Mrs. Mary Garvin 2012年請安函

親愛的林BOK-su和朋友

聖誕節前夕,我剛從旅遊7週的台灣回到家裡,這是一段奇妙的旅程。我以校長Albert Yau的客人住在淡江中學,並與Louise Gamble 和 James Chen一起校對早期宣教師在北台灣與加拿大長老教會母會之間的往來文件。這是一個引人入勝的任務,我告訴他們,我已經很久不曾如此興奮地工作了,我有機會見證到早期教會誕生的歷史,這是多麼大的特權啊!感謝Albert 和 Jane Yau在這段時間對我的照顧。

我們的兒子大衛來台北教書差不多7年了,最近卻病倒了,我們很幸運得到馬偕紀念醫院10天完善的照顧。那裏有好的醫生,加上很多我們在教會的朋友的關心,確保了他得到最好的照顧,我們將永遠感謝他們。在我們承受這麼大的壓力和需要關注的時候,他們慷慨地獻出他們的愛心。大衛過一陣子也會返回加拿大。但他愛台灣,所以我不認為我們將能夠讓他留在這裡,超過必要的時間。

這是悲傷的一年,一月Murray突然在玉山神學院蒙主恩召,對我們是一個很大的衝擊。我們原本期待他能退休,返回加拿大居留下來,因為去年12月他曾打電話給我說,下一學期將是他最後一次在玉神授課。然而,我們的天父對他有不同的計劃,作為神的兒女,我們期待來日能夠在主裏團圓。

請你們在祈禱中記念我們,尤其是大衛,他將返回加拿大肝臟移植。

一如往常,感激地接受你的聖誕禮物。您們慷慨地關心自台灣退休的宣教師,它一再地提醒我們之間緊密的關係,以及我們所愛的台灣、她的人民和我們的上帝。


Dear Lim Bok-su and friends

I have just arrived home on Christmas eve from 7 weeks in Taiwan. It was a wonderfully interesting time. I stayed at the TamKang High School, as a guest of Albert Yau, the Principal, and worked with Louise Gamble and James Chen proof-reading the early correspondence documents of the early missionaries to North Taiwan with the Presbyterian Church in Canada. It was a fascinating task, and I told them that I cannot remember when I enjoyed doing something so much. To get a backward look at that early history of the birth of the church there was such a privilege. Albert and Jane Yau took such good care of me during that time. However, our son David who has been teaching in Taipei for almost 7 years now, became ill, and we had the privilege to using the facilities of MacKay Memorial Hospital for 10 days. The doctors were great, and so many of our friends in the church stepped in to make sure that he got the best of care. We will be always grateful for their care and generosity in a time of such stress and concern. David will likely have to return to Canada for at least a while. But he loves Taiwan, so I don't think we will be able to keep him here longer than necessary.

It was a sad year for us with the passing of Murray at Yu Shan in January. It was such a shock. We had looked forward to him returning to Canada to stay since he had called me in December to say that the next term would be his last at Yu Shan. However, our Heavenly Father has different plans for him, and we look forward to a happy reunion in the next phase of our lives as God's children.

Please do keep us in your prayers and especially David as he will be returning to Canada for a liver transplant.

As always, your Christmas gift is gratefully received. Your generosity in caring for us as your retired missionaries is a constant reminder of the bond that we have in our love for Taiwan and her people, as well as for our Lord.

Yours gratefully and prayerfully,

Mary Helen Garvin

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey: We are spiritual beings on a human journey." Teilhard de Chardin