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Suffering (13^th Friday March 1998)                     Senior assembly

Introduction

During the last few months, my father had suffered both mentally and physically, and I would like to share his experience with you, I hope you’ll find some of it meaningful

Background

My father has served in the police force for nearly 30 years Few months ago he was promoted, that gave him the opportunity to lead a group of 300 policemen for a 6 months riot training programme. My father had been looking forward to that.

Traditionally the team would worship Chinese Idols at the Opening Ceremony, this they believe will bring them good luck. As a Christian, my father invited the priest from the police fellowship group for prayers and blessings of the team. This has never been done before in the years of Hong Kong’s histories.

I have been writing home every week for eight years and this was:

A letter from my father 15^th September 1997

Although you only left us on the 28^th of August I felt that it has been longer than that, may be this is because I miss you! This letter would have been written on the 3^rd but I have lots of preparations to do, and it would be a bad example to write it during office hours.

The morning exercises are the hardest of all, but I am used to it now, and I seemed fitter than before. That was why I went to the sports hall at lunch break to play badminton: 1) it is my hobby and 2) it is a good way of socialising. Unfortunately half an hour later I twisted my ankle. I fell flat on the floor and could not stand up. I was sent to the hospital for a x-ray scan. Luckily none of the bones were broken, but still I can tell you it was very painful! The difficulty now is how I could explain this to your Mum. I wanted to hide it but my foot was swollen by 1/3 of its size.

For a few days, Mum was not please.

My father recovered quickly and could jog slowly on the 9^th.

A letter from Mum 30^th September

Last Saturday, I went through a bitter afternoon, at about 1:00 your father phoned and I found that he twisted his other ankle, this time is worst than the last one.

A letter from my father written after the "First National Day in Hong Kong since the Change Over"

Here are some photos of the fireworks display, I hope you can feel the excitement here in Hong Kong. Everything went well, there were no accidents. My team was on duty at the harbour controlling the crowd.

On that day I bought two ankle grips to support my ankles. It was only when I tighten my army boots that I could stand up and patrol around. The team spirit had help me to overcome the pain. Although no one could notice my pain, I did when I got home.

Two weeks after the passing out of my Father’s team: on the 23^rd of February 1998 the Evening News read:

A 39 years old Police Superintendent died after his first week of training. The cause of death was heat exhaustion - a syndrome brought by loss of salt following prolonged sweating, leading to tiredness, vomiting, muscular cramps and circulatory failure.

Pause

I can’t imagine where I would be now if that happened to my father. I certainly won’t be here talking to you! Now, was it coincidence or not? It is up to you to make the decision. But both me and my father believed that it was one of God’s Plan. If my father didn’t twist both of his ankles, he would have encouraged the others by working harder himself (i.e. As a commander he would always be running in the front, always working to his limit.). Due to his older age, it was very possible to end up like the other Police Superintendent.

My father believed that God has meanings for his injuries. He believed that God wanted him to learn new ways of managing a team. Since his injuries he has learnt new ways of raising the spirit of his team (i.e. when they were on duty at the boarder between China/Hong Kong, he went up to the watch tower at 3:00am to visit his team. He climbed up the stairs with his crutches.).

Key Verse my father always remember after the incident

John 13:7

"You do not realise me now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

Conclusion

I am not saying my father is any more special than you are. What I am saying is "when things aren’t going the way you expected them to, that is the time you should learn not to give up, but to trust in God.

I would like to summarised what I have said with a song called "Immortality" by Celion Dion.  Click below to listen: