In loving memory of my mother

南洋商报 Nan Yang Press


星洲日报 Sin Chew Daily


The Star newspaper

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:37-39

然而靠着爱我们的主，在这一切的事上，已经得胜有余了。
因为我深信无论是死，是生，是天使，是掌权的，是有能的，
是现在的事，是将来的事，是高处的，是低处的，是别的受造之物，
都不能叫我们与神的爱隔绝。这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。
罗马书 8:37-39

Proud of you Mum! We'll meet again in Heaven.

Rest in peace Mum. We'll meet again in Heaven.
Proud of you Mum, you've fought and win the victorious war.


Yap Ah Moi @ Yap Yoke Chow, Rosemary Wong, a.k.a Crystal Yap
30 Jan 1949 - 14 Oct 2008 (Age: 59)

Wake Services
Wednesday & Thursday, 8:00pm (15th & 16th Oct)

Funeral Service
Friday, 10:00am (17th Oct)

Gospel Hall Kuala Lumpur 吉隆坡福音堂
No. 3, Jalan Hang Jebat,
50150 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Location Map 地图

Street Directory

Note:

All 3 services are convay in bilingual (Chinese & English).

Mum...

... is no more here

... she went peacefully this afternoon @ 4:23pm

... no more in pain

... watching us in heaven

... rest in peace mama

... I'll be good

Joy in illness?

An article about my mum published in Oriental Daily on 1st Oct 2008

This article was written by 杨善勇 after he attended my mum's new book launch + thanks giving service on 15th Sept 2008.

"喜樂的心、乃是良藥．憂傷的靈、使骨枯乾" 箴言 17:22

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones"
Proverbs 17:22 (New International Version)

Every minutes is a gift from God

星洲日报 - 阅读周报 - 第112期
An article about the journey of my mum's cancer battling
published in Sin Chew Daily on 09-10-2008

Mum's blessing to us

Before she goes to sleep, she called us (me and my brother) to her room. She hold our hands beside her and she bless us with her prayer.

She prayed for:

• God guide and guard our heart in every aspect
• Our career in climbing the corporate ladder
• We have more time attending Cell Group, to serving God, active in church and also grow in God's words
• God prepare us with a suitable partner, who's also a Christian.
• We take care of ourselves, each other and also look after our father.

Amen.

We thank her by giving her bear hug and say good night to her. Tomorrow she'll be amitted to hospital for medication attention.

Mum's update - 28 Sept 08

Today we had a marathon group visit. And again, God has sustained my mother in her physical strength and she was able to share her very last few words and her faith in the Lord with all.

Here's the visitor groups during the day:

(6) Bro and sis from KL Gospel Hall Mandarin congregation.
(7) Bro and sis from KL Gospel Hall Cantonese congregation.
(8) Antie Y.C family with friends from FGA
(9) 文橋 - 黃子 and others
(10) Bro and sis from KL Gospel Hall English congregation.
(11) Group of friends who went to Cameron Highlands with Mum and Dad.

Mum's update - 27 Sept 08

God has sustained my mother in her physical strength and her faith in the Lord. We had quite a few groups of visitor after her letter has been sent out on Friday, 26 Sept 08. My mother was able to share her very last few words with all.

Here's our visitor groups during the day:

(1) Sook Teng from Gasing Heights
(2) FGA Ladies group - Debbie, Lee Har, Katherine and etc
(3) 楊百合,太太 and friends
(4) 包以靈,卓如燕 and friends
(5) 群楓, Brian and friends

A message from my mum to all her friends

Dear Bros & Sis,

Doctor confirmed that I have 1- 2 weeks. Anytime from now I could enter into coma suffering severe toxicity from my own body. I wish to break this news to you as you are part of my family in Christ.

God is still in control even though at the moment there is no sign of turning of my illness. God had my soul saved. So the victory over sin is won. My soul will soon enter eternity in Glory. Whether my body will be restored to health is no more an issue. Cancer may have defeated and destroyed it but Satan can’t touch my soul a single bit. Nothing can separate me from the LOVE of GOD, to echo Paul’s words.

As for me, in life or death, my purpose is to serve HIM.

God answered my prayer. The book launch on 15 September was well attended with the main hall packed. It is my desire that God may use the books to enter the hearts and souls of those who need the Love and Peace that could only come from God. Please use them for His sake.

Thank you for the loving and long standing acquaintances we built in Christ. Thanks for your encouragement and care and I feel them deeply. May all Glory be to HIM and HIM alone.

I wish to see some of my dear friends while I’m still alert and may it be very soon. Please contact William.

Meanwhile my family values your continual prayer support.

God bless,

Rosemary (alias Crystal)
(Mrs. William Wong)


各位弟兄姊妹，

醫生証實我的時間不多，可能就是一兩個星期， 很快體内毒素會使我要進入昏迷狀況中，與我主見面就近了。我將這消息告訴你們是因爲你們是我主内的家人，你們也是我重要的禱告勇士。

雖然我的病惡化到末期看不到會好轉，但神仍然在掌權。我靈魂得救，戰勝了罪的毒鈎，我靈要進到永恒榮耀裏。至於我患病的肉體還會得著神的醫治與否， 那已經不再是重要的事了。癌可以戰勝我的肉體，但魔鬼卻絲毫不能侵佔我的靈魂。沒有一樣東西可以將神的愛與我隔絕，這是保儸弟兄說的話。阿們！

因此以後我活我死是完全爲服侍主。

九月15日新書推介禮看到你們踴躍出席與購買，謝謝。神應允我的禱告祈求，《抗癌十年不言敗》，我的第三本書，出版了！願神籍著它將愛和平安帶到衆多需要的人。

感謝主讓我們有這份主内的深情，也衷心謝謝在病中你們帶來的關懷與鼓勵。現在我們更需要你們的禱告扶持。神實在恩待我這家。

雖然我沒氣力跟你們長談，但我想趁還神志清醒，希望能見你們這班禱告勇士一面, 要快。請跟炳文聯絡。

願主賜福于你

葉玉昭

Chichabe is back!

Oh! You better watch out,
You better show up,
You better not hide,
I'm telling you why:
Chichabe is back in K.L!

She'd made a long list,
and checking it twice,
Gonna find out which Shopping Mall on sales.
Chichabe is back in K.L!

She calls you when you're sleeping/working,
and ask you to sing K.
She knows if you've a member/discount card,
So be good and shop with her!

Oh! You better watch out,
You better show up,
You better not hide,
I'm telling you why:
Chichabe is back in K.L!

Yay! sis coming back

Yay! My sis is coming back next week. Arriving on 26th Aug noon, and will give my dad a 61st birthday surprise party on 27th Aug. She will stay for 2 weeks and going back to NZ on 10th Sept.

Looking forward to see you, Chichabe!

A special day 2008.2008

Today is a special day - 20.08.2008, double 2008. It only happened ONCE.

What had happened on this day? Nothing special, just a normal day for me.

My mum got discharged from UH. She was admitted to hospital on 13 Aug for observation on her on & off fever. She started to have this fever on 7 Aug. Doc gave her antibiotic (dripping type) twice a day, for 7 continues days. Finally the fever has cleared.

She also begin suffering from ascites. Large amounts of fluid accumulate in her abdomen, it will become large and causing her lose appetite and feel short of breath.

Doc decided to give her a new chemo drug - Taxotere, similar with Taxol. Considering her liver condition, doc gave her a much more lower dose which only contain 10 mg, where normally is 120mg. Doc will increase the dosage according to the result.

A week later will go back and have blood test to check on the result, hopefully will gets good result on the new drug.

Click here for previous post

Mum's update - 2 August 08

This is latest update of my mum's condition. I'm sharing this text message, sent out by my dad on 2nd August 08.

Dear prayer warriors,

Rosemary is better in strength & stamina. Praise the Lord. Blood test on tumor markets gone down very much. CT scan result shows liver cancer is contained.

Doctor puts her on a chemo with 2 drugs used in combination to give better response. We follow his advice. Naturally she'll be subject to all sorts of side effects associating the chemo used.

Thanks for the continual prayers. Good night.

William.

Mum's upate - 7 July 08

I'm sharing this email, sent by my mum on 7 July 08 to her fellow friends.
------------------------------------------------------

Hello ! Here is Rosemary speaking.

Matthew 25:34-41 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Dear Sisters from our Fraser Tower Condo Ladies Bible Study Group,

1. I don’t know how to express my gratitude towards your constant prayer support and your timely practical act of love supplying daily lunches and dinners
to my door steps, not just one day, not one week but for weeks end-on and PTL it is still on-going. I can only sum it all up by proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, for He is Jehovah Jireh.

2. Dear sisters, God saw my needs and you were instrumental to come to my rescue. His grace is wonderful and abundant. It is certainly sufficient for me. I shall always be reminded of this. In my prayers I am constantly reminded of your love generosity, a thing I shall not be able to re-pay enough. May I seek God for a greater portion of His Grace to each and every one of you and your respective households. May He top up your caring ministry with Icing of Love and Caramel of Joy.

3. About my cancer treatment:

i. Due to my bad liver function condition, now at 20% efficiency, medically there is little hope. On 23 June doctor said I have TWO months to live. That’s right, 2 months he said. Now that was doctor’s conclusion on my life Expectancy. Naturally, I was shock at the news for a while. So soon meh! But I do believe that God’s report on me is not out and He will reveal it to me in His time.

ii. I hang on to my creator and Savior’s promises. And I pray for divine Intervention and healing. I know the Lord will not forsake me to leave me fighting the battle alone. He will be by my side as I journey on.

iii. On 30 June doctor gave me the liver function results. There was a significant drop on some liver enzymes indicators. That was a bit of ‘good news’ but not sufficient to indicate a turn on my cancer for the better. But still it was a result to draw little comfort from.

iv. I am now on oral chemo (Xeloda) at a lower dosage as the doctor found Taxol was too potent for my body. Xeloda comes with numerous side effects. Notablly, tiredness, hand and feet syndromes, mouth soars, hair-drop and etc… I have all these. Please be warn that you will see a bald headed Rosemary the next time you visit me. My soar mouth came for a week and now gone. I am able to resume taking solid food and I am able to conduct a conversation in comfort without the soar. Oh yes indeed, I can enjoy your cooking of solid delicious food once again. How appetizing the thought is!

4. Thank you and thank you for the food.

May His grace, love of Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen!

Sister in Christ,

Rosemary

Mum's update - 27 June 08

This is my mum current condision. I'm sharing this SMS, sent by my dad on 26 June 08.

"Rosemary will visit the oncologist on Tues to decide on the next course of treatment, this being necessary as a result of non-suitable to receive Intravenous Chemotherapy (I.V Chemo).

Her doctor gives her TWO months. Rosemary has good faith and trusting God is to be glorified in life or in death. She also holds on to GOD to be HER HEALER AND REDEEMER."

We've come to a stage that nothing we can do, but to hold on to GOD. My mum have strong faith on GOD and she trusted GOD is in control.

The end of man is the begining of GOD. 人的尽头是神的开始.

HE Raise Me Up (You Raise Me Up)

An email from a Pastor's wife – Monica to my mum.

HE Raise Me up (You Raise Me up)

Dear William,

Greetings! I want to share a song with Rosemary. This song had lifted me up.Please play on behalf of me and sing together with her.
I have tear thrilled on my eyes as I meditate and think of her. (miss)The Lord has used her life to fasten mine.

With Love,

Monica

Here’s my mum’s reply:

Dear Monica,

Thank you for your tears on my account. William prayed on your behalf just as you had requested. My soul is lifted up by the lyrics and the music and also the prayer rendered on your behalf. Do not feel sorry for me because Jesus is not sorry for me either. Jesus strengthens me daily as my hope of eternal life builds on His merciful assurance. Very soon we’ll see you again. I hope I shall be strong enough to see you and your family on 15 June Sunday.

God bless,

Rosemary

Here's the lyrics goes:

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

CHORUS:
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up.. to more than I can be.

* REPEAT CHORUS

There is no life - no life without its hunger
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly
But when you come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
And I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up .. to more than I can be
You raise me up .. to more than I can be

We are strong when We are on HIS shouldersHe rises us up to more than we can be,Just to have the glimpse of eternity……be comfort in HIM, Rosemary, Jesus Loves, I love you.

My dad discovered 'new land' - 老爸子發現新大陸

After work, I went for a movie at 1U with my sister and cousin sister. The movie start at 8:45pm, and I receive my dad's call at 8:30pm. I quickly walked out from the theater and answer it.

Dad: Yan, I sent your uncle an email just now and he reply immediately. I think he's online now. I wonder if I could use your Skype account to chat with him? What's your Skype password?
Yan: Hm... It has been long time I didn't use Skype, I forgot my password. Why not you register yourselves a Skype account, it's very easy, shouldn't take long.

After I hang up, and I began feel bad. It seems like I push him away when he needs my favour, and I didn't receive any call from him. I arrived home at 11:00pm. Very tired, planned to take bath and head straight to bed. Just about I walk to my room, dad walks out from the kitchen and scratch my back.

Dad: Hey, do you know what happened today??
Yan: What's up?
Dad: (Very excited) I registered myself a Skype account! I called your uncle in UK and we chat.
Yan: That's great! You've made it.
Mum: Yan, your 'big brother' (dad) had discovered a new land (發現新大陸), ha ha ha...
Dad: He he.. it was quite easy, just register in Skype website to create an account. Got your uncle's Skype ID, and add him into the list. Very fast I can see him appear in my list, then we chat over net.
Yan: Well, now it's time for you to explore more since you have plenty of time at home. Next, you're going to get your own MSN account.
Dad: Ha ha ha... I have no friend to chat with. Why should I have a MSN account wor?
Yan: You can chat with your daughter, nephews and nieces ga ma.
Dad: We'll see how 1st.

Dad walks away joyfully to the living room area, lie down on the big couch and adjust to comfort position. Pick up the controller from the tea table and switch on his favourite channel. Yes, Channel 52 – National Geographic always his choice.

Dad’s really getting old now. From a fear father to me during my childhood, becomes my friend during my teenage days, and now he’s becoming like a child to me. I can see very often he likes to communicate and ‘involving’ himself into our life, so there will be less gap in father and son relationship. He will share his and I'll share mine. You know what? He knows how to sing Beyond's - 海闊天空. That's very awesome/cool, isn't ?



Really glad I had him beside me all the time and I still have lots to learn from him. And not to be forgotten, also thanks to my grandpa as well.

* Note: I'm not boasting how great my father is, but I'm writing my feeling from the bottom of my heart.