From Thesis to Truth
The last hurdle-final-year project and thesis writing--is often the most difficult to clear for many undergraduates. Seeing many final-year students sweating over their theses, an idea came to Peck Choo's mind to hold a seminar on the practical how-to's of thesis writing. Peck Choo and her husband Joseph are both serving among campus students in Serdang. They believe that if they can minister to the non-Christian students when they are in dire need for help, they would gain their friendships. And friendship lays the ground for greater openness to the gospel.
Though Peck Choo left university some 16 years ago, she is still scholarly at heart. She spent one year to survey and understand the different thesis writing requirements for the various faculties in the campus. In June 2003, she conducted the first of a three-part seminar. With the help of four Christian final-year students who promoted the seminar to their friends and coursemates, fifty-two students came. Most of them were non-Christians.
Since the first seminar, some of them even went to Peck Choo's house regularly to seek her advice. Friendships developed. Apart from helping them in their theses, she also encouraged and affirmed their work through short messaging service (SMS). On Joseph's birthday, the couple even invited the students to celebrate together with them and their two sons.
Relationships between the Christian students and their coursemates also strengthened. Openness towards Christianity became more evident among the non-Christian students. Mee Har, a third-year Christian student said, "After attending the thesis writing seminar with my coursemates, we had a common topic to talk about. As our friendships deepened, we even talked about spiritual matters. Last Christmas, they gladly accepted the evangelistic VCDs that I gave them. I learned to care for them as individuals."
Wilson, a Christian student, felt that it was difficult to invite non-Christian friends to evangelistic meetings. "It's easier to bring them to this kind of thesis writing seminar. I have tried to bring them to evangelistic meetings, but they turned me down," he said.
During the seminar, Peck Choo reminded the students to plan ahead, work hard, stay away from plagiarism, and to be honest by refusing to alter experiment results to what is expected. Many students heeded her advice. During the Chinese New Year holidays, Suk Heng, a non-Christian student, decided to delay going back to her hometown in Ipoh so that she could finish her thesis earlier. Another student, Sau Mei, chose to repeat her experiments rather than alter her results. After many observations, finally she found a logical explanation for her unexpected results.
Nine long months of toiling over their projects and theses finally came to an end. Throughout the whole process, Peck Choo was there to guide them. To celebrate the joyful occasion, Peck Choo organized a pizza party for the students. Nineteen students turned up for the party and they had a good time of sharing, thanksgiving and listening to the gospel message.
At the party, Peck Choo talked from her heart about her share of difficulties encountered. Being an Arts graduate, she found it hard to handle science thesis. She shared, "Each time I look through your thesis, I prayed and asked God for wisdom and understanding. Due to a recent miscarriage, I was supposed to rest more. However, in order to meet the deadline of handing in theses, I asked God for strength so that I could stay up late to go through all your theses. And when you came to me with your struggles with your supervisor, I could only pray and ask God to grant you favor in the eyes of your lecturer. The God whom I believe is fantastic. He answered all my prayers and it was He who carried and pulled us through. He is the One behind all our successes."
Bee Sim, a non-Christian, shared with Peck Choo privately, "Thanks for praying for me." When Bee Sim first came to Peck Choo for help, it was because her lecturer scolded her for her bad English as well as disappointing experiment results. Peck Choo prayed for her that she would have boldness to face her lecturer. Three days later, Bee Sim happily told Peck Choo that her lecturer commented her English has improved and even requested her to help Iydia, a Malay student. Hence, Peck Choo spent three full days with Iydia, working and going through her thesis.
The pizza party ended with a gospel Powerpoint presentation by Kelvin, a master's student. To the Christians, Christ is the best graduation gift for their friends and coursemates whom they have spent three years together in campus.
