Li May says,

Dear Ber Ku (& Melissa, Pam, and Darren),

Been meaning to write something on the blog you created, but as it turns out, am not very tech savvy myself. Anyway, wanted to share this, more for melissa, pam and darren; but feel free to post it if you'd like to.

I also have a couple of photos from when we all prayed together in Andalas - will email you another time.

blessings,
LiMay

*----
One of my first memories of Ber-Kim was meeting her in University Hospital back in 2001. It was a couple of weeks or at most months before Bernard and I were to get married; and we decided to drop by to visit her in between running errands for our wedding. Being an only child, it was quite daunting for me that Bernard had so many relatives! In those 'initial' days, it was often Ber-Kim who helped me feel at ease in the family. In a sense, even meeting her in hospital was a stress-reliever from the hectic event preparations.

Anyway, when we got there to that 4 or 6-bedded ward, Ber Kim was chatting easily with another patient. My first impression was that they had been friends for some time - I found out later that they had just met there in the hospital.

The other thing I observed that day was that Ber-Kim, like most patients around, carried a little paper bag with them. Upon asking her what was inside the bag, she casually and jokingly told us that it was to carry the plastic sac that was used for fluid drainage post surgery - so it looked abit better. I remember thinking to myself "This is genius! Such a simple, practical and dignified solution to an inconvenience".

Over the years after that that I was priviledged to know Ber-Kim, there were many other examples of how she never held airs for herself while staying dignified. Among them were interactions I had with people in the financial sector who knew her. I always felt that they treated me better upon knowing of my association with her - thus was their high regard for her.

I thank God for her fine example. In the few weeks since her passing, I have found myself 'boasting' about her to my friends. As our lives are meant to be testimonies of the goodness and reality of the gospel, I have taken the opportunity to gossip about Jesus by talking about her. I can see people visibly touched when I share of her faith in God, and of her positive attitude.

Truly, we serve an amazing God. His love is always true. In the week before Ber-Kim passed away, there were 2 songs that kept ringing in my head. First, was the simple chorus:

I love You Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
O my soul, rejoice
Take joy, my King
In what You hear
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
In Your ear


Secondly, was a new chorus written to the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul". (I've attached the mp3, hopefully it's not too large).

It is well, it is well
Through the storm I am held
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well, it is well
God has won, Christ prevailed
It is well, it is well with my soul


So thank you, Ber-Ku and family, for all of you with Ber-Kim, modelling for us how we can live in God. Also of how we can grieve and still have hope in Him. We, I, am so blessed.

(Li May is married to Bernard Lee, Mark's nephew)