懷念您，黃國強先生

家父黃國強生於一九三五年農曆二月二十日，故鄉是廣東省開平縣，他是家中長子有兩位弟弟和一位妹妹，是出生於農村，小時候都是種些青菜，花生的渡過平穩，淡淡生活。

聽說爸爸小時候有些小聰明，在他13歲時爺爺帶着他到香港，隨後二叔亦到香港。待二叔離世後，父親為彌補爺爺的傷痛，他主動提出為三叔申請來港，三人一起努力共渡生活。爸爸的性格比較平靜並不太喜歡說話，所以爸爸年青時生活經過都是由媽媽的口中聽取的。在六十，七十年前來到香港時生活很艱難，爸爸曾經做了很多工作，亦轉了不少工，在那時他亦曾經加入足球隊希望能成為職業足球選手。其實當我看到他與足球隊員一起拍下的相片都覺得爸爸很有型，可惜夢想和現實有時不能相並，爺爺認為腳踏實地去找一份固定工作才可保存一個家。於是他便聽從爺爺的建議跟他一起做鞋業，爸爸做的是行內俗稱「軟底」即外國的室內拖鞋。就在這段艱苦的日子中遇上他的終身伴侶，我們的媽媽。在二十六歲時他便和媽媽結婚了。雖然爸爸是不太愛說話，但二人同樣是喜歡小孩子就撮合他們的婚姻。

當時結婚後生活亦不容易，在六十年代香港人口急增，住居不足，水不足，尤其是弟弟出生的一年，我還記得爸爸帶著媽媽，我和幼小的弟弟搬了很多次屋，但爸爸並不覺得恐懼或徬徨。勇於面對和解決一切困難。爸爸不斷勤勉工作之下，從不計較，無私精神，隨着七十年代輕工業開始發達及他的舊僱主關照下他開設了自己的工廠。我們的生活漸漸好轉。居住亦穩定了，爸爸對工廠員工們如同一家人，雖對他們的工作態度很嚴謹，但亦很適切給予關懷。每逢星期六他都有招待些員工來家吃飯，打雀局，聯誼一番。但在星期日必定是我們的家庭日，小時候帶我們去公園玩，去沙灘，去旅行燒烤，但到我們長大了就由我們帶他去逛百貨公司嚷他買禮物給我們。這些一切使我不能忘記那一分一秒的家庭快樂，他亦非常尊重長輩，對任何親戚或朋友都很悉心關照尤其對爺爺的無微不至。

爸爸雖然並不愛說甚麼教訓的說話，但他常常對我說做人要有原則，他並不希望我們做到第一的我，只希望做到唯一的我。他說做事要腳踏實地，真誠對人，在我的心中爸爸不只是我們的好爸爸，也是我們最好的人生顧問。直到我們長大成人他仍繼續默默地支持我們，爸爸並沒因為把他的生意繼續發展反而開始用他的事業作抵押給我們出國留學。他教我們成功與失敗並不重要，重要的是去接受和承擔後果。對任何事他都會讓我們去挑戰，他讓我們去尋求自己想行走的道路，去實現自己的夢想，我們五兄弟姊妹能夠在不同國家生活，發展，有自己的幸福快樂，都是他和媽媽給我們不斷的支持和信賴。當他和媽媽移民到加拿大溫莎市後，他們接觸了基督教，聖靈開啟了他們的心，在一次的佈道會中決定信主，二千年受洗成為基督徒。之後每天勤讀和抄寫聖經。爸爸的性格很幽默，有趣，時常為我們添上不少快樂和情趣。在另一方面他誠實，認真，開朗，更對女孫兒，男孫兒們無微不至，常用行動去表示他對孫兒們的愛護。我記得當他知悉孫兒們學行時他都為每一個孫兒做嬰兒鞋，小小的鞋十分可愛，是世界上唯一爸爸設計手做的嬰兒鞋。說到這裡我彷彿感覺到他就在旁邊聽著微笑著。

在六年前爸爸患上重病，除了不能走動外，更失去了說話能力，但他從未在我們面前絲毫表現出他的不安和害怕，甚至以他的面容去表示他的幽默感。他給我們的勇氣和堅強的意志，我們永遠記著他的笑容。爸爸一生敢作敢為，坦誠，樂觀，和氣，親切，幽默令我們銘記心中。

在今年三月三日他返回天國與媽媽共聚，投入耶穌基督的懷抱，我相信他現在和媽媽一起在天上微笑地守護著我們。

由大女兒黃曼斯撰寫

Our father Wong Kwok Keung was born in 1935 on the twentieth day of the second lunar month. Originally from Kaiping County, Guangdong Province, he was the eldest son of his family with two younger brothers and a younger sister. He had a peaceful childhood and grew up around vegetable and peanut farms.

When our father was 13 years old, our grandfather brought him to Hong Kong, followed by our second uncle (our father’s brother). When our second uncle passed away, our father cleverly proposed to apply for our third uncle (his youngest brother) to reunite with them in Hong Kong as consolation for their loss. Together, the three of them supported each other in their lives in Hong Kong. Father had a quiet personality and did not speak much. Therefore, most of what we know about his life as a young man was told to us by our mother. Since he came to Hong Kong 60 to 70 years ago, making a living was not easy. Father had worked many different jobs and was occasionally switching professions. At one point he had joined a football team hoping to one day become a professional football player. When I saw a photo of him with his teammates, I thought he looked slick. Unfortunately, dreams and reality do not always match. Grandfather thought that committing to a stable job was the right thing to do if father were to start a family. Father heeded grandfather’s advice and followed in his footsteps to work in the shoe industry. What our father made were known in the industry as “soft bottoms” which refer to western-style indoor slippers. It was during this period that my father met his life companion, my mother. He married my mother when he was 26 years old. Even though my father was quiet, they both loved children, and that mutual interest brought them together.

Life after marriage was difficult as well. The population in Hong Kong grew dramatically in the ’60s. There was a shortage of housing space and water. I remember that the year my brother was born, we had to move home many times. Despite that, I saw neither fret nor fear in my father. Father continued to work hard and faced all obstacles with courage and selflessness. With the help of his former employer coupled with a good business environment for light industries in the ’70s, my father opened his own factory. It was then that our lives began to improve and became more stable. Father treated factory workers as family. Although he had high expectations for their work, he would show care for them and invited them to home for meals, mahjong, and gatherings alike. However, Sundays were always reserved for the family. When we were young, he would bring us out to the park, the beach, and have barbeque outings. As we got older, we brought him out to shop for presents for us. Those moments formed fond memories of our time together as a family. Father was also a very pious man. He would show care to relatives and friends, and most of all to my grandfather.

Although my father said little to instruct us, he would always say that it is important to be a person with principles. He did not wish that we would become our best selves, rather he would wish for us to be our unique selves. He said we are to be down to earth and treat others with integrity. In my heart, our father was not just a good father for us, but he was also our life coach. As we grew older, our father continued to support us. Rather than expanding his business, our father began to mortgage it to fund our education abroad. He taught us that it is neither success nor failure that counts, rather the importance is in how we accept and bear the consequences of our actions. He lets us discover our own paths and pursue our dreams. The trust and support that our father and mother gave us allowed us to establish happy lives wherever we lived. After he and our mother emigrated to Windsor, Canada, they were introduced to Christianity. The Holy Spirit opened the eyes of their hearts to accept Christ during an evangelistic meeting. They were baptised in the year 2000, and since then they have recited and copied the Bible daily. Father often brought us to joy with his sense of humor. On the other hand, he was honest and could be serious. He showed immense care for his grandchildren with his actions. When he knew that his grandchildren would start to learn walking, he would design and make by hand little shoes for them. These cute little shoes were the only toddler shoes he had ever designed and made. I could almost sense him close by me this moment listening with a smile.

Six years ago, our father developed an illness. Apart from losing mobility, he also lost his ability to speak. However, he never showed a sense of fear or anxiety but continued to reveal his sense of humor through his facial expressions. We will always remember the way his smiles have brought us courage and steadfastness. His fearlessness, honesty, optimism, kindness, and humor will forever be remembered.

On 3 March this year, he joined our mother who is in heaven, and entered into the embrace of Jesus Christ. I believe he and our mother are watching over us with a smile.

written by Grace-Mansze Sakuma

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