Blessing in the Midst of Cancer

Jenny Ho and Annie Song met and became friends at Gracepoint Fellowship Church 11 years ago

As Annie just finished her first week of chemotherapy last Friday, I had a chance to see how her battle with cancer, while frightening, has also resulted in an unexpected blessing of allowing us to experience God’s love through the encouragement and support of many people at our church. All last week while Annie was going to the hospital for her chemotherapy shots, there was someone who drove her there and waited with her there as she received her shots. Throughout the week, we received numerous visitors, bringing bright words of cheer and encouragement, bouquets of flowers, and dinners so that she didn’t have to cook. Additionally, we received dozens of emails (including from people at Gracepoint Austin and Gracepoint Hsinchu) and phone calls of encouragement. Here is a basic summary of the people who visited our apartment on Thursday night:

• Kevan and Jenny Ho (with baby Abigail in tow) (from Homegroup 1) came over with Caroline Ogasawara (just back from Taiwan missions). Jenny and Caroline started cutting up fruit for so that Annie could eat it later.
• Suzanne Suh, busy Koinonia director, was in the kitchen putting away dishes in an organized fashion.
• Ben and (a very pregnant) Helen Park (from Homegroup 3) brought dinner from Seoul Gomtang and washed dishes afterwards.
• Carol Kim brought over her small group girls Sophia, Difan, Grace, and Sally
• Jiseon Choi brought over little Sophie.
• Daemin and Ahmi JDSN, our old leaders from our Gracepoint San Francisco campus, brought beautiful flowers and prayed for Annie and me.
• Yumi Kim and Joanna Kang (leaders of Homegroup 8 and Homegroup 6, respectively) brought over their group: Azusa, Kathy, Vivian, Jing, Victoria, Robin, and Tina. They brought over a big box of Specialties cookies (the best cookies in the world).

This is just a snapshot of ONE night last week. (In fact, I think there were more people who came over while I stepped out for a bit!) It’s such a vivid picture of the loving community and church we are part of. Although cancer is not a situation that we want to be in, I am grateful for the opportunity we have had to experience so much love and support through it. Through this, I’ve been able to appreciate God’s rich blessings in my life more. This is truly the church. This is how we are supposed to live life. I can’t imagine how someone would be able to go through a trial like this on his own. Through our connection together in this body of Christ, knowing that others are praying for us and providing for our needs — and seeing that God, ultimately, is behind it all and loving us through them — we have been able to face even a trial like cancer with good cheer and great hope.