Photos: Dental, Looking at Papa's Teeth

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While she is resting on her dad's chest, Lydia is scrutinizing everything that Dr. Kim is doing as Dr. Kim cleans her dad's teeth.

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During the entire time that her dad was having his teeth cleaned, Lydia's eyes remained riveted on her dad's mouth as she closely observed this process.

Note: SiowFong took both of these pictures on January 21, 2008 at the dental office of Drs. Siew and Kim in Seattle, WA.

Christmas Reflections in February

February 20, 2008


Christmas Reflections in February

As I think about Christmas again after reading about Operation Christmas Child’s work at an elementary school in south China, I am reminded about the first Christmas and its importance today, 2008 years later. Although Lydia does not yet understand the meaning of Christmas as a toddler, SiowFong and I hope that she apprehends it when she is older.

Darrell Bock, professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, explains the contemporary significance of Christmas this way in The NIV Application Commentary on Luke (Zondervan. 1996. pages 88-90):

“The birth of Jesus is a lesson in God’s faithfulness, but it also reveals God’s heart and character. For God identifies with the human race, and this birth reflects such identification. The most humble birth for the most exalted figure ever born shows that the key values of life are found in the life itself, not in the accouterments that come with life. . .

The note of humility surrounding this birth of Jesus issues a major challenge to our culture, where braggadocio and self-promoting public relations are often a way of life. . .

The birth of Jesus also shows that greatness if not a function of the size of one’s bank account or one’s social resume. . .Status does not make the person, for God recognizes the quality of the inner person. . .God shows his greatness walking with us as we are where we are, not in elitist isolation and insulation, which is often the way the powerful live in the world. . .

Perhaps after almost two thousand years of publicity about Jesus, the church takes the amazing involvement of God with us for granted. The world certainly rarely takes the time to really look and see what Jesus is all about. Usually it never gets past the story about the baby Jesus. . .If the world does stop and look, it often sees Jesus as one teacher among many. But the teaching of the heavenly host rules out such a limiting view of Jesus. He is the Savior, who is Christ the Lord. . .Who the baby Jesus was is nothing compared to who he is. His birth and the testimony surrounding it tells us he was a special child. But his life, ministry, and resurrection secure the fact that he is unique. . .

Sometimes just the reflection that comes from the Christmas season or reflecting on Jesus’ story can renew our sense of relationship with God. The King, the Son of David, the Lord, the Savior, was sent from heaven to identify with us, walk with us, die for us, be raised for us, and to relate to us – that is the story of Jesus, a story worthy of praise and worthy to be told. No wonder the famous and beloved blind believer and hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, wrote:

To God be the glory great things He hath done!
So loved He the world that he gave us His son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the Lifegate that all may go in.

Here is the testimony of a woman who knew pain and yet saw God in her darkness. That is why the earth should hear his voice in our testimony to his love. That is why the world should see our testimony in a life that honors him. That is why we of all people should rejoice at the story of his coming.”

Photos: Dental, I Did Not Cry!

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Dr. Jane Kim is showing Lydia the Cavitron, an ultrasonic scaler that removes dental tartar from the teeth with the use of water.

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Dr. Kim is using stainless steel instruments, manual scalers, to clean Lydia's teeth while SiowFong, Lydia's mom, observes.



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Dr. Kim is squirting some water into Lydia's mouth with her right hand while holding the suction tube to evacuate the water from Lydia's mouth in her left hand.

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While Dr. Kim is scaling Lydia's teeth with the ultrasonic device, Lydia is calmly and patiently cooperating with the procedure.

One common fear among children and adults is going to the dentist. Three factors helped to alleviate Lydia's apprehensions. First, both SiowFong and I accompanied Lydia to her visit. Second, Lydia observed Dr. Kim cleaning her dad's teeth before she underwent that experience. Finally, SiowFong sat right next to Lydia during the entire time that Dr. Kim was cleaning Lydia's teeth.

Note: All these photos were taken on January 21, 2008 at the dental office of Drs. Siew and Kim in Seattle, WA.

"Christmas Comes to China", Part 3 of 3

February 19, 2008


“Christmas Comes to China”, Part 3 of 3


For many people, images and thoughts of Christmas quickly fade after the new year begins. We are fortunate to be reminded about Christmas again this month when we received Samaritan’s Purse’s magazine about Operation Christmas Child in 2007, the fourteenth year of the program that has delivered 61 million shoe box gifts to boys and girls in over 130 countries. This year’s summary of Operation Christmas Child featured China as the lead article. As I read the article, I thought about the fond memories of Christmas 2007 with Lydia and also pondered how different Lydia’s life would be with respect to Christmas if she had still been in China last year. Here’s the third and final part of that article:

“’The [shoe] box is like a seed,’ said a Chinese Christian who works with Operation Christmas Child.
‘They get the gifts, and they hear about the meaning of Christmas. The children, their parents, and sometimes even the government officials can feel the gifts are given with love.’

Lu Mei Zhen, a 13-year old girl, would agree. Her shoe box contained many wonderful surprises, including a yo-yo. She never had seen one before and laughed in delight as a visitor slipped the string on his finger and demonstrated how to use it with a couple of simple tricks. ‘It’s a very interesting toy,’ she said. ‘I have never seen one before. Before I came to school the teacher told me some foreign friends were coming to school to see us. We did not know they would be bringing these gifts. I was so surprised. Christmas Day is a very happy day. Thank you so much for bringing us these gifts. Thank the American children so much, and tell them we love everything they gave us.’”

(Source: Operation Christmas Child: A Special Report. Samaritan’s Purse. 2008. page 3 and back cover)

Photos: Dental, I Am Ready!

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After watching her dad's teeth cleaning, Lydia is casually sauntering in the operatory and ready for her teeth cleaning session.

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Lydia is opening her mouth to demonstrate that she is ready for Dr. Kim to work on her teeth.



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Knowing that her dad wore a special bib for the teeth cleaning session, Lydia is motioning for the special bib to be placed around her neck.



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Dr. Jane Kim and Lydia's mom are draping the disposable dental bib around Lydia's neck.

Note: These pictures were taken on January 21, 2008 in the dental office of Drs. Siew and Kim in Seattle, WA.

"Christmas Comes to China", Part 2 of 3

February 18, 2008


“Christmas Comes to China”, Part 2 of 3

Operation Christmas Child, a volunteer effort sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse that sends shoe boxes of gifts to children in third and fourth world countries during Christmas, reaches out to people on every continent of the world except Antarctica. Last year, Lydia’s first in this effort, resulted in shoe boxes being sent to children in the following Asian countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Below is the second of three parts from an article about the impact that the shoe box gifts had in China last year:


“Christmas festivities have begun to penetrate the mainland of communist China. Trees and decorations are seen in shopping malls and hotels in bigger cities. But in a country where the existence of God has been denied for decades, many Chinese do not know the reason for the celebration. Like Wei Jing, they merely know it is a day to exchange gifts.

‘In America, Christmas is our most important holiday,’ they were told. ‘It’s our most important holiday because that’s when Jesus Christ was born. We believe that Jesus was God’s greatest gift to all people. And that’s why we celebrate Christmas by giving gifts. Children in America sent these gifts to celebrate the birth of Jesus with you.’

The Chinese government allows the shoe box gifts into the country as part of a cultural exchange program. In a country where evangelism is prohibited, the distributions provide an opportunity to lift up the Name of Christ.

‘We can introduce the reason for Christmas,’ said one of our ministry partners. ‘We believe Jesus is God’s gift to the world, and we want to share Him with the rest of the world. Gifts are a tangible expression of that. It’s the first time they’ve heard the Name of Jesus.’

Many children hear the Name again through handwritten notes that many people include with their shoe box gifts. ‘Know that you are loved, for Jesus loves all the children of the world,’ said a letter in one girl’s box.”

(Source: Operation Christmas Child: A Special Report. Samaritan’s Purse. 2008. pages 2,3, and 6)

Photos: Dental, Flossing

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Dr. Jane Kim is flossing Lydia's teeth while Lydia is observing the action on a large hand mirror held by her mom. This was Lydia's first visit to a dentist so that she could have her teeth inspected and cleaned.

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A close up picture of Dr. Kim flossing Lydia's teeth

Note: These two pictures were taken on January 21, 2008 at the dental office of Dr. Siew and Dr. Kim in Seattle, WA.

"Christmas Comes to China", Part 1 of 3

February 17, 2008


“Christmas Comes to China”, Part 1 of 3


The Operation Christmas Child Report for Christmas 2007 came in the mailbox this month. The photo on the cover showed eight Chinese girls smiling as they are holding their Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts, and the title of the lead article was “Christmas Comes to China”. I immediately thought about what a coincidence this was because 2007 was Lydia’s first year in which she helped with packing a dozen shoe boxes for this effort. The article warmed my heart as I read it, so I am sharing it on Lydia’s blog in three parts. Below is the first of those three parts.

“A smile slowly spread across Wei Jing’s face when he heard the question. ‘Do you know what Christmas is?’ ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It is the day you get gifts.’

The boy and his classmates were about to receive their first ever Christmas gifts. Even more important, they would learn the true meaning of Christmas. Operation Christmas Child had come to their school in a remote mountain village in China.

Wei Jing’s eyes grew wide as he was handed a big, colorfully wrapped shoe box. He didn’t know what was inside, but he knew it must be good. The excitement grew as he waited for his friends to receive their gifts. He kept glancing down in wonder, anticipating the moment when he could open the box.

Finally, all of the shoe boxes had been handed out. It was time! The countdown began: ‘One. . .two. . .three!’

Wei Jing opened the lid and looked inside. He couldn’t believe what he saw. There were pencils and pens, a stuffed animal, and lots of strange and wonderful toys. There was even a toothbrush and toothpaste.

‘I had no idea what would be in the box,’ he said. ‘I like everything. Thank you for giving me such wonderful gifts.’

All around him, the scene was repeated. Children who never before had received a Christmas present opened their shoe boxes with joy and amazement. Could all this be just for them? Laughter filled the school yard as they showed each other their incredible treasures.

‘Not many parents buy gifts for their children,’ said the headmaster. ‘This is a rural area, and they cannot afford them. Their children only play with animals. What else do they have? When the parents see their children get these gifts, they are happy too.’

As much as they loved their gifts, the boys and girls received something even more important that day. They also heard about Jesus, the Christmas Child who came down from heaven.”

(Source: Operation Christmas Child: A Special Report. Samaritan’s Purse. 2008. pages 1-2.)

Photos: Dental, Down I Go !

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After climbing and crawling up the chair, Lydia is beginning her descent.

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Lydia prepares to slides down the chair. Her dad's hands are waiting to catch her.



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Lydia is sliding ever closer to her dad.



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After catching Lydia, her dad hoists her into the air.

After witnessing Lydia's activities, Dr. Michael Siew smiled as he commented that Lydia had turned an ordinary dental office into "Dental Land" (the dental version of Disneyland).

Note: SiowFong took all of these pictures on January 21, 2008 at Drs. Siew's and Kim's dental office in Seattle, WA.

Hoffman Visit

February 15, 2008


Hoffman Visit

Mark and Sue Hoffman, SiowFong’s longtime friends since their undergraduate days at the University of Nebraska who have resided in Maryland for many years, are visiting the area for the first time this week. A few months ago, Sue called SiowFong to inform us about their plans, so SiowFong invited them to dinner tonight.

We had a lovely time with them this evening. Since they work on a college campus, we conversed quite a bit about their daily experiences working with students. Lydia was quiet and more reserved with them.

They kindly gave Lydia two articles of clothing. They gave us a Maryland postcard that has a classic recipe for Chesapeake Bay crab cakes, which is as follows:

1 pound of crab meat, picked over
¼ cup of onion, diced
¼ cup of red bell pepper, diced
3 cups of fresh bread crumbs
½ cup of mayonnaise
¼ cup of cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 egg, slightly beaten
½ teaspoon of dried leaf tarragon
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
lemon wedges or slices to serve

Drain crab meat well. Combine crab meat, onion, bell pepper, and ½ cup of the bread crumbs in a medium size bowl. Beat mayonnaise, cream cheese, mustard, egg, tarragon, cayenne, and salt together in a separate bowl. Stir mayonnaise mixture into crab meat mixture. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Place remaining crumbs into a shallow bowl. Using an oval soup spoon, drop spoonfuls of mixture onto crumbs and form into patties, coating each side with crumbs. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Carefully add crab cakes. Cook until golden brown, turning once. If oil browns, wipe out skillet and add fresh oil. Serve with lemon. Makes 24 appetizer size crab cakes of 6 entrée size cakes.

Photos: Dental, Climbing Up the Chair

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Lydia is scrambling onto the dental chair.

After she successfully climbed onto the chair, she sat down briefly, and

then she slowly slid down the chair so that she could repeat this process.

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Lydia is crawling up the dental chair again.

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With her hands around a balloon made from a latex glove, Lydia is sitting contentedly in the chair.

Note: SiowFong took all of these pictures on January 21, 2008 at Drs. Siew's and Kim's office in Seattle, WA.