Report and photo by Rev. Chung Shou-Hui It was our pleasure to attend former missionary Miss Alvinza Riddoch’s 100th Birthday celebrations on 3 May 2014 in Cramlington, Northumberland; and it was an honor to represent the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), friends and former students in Taiwan who could not travel to be with Alvinza on such a joyous occasion. The “birthday party” started at 4pm and guests included her three nephews’ and their families, three best friends, a representative of the Nursing home, former URC-PCT missionary Mr Walter and Mrs Doreen Carruthers, former URC-PCT missionary Rev Liz Brown and our family. It was a great joy to see four generations of Alvinza’s family surrounding her. Each one or family brought greetings and presents to Alvinza and placed flowers and cards around a table. A special card, which is traditionally sent to UK citizens who reach their 100th Birthday, was received from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Rev. Chung Shou-Hui presented the PCT gift to Alvinza and read the greeting letter signed by PCT Moderator Lo and General Secretary Lyim. SPH Mandarin Fellowship (Manchester) also gave birthday cards, a blue scarf, handmade by Shou-Hui’s sister; all of which made Alvinza very pleased – she said that we are all part of her family representing her second home country Taiwan. We enjoyed food kindly prepared by the nursing home, a 100th Birthday cake made by the wife of Alvinza’s nephew, while Shou-Hui had baked Taiwanese rice cake (ti’’-koe) especially suitable for Alvinza’s gluten free diet and baked seaweed which a lot of people like so much! May God bless Alvinza Riddoch 李恩慈with health and happiness and continue to strengthen her day by day. |