Friday, February 28, 2014

Parents who lost their children

In my book on the chapter of Tragedy,
I wrote about 3 mums who lost their sons.
It's a topic that people don't talk about it.
To me, it is no taboo.
I have become aunty bereavement.
I encourage people to cry.


I am glad my grand father,
Showed me "It is OK to cry."
and "It's OK to talk about our departed loved ones."
My Uncle drowned when he was four,
Grand father talked about him in his 70s.
Today, I like to tell my fellow bereaved mum,
Violeta Pineda Zepeda,
for tomorrow she lost her daughter Maribel to Sids 5 years ago.
and on May 15, 2013, she lost her Jayden,
How cruel it is for people to tell her,
"It's NOT OK to cry."
So cry, my dear Violeta,
I cry with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZk9w-uywAs&feature=youtu.be 

Photo: Since appearing in the TVNZ documentary,
"It is OK to cry."
It has become my catch phrase.
I am glad my grand father,
Showed me "It is OK to cry."
and "It's OK to talk about our departed loved ones."
My Uncle drowned when he was four,
Grand father talked about him in his 70s.
Today, I like to tell my fellow bereaved mum,
Violeta Pineda Zepeda,
for tomorrow she lost her daughter Maribel to Sids 5 years ago.
and on May 15, 2013, she lost her Jayden,
How cruel it is for people to tell her,
"It's NOT OK to cry."
So cry, my dear Violeta,
I cry with you.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Bamboo Resource Centre :An amazing act of kindness.


 I like the Bamboo Plant, it is a plant my ancestors planted. My grandfather  said it is the strongest plant.


I was very impressed  with the woman working at  Bamboo Resource Centre at Balmoral, Auckland, New Zealand. I was in a hurry to get some sticky tape and this was the only bookshop. The lady said she didn't have any, but offered to tape it for me, but my parcels were not with me. She kindly gave me two lengths of 1 foot each, and stuck them on some bubble wrap.

I didn't get her name,
whakawhetai ki a koutou and Ka Pai. This is Thank you and well done in our New Zealand Maori language.  I like to commend her to her boss. This post goes round the world.

Sensing I was in a rush, she invited me to come back in future. I told her, I did come before and left them a copy of the first edition of my book, "Diary of a bereaved mother."

 http://www.bamboo.co.nz/

Bamboo Resource Centre
591 Dominion Road
Balmoral
Auckland

ABOUT BAMBOO
Bamboo also stocks many OMF publications related to cross-cultural mission in East Asia and around the world.
We're open Monday to Friday, 10:00am - 5:00pm and
Saturday 10am - 2pm. We'd love to see you!

A MINISTRY OF OMF NEW ZEALAND

Diary of a Bereaved Mother


 

 


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The Peeters mum and dad.


During the Easter 1990, my life was in complete rack and ruin. 6 months before that, I gave birth to my dying baby on 29.9.1989.  I buried in on 25th November.

Nelly Peeter's son Steve must have noticed how awful I was. He spoke to Nelly.

I never forgot the life saver Nelly was to me. She threw me a life line, sharing her recent loss of her husband in Jan 1990. One night, Nelly sat me down, and we talked.

The holiday brought me back to my senses, I have my 2 girls and my husband who needed me.

I didn't see Nelle again because we went to Singapore. I will always look out for white butterflies. One of the would be Nelly.

A White butterfly,
In Japan,
it symbolizes the soul of a departed one.
Andrew's soul was with me. 

A white butterfly

A White butterfly,
In Japan,
it symbolizes the soul of a departed one.
Andrew's soul was with me,
when I was writing my book.
The day I finished writing,
I stopped grieving for myself,
And started to help other grieving parents.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Steve Peeters and us

Photo


Photo
This has to be a story authored by God.
1977 A university Agricultural Student, Margaret did her summer attachment up North in Waipu.
A Peeters family took care of her.
They treated her like a daughter.
1984 Steve Peeters and I were teaching the same Bible Study class.
 He told he he was from Waipu.
We connected via Margaret.
1989, My baby Andrew died,
Steve and Lynn comforted us,
1990, Steve and his mum, Nelly invited us to Waipu.
Nelly and I talked one night.
Nelly, a recent bereaved wife,
I, a recent bereaved mum.
Fast forward.
Steve and I became Facebook friends,
We seldom connect.
2014, yesterday, I posted a photo of Margaret and me.
Steve happened to see photo in his notification.
The rest is History.
Steve went to the airport at 10 pm,
to see us.

To further the story, Steve told us that his wife Lynn is the daughter of an ex missionary to PNG that we know from Mt Albert Baptist Church. How cool is that?

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Libraries circulating my books.


Diary of a bereaved mother.

Auckland, 1015 New Zealand
Book Book 2 miles Library info Add to favorites
2.
Auckland, 1142 New Zealand
Book Book 2 miles Library info Ask a librarian Add to favorites
3.
Hamilton, 3204 New Zealand
Book Book 69 miles Library info Ask a librarian Add to favorites
4.
Alexander Turnbull Library - National Library of New Zealand
Alexander Turnbull Library - National Library of New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand
Book Book 304 miles Library info Add to favorites
5.
National Library of New Zealand
National Library of New Zealand - Wellington Service Centre
Wellington, 6011 New Zealand

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

My bereavment bands



I thought I lost one of my bereavement bands. Went to look for something else in my husband's car and found it. I am wearing 2 again. People ask me why I wear 2 bands, My reply, the very reason you are asking. It attracts attention for people to ask.  People notice when I am wearing two. Went to the first bereavement meeting this year, and felt very sad for a new mum
.Photo: I thought I lost one of my bereavement bands. Went to look for something else in my husband's car and found it. I am wearing 2 again. People ask me why I wear 2 bands, My reply, the very reason u are asking.

Children and drawings


Children can express their feelings in drawings. These 2 of my almost 5 year old daughter. Andrew was in ICU, and Deb went to creche where sometimes the carer spoke to her. One day, she drew him floating on top of the rest of us and explained that Andrew was an angel. I encourage GMs with young children to let them draw


click on link to see other display.  Forever In My Heart exhibition which is at the Peacock Art Gallery, Upton Country Park, from 31 January to 4 February 2013.

http://www.foreverinmyheartexhibition.com/134494020?i=64857969

Judy Lancaster-Bowen

Hello Ann and Deborah,
The Forever in my Heart exhibition is this week and your book and Deborah's drawings really look so lovely. Thank you so much for including them in the exhibition. Many people, especially, stop for quite a while and look and comment on Deborah's drawings. Really spending the time looking at her Chinese Baby, Andrew, and your family picture. It does touch my heart each time I see someone standing in front of her drawings, and that even though it has been a long time since Andrew passed, you are still able to communicate what was going on for your family when Andrew was going to be "an angel".
Here is a link to the website where I have uploaded photographs from the exhibition.http://www.foreverinmyheartexhibition.com/134494020
You can also see more photographs on our facebook page:www.facebook.com/foreverinmyheartexhibition
Thank you so much
Judy


Saturday, February 8, 2014

Amy and Tiffany going to Fiji


 



In my Mail order bride book, I wrote about a group of young people raising funds to go on a mission to the Philippines.
Today it is fiction turn fact. Amy and Tiffany were selling cakes to raise funds to go to Fiji. Paki Paki, I remember it wasn't do long ago when you were with my son Sam in the Christmas presentation as one of the 3 wise men.


Amy and Tiffany are going to Fiji in June of 2014. We need your prayers and encouragement through this Journey!
 





http://mondaymellowyellows.blogspot.com.au/

  

Amy and Tiffany going to Fiji.



PhotoPhotoPhotoPhoto





In my Mail order bride book, I wrote about a group of young people raising funds to go on a mission to the Philippines.
Today it is fiction turn fact. Amy and Tiffany were selling cakes to raise funds to go to Fiji. 

Paki Paki, I remember it wasn't do long ago when you were with my son Sam in the Christmas presentation as one of the 3 wise men.

JuliaGrace at MABC




 

 http://juliagrace.co.nz/

http://youtu.be/3jHlix1RAm8



http://annkitsuetchin.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/it-is-well-with-my-soul.html



We were blessed to have Juliagrace come to sing and speak to us at Mt Albert Baptist Church.
"I am an artist, a musician and a mother, but I am not one of those singers that makes melodies but has nothing much to say between the songs, in fact I am quite the opposite.  It’s true the songs can speak for themselves but it’s so much fun to speak for them as well!"
I love her singing especially the hymn It is well.

This hymn was a favourite of mine and a great comforter when I was waiting for Andrew to die and when I was grieving for him.

http://youtu.be/VmvnE6erj6I

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 
 when sorrows like sea billows roll; 
 whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 
 It is well, it is well with my soul. 
Refrain:
 It is well with my soul, 
 it is well, it is well with my soul. 

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, 
 let this blest assurance control, 
 that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, 
 and hath shed his own blood for my soul. 
 (Refrain) 

3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! 
 My sin, not in part but the whole, 
 is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, 
 praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 
 (Refrain) 

4. And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, 
 the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; 
 the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, 
 even so, it is well with my soul. 
 (Refrain) 





S.S. Ville du Harve was struck by the English vessel Loch Earn and eventually foundered. Spafford's four daughters—Anna, eleven; Maggie, nine; Bessie, seven; and Tanetta, two—were among the 226 who perished in the aftermath
Spafford immediately sailed for England to join his grief-stricken wife. As his ship passed the approximate location where his daughters had drowned, his deep sorrow mingled with his unwavering faith in God's goodness caused him to compose this hymn. 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

National library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa

http://natlib.govt.nz/items?i[subject]=Loss+%28Psychology%29


Diary of a bereaved mother / Ann Kit Suet Chin.

Author/Contributors: Chin, Ann Kit Suet, 1954-
Identifier: ISBN 9780473187095 (pbk.) :

Cover title.
Related to: http://annkitsuetchin.blogspot.com

Publisher: [Auckland, N.Z. : A.K.S. Chin, [2011]
Format: xv, 164 p. ;21 cm.
See original record
This item in New Zealand libraries




National library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa

Gumboot.co.nz

Ann Kit Suet Chin - Gumboot.co.nz

www.gumboot.co.nz/author/302400/
Gumboot.co.nz is NZ s iconic online store and a great place to shop online with millions of books, movies dvd & blu-ray, games, puzzles, toys and lots more.
 

Diary of a Bereaved Mother

By Ann Kit Suet Chin(Paperback)

In Stock With Supplier
Ships 7-10 days
$21.25NZD


 

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

World Cancer Day, 4 Feb 2014




Yesterday was World Cancer day. I wore my pink band to raise awareness. Sure enough, two persons asked why I was wearing it. I had two surgeries on my breast, I was prepared in case I had cancer. Praise the Lord my cysts were benign. For my Breast cancer surviving friend and bereaved mum, Ellyn Crompton. This cacti flower is tough, tough like cancer victims.



Cancer, the whore!
She doesn't discriminate,
She doesn't care if you are young,
Or if you are old.
You never know when you might get it.
But if you get it,
You pray there is a cure.
But you may be cure,
you may not.
Help spread the word,
And get involved. 
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Sarah for Nepal, Mrs. Shrestha and Jamuna




Photo: Our Church youth Sarah Farmer is heading to Nepal with the Leprosy Mission.
Nepal has a special place in my heart.
In 1999, I helped raise funds to separate a pair of Siamese con-jointed twins.
My be Sarah might get to meet Jemuna, the surviving team,
Kai Paki and paki paki Sarah.

Mt Albert Baptist
Today, Sarah from Church was interviewed about her forthcoming trip to Nepal for the Leprosy Mission. When I took her photo, I told her that Nepal was very special to me. She knew about Jamuna and Ganga. I was so happy.

When I lived in Singapore,  I was involved with the separation of  Siamese Twins In 2000, I was privileged to be involved with two Siamese twins from Nepal. I answered an appeal and set up my own appeal in NTU.



I was actively organising a drive to raise funds  and I got to know the parents and their grand father. I was very privileged to see Ganga and Jamuna while they were still conjointed in their heads.

Their mum, Mrs. Shrestha asked me why I worked so hard for her babies. I told her about my deceased son Andrew, I didn't have a chance to fight for Andrew. But if I thought her daughters had a chance, I wanted to give my utmost to  Mrs. Shrestha to fight for the survival of her babies.

The separation process was a success, but things didn't end up happily ever after. Ganga died, and Jamuna is not exactly a healthy child.

I made a scrap book with all the emails, newspaper cuttings and photographs. I saw Jamuna and Ganga while they were still conjoined. This is a great privileged.
It was a very intense and hard work. But if I have to do it again, I will happily do so. The operation was successful and they went home to Nepal.

My photo taken with Mrs. Shrestha seated on the hospital bed, my friend Manchala and a Nepalese visitor.

I am doing this post for my new friends who asked me my connections with Shresthaand her Siamese twins.

Sarah Farmer is heading to Nepal

Our Church youth Sarah Farmer is heading to Nepal with the Leprosy Mission.
Nepal has a special place in my heart.
In 1999, I helped raise funds to separate a pair of Siamese con-jointed twins.
My be Sarah might get to meet Jemuna, the surviving team,
Kai Paki and paki paki Sarah.


Photo: Our Church youth Sarah Farmer is heading to Nepal with the Leprosy Mission.
Nepal has a special place in my heart.
In 1999, I helped raise funds to separate a pair of Siamese con-jointed twins.
My be Sarah might get to meet Jemuna, the surviving team,
Kai Paki and paki paki Sarah.

Mt Albert Baptist