這是我的家人對阿袓的感想：
Albert Lai
Son 大兒子
民国35年，二次大战，日本人战败，回去了日本。台湾卷起了一陣
每年的圣诞节，是北港教会向北港市民宣传基督教福音的最好机会。
爸爸真的很关心教会外的老百姓。
从我稍有记忆力的小小年纪开始，-几乎每年都有一些年青人住在我
爸爸喜欢在富有挑战性的地方教会牧会，包括: 金门，厦门，北港，马尼拉，加卅阿罕布拉...
老爸喜欢挑战，愿意到全世界的各个角落，宣扬福音，留下美好的足
圣经公会，教会公报，基官教論壇报，都留有他的脚印。
爸爸特别关心学校教育，从早年，我小时候，他在北港教会牧会，他
在社会活动方面，爸爸曾任台北基督教青年会理事长，台北西区扶輪
爸爸兴趣多元，朋友通佈教內外各年龄層。贯穿这些人脉，不同专业
每年的圣诞节，是北港教会向北港市民宣传基督教福音的最好机会。
爸爸真的很关心教会外的老百姓。
从我稍有记忆力的小小年纪开始，-几乎每年都有一些年青人住在我
爸爸喜欢在富有挑战性的地方教会牧会，包括: 金门，厦门，北港，马尼拉，加卅阿罕布拉...
老爸喜欢挑战，愿意到全世界的各个角落，宣扬福音，留下美好的足
圣经公会，教会公报，基官教論壇报，都留有他的脚印。
爸爸特别关心学校教育，从早年，我小时候，他在北港教会牧会，他
在社会活动方面，爸爸曾任台北基督教青年会理事长，台北西区扶輪
爸爸兴趣多元，朋友通佈教內外各年龄層。贯穿这些人脉，不同专业
______________________________
2.
Jane (Hatsuko Ueno) Lai
ジェーン（初子上野）ライ
Daughter-in-Law 大媳婦
California, USA
美國加州
Akong lived with us for several years while ministering or pastoring in California. He was always in good spirits and generous with his time to those he served. He never complained and was a good church pastor as well as a grandfather, husband, father and father-in-law.
He ate whatever Ama and I cooked but was happy to eat out as long as he had his shrimp fried rice. I never found out why he loved that dish so much. He had to watch his diabetes count and was told to eat only 10 grapes, so he would count, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and then another 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. I thought that was pretty silly, but maybe his doctor told him it was 10 giant size grapes that he could have. He had a banana and orange just about every day, and I think this was his secret to longevity.
It was difficult to communicate with Akong and Ama because of the language barrier. Akong and Ama spoke such excellent Japanese. Ama and I did better because it was simple kitchen talk, but Akong’s complicated explanations in either Mandarin or Japanese were wonderful but some of it “got lost in translation.”
______________________________
3.
主呼喚他 他就睡了
Hui Hua Lai 賴惠華
Daughter 大女兒
對父親最深刻的印象是他對神的忠信和對人的愛心。小時候,有一次
一位巳故傳道師夫人、她無依無靠入住臺南愛護竂、父親把她接回北
七月十五日早上，一切都還如常、但到中午時、感覺父親有些「失力
______________________________
4.
Kwok Yuen Tai 戴國源
Son-in-law 女婿
Utah, USA
Akong has impressed me with his unusually detailed memory 非一般和超人的細節的記憶力. Especially figures like birthdays, telephone numbers and etc. related to numbers. He remembers very well names and those related to each other even if he had not seen them for a long long time. (2) He loves fruits of different kinds. (3) a special rhyme written as a tribute to him as follows:
前生蒙召到人間
福音普傳給萬民
終身忙碌事奉主
穿梭國際作証人
基主大愛建勵友
長者更獲多尊敬
地上跑了過百年
重任在天已久候
天父向他輕招手
愉快軽鬆應祂投
生命原是屬永恆
來日必可再相見
但願與他能共侍
並肩工作為主傳
______________________________
5.
Meiling Lai 賴美玲
Daughter 二女兒
Tainan, Taiwan 台灣 臺南
I remember Reverend P.T. Lai as a wonderful father and a loving husband to my mother and family. He became a great mentor for the young people in villages during the 50’s who worked in farms during the day, and strongly encouraged them to get proper education at night schools. He was also very kind to the poor and homeless elderly people. He helped to shelter them in our family for extended periods of time. During his lifetime, he had made friends with many people, not only within the church, but also within the societies at large. Many of his friends had since become Christians and some of them have been serving God until now.
Once my father asked his teacher Reverend W.E. Montgomery, who was the second president of Tainan Theological College and Seminary, “How to become a successful pastor?” To answer the question, his teacher quoted the Bible verse from 1 Corinthian 15: 58. “So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless.”
Ever since, my father had served God faithfully for more than 80 years, until his last moments. He had become a great preacher and evangelist in Taiwan and other countries. He was truly a servant of Christ. I am indeed very proud and thankful to God for having a father like him.
______________________________
6.
Joseph Tai 戴偉哲
Grandson 孫子
San Diego, California, USA
美國加州聖地牙哥
My fondest memory of grandpa was his ready laugh whenever I made funny faces for him as well as his patience for his grandkids (particularly me when I misbehaved), his obsession for antiques, and his general optimism in life despite early challenges.
______________________________
7.
Winnie Tai 戴詠兒
Granddaughter 孫女
San Francisco, California，USA
美國加州三藩市
When I was young, I remember Akong playing Chinese chess with me. He was very generous- always letting me remove 3 key chess pieces (chariot, horse, cheetah) from him before starting the game!
我小的時候，我記得 Akong 和我下象棋。他開始前總讓我 他 的 車，馬， 豹！
When we moved to the United States, that summer I was 16, and my brother Joseph was 17, we were learning to drive. Akong was a brave man- he would let us borrow his Toyota Tercel, and sat in the car with us while we drove until we received enough hours to take our driving test!
I was so happy to receive a letter from him when I was a missionary for our church. He told me he was very happy I was serving God. That was very special to me. I remember watching Akong preaching, singing, and leading his congregation in prayer! He was very well liked and respected. I am thankful for his example of faith in God, service and generosity and kindness to others.
Akong prayed for me everyday when I was sick, even when he was over 100 years old! He was always ready to pray! I love you Akong, I will miss you!
______________________________
8.
Kenneth Cheng 鄭慶堅
Grandson-in-law 孫女婿
I am always impressed with the love and dedication Grandpa has to serve God all his life. He is a true follower of Jesus Christ.
______________________________
9.
Ben Tai 戴明哲
Grandson 孫子
Hong Kong 香港
From a very young age, I remember Akung waking up early every morning and exercising in front of the television while listening to the news. He would exercise for about an hour and he rarely missed a day. He told me once that he didn’t start doing that until he was in his late 30s and I watched him continue that routine well into his 90s until his body no longer allowed him to do so. Akung was consistent and persistent in life as was his faith in God. He told me once that the secret to his longevity and living a happy life was to be full of gratitude every day. A few days prior to his passing, I asked him why he attended church every week when he could no longer hear nor see the pastor and had to sit uncomfortably for many hours, something that he could not even do at home. He answered by saying that his goal was to live to be 120 years old, as old as Moses, but he did not anticipate that his aging body would not keep up with his young mind. This caused him to wonder why Heavenly Father would keep him on this earth. He did not know why but realized that though there were many things he could no longer do, he could still pray for individuals. Akung to me was an example of finishing strong, his faith in the Savior never wavered, He got up every day and went to church every week even when it was no longer convenient nor comfortable to do so. I think it was appropriate that he passed into the next life while in the process of getting up out of bed for another day in his long life. He gratefully endured to the end and finished strong. I find comfort in knowing that he still prays for each of us and continues to exercise his faith in God on our behalf.
______________________________
10.
Naomi Toma 當真直美
Granddaughter-in-law
Hong Kong 香港
"いつも感謝が大切です。" Grandpa Lai's wise counsel came from his experience and conviction. I always loved listening to his missionary stories and we will treasured and passed down his missionary sprit to his posterity. 多謝。
______________________________
11.
Everett Lai & Paula-Jean Lai
Grandson & Granddaughter
Los Angeles, California, USA
We were very lucky enough to see a lot of Akong and Ama while growing up when we were younger.
GRACE
One of the things we remember most of all from our times with Akong as kids is him teaching us to say grace before each meal in Taiwanese. It took a long time before we understood what those words translated to in English. And it took an even longer time to realize what the words “meant”:
- What does it mean to give thanks for those you love?
- How can you show those around you that you love them in way they understand?
- What does it mean to give thanks for the meal you are about to consume?
- Who has to work hard to prepare the meal?
- Who is there that you are sharing the meal with?
- Who is not physically there to eat with you but is in your heart and in spirit?
Today it’s impossible for either of us to say grace without thinking of Akong, his love, his laugh, and the things he wanted us to learn as kids.
FOOD
And of course after saying grace, there’s food. We remember some of things we ate together around the kitchen table as a family.
- Everett remembers that Akong would let the bananas turn from yellow to spotty to brown. And after the bananas were brown and sweet—pop, into the freezer they would go! Nature’s ice cream!
- Paula remembers Akong and Ama eating the black beans that came with the fried fish in a can. Paula couldn’t understand that then as a child—salty beans?—but now she loves them too.
- Both of us remember the summer we spent in Taiwan as kids with Auntie Meiling and Ama and Akong. Ama and Akong would always make sure there was zui giao (dumplings / jiao zi) because for some reason both of us loved zui giao, zui giao and more zui giao! We are sure they were probably tired of having zui giao at almost every meal but endured it because their zui giao crazy grandchildren love it so much!
LOVE OF LIFE
It’s kind of silly imagining Akong and Ama eating zui giao at every meal for a whole summer but that’s the thing, thinking of them always makes us want to laugh and smile. (And cry a little because we miss them.) Even though communicating with our grandparents was not always easy because of language barriers, Akong’s good sense of humor and love of life would translate.
- Everett remembers being a very small child and being amazed that Akong could do MAGIC! Akong could take all of his teeth out! AND he could put them back in! AMAZING! Akong had good sense of humor and wonderful laugh!
- Paula remembers Akong’s luggage. It was an old suitcase COVERED in stickers from countries he went to when preaching. She remembers hearing once that Ama and Akong had gotten onto the wrong plane and ended up in the wrong country! Panic, right? No, Akong made the best of it—it was an adventure! Akong truly had an amazing spirit and energy!
- Everett and Paula both remember that Akong would sit at the table and read the Chinese newspaper with a magnifying glass. Sometimes he would watch the Chinese news. And when the news was bad in the paper or on TV you could hear him say something was very “ke lien” and you could hear the empathy and sympathy in his voice. Akong had a lot of love in his heart for people, even complete strangers.
We are happy that Akong is with Ama again. And we are happy that they are in Heaven. But our Akong is much missed.
I once watched Akong re-fill his weekly pill box, with about 6 pills to take per day. I asked Akong what the small pill was, and he said "This is to keep me alive". I asked him about the 2nd pill, and he said "This is to keep me alive." He repeated that for each pill he had. This memory makes me smile to this day. I think Akong's faith in God and faithfulness to taking his medications kept him alive another 20-30 years after I had that conversation with him.
______________________________
12.
Isaac Tai 戴哲寧
Great-grandson 曾孫子
Hong Kong 香港
I remember great-grandpa as someone who always had something important to say and many people wanted to learn from his wisdom. He was not self-promoting and often did not speak unless everyone insisted that he did!
_____________________________
13.
Jacob Tai 戴哲仁
Great-grandson 曾孫子
Hong Kong 香港
My fondest memory of great grandpa is eating dumplings with him.
______________________________
14.
Keilyn Tai 戴惠凜
Great-granddaughter 曾孫女
Hong Kong 香港
My fondest memory of great-grandfather was when we told us about his life.
______________________________
15.
Jaden Cheng 鄭偉哲
Great-grandson 曾孫子
San Francisco, California, USA
美國加州三藩市
A Zho was was very generous! He looked very young for his age! I'll miss you Azho.
______________________________
16.
Mikael Cheng 鄭明哲
Great-grandson 曾孫子
San Francisco, California, USA
美國加州三藩市
I remember singing "Happy Birthday" with A-Zho on his 100th birthday. I love you!
______________________________
17.
Joshua Tai 戴哲文
Great-grandson 曾孫子
Hong Kong 香港
I remember his conversations and he was always cheerful when we were there.
______________________________
18.
Erick Cheng 鄭仁哲
Great-grandson 曾孫子
San Francisco, California, USA
美國加州三藩市
I went to A-Zho's 100th birthday! He was a great person! He was funny!
______________________________
19.
Jared Tai 戴哲睿
Great-grandson 曾孫子
Hong Kong 香港
He has a happy heart and he is grateful and caring and loving to people.
______________________________
20.
Keilani Tai 戴惠蘭
Great-granddaughter 曾孫女
Hong Kong 香港
哇！你们写的信息非常有趣！
ReplyDelete