Thank You, Brother Wu—
Patriarch, Father, Commander, Cloud
In my student days I lived in the territory of Hall One and lived the church life there, and Brother Wu was the patriarch of the meeting hall, who took very great care of the students and encouraged them. To us, Brother Wu was like a father in the home; whenever we met, it was always the brother who first greeted us, first called out our names, and sometimes patted us on the shoulder to encourage me.
During one period when I was preparing for exams, Brother Wu let me work part-time at the book room, helping with proofreading and some of the work on the tracts. I very much enjoyed the times of pursuing the books and periodicals together with Brother Wu and the brothers and sisters of the book room in the morning, and serving together; recalling it now, it still feels very sweet. Brother Wu was sometimes like a commander-in-chief, and sometimes tender like an elder, caring for the inward and outward needs of the saints. I really miss him.
When I set up my own family, I held only an ordinary wedding banquet and did not have a wedding meeting, and I felt too shy to invite Brother Wu, because I knew that during that period he was not well in body, could not eat food that was too greasy, and was busy in every way. Yet Brother Wu appeared at the wedding banquet, joyful and full of vigor, and blessed us. To this day I am still moved beyond measure.
Every time I saw the brother healthy at a meeting, summing things up in a resounding voice, I gave thanks to God, and my heart was joyful. Brother Wu, thank you for having served me in love. You are our cloud, ever surrounding us, so that, no matter how many difficulties and straits I meet along the journey, the moment I think of your pattern, I am given the courage to keep running this heavenly race.