when invisible
【Situations change as you wish】1
▲After many surgeries, although Joanne’s vision could not be fully restored, she still served faithfully at Moody Radio with a bright smile.
In August, Han Qiongni celebrated her 80th birthday. The small apartment was packed with people that day, including neighbors, brothers and sisters from the church, co-workers from Moody Radio, and my son who had returned from South America. The birthday boy was busy greeting everyone. How could an old man living alone in South Florida have so many friends?
Unexpected turns, extra favors
Everything starts from the car accident eight years ago.
After her husband Jerry passed away, 72-year-old Joanie was still active in various church services. She volunteered at Moody Radio one morning a week and volunteered in the hospital nursery the other morning. Although her adult children are not around, neighbors, church sisters, and radio station co-workers always invite her to participate in various activities, making her life lively.
When she came back from church that day, she was only a few hundred feet away from home when she suddenly felt dizzy. The road was twisted, and the trees on the road seemed like dominoes that had been knocked down. Before she could react, her vision went dark, followed by a loud bang, and Joni lost consciousness.
I don't know how long it took, but she woke up and found that the car had hit a palm tree and was completely destroyed. I called a friend and called an ambulance. This time when I entered the hospital, I no longer wore the volunteer’s red vest, but instead put on the patient’s floral gown.
The doctor soon learned from the report that Joanne had a tumor on the left back of her brain, which was the culprit of the car accident and the nuclear bomb that turned her life upside down.
Her memories before and after the tumor removal were blurry, but she knew clearly that her son had rushed back to be with her. The radio station asked listeners to pray for her on the radio. Joanie's tiny body, which could barely hold five feet and one hundred pounds, survived the lengthy surgery. .
The road to recuperation and recovery is long, but friends who know and don't know her care about her have sent bags full of condolence cards, just like the white clouds in the clear sky unique to Florida. Her vision had not yet recovered, so just touching the cards was like holding a strong hand, helping Joanie to stand up again.
After being discharged from the hospital, her son almost moved in with her and took care of her daily life. He occasionally had to leave for a few days to take care of his family and career. Joanne has been unable to coordinate her left and right eyes, which affects her sense of balance and makes her unable to step steadily, let alone drive. There are full appointments for this doctor, that examination, as well as grocery shopping, etc. It’s obvious that I can’t do it myself. Who should I ask for help?
Joanie went through some inner struggle. Since I got my driver's license, I have been sitting firmly in the driver's seat for nearly a month. Now, due to a car accident and an operation, my mobility and vision have been limited, so I have to lower my face and ask for help, and I have to give up the steering wheel and step aside.
Hanging on the rear mirror of the car, the disability logo with the image of a wheelchair seems to tell the world that it has lost its "independence." She was also deeply afraid of disturbing others and felt that she was unworthy of their kindness.
If you take a step back and think about it, is there still breath alive today? Isn’t it an extra blessing from the Lord of Life? Since it is a favor, it is not deserved in the first place, so just accept it with gratitude. There is a time for everything, a time to give and a time to receive; perhaps this is the season of “receiving” in life.
▲Lin Minwen (first from left), together with interviewee Han Qiongni (second from right) and two other sisters, have served as volunteers at the local Moody Radio Station for many years.
Surrounded by a web of love
The friends who surrounded Joni all came to help her when she needed it most. No one was embarrassed or advised her to move into a nursing home.
Aisi from next door would poke her head in from time to time and ask, "I'm going to the supermarket today, so I'll take you with me!" Sandy from the same street also followed the news. Many retired Jews live in the small community, as do Joni and her husband, but they believe that Jesus is the Messiah that the Jews are waiting for. Neighbors knew about Joanne's faith and did not reject her because of it.
She desperately misses her daughter, who lives in New York State and is disabled by multiple sclerosis (MS). But the doctor did not allow her to travel alone, and mother and daughter have been separated for many years.
Sister Gray, the church nurse, heard about this and volunteered to accompany Joni north to visit her so that she could take care of her along the way. The two of them took a direct flight, and after driving for more than three hours, Joanne was finally reunited with her daughter for three days.
Moody Radio co-workers Pei Qi and Qiong Ni have become close friends. Not only does he pick up and drop off Qioni to the radio station when she is on duty, the two of them often go shopping and go to restaurants together on weekends. Peggy shared what she learned in the Bible study group so that Joanie, who was unable to attend church services, continued to receive encouragement from God’s words.
Over the past eight years, the enthusiasm of friends has not diminished at all, and help has continued to flow in. Most of these people don't know each other, but it's all because of their connection with Joanie's life that they have to celebrate today at her birthday party.
The dining table is filled with flowers and greeting cards, and many gifts are placed next to the sofa. On the wall are ribbons with the words "Happy Birthday" wrapped around them. Jews and Christians each held drinks and snacks and talked about their friendship with Joanne.
▲The cards praying for recovery came from friends she knew and didn’t know, giving Joanie the strength to stand up again.
After seven surgeries, her eyes were still unable to fully function. My vision is still blurry and my walking is still unsteady. Although I can take care of myself in daily life, I still cannot drive, stand or sit for long periods of time.
In fact, who can see tomorrow? Who can see the way forward?
Even though she couldn't see clearly, Joni still faithfully came to the radio station to help every week, continued to accept invitations from friends to go out on the street, and lived every day to the fullest.
Although she couldn't see it, she was determined in her heart. Because there is such a group of people who care about her and surround her. What's more, there is a powerful hand that steadily supports her every step of the way.