報佳音

我最喜愛的節日 --- 聖誕節又來臨了。今年真的沒什麼特別, 除了細胞小組開party 外, 令到今年的聖誕最有意義的, 便是在平安夜和十位團契的弟兄姊妹去非基督教的家庭唱聖詩。當天雖然下著雨, 但絕對無損各人的心情, 也沒有打擾我們的計劃。 在香港時, 曾到老人中心報佳音, 但在溫哥華仍屬首次。我們拜會的家庭也說不知道什么是"報佳音", 也是他們的首次。個人感到, 這些家庭也很喜歡我們獻唱的聖詩; 唱詩後有一個簡短的祝福祈禱, 內容精簡流暢, 也不會阻礙他們太多時間, 也達到我們傳講耶穌降生的信息。 最後的家庭特到好客, 唱完聖詩後, 便以不同的水果款待我們, 還有自製的焗花生, 結果我們連recipe也影印了, 日後希望能試一試。

$150

I have been taking care of an old friend's mail since she went back to Hong Kong. One day, her apartment needed to have fire alarm check. As I need to go to work in the morning, so I made a special trip there to leave the keys to her neighbour to do it for her. After work, I drove there to get back the keys (usually I don't drive to work). I think I did something nice to others for making special trips back and forth to the apartment. I should have even not good return, but should not have a punishment. I was so frustrated as my car's front bumper was scratched when I backed up my car from their parking lot. The paint was peeled off! I really felt very upset. I really had a temper at that moment. I said, 'what God, are you kidding me? What did I do wrong? Didn't you know I was giving help for others and now I was being punished! I don't have extra money to cover this expense. No ..., ok, whatever you want you can take!" I knew I should not blame anyone, but myself, being so careless. The incident should not happen as there was lots of room to back up my car. I went to 2 body shops to have 2 quotes. One just fix the corner, it costs $150. One to do the whole front bumper, it costs $325. well, these quotes are much better than what I expected. I took the cheap one of course.

The repair was done. I needed to go to pick my car after work. It was pouring rain that day (remember 3 wks ago). After getting off at Capstain way, I need to transfer to another bus to go to Bridgeport Road. I waited for 20 mins in rain with an umbrella, but no bus came. I gave up as the body shop said they can wait for me until 7 although they closed at 6 p.m. I gave them a call and told them I couldn't make it as no bus came. The staff said how about tomorrow. I said I don't know if I can make it as I work downtown. Then she said let me ask my staff to pick you up now. Where are you? I am at the Canadian tire. She said ok, just waited there. How nice! Someone gave you a helping hand when you are in need. Thank God.

The story hasn't ended at here. A week later, a coworker from another department came to ask my colleague to do Chinese interpretation for her strata's AGM. Her strata would pay for the service. My colleague turned down her request as she was not interesed. She refered this coworker to me. I checked my schedule, and I was free the next evening. I asked "how much is the pay?" She said about $150.