Paul and Lucy Alexander
The sad news from daughter Anne Alexander:
Dear Family & Friends,
While we hardly know how to pray, we know God's will is good,
acceptable & perfect. Please pray that His will will be done on earth
(& in our lives) as it is in heaven, & that the God of all comfort will
be with Dad (if he's aware) as well as all of us.
Then:
Dear Ones,
I wanted to thank you for your prayers for Daddy (Paul Alexander), and ask you to continue to pray for all who love and mourn his passing. The cocoon of his mortality has split so his glorious immortal butterfly soul may dance among the flowers of heaven. Daddy is singing with the angels now. His last 'Hallelujah' has been shouted here, his last 'Praise the Lord'. He's well-practiced for eternity, as his faith becomes sight. He left us at 12:15 this morning, 6/17/14.
I wanted to thank you for your prayers for Daddy (Paul Alexander), and ask you to continue to pray for all who love and mourn his passing. The cocoon of his mortality has split so his glorious immortal butterfly soul may dance among the flowers of heaven. Daddy is singing with the angels now. His last 'Hallelujah' has been shouted here, his last 'Praise the Lord'. He's well-practiced for eternity, as his faith becomes sight. He left us at 12:15 this morning, 6/17/14.
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Paul's celebration service is Sunday
afternoon July 6 at 3 (visitation at 2) at Southport Presbyterian Church, 7525
McFarland Blvd, Indianapolis 46237.
The Taiwan service will be
July 6 at 2:30 pm at Tunghai Chapel in
Taichung. (他的小女兒Emily將從泰國清邁來參加。)
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A brief bio of Dr. Alexander by daughter Anne:
About my Dad:
Dr.
Paul Alexander left the US for Taiwan with Lucy & 3 children (Anne, Stevie & Philip) in tow in
November 1958. They felt called to serve fledgling Tunghai University, started
in 1955. To graduate, the students needed a physiology class. Paul speedily
finished his PhD dissertation with specialization in physiology & biology,
& taught doubletime in English in the fall semester after they arrived.
Lucy coped with non-English-speaking teen-aged house help, unknown vegetables
& fruit, and (in 1959) the arrival of Dottie, who had a cleft palate. Over
their 38 year ministry there. Besides teaching, Paul directed 5 research
centers, served as dean of several colleges & as advisor to the President,
in addition to Christian work with the chapel, students & surrounding
churches.
In 1965
both Steve & Philip died in the space of 30 days, challenging Paul & Lucy's commitment & faith, &
deeply rooting them in the university & Christian community as well as
Taiwan soil. God's amazing comfort & grace empowered them to give testimony
to His ongoing faithfulness. When they returned to the US in 1967 gave birth to
Emily Grace, 15 years after Anne,
her oldest. Gordon Philip Aylward
(born in Taiwan in 1962 & adopted by Gladys Aylward) joined the Alexander
family in 1970 as yet another testimony to God's provision.
When Marriage Enrichment proved helpful to them, Paul & Lucy
became certified to lead, & started the Family Wellness Center at Tunghai,
where many learned good communication skills. Five couples are continuing their
good work, & many lives have been changed by their living testimony &
'profound availability' to serve God and others sacrificially & with good
humor in any way they could. Paul has lived in the conscious presence of God
for many years, pursuing wisdom with a childlike heart, & learning from
Frank Laubach & Brother Laurence how to practice the presence of God. Even
though he often can't connect thought to words now, he still loves the hymns,
to be prayed with, & in times of stress to pray 'Oh Lord, Oh Lord', Thanks
for joining us in praying for God to continue to be glorified in him, by life
or by death.
Rejoicing in being with you in spirit,
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以下是歐露西 (Lucy) 師母歡迎大家參加追思禮拜的邀請信:
Come Celebrate Paul Alexander's life with us!
Dear Ones,
The last few days have been bittersweet. Your outpouring of love,
encouragement and prayers has been overwhelming. Though we are sad at Paul's
absence, we rejoice in the thought that he is reveling in the chance to learn
everything he can about heaven in his first millennium there.
Your words of comfort and stories of your experience with Paul are
very precious.
Please send more....
When we first went to Taiwan we were told to be 'profoundly
available' to those around us. This was uppermost in Paul's mind for the 38
years of our ministry as the Lord gave us love for our neighbors and friends.
I hope that your memories of Paul will continue to inspire you. He
tried to demonstrate Christ's love as he lived among us, and would encourage
you to do the same. This is a song that encouraged us greatly when our sons
Stevie and Phil died in 1965.
May it encourage you as well.
He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
1. When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
2. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
3. His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
by Annie Johnson Flint (from James 4:6)
May we receive God's comfort so that we can share it with others,
for those who belong to Christ do not grieve as those who have no hope. (1
Thessalonians 4:13) We know that we will meet again!
In faith, hope and love,
ps: My address is 295 Village Lane Apt 290, Greenwood, IN
46143
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歐保羅教授（Paul
Stephen Alexander, 1928.2.3 -2014.6.17) 年輕的時候，有個縈繞於心的夢：就是希望有一天能到海外帶職宣教。這樣的「宣教士精神」吸引著他遠渡重洋，在東海紅土上播下教育的種子，成就一所博雅的基督教大學。他到東海那年，剛滿30歲。他開創了台灣在澤蛙、候鳥與流行病的研究，他付出大量的時間與學生一一面談、他培養台灣生物研究的人才、他為生物學奉獻了大半生、他重視家庭幸福與夫人露西女士致力推廣夫妻懇談工作、他開放家庭讓學生感受溫暖、他在東海失去摯愛的兩個兒子、他認定東海就是他的家。
直到1996年退休，他為東海付出了寶貴的38年。
從歐保羅老師那代起，到當前的校園裡眾多的基督徒老師們，一條潛流深埋，默默澆灌、守護著東海校園與精神、辛勤撒下教育種子。感謝 神讓東海有歐保羅老師。
歐保羅老師回到天父懷抱，願他的靈安息，願歐媽媽與家人們得安慰。
陳炳煌
(Bio10 東海環科系退休教授)
- 歐老師將最精采的38年奉獻給東海
歐保羅老師在眾多親友的禱告聲中榮歸天家，安息主懷。歐老師將最精采的38年 奉獻給東海，東海是他一生中永遠的異像，歐老師也將是東海歷史永恆的一部份。歐老師的長女歐安慧日前通知歐老師病危，請大家祈禱時提到他接受上帝的宣召。 趕緊完成博士學位，來到離家數千里的東海大學任教，在晚年在台灣開創夫妻對談的幸福家庭事工。由於歐老師的勇於承擔，東海大學生物系組成東亞候鳥研究團 隊，使二戰後停頓多年的鳥類研究重新啟動，也間接催生了台北、台中、高雄鳥會的創立。對台灣自然生態的保育有相當程度的貢獻。
歐 老師又從時代週刊，看到歐美日本的許多環境問題，預見經濟快速發展中的台灣遲早也要面對，故向聯合董事會申請到文案補助，而創立東海大學環境科學研究中 心，在台灣是開風氣之先，後來輾轉成立現在的環境科學工程系所，今年要承辦全國理工年會及兩岸三地的理院會議。東海大學選在7月6日星期日下午2點半，在路思義教堂有一場追思禮拜，願東海人，特別是認同歐老師，熱愛東海，熱愛台灣教育精神的朋友們，為歐家和東海禱告，阿們。
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趙乃賢(九屆生物系校友) : 懷念與感謝東海大學生物系歐保羅教授
整整五十年了，歐保羅老師的身影和語音常縈繞在我腦海中。1964年在東海大學由建築系成功轉往生物系的迎面挑戰就是歐老師的全程英語教課及考試的英 語作答，還有十多台顯影鏡下生物樣品一經觀察一、二十秒，就以限時鈴聲催促立即判讀作答。結果這些特殊訓練在我後來於台灣省水產試驗所分所及總所共服務四 十二年間期內有了很大的幫助，或為撰寫論文以投稿國外學術期刊，或在國際學術會議上以口頭發表研究成果，或為了進行超低溫冷凍的魚蝦配子保存使用各式光學 顯微鏡、冷凍顯微鏡及電子顯微鏡都能將歐老師傳授的儘可能地發揮，所以老師的身教、言教對我而言真是感激不盡，其恩情也點滴在心頭。1967年畢業以後， 有機會回母校時，總會去生物系館問候老師。 最後一次拜見歐老師是在出席一本有關他的生平傳記在台北雙連教會的新書發表會場上，我和外子全程參加並獲老師贈送親筆簽名的新書，這一本書不只我拜讀 再三，而且我的研究室助理也大都因我推介而研閱，大家咸感開卷有益，可以習得不少歐老師為人為師的基要精神。歷經傳承，歐老師在台灣38年的多元化貢獻與 跨國教育無數莘莘學子的可貴情操，更顯得有崇高深遠的意義。我和外子廣為接納世界五大洲學者前來研習水產繁養殖技術也有部分習自歐老師及留學時期老師們的 精神。謝謝老師的好榜樣! |
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