Good-bye | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Good-bye | Previous Challenge Entry
By Beth Bullington
10/17/05
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I had met her years ago. I don’t remember much of those few times together. Our lives were busy as both of us became involved in different ministries. Our next meeting would be our last. Alice went home. I joined her family and friends to say good-bye.

Alice stated that her goal in life was “to go to heaven and take as many people as I can with me.” Today she is there, and the many people gathered together were evidence of her desire to take others with her to heaven.

In October 1999 an English class began for Taiwanese students who wanted to go overseas to study. Twenty students gathered weekly in Alice’s apartment along with Stuart, a native English speaker, and John, who had studied overseas. Each week they practiced English and learned about the Bible. Alice shared God’s love with them. Her apartment was there for the students to drop in whenever they needed to talk. When Joanne had a motor scooter accident and suffered a concussion, she stayed with Alice, who took care of her and kept her from slipping into a coma by waking her every hour throughout the night.

Gathered with us were 18 of the 20 students. Two were missing, but only because they were overseas. These students demonstrated the fruit of Alice’s life. Over half of that group made a profession of faith. Ann, the first in the group to be baptized, prepared a touching presentation from the Enjoy English Class, thanking Alice for sharing God’s love with them. Hsin-hao was not there as he is pursuing a Ph.D at Yale, but he is involved in a church there and is constantly telling friends about Jesus and how he can change their lives. Joanne and Sappho are both studying in seminary to prepare for future ministry. Simon just happened to be home. He just finished in Ph.D. in the USA and has been very active in the international student Bible study there. Eric made a profession of faith several years ago, but so far has not been living for the Lord. But this has caused him to stop and remember the things that Alice told him, “She always tells me that same thing that God is good. She never doubted it and she never will.” These former students are just a small part of the fruit of her life. Her life was not long, just 42 years, here on earth, but her impact was great.

Since getting married two years ago and returning here to Taiwan we have not seen Alice, but yesterday together Stuart and I said “good-bye” at her funeral. “Alice, your life bore much fruit.”

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