Pastor Kris Please allow me to share my life journal

Please allow me - I have more life journal to share with you.
Thursday evening, May 20th, I’ve got words from a friend at a retirement village Bristol Village in Waverly, Ohio telling me that the Rev. Dr. E. John Hamlin my mentor and professor who was like my second father was very ill. He had been ill for quite a few months with congestive heart failures and was at a nursing home unit in Bristol Village where he had lived for years. He was over 94 years old. I was told not to go over because he was bad like that before and got better. With anxiety and sadness in my heart concerning the situation and my family in Thailand, I needed “family” at the moment and told myself I must go to see him. I could not be there when my dad died in Thailand. And so I wanted to be at the Rev. Dr. John Hamlin’s bedside either he would die that weekend or prolong.
I made the decision on Friday morning, May 21st, to leave right away and return the next day. So I took off. It took about 7 hour drive to get there. I drove anxiously and did not stop any where to eat. I was told that he did not respond much but making sound to questions.
I wanted to cry when I walked into his room and saw him. He was very thin and looked so ill. His wife, Jean – almost 89 years old, was with him day and night. He knew I was there! He squeezed my hand. He was happy to see me even though he already lost his sight. I showed him the pink flowers I have got for him and Jean because Jean was in a pink dress on their wedding day. He smiled and he made sound. I held his hand the whole time and Jean and I sang to him. He was awake less than 30 seconds each time. He was under morphine.
One time I said to him, “I drove all day today to come to see you.” He said, “Really?” His voice came out so clear sounded just like him. His sense of humor never left him. I was very happy to be assured that he heard my every word. That night I slept on a couch at their apartment in the village that was only a few minute walking distance away. Saturday morning I was wakened up by a call around 4:30 AM saying that he was worse. I rushed there. His eyes were closed. His breathing was a little harder than the day before. I sat beside his bed with his wife, his pastor, friends in the village, nephew and niece, and hospice staff. He had no children. He went into an “active dying face” as a hospice nurse explained to us outside his room. She said that it might take minutes or hours or days. 6 hours past, he was the same, lying comfortably. So his wife left for home to wash up and change. His friends walked in and out. His nephew and niece went out for some food for them and for me.
I was there by myself with him. I started to read the scriptures to him and sang Thai songs to him. I read Psalm 121 with a preacher’s voice as he always taught me how. Yes, I wanted him to be proud that I was a good student. A nurse came in and checked his vital. He still had 95% of oxygen in him and good blood pressure. That was very good. I sang a Thai song telling that there would be no more death, pain, illness, and tears in heaven (Revelation 21: 3-4) repeatedly to him. He moved his lips 4 times. I was surprised to see him had strength to do that because his upper lip already turned purple. I knew he was at his last stage. After those alert movements he was quiet. I did not hear his breathing. I stop singing and called him “Acharn, Acharn (Teacher).” He was quiet. I was not sure if he had died or just taken a pause from breathing. He went so quiet and peaceful with no struggling. I waited a few seconds before I went out of the room and told a nurse, “He quit breathing.”
What a beautiful moment for him to die with the Thai song to send him out. God was so good to me. I was blessed for being able to be there with him. I could not cry. I was trembling and shaking. I did not know what to think. Anybody would want to be there with him. It was an honor for anybody to be there when he died. It was such a privilege. It was a privilege for me to be there singing a Thai song to send him out (His going out and coming in – Psalm 121:8) and to put my hands on his body with love and respect. What an honor! I was chosen to be there. What a joy to my soul! Such a comfort! It meant a whole world to me. The whole family, his wife, nephew and niece, and friends were at peace acknowledging the way he died. We prayed and sang Doxology to his mortal body around the bed remembering God’s blessings flow in and through his long life.
I drove back to PA that Saturday afternoon to get ready for church on Pentecost Sunday. It took me longer on the way back. Heavy rains and fogs on the mountains on route 68 in WV and MD slowed me down. I could not see well driving at night anyway. Sharing the roads with big semi trucks in the rains was a nightmare. I sang the Thai song I sent the Rev. Dr. John Hamlin out with all the way home to keep me alert. I arrived home almost 10 PM safely. God protected me from all harms. My driving to see him and back home was with different feelings. I went with anxiety and heavy heart to see him. I came back with joy and affirmation. Inner peace flowed in my heart unable to explain. God showed me gracefully that the peace that God gave me was not as the world gave. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14: 27). Yes, I was reminded of this scripture. It was also what my dad recited repeatedly when he was dying in Thailand.
The Rev. Dr. E. John Hamlin a man of faith, a man of God, a Godly man, there are no words that can explain enough who he was. To how many lives he had been touched, built up, inspired, and influenced? The Rev. Dr. Kamol Arayaprateep my professor who died from a motorcycle accident in Bangkok in September 2008 was his first student at McGilvary Seminary in Chiang Mai. He was a missionary in Thailand for 20 years. He went there when I was born. He lived a missionary life all his life even when he already returned to the US. Very humble and genuine! He was a missionary and taught in China, Thailand, Singapore, Geneva in Switzerland, etc. He was genius. His mind was so sharp and his memory was unreal. He was an Old Testament scholar. He was gentle, kind and full of wisdom and grace.
He was a person who you saw the glory of God shining on his face, who you could feel joy and be blessed to be around. I remember how much I enjoyed playing scrabble with him and his late wife, Fran. I remember how much he loved my Thai cooking. I remember how much he liked my “out of the world (as he said)” banana nut bread I made him. He also liked my Thai dance. He wrote and read Thai, spoke Thai and knew Thai people, culture, personalities, and traditions perhaps better than many Thai themselves. His laughs brought out the sun. His beautiful voice singing brought to us a whole angelic choir. His skill in playing clarinet was beautiful. His faith was beyond understanding. His love was how God loves. Most of all he always had faith in me! He always showed and assured me that he thought of lot of me as a person and a pastor. He knew me and was there for me in good times and bad times.
I grew up seeing him and looking up to him. He preached at my high school graduation service at Dara Academy. I was his student studying “Isaiah” at McGilvary Seminary. He was there for me all the way since in Thailand and especially since I was a pastor in Ohio. He loved me as if I was his daughter. He told me that too. Oh, how much I loved him! What a special bond we shared!
He wrote many books and we can use them to study God’s words: The Books on Isaiah, Deuteronomy, Judges, Joshua, and Ruth. His last book he wrote and was published just a few months before he died was “Pleasant Lines of My Life” (Psalm 16:6.) The book you must read! The book tells more about him and his missionary works for God. The book will open your hearts and minds to see clearer how great and faithful our God is. You may order the books by going to www.lulu.com and enter “pleasant lines of my life” in the search box and click the Go button. Without my expectation, he mentioned me in the book that I was the reason for him to write this book. Now you cannot wait to get the book.
I cannot say enough about him. I don’t write books. But if I keep talking about him, it will be a big book. His body will be cremated. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26th at 2 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Waverly, Ohio. Then his ashes will be buried at three places: New York (where he was from), Ohio (where his first wife, Fran was from), and Thailand (where his fruitful life and his heart were and always will be). I plan to take his ashes to Thailand with his nephew and niece. I pray for God to grant me another privilege to be able to do so to take his ashes to Thailand to be buried with his wife, Fran’s ashes in Chiang Mai, my hometown. How grateful and honor Thai churches will be to have his ashes there!
Prayers continue for God’s love and comfort to be with Jean his wife. Prayers continue for God’s works through the Rev. Dr. E. John Hamlin’s life to prosper. I boldly say that I am God’s work through his life. So, I may prosper. I must prosper for God’s glory and for the Rev. Dr. John Hamlin’s smiles to shine through me.
Rev. Dr. E. John Hamlin was a man in Thai church history and the world’s history. His death is a big loss on earth but a big gain in heaven, November 9, 1915 - May 22, 2010.
Thank you very much for your time reading this.
For the Glory of God,
Pastor Kris"God Is Good! Life Is Precious!"

Friday, January 15, 2010

Members of the year 2009

Judi HartMember of the year for 2009Judi has attended the Duncannon Presbyterian Chyrch since she was 5 years old, she joined the church in 1960.Judi is very active in her church, having served on Session and Deacons. She is involved with the Women's Association, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Quilt Circle. She is always available to help with anything she can, from chairing the Worship committee to cleaning the church.Judi and her husband Duane, reside in Duncannon, and have a great love for their "cats".

unday, December 6, 2009

Duncannon Presbyterian Church
Victorian Christmas DinnerThe Women’s Association held their Christmas Party on December 3rd. The Theme was a Victorian Dinner, hosted by Brenda Williams.I am just so thrilled to tell you about this wonderful evening. It was beyond beliefThe church fellowship hall had been transformed into a beautiful Victorian Dining Room.The entrance was a path lined on both sides with tiny white lights, and complete with a Victorian Santa Clause. We entered the dining room through red velvet curtains. And when I stepped inside it took my breath away, I don’t think I have ever seen anything more beautiful.The guests were greeted by Victoria (Brenda’s granddaughter) who served us a cup of punch, from a beautiful Crystal Punch Bowl.Directly ahead was the Christmas tree, decorated with Victorian ornaments, complete with an array of children’s toys from that era. Beside the tree was a church pew draped with an antique quilt. In the corner across from the tree was a beautiful Victorian painting of an Angel and little girl.The tables were set with lace table cloths, beautiful china. (original china that the church has had for many years) crystal stem wear, cloth napkins. (not often used these days).The most beautiful Victorian items graced each table; glass and mirrored Christmas trees…Victorian dolls…mirror place mats that held many different Victorian items. There were little Christmas trees decorated with different kinds of jeweled earringsLittle mirrors holding jeweled pins…crystal tear drops, round glass balls…angels…. crystal bowls….crystal vases…..one item that caught my eye was a jewelry box made from a mirror; it held crystal necklaces draped over the lid. There were so many beautiful and interesting things on the table I cannot name them all.We dined by candle light; Brenda and her “elves” (members of her family) served each course, starting with a chicken Patina w/carrots, celery & onions, the next course was Salad with Flora’s homemade “hot bacon dressing” (Flora is Brenda’s mother). The entrée was Honey Orange Chicken Filet…Roasted Yukon Gold and Red Potatoes and a vegetable medley of buttered snow peas, carrots and petite Brussels sprouts. DELICIOUS.Brenda’s son Vaughn, served the coffee and we were invited to the dessert bar. You would not believe this dessert bar! Peanut butter pie…Cherry Cheese Cake… Custard Pie…Red Velvet Cake…Lemon Angel Food Cake… Rice Pudding, Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies…Macaroon Cookie…Pecan Tassies and more….The entire dinner was homemade by Brenda and with the help of her elves, the church fellowship became Victorian Dining room.I am still in awe, I don’t think I have ever seen anything more beautiful, or enjoyed dinner so much. I will be talking about it for a very long time, and looking forward to next years Christmas Dinner.Thank you Brenda and all your elves for making this Christmas Party a night to remember.Roberta