your family have acquired sufficient energy. I heard the weather in England has finally turned to spring. I could almost see the beautiful daffodils blooming along the path on campus. (The snowdrop season is gone, right?)

My condition keeps going well. Thank you for your kind attention and prayer. Today is the last day of my radio therapy course. I’m very happy for the milestone although I still have one-year targeted therapy. From now on, I don’t need to do the tiring job -- go and back between my home and the hospital alone by MRT for 3 hours every weekday. I'll normally go to the hospital for the targeted therapy every 3 weeks. Hooray!

I had the injections of targeted therapy twice because the time was advanced by one week. The injection is similar to that of chemo, but the time is shorter, around 90 minutes, and the side effect is less. The only notable thing is that Herceptin, the targeted therapy medicine, may lead to heart failure or shortness of breath. Hence, I'll have echocardiography regularly.

I do think I'm very blessed to have your and my family's support whenever I pray. Without your support and God’s mercy, I can’t survive after the shock and the long treatment. May I beg you to add my big sister Su-wen and my friend Fu-li in your prayer list? This afternoon, my sister Su-wen was asked to have a core needle biopsy on Monday because there is a one-centimeter shade in her sonography picture. Please pray for her. Hope it's just a machine error, a calcification, or a benign tumor. I'll tell you the diagnosis result after she got it on Saturday.

And Fu-li, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, is a senior volunteer in my hospital. She came to comfort me after my surgery and then became an important friend in my supportive group. Unfortunately, a recurrence of cancer was found in her bones before the Chinese New Year. Not disappointing other patients, she kept the secret until I saw her in front of the radio therapy room. Now she simultaneously has radio therapy and chemo. This must be a very hard time to her. Please pray for her and her family. Hope the treatment is useful, and both her current and eternal life can be saved. Amen!

May peace and joy with you.

Lots of love,
Carol

Carol's update on 22/04/10

Dear all,
Haleluya! I'm so happy to tell you that my sister Su-wen was diagnosed with fibrocystic breast, a benign (non-cancerous) condition. Thank you very much for your kind prayer. And thank God who shows His love to me again.

Have a bright Sunday!

Lots of love,
Carol

Carol's note 11/02/10

Dear friends,
How are you? Hope you have taken a good rest after the busy Christmas season.

Glad to tell you that I have only one chemo therapy left. The main side effect of my new chemo medicine is bone ache, which is less uncomfortable than sickness, the side effect of my previous medicine. If everything goes well, I’ll complete my 12th chemo at the end of February and start radio therapy & targeted therapy at the end of March. The greatest positive influence is that I can go out more independently and eat less from April because the radio and targeted therapies don’t destroy my white blood cells.

As a preparation for returning to a normal life, my family has arranged a few outings and trips for me. We went to some good places in Taiwan. The links of my albums are as follows. My family and I have been convinced that fresh air and nature beauty are the best medicine. The latest blood test shows that the index of my red blood cells is over 14 while the normal one is 12. The index of my white blood cells is nearly 4800 while the minimum requirement is 3000. And the index of my liver function decreases from over 200 to 134. (Well, the normal one is 30. I know there is still some space for improvement.)

Wulai Half-Day Trip
Shenkeng & Shrding Half-Day Trip
Miaoli Cherry Blossom & Grape Picking Tour

This coming Saturday is the Chinese New Year Eve, a traditional holiday for a family reunion. My mum and sisters have been busy at yearly house clean-up and food purchase. I’m not used to have a privilege to be an onlooker, but I’ve learned to accept others’ kindness and to do what I’m able to do. Now I’m looking forward to the holidays’ arrival. If there are some celebrations for the Chinese New Year or Lantern Festival in your locations, hope you also enjoy the atmosphere.

We’re having a Tiger year in Chinese lunar calendar, so wish your health and faith is as strong as a tiger!

Love,
Carol

Carol's note 24/12/09

Dear friends,
Happy Christmas and New Year! I saw the news that most of you will have a white Christmas. Hope none of your family is blocked on the road, and your family reunion has been heating up your house as the warmest place in the world.

I'm delighted to tell you that I completed my ninth chemo on Tuesday and have well prepared to count the last three chemos backwards. Although I felt sick very often last month, Haleluya, the chemo medicine was changed on Tuesday. The side effect of the new medicine seems to be smaller. That's why I can sit here and share some good news with you. :)

The first good thing is that our National Health Insurance has announced to offer Herceptin, a targeted therapy medicine, to the early-stage breast cancer patients who has high levels of HER2, a protein that makes cancer cells grow, from 1st January 2010. I'm very likely to be qualified, so this new regulation might save me more than 10,000 pounds next year.

The second good thing is that I got a beautiful song from God this morning. When I waked up, the gospel music was singing in my heart. It's named 'I Have Peace like Rivers." Attached the song's URL: http://baosss.pixnet.net/album/video/113200502. Hope you like it.

May God's love is also with you and your family.

With lots of love, Carol

Carol's note 06/11/09

Dear friends,
How are you recently? Hope you have a relaxing half term and the friends at Lancaster will enjoy the yearly firework this Saturday. It’s about three months after my previous note. You might be wondering what’s up with me. Sorry I didn’t update earlier because my life is quite plain – a typical normal daily life at home. But I’m enjoyable to read your replies and to know some of you had wonderful summer vacation, some of you continue devoting yourselves to our international students, and some of you have made great achievement at your study, job, and faith. Your kind greetings are so warm.

My journey between the hospital and home keeps going, so does the journey between God’s words and my heart. (Praise the Lord!) Recently I have to go to hospital more often because of lymphoedema. Only 5 to 10% breast cancer patients get lymphoedema after their surgery. Unfortunately, I’m one of them. My right arm and hand have been wrapped for weeks – it’s anther reason for my late reply. Physiotherapists told me that my lymphoedema could be resulted from chemo. If it’s medical effect, I’ll be recovered; otherwise, I have to wear the stress glove for my rest whole life. We’ll test it before I finish the radiation therapy at least. May God give me hope. My treatment was delayed for three weeks due to high liver indexes (GOT, GPT), so I only finished 3 chemos after the surgery. It’s impossible to complete another 5 chemos before the Chinese New Year. What a shame! But thank God, I’m able to recover from the vomit side effect and go out for a walk in one week after the chemo.

Good news is that the physical condition doesn’t depress me. I realize the down side is part of our normal lives. I’m already very blessed because my dearest family and you, my dearest friends, are always there supporting me. What I can do is simply let go and keep moving on. There are still so many options in life and so many ways to grow. The journey between the hospital and home will enlarge to somewhere I never expected. It’s God’s love and engagement, I know. Attached some outing photos. I believe the photos can tell you more than my words.

The autumn is coming. Take care and no cold.

Much love,
Carol