Memory of My Father

My memory of my father is that he was a light-hearted, jovial person. He used to love to entertain his girls (his 5,000 pieces of gold), with flute or harmonica, or do funny things to make us laugh. He loved to sing with his deep voice and can play a host of different instruments. Not only he was musical he was also athletic. I remember him teaching us how to make hacky sac with a coin in the middle sandwiched by two pieces of felt sewn together by hand. We’d sew some feathers on the top and that was our home-made play thing for hours at a time. Then he would show off by kicking the hacky sac with both feet, the back and even on top of his head! He loved his girls!

Life was really good in Taiwan! But mom and dad wanted a better life for their girls so while dad still had his dental practice, mom braved the new world to pioneer a life in America for her family. After a year, dad joined her. And after another year, we, the kids also came to the U.S. At first, it was so exciting (I remember seeing snow for the first time and was awed that you can actually see the shapes of the snowflakes like in picture books!). But soon we realized making a living in the U.S. wasn’t as easy as we thought. Dad could not practice dentistry because the board made many attempts to make it difficult for him to be licensed in this country. My parents had different oriental gift shops and restaurants. At times, some of their business ventures would do well but most have failed for various reasons. One instance that stood out to me was one day I saw my dad mopping the floor in their restaurant. Tears welled up in me. In Taiwan, they used to call him “Doctor Huang,” but he sacrificed a comfortable life for a better life for us.

Much later in life, God showed me that what’s important in a person’s life is not the worldly accomplishment, nor the comfortable living they can earn, but how much Christ they’ve accumulated. Hardships often help us much like the fire a refiner uses to purify gold. And I have seen and witnessed that my parents have accumulated something so precious, much precious than gold, a kind of maturity and weightiness in Jesus Christ that is a sweet smelling fragrance to God.

“So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.” (I Peter 1:7 AMPC)

My dad wasn’t always an “overcoming christian” you know. There had been periods when he didn’t “go to church” regularly. One time when he was still a young man, some brothers from the church came to his house for a visit and he slipped out from the back not wanting to see them. When he came around the front, they just so happened to come out of the house and ran into him. He said he was caught and would laugh about it. Three years ago, at the age of 87, he was hospitalized. Even though he had been hospitalized several times before, but when he was released this time, he became bed-ridden on and off for the next three years. In the beginning, he did not seem to have much strength to pray or read his bible. However, for the past half a year, his faith seemed to have become so simple and child-like. Often, he would break out in a hymn, singing to his God; or he’ll raise his hands and shout “hallelujah!” to express the joy of his salvation! It touched me deeply to see him loving God so purely! God showed me this time, that maturity = simplicity. How wonderful! “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion!” Philliians 1:6.

I thank God for the legacy my dad left behind and the lessons God taught me through his life!! I love him and remember him with joy and fondness!!

Naomi Minahan, 3rd of his 5 girls at David Huang’s funeral April, 2016

I first got to know David and Sue after serving together with Sue at the bookstore in Chicago; that would have been about 15 years ago. After that, I visited them a number of times at their home, since I lived fairly close by; those times were always very refreshing and enjoyable. It was so encouraging to be with such a sweet older couple, just living a very simple life in the Lord's presence. And of course, their history with the recovery was quite special; saints like that are so rare among us now! They are a real support to the church and the saints. David and Sue certainly have been, and it was a real blessing to be with them.

The one particular memory I have of David is that Sue at one point mentioned he loved peanut butter, but the kind that's not so healthy, with a lot of added ingredients. I wanted to see if I could encourage him to eat the all-natural kind, "just peanuts," but the problem with that is you have to stir it; not so easy if you're a bit older. So, I got a jar, stirred it up, and brought it over for him. I don't know if that helped or not!

It's never easy to lose a loved one, even when they lived such a long and full life as David did. May the Lord's comfort be with you all in this loss.

For over forty years David and Sue have graced the church and faithfully ministered life as pillars in the church. David's going to the Lord is a loss to us physically and he is missed. He was the epitome of Romans 12. The example of a faithful saint in function blending into the Body in appropriate measure according to Christ.
His care and portion in shepherding many, lives on as an example to us all, to the Glory of Christ. We along with his family miss his presence, but are thankful to the Lord for David's long life with us.