親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：
「不可忘記用愛心接待客旅；因為曾有接待客旅的，不知不覺就接待了天使。」希十三2
疫情後，人們恢復昔日往來探訪及旅遊。由於法蘭克福飛機場是一個國際樞紐，很多客旅，包括弟兄姊妹都會從這裡上、下飛機。有些弟兄姊妹從別城來法蘭克福搭早班機的，都要早一天來法蘭克福找地方過夜。也有一些弟兄姊妹是路過法蘭克福，再往別城去的。因此，從去年年底開始，我家就經常接待這樣的客旅。一月份的代禱信已經提過，沒想到這樣的接待持續不斷。
三月份接觸了一位16歲剛高中畢業的男生，他的媽媽來德國出差，他也跟著來，自己出去觀光，我的朋友介紹我們認識。當他們來法蘭克福的時候，我邀請他來我家吃飯，我們聊得很投機；雖然他有佛教背景，並受傳統中國文化影響，但也不排斥其他宗教。吃完飯，我帶他去教會參加主日崇拜，可惜他趕著與下班的媽媽匯合，聽完詩歌就要離開。不過，他對我們教會還是留下一個好的印象。
四月份，一直支持我的教會有姊妹來旅遊，來我家住了幾天，除了讓我們彼此認識更多之外，她更帶給我一個驚喜，她與她團契的弟兄姊妹送我一份禮物，超過我的所求所想，因為正是我合用的。正如經文所說，接待姊妹，不知不覺就好像接待了天使。
五月接待了一對年老夫妻，他們多年前從德國回香港退休。弟兄今年80歲，與團契的弟兄姊妹給他慶祝生日，他很感動！特別是第一次上飛機時，姊妹在機場幾乎暈倒，被送去醫院。隔了一週，她恢復健康後又可以上機了。
這幾天有姊妹來開會，順道帶著第一次出國的弟弟（剛退休）來借宿，讓他可以到處觀光。雖然第一次見面，還沒說上幾句話，他就已經好奇地問我為何從美國來到德國。我便把我的蒙召見證告訴他，因為他還不是基督徒，還問了好些有關教會的問題，希望他繼續尋求基督信仰。
疫情間，認識了一位年輕媽媽，她有一年幼的兒子。由於她的婚姻出現問題，我一直藉電話關心她，因為她住在德國的小村落，很孤單。幾年下來，離婚手續已經辦好，但仍要面對很多問題。有時候，她要來法蘭克福辦事，也會住在我家。以前她都是面帶愁容的，上週她來我家吃飯時，看到她有笑容了。她對另外一位姊妹說，是受到我的感染，可以把一些事情放下，可以笑起來了。她還沒有信耶穌，但是每次為她禱告，她都是願意的。這週她說要來住幾天。
每天跟我一起讀經的老弟兄姊妹都知道，我要接待弟兄姊妹，她們開玩笑說我家可以當作旅館，只要收一點點的費用，都可以幫補我的宣教經費。我說我不會那樣做，因為這是神賜予我的地方，有機會接待不同的人，包括非基督徒，希望提供給她們住宿之餘，還可以為主作見證，讓她們感受到神的愛與認識神。
感恩與代禱事項：
- 感謝主賜我地方，可以做接待弟兄姊妹的事工！
- 感謝主讓我有機會接待弟兄姊妹，讓我可以更多的認識她們，建立更緊密的關係！感謝主差派天使送來禮物，感謝弟兄姊妹的愛心！
- 感謝主讓我接觸不同年齡階層的非信徒，讓我可以把信仰介紹給他們！求主帶領他們，使他們回到自己的國家，繼續去尋求認識神！
- 感謝主有機會藉著提供住宿幫助那些有需要的人，特別是在情緒低落的時候，有經濟困難的時候！求主幫助年輕媽媽能靠著真神的力量，解決她的困境。
- 求主保守那對年老的夫妻，讓他們在德國探訪親友時都平安！求主醫治老弟兄的咳嗽！
求主眷顧保守你們身體健康，祝福你們手上所做的工！
主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二四年六月六日
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Dear brothers and sisters,
‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.’ Hebrews 13:2
After the pandemic, people resumed visiting and traveling as they had in the past. Since the Frankfurt International Airport is an international hub, many travelers, including brothers and sisters, board and disembark their planes here. Some brothers and sisters who came from other cities to Frankfurt to take an early flight had to come to Frankfurt a day earlier to find a place to stay overnight. There are also some brothers and sisters who pass through Frankfurt and go to other cities. Therefore, since the end of last year, I have been receiving such travelers frequently. I mentioned this in my January prayer letter, but I didn’t realize that this kind of hospitality would continue.
In March, I met a 16-year-old boy who had just graduated from high school. His mom came to Germany on a business trip, and he went out sightseeing on his own, and my friend introduced us. When they came to Frankfurt, I invited him to my home for dinner, and we had a great conversation. Although he has a Buddhist background and traditional Chinese culture, he does not reject other religions. After lunch, I took him to our church Sunday service, but unfortunately he was in a hurry to meet his mom from work and had to leave after listening to the worship songs. However, he still left a good impression of our church.
In April, a sister whose church has been supporting me, came to visit me from US. She stayed at my home for a few days. We had a chance to get to know each other better. She surprised me with a gift from her and the brothers and sisters in her fellowship, which was more than I could ask for because it was exactly what I needed. As the scripture says, to receive a sister without realizing it is like receiving an angel.
In May, I received an elderly couple who went back to Hong Kong to retire from Germany many years ago. The brother was 80 years old and was touched by the birthday celebration he had with our fellowship brothers and sisters! He was especially touched when his wife almost fainted at the airport on her schedule flight and was taken to the hospital. After a week, she recovered and was able to get on the plane again.
In the past few days, a sister came for a meeting and brought her brother (who just retired), who was going abroad for the first time, to stay with me so that he could go sightseeing. Although we met for the first time, he didn’t say much, but he was already curious and asked me why I had come to Germany from the USA. I told him my testimony of my calling. Since he was not yet a Christian, he asked me a few questions about the church. Pray that he would continue to seek the Christian faith.
During the pandemic, I got to know a young mother with a toddler. Because of her marital problems, I kept her company by phone because she lived in a small village in Germany and was very lonely. After a few years, the divorce was finalized, but she still had to face many problems. Sometimes she would come to Frankfurt for business and stay at my home. She used to have a sad face, but last week she came to my place to let me do some work for her. At dinner, I saw that she was smiling. She told another sister that she was infected by me, and that she was able to let go of some things and could smile again. She is an idolater and has not yet believed in Jesus, but every time I pray for her, she is willing to do so. This week she said she wanted to come and stay for a few days.
The older brothers and sisters who are in my Bible reading group know that I have been hosting some brothers and sisters. They joked that my place could be used as a hotel, and that it could help cover my expenses by charging a small fee. I said I wouldn’t do that because this is a place that God has given me to host different people, including non-Christians, and I hope that while providing them with lodging, I can also be a witness for the Lord, so that they can feel God’s love and know Him.
Thanksgiving and Prayer Items:
- Thank our Lord for giving me a place to host brothers and sisters!
- Thank our Lord for giving me the opportunity to receive brothers and sisters so that I can get to know them better and build closer relationships! Thank our Lord for sending angels to send me gifts! Thank God for the love of our brothers and sisters!
- Thank our Lord for allowing me to reach out to non-believers of different age groups so that I can introduce my faith to them! Pray that the Lord would lead them to continue to seek to know God when they return to their own countries!
- Thank our Lord for the opportunity to help those in need by providing accommodation, especially in times of depression and financial hardship! Pray that the young mom would be able to resolve her situation by relying on the power of the true God rather than idolatry!
- Pray for the Lord’s protection over the elderly couple as they visit friends and relatives in Germany! Pray for the Lord’s healing of the old brother’s cough!
Pray for our Lord’s blessing to keep you in good health and bless the works of your hands!
Serving Him,
Karen Tang