Thank You Lord For saving My Soul, Thank You Lord For Making Me Whole, Thank You Lord For Giving To Me, Thy Great Salvation so rich and free.
Memoir 自述回憶錄
[自述回憶錄中文版 → https://tinyurl.com/andymo]
Note: This memoir was originally written in Chinese by Andy Mo. This English version was translated with the assistance of AI to share his story with all his family and friends.
As the Years Flow By, The Lord’s Grace Deepens
Memories of St. Joseph's Home for Children
By God’s special arrangement, my two brothers and I were accepted into the orphanage in 1955, beginning our life at the children's home in Fanling. Located next to the train station and bordered by mountains and streams, the home gave me ample opportunity to practice climbing and wading. Life was never dull; I truly experienced the kind of adventures described in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Three close friends and I would often picnic in abandoned farmhouses to supplement our meager meals.
When saying grace before meals, I always kept my eyes open, fearing my food might vanish if I closed them. During the harvest season, I would bring bamboo tools to the fields to “help” harvest water chestnuts. It was also kite-flying season; other children and I would trek across fields and roads, regardless of the distance, just to retrieve a fallen kite.
Whenever a police van arrived to deliver goods confiscated from hawkers, we eagerly anticipated extra dishes for dinner.
Because our regular meals were not filling, whenever we had the chance, my classmates and I would go to the fields and cook things in empty relief-milk-powder cans (I can no longer recall exactly what we cooked) just to fill our stomachs.
Entertainment was scarce. Fortunately, an older “big brother” would sometimes take me on his bicycle to an open-air cinema to watch free movies. Occasionally, film companies sent staff to project movies in the school hall; we were happy just to have something to watch, regardless of whether the movie was good or not. During those days, without anyone teaching me, I somehow picked up the habit of speaking foul language.
Christmas was a joyous season for us children. Soldiers would host us for a Christmas feast at the Shek Kong Airfield, followed by military drills and performances. It was a rich program, and we always returned home in high spirits.
Years at Wu Kai Sha Children's Garden Secondary School
I spent the longest period of my youth here, and life was colorful. Although I had to repeat Primary 3 due to failing English, it was a blessing in disguise (“When the old man lost his horse, how could he know it was not a blessing?”). By Primary 5 and 6, I consistently ranked at the top in English competitions organized by the Children's Fund. Throughout secondary school, I maintained good grades and tutored younger students.
By God’s grace, my two brothers and I were assigned to live in the same cottage—cabin 38 (there were 66 cabins in total). Our living and learning environment at Wu Kai Sha was first-class, the envy of Hong Kong, and comparable to that of children from wealthy families.
Living, studying, and playing together allowed us to build close relationships. We learned to take care of ourselves and manage household chores (such as cleaning windows and sweeping the streets). Every morning, we took turns cooking breakfast for 14 people.
The most precious thing about those years at the Children’s Garden was coming to know the Lord Jesus, which established the direction of my life. I made friends with Christian classmates, joined the student Christian fellowship, and participated in teaching Sunday School to children of fishermen—memories that have stayed with me for a lifetime.
Beautiful Tolo Harbour: Green Mountains Behind, Waters Before
The people who served at Wu Kai Sha—whether house parents, teachers, or staff—worked with love and did their utmost to serve us, children without families, allowing us to taste the warmth of a home we had lost.
Personally, I was taught typing by a staff member. While learning to type, I gained valuable knowledge of English, which was unexpected. My English teacher was particularly kind to me and gave me some stamps, starting my hobby of philately. This sparked my interest in exploring different countries, taking my quest for knowledge beyond books and the classroom. I began to care about local and world events, which cultivated my interest in Civics.
Reflections on Tolo Harbour
I spent my primary and secondary school years at Wu Kai Sha Children's Garden (1957–1965) and my university years at Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong (1967–1971). The two locations faced each other across the harbor. I spent over a decade by Tolo Harbour, witnessing its changes. Ma On Shan produced iron ore, which was transported to Japan by special freighters. At night, fishermen lit bright pressure lamps to catch fish. They would set up nets and strike wood against their boats to make a crisp sound; the startled fish would swim into the nets. The catch was then transported to Tai Po Market for sale. After the Chinese University was established, this scene ceased to exist.
Mother and Son
While at Wu Kai Sha, I only had the chance to go home and see my mother during the summer holidays. She would buy stamps for us and instruct us to write to her every week; the responsibility fell on me. Writing letters became a routine duty. I vaguely remember that my grandmother lived in our ancestral village, and I was also responsible for writing to her; I can still clearly remember the address of the ancestral home.
When I was still young, during a holiday visit home, my mother was bathing me and discovered a benign tumor on my left leg. The doctor said surgery was required. After I returned home from the hospital, my mother massaged me all night to relieve the pain. That was the first time I truly felt a mother's love.
Mother's Later Years with Us
From the time I got married, my wife was determined that we should live with my mother so she could spend the second half of her life well. When the Lord called us to serve full-time at the Chinese Christian Mission (CCM) in the United States, my mother could not join us immediately. In July 1994, by faith, we returned to Hong Kong to bring our mother to live with us in the U.S., where she stayed until she returned to her heavenly home at the age of 92. We are grateful that after coming to the U.S., she had no choice but to accompany us to church every Sunday. The Holy Spirit worked in her heart; within two years, she believed in the Lord. Not only was she baptized, but she also loved reading the Bible and never missed Sunday School or fellowship. Her life and values grew closer and closer to the Lord.
Memories of Chung Chi College (C3)
Prayer Meetings on the Hill: These meetings trained us to have a persistent, unified heart to pray for the campus testimony. Whether holding umbrellas in the rain or lighting mosquito coils in the sun, those scenes are unforgettable. I remember members discussing whether it was better to stay on the hill to pray or to join simultaneous campus activities. There was no absolute answer, and everyone did what suited them, but it never damaged our unity. Thank the Lord.
Enjoying Loving Provision: I remember times of financial lack when "anonymous envelopes" would fly into my mailbox, solving my urgent needs with more than enough to spare.
Balancing Spiritual Matters and School Activities: I formed a group with several members to enter a hymn-singing competition organized by the Student Union. We won a prize, but the happiest part was that the students felt God through the hymn (Martin Luther’s "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God").
Academics and Testimony: Seizing an opportunity, two classmates and I chose the "Dead Sea Scrolls" as our topic for an IBS project. During the class presentation, we explained to our classmates and teachers that the Bible is without error, has withstood the test of time, and remains ever new.
Borrowing Venues from the Chaplain: We dared not make any mistakes. Before seeing the chaplain to borrow a venue for a meeting, we would pray outside his office with fear and trembling, looking to God. The school had the right to refuse us because there was already a Christian fellowship on campus. This incident still reminds me that nothing in the world should be taken for granted. I learned that in doing God's holy work—whether people see it as big or small—one must never be complacent; everything must be wholeheartedly entrusted to and reliant upon God.
How Good and Pleasant it is for Brethren to Dwell Together: Members worked together to compile hymnbooks and testimony collections for meetings and evangelism. We handled every step: transcribing (writing on stencils over a steel plate—not as convenient as today’s computers and printers, yet we did it with total dedication and joy), mimeographing, and binding. I vaguely recall the hymnbook was edited with reference to the Campus Hymnal II published by the Taiwan Campus Fellowship.
Winter and Summer Conferences: These were spiritual feasts and times of fellowship that everyone longed for. I believe members from our era still remember the Tsung Tsin Mission Centre near Plover Cove Reservoir. Far from the city's hustle and bustle, tucked away in a corner, it was the premier choice for conferences.
Meeting Alumni: I remember a special gathering held every July 1st at the Overseas Theological Seminary (similar to today’s Alumni Homecoming, though not held on campus), where we met C3 members who had graduated years prior. It always ended with a large group photo.
The Journey to America
I was invited by a coworker at the Chinese Christian Mission (CCM) in the U.S. (a former member of a Hong Kong church) to consider joining their editorial team. After praying for some time, God’s leading became clear. The application process, however, was full of twists and turns. The lawyer handling the work immigration split from his firm, and the U.S. Department of Labor, which verified academic credentials, relocated. These events caused repeated delays, leading to doubts in my heart.
Three years later, on June 4, 1989, I finally received notification from the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong that the application was approved, pending an interview. On October 17 of that year, my wife and I underwent a rather strict interview at the Consulate. We were asked several tricky questions, and I thought we wouldn’t pass, but by God’s will, we did. As we left the Consulate, we learned that a major earthquake had struck San Francisco that very day. I couldn't help but wonder, “Why did it have to happen right now?”
The next day, I called CCM in the U.S. to ask about their well-being, thinking that if the CCM building had collapsed in the earthquake, I wouldn't need to go to the U.S. and could peaceably stay in Hong Kong to continue teaching. But God timely gave a precious promise: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). CCM was still standing (and has been for 52 years now), so I had no excuse.
We completed the sale of our flat and the packing for immigration within the deadline. On January 30, 1990 (the second day of the Lunar New Year), our family—my wife and our three young children—set off for the United States, a place we had never set foot in, to begin literary ministry at CCM. Thus began an indissoluble bond with literary work. CCM (Chinese Christian Mission) is located in a small city north of San Francisco called Petaluma, about an hour's drive from the Golden Gate Bridge.
My literary work at CCM covered a broad scope, including assisting in the writing and publishing of three periodicals and various books. Through this, I met many authors, pastors, and ministers, and had the opportunity to collaborate with C3 seniors (I recall the New Age article series and the book Darwin on Trial). Once, while leading a short-term mission team to Macau, one member was a C3 senior, and her husband was also a C3 senior whose name was familiar to me through mailing lists. Furthermore, at various church occasions in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was able to put faces to the names I knew from correspondence. Their beautiful service and footsteps deeply encouraged me.
God also allowed me to track down a C3 member attending a church south of San Francisco. I managed to contact him and return a spiritual book (possibly The Fire of the Spirit spreads, though I can't recall the exact title) that I had kept for about thirty years, finally lifting the heavy stone of an unreturned book from my heart.
Due to work needs, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with spiritual elders. Two remain fresh in my memory: Bian Yunbo, author of To the Unknown Evangelist, and Rev. James Hudson Taylor IV, the great-great-grandson of Hudson Taylor. Both were connected to missions. When Bian first arrived in the U.S., I attended his testimony meeting and was later gifted his small book The Wish of Remembrance (a sequel to To the Unknown Evangelist). Reading it, I felt the author's intense longing for past brethren and couldn’t help but look forward to reading it again years later to see if I could empathize even more—perhaps now is the time to try!
My acquaintance with Rev. Taylor began at a missions conference. Since Hudson Taylor is a household name, I went with a desire to hear his teachings and see the demeanor of his descendant, hoping to understand this missionary family more deeply. The more I listened, the more attracted I became, feeling that God has truly used generations of the Taylor family greatly in gospel ministry among the Chinese, bringing us blessings.
My service at CCM eventually came to a close in the late 90s, but my wife continued to serve at CCM until her retirement. For the following three years, I worked from home with a pastor's wife translating Bible commentaries (several books of the New Testament) to help ministers who lacked seminary resources.
In 2001, the very week the “9/11” incident occurred, I was hired by the Translation Department of the San Francisco Unified School District. Including the supervisor, there were only three of us then, but today the department has expanded to eight people. Our department handles all translation and interpretation work for the school district. In short, this job is not easy; it requires both “mouth work” (interpretation, including consecutive and simultaneous) and "hand work" (written translation).
On February 28, 2014, my wife and I retired together.
Family Updates
Our three children have their own families.
The Eldest, Vince (Wing-sze): Apart from caring for four children (two boys, two girls), she works as a medical records technician at a clinic. Her husband is the pastor of the English congregation at the San Francisco Chinese Alliance Church.
The Second, Serena (Wing-cheung): Formerly a full-time homeschool mom to four children (two boys, two girls), she now nurtures the spiritual quality of youth through a dance school. Her husband is an ophthalmologist currently pursuing theological studies and leading men's ministry at their church. They reside in Oakville, near Toronto, Canada.
The Third, Vincent (Chiu-hoi): (His name means "Triumph towards Christ"). He's a Software Engineer at Google (YouTube), and his wife is an Elementary school teacher. They have three children (two boys, one girl).
Thank God, He has blessed my wife and me with 11 grandchildren.
A Few Words to Our Grandchildren and Their Parents
Time and tide wait for no men. In no time, Anita and Andy will grow feeble and either one will see our heavenly father soon. Remember to love your Lord whatever may happen.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 ESV
Andy and Anita pray daily for your steadfast faith in Christ, which is much better than earning a lot of money.
Appendix 附錄
"Trust and Obey" - a testimony of Andy and Anita leaving Hong Kong for full-time mission work with CCM in the US (Chinese version): https://tinyurl.com/mo-ccm-testimony-zh
Timeline 生平
出生於中國廣州。
移居香港。
父親去世；三弟秉虎還未出世。
入住 「粉嶺約瑟樓孤兒院」 。
入住 「烏溪沙兒童新村」，就讀小學三年。
於 「烏溪沙兒童新村」 信主受浸。
於 「烏溪沙兒童新村」 中學畢業; 入住 「基督教兒童福利會」 設於大埔道126號的宿舍，並蒙資助在伯特利中學唸中六(大學預科)；在 「宣道會希伯崙堂」 聚會。
在香港中文大學崇基學院攻讀英國及西方語文學系，副修中文；並在 「基督徒會堂」 聚會。
在麗澤中學任職英文教師。
在 「灣仔警察總部」 當二級中文主任9個月; 於香港中文大學校外進修部修讀高級翻譯文憑。
應麗澤中學邀請回校當英文科教師兼科主任。
與凌賽君姊妹 (Anita) 結婚 ; 婚後開始在土瓜灣 「聖徒聚會所」 聚會和侍奉。
長女詠詩 (Vince) 出生。
出任香港公務員考試組評核員；同年二女詠章 (Serena) 出生。
攻讀香港大學教育文憑。
兒子朝凱 (Vincent) 出生。
取得香港中文大學英文科哲學碩士學位；同年開始擔任麗澤中學副校長至1990年赴美前。
舉家移民到美國加州，在「中國信徒佈道會」侍奉。
憑信心全家在7月回港接年近80歲的母親來美團聚，直到2009年她92歲回天家。
出任 「美國翻譯協會」 擬題兼評卷員。
在家三年翻譯聖經釋義。
開始任職於三藩市聯合校區翻譯部。
見證子女成家立室: 2004年, 二女詠章與譚一飛弟兄 (Diamond Tam) 結婚; 2006年, 大女詠詩與劉以霖傳道 (Jonathan Lau) 結婚；同年兒子朝凱與黃智恩姊妹 (Tracy Wongworavit) 結婚。
六年間, 蒙神賜下多位孫兒孫女: 外孫女譚晶瑩 (Pristine)、外孫女劉亦恩 (Haley)、外孫譚上義 (Justus)、外孫女譚雪瑩 (Verity)、外孫劉亦信 (Nevan)、孫兒巫剛允 (Jeremiah)、外孫譚上峰 (Everest)、外孫劉亦希 (Jared) 及孫兒巫剛進 (Zachary)。
岳父及三弟秉虎回天家。翌年, 二弟秉龍回天家。
夫婦同步退休並一起到各地探親與旅遊。
孫女巫凱恩 (Karalynn) 出生。
岳母回天家；同年外孫女劉亦愛 (Renee) 出生。
確診柏金遜症並開始接受治療。
11月15日因一天內跌倒兩次而去急診室，檢查後發覺肝、腎和心的功能不好及吞嚥有問題，引發吸入性肺炎而留院治療。短暫住院後，他回到家中接受臨終關懷，並得以與19位家人共渡最後一次、滿載愛與溫馨的感恩節，天父賜享天倫之樂。
12月5日早上6:30蒙天父接回天家；遺體依照生前意願捐贈 「史丹福醫學院」 作醫學使用。
Gallery 相片集
Memory Wall 思念區
我們深知Andy生前感動並影響了許多人的生命。誠摯邀請您在下方分享對他的回憶，或留下給家人的祝福與寄語，與我們一同紀念他的一生。
昨天我再一次經歴神的感動。奇妙地帶我想起和記念50多年前聖徒聚會所的弟兄姊妹。一個一個把他們的名字默念出來。晚上便收到巫哥哥已經在愛祂和巫哥哥一生所愛的主耶穌懷中。
我非常感恩巫哥哥那一份溫文，基督的謙卑去教導我年幼無知的初信者。用他自己的言行去帶領我，他活出神的道。這是天父阿爸所𧶽我的大禮物和恩典。
你們夫妻充滿基督，活出基督。雖然不常見面，但在靈裏面，你和巫哥哥是我生命天上的雲彩。非常感恩有你們。你們真是主美麗的見證人。是祭壇是聖潔無暇疵的祭物。你們生命是馨香之祭，升到寶座前，父子靈是何等喜悅和滿足。
有一天我會在天上對巫哥哥說「謝謝你，我愛你，我的好弟兄，我的前輩。」
🙏🏻🙏🏻🥰🥰
巫哥哥，你的離開，我傷心，也難過，捨不得。
心想，你已盡心盡性地為主在地上已活，所以你應該非常喜樂地與永恆的神在天上已活。😜😜
Andy was a very smart, kind hearted and very faithful Christian. There were two Christmas evenings always in my mind, one in 1965 we sang Christmas carols together and the other was in 2023, I visited him in US home. Now he rested in God’s arm we pray God to bless his family, I am going to sing a song to bid farewell to him.
九十年代中期, 他舉動背經比賽,鼓勵信徒勤於背誦金句, 將神話語深藏心中,幫助信徒在真道上扎根成長。巫校長為人謙和, 常以身作則；每次上課前, 他總是先拿起掃把, 清潔教育樓外的環境, 用最平凡的服事展現最真實的謙卑, 成為我們敬仰的榜樣與良師。2004年為了守護聖經對婚姻原則, 反對同性婚姻合法化, 參加 “婚姻是一男一女” 在19th Avenue 的大遊行, 鼓勵基督徒站起來, 為真理伸張正義。
如今他已安息主懷, 我們懷念他多年忠心的付出與勞苦, 他的榜樣與影響將長存我們心中。
感謝主將巫校長賜給三宣這個屬靈的家, 使我們深受造就。願一切榮耀歸於神, 阿們。
It’s heartbreaking to hear the passing of another teacher whom I dearly respect!
My dear Mo Sir, may you rest comfortably and peacefully in the arms of our Heavenly Father.
Like a candle, you consumed yourself to light the way for others. Your life was a blessing to the people around you. As a teacher, you inspired students’ minds, touched students’ hearts and instilled a love of learning. As a Christian, you led an exemplary life of a faithful servant of God. You have fought a good fight and finished your course so well.
You are always loved and remembered!
Till we meet again.
願主賜平安給予Anita 和家人.
巫 Sir 是我五十多年來敬重的同事與朋友。如今雖然不再與我們同在，但他溫厚、忠心的生命見證會一直留在我心裡。
他多年來與病患奮戰，請接受我最深切、最誠懇的哀悼。我會為妳及妳的家人禱告。 陸愛玲
打過美好的仗
跑盡當 跑的路
守住所信的道
有公義冠冕為他存留。
我今天想到，可幸巫哥哥先走，若賽君姐先走，情況很不同。
「你的美意本是如此」
「將來禧年，聖徒歡聚…
喜 樂頌讚，在主腳前
甚望那日快臨」。 伍欣旭
哥在地盡享天倫之福，在天得享主懷安息，大家雖不捨，但心裏得安慰。保重。
Anita, take care of yourself. If you need any help, let me know. We are neighbors.
祥源 絢華 12/6/25 於馬來西亞
願主親自安慰仍留在地上的家人。明白我們都只是暫别。將來天家再聚！阿門！
Over the years, I have had many opportunities to spend time with Uncle and Auntie. In my eyes, Uncle was lovable and deeply respected. He was gentle, quiet, and easygoing. Whenever he ate something he loved, a subtle smile would appear on his face. Whether we were out cruising or playing chess at home, time spent with him was always enjoyable. His faithfulness and unwavering commitment to reading Scripture, prayer, devotion, and service showed me the importance of drawing close to God each day.
During the final days I spent accompanying Uncle, I watched his body grow weaker, yet his heart for God remained strong and unchanged. Being able to witness him return to his heavenly home with peace, is a memory I will always cherish.
Auntie, thank you so much! I also thank God for allowing me to experience His goodness through your family again. His love and grace truly go beyond anything we could imagine. May God use me, just as He has used your family, to be salt and light for Him, to bring Him glory, and to share His love with others, so that more people can come to know Him. Amen!
這些年來，我有不少機會與 Uncle 和 Auntie 相處。在我心中，Uncle 是一位可愛又令人尊敬的長輩。他溫文爾雅、親切隨和、從不動怒。每當吃到喜歡的食物時，他的嘴角總會不自覺地揚起一絲微笑。不論是一起外出遊玩，還是在家中下棋，相處的時光都是輕鬆愉快。他持之以恆地讀經、禱告、靈修與服事，讓我明白每天親近神的重要。
在陪伴 Uncle 走過生命最後一段日子𥚃，看著他的身體一天一天衰弱，但他對神的信心仍然是強而堅定。能夠見證他帶著平靜、順服與安穩的心回到天家，是一段非常珍貴難忘的回憶。
Auntie，謝謝你們！亦感謝神再次透過你們一家，讓我親身經歷祂的美善。祂的慈愛和恩典，實在超乎我們所能想像。願神使用我，就像使用你們一樣，為祂作鹽作光，榮耀祂。把神的愛帶給別人，讓更多人認識祂。
[我留下平安給你們
我將我的平安賜給你們］（ 約翰福音）
Memorial Service 追思會
Andy was a devoted family man and a faithful servant whose life beautifully reflected God’s grace. We come together to cherish his memory and rejoice in the profound impact and countless blessings he shared with us all.
We look forward to sharing this time of worship and reflection with you.
For those unable to attend in person, we invite you to join us virtually. The link to the YouTube live stream is posted below under "Virtual Event".
— Important Notes —
Lunch: A casual lunch reception will be held immediately following the ceremony. Please RSVP and we hope you can join us.
Gifts: In keeping with Andy’s spirit of giving, the family requests that no flowers be sent. Instead, all condolence gifts received will be offered to support San Francisco Chinese Alliance Church (SFCAC), Chinese Christian Mission (CCM) USA, and Showers of Blessing Evangelistic Ministry (SOBEM).
Attire: We invite you to come as you are to celebrate Andy’s life. Formal wear is welcome, but semi-casual attire is also perfectly appropriate as we honor his down-to-earth spirit.
RSVP: Kindly RSVP by January 7, 2026, to assist the family with arrangements.
Address: 1150 Vicente St, San Francisco, CA 94116
www.sfcac.org
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