From Brother Jiang 小姜修士來函
Honored Auntie Annie Mei-Luan & Uncle Alan Chue-Shong:
Greetings! May the peace of Jesus Christ and the love of the Lord be with you always.
Soon I am leaving Los Angeles and heading back to San Francisco. I will be returning to Boston to resume my theological study. I am truly grateful to God for having given me this opportunity to spend some time with you in Los Angeles. You have shared your lives, faith, and joy with me; you also provided me with a lavish lunch and embraced me with your love and care. I am only sorry for the limited amount of time that we were able to spend together. For all these blessings, I want to put my hands together and say a pious prayer of appreciation for you. I want to thank you for sharing with me your acts of love in serving the needs of others. It has certainly served as a catalyst and inspiration to me. The Lord has given each of us a different type of calling, and I believe that with God’s mighty love, we are all cable of serving and helping many people through our daily living and work. Your act of love in serving others’ needs has reminded me of some of my own experiences from the past. I spent two years in Northern Thailand serving the refugees and the indigent students. Through my services, God’s immense love was manifested and also gave me hope. Although sometimes the journey seemed long, I realized that it is quite possible that our merciful Lord has utilized those challenges on the road to reveal His holy love to his people. The loving services you have been engaged in and the living testimonies you have shared with me have certainly affirmed this belief.
I always regard “education” as my personal mission in life; it is also one of the professions that I intend to pursue upon my return to my homeland. To teach people our values and spread the good news of the Gospel to our fellow citizens in mainland China is another planned activity. I certainly understand the fact that sometimes, the status quo of our society is very hard to change; however, if only we would allow our children to experience the meaning of love and care, as well as life’s true values and their significance through the touch of our loving actions and thoughtful care, then it is indeed an extension of our Father’s love and true meaning of happiness in life. I often fantasize that when those children grow up, the fond memories of being loved and respected will follow them; what a warm and wonderful feeling that can be. It also will be a manifestation of the significance of living our life in God. Thank you, Auntie Mei- Luan and Uncle Chue-Shong, and all those who have devoted their life to this good cause.
Please take good care of yourselves, for your tasks are laborious. We all wish to devote ourselves to do God’s work, a healthy body is very important. When we have our health, we will be able to carry out more works for the Lord. Uneasy situations in our daily livings are norms, they may bring some regrets, and however, God may give us special blessings and extend our living power through different means. You will always be in my daily prayer. No matter what kind of lifestyle God bestows on us, we can always testify to His love. Our sufferings, concerns, hardships, and regrets will all be consoled when we pray to the Lord. The thought of you has reminded me of St. Paul’s message about “Love- the greatest gift and way” in Corinthians.
Auntie Mei-Luan and Uncle Chue-Shong, may peace be with you; I wish you happiness and find strength and consolation in Christ. You will be in my thoughts always. I will contact you when I return to Boston. God bless you with peace, health and happiness.
Love in Christ
Brother Jiang
2007-06-19
可敬的美鑾阿姨,楚雄叔叔:
您們好。願基督的平安與天父的慈愛常常偕同您們。
我等一會兒就要離開洛杉磯回舊金山,然後過幾天後回到波士頓繼續我的培育生活。感謝天主讓我這次的洛杉磯之行有機會和您們在一起,分享您們的生活,信仰見證,喜樂,豐富的午餐,還有你們的關愛,可惜時間太短。為這一切,我雙手合十,為您們獻上我感恩的祈禱。謝謝你們的分享還有愛心服務,這對我也是一種鞭策和激勵。雖然天主賜予我們不同的聖召生活,但我們都可以在自己的生活和工作中,將祂愛的寬廣高深惠及更多的人。想起您們的愛心服務,也讓我常常想起我在泰國北部服務難民和窮苦學生的兩年時光。在這些學生們的身上,我看到了天主無限的大愛,我也看到了希望的所在。雖然有時候道路依然漫長,也許就是在這一條充滿挑戰的路上,慈愛的天主通過不同的途徑向人類通傳祂的聖愛,尤其是通過您們的愛心服務,還有您們生命和生活的見證。
教育一直是我所關注的使命,也是我希望回到祖國大陸去做的工作之一,也希望這樣通傳我們的福音思想和價值觀。雖然我知道有時候無法改變一個社會的現狀,但是讓孩子們體驗到,感受到那份被人關愛的溫暖和生命價值的尊嚴和意義,並看到希望所在,實是人生之樂和天主之愛的延伸。我常常想到,當這些孩子長大以後,他們會常常想起被人關愛和尊重的美好回憶,該是多麽的溫暖,同時也是我們在天主内生命意義的繼續和延伸。謝謝您們,美鑾阿姨,楚雄叔叔,還有許許多多為此默 默奉獻的人。
您們的工作有時候很辛苦,所以一定要好好照顧好自己。雖然我們很想為天主做很多事情,但是一個健康的身體也很重要,這樣我們可以為天主作更多的事情。人的生活當中,也許有些事情會令我們不能釋懷,會帶給我們淡淡的抱憾,但天主也會通過另外的方式讓我們生命的活力延伸,會帶給我們另類的祝福。我會每天在祈禱中惦記您們。無論天主給予我們怎樣的生活和方式,我們都可以為祂的愛見證。我們的痛苦,我們的關懷,我們的勞累,我們人生的遺憾,都會在對祂的祈禱中得到安慰。想起您們,也想起聖保祿宗徒在格林多人書中的那篇 "愛的讚歌"。
美鑾阿姨,楚雄叔叔,願您們在平安,快樂,勞累中,縂能在基督内獲得力量和安慰。我將常常在主内惦記您們。
好的,就暫時寫到這兒,我回到波士頓以後再和您們聯係。願慈愛的天主賜予您們平安,健康,喜樂。
在基督的愛内
小姜 修士 敬上
2007-06-19