Grace By Grace Yu 27 February 2019 HIS GRACE

Dear LCOR friends,

I hope you are all well. It has been more than 2 years since I’ve moved back to HK. I miss my time with LCOR.

It has been a journey experiencing His guidance and provision in HK, discovering myself in Him - in times of uncertainty and changes.

When I left Singapore in December 2017, I was pondering if I should stay in HK for good. I was also planning to sort out my late mum’s apartment that had been left unattended for a year since her demise. This was the apartment I moved into during my university days and it has left me with plenty of memories.

When I returned to HK, I agreed to host a missionary friend’s family for a few months. The chore of clearing the rooms to make space for them became an inspiration for me to clear the old things or “garbage” in my heart, to prepare space to welcome Jesus in my new phase of life.

That made me more determined to clear the apartment. When I was busy decluttering, God led me to revisit some old memories by reading letters and diaries, at the same time providing me with His healing touch.

I realized that I was in such a privileged position to be in touch with my inner self, to embrace my past and be content with what God has given me. It was during that time that I decided I would like to stay in HK for good and make this apartment my new home.

By the end of 2018, with the help of many people, especially with my brother’s support, I renovated the apartment and bought a beautiful grand piano for myself. Having a grand piano has always been a hidden wish of mine. The day the grand piano arrived, I played for many hours and was touched to tears by what God has done. Playing on a grand piano at home in HK was a crazy thought of mine, but it’s God who made it possible.

Besides playing the piano, I began learning how to swim in various styles, reconnecting with old friends and making new friends in my neighborhood.

In 2019, I took on a few roles. Besides doing a part-time job as an instructor at a university, I worked freelance at nursing homes, secondary schools and clinics. At the same time, I also visited China and Myanmar for some assignments.

I thank God for giving me the freedom to take on new roles that could be challenging but provided me with the opportunity to experience His grace. God took away my fear of failure and the fear of not meeting others’ expectations. He blessed me and enabled me to be led by Him, to just fulfill His purposes for me by encountering people, learning and growing at the same time.

In times of trials like the political unrest in HK and having my thumb injured for more than a few months, God has been teaching me to put my hope and identity in Him instead of the circumstances,people or my abilities. It’s all by His grace.

As I write this, I am glad that my right hand has recovered and I have just played for a church wedding. On the other hand, the trials in 2020 seem to be nothing less. We are now facing the coronavirus that is now a pandemic.

Many of my jobs are suspended here, though I managed to escape the long queues for masks and toilet paper as I was travelling in Taiwan. Despite all these, it is a time to pause and reflect on life, on what truly matters to us and that many things are beyond our control.

We can humbly echo what the bible says, “A man’s heart devise His way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9). I am also encouraged by the following saying, “sometimes God allows us to go through difficult times, even as a result of the wicked actions of others. Yet whatever we have to endure, we can be sure that God can use it for good”. He could recycle our “garbage” for His use. May we continue to trust in His goodness and faithfulness in times of difficulty and uncertainty, remember each other in prayers, and take courage to be the witness of Christ.