親愛的代禱夥伴：
南非在七月發生嚴重的騷亂襲擊事件，最主要發生在夸祖魯-納塔爾省和豪登省。騷亂緣起於7月8日南非前總統雅各布．祖馬被控腐敗，且藐視法庭被判入獄。他被捕和拘留後，引發群眾抗議。7月9日晚上，夸祖魯-納塔爾省率先出現雅各布．祖馬支持者發起的示威活動，隨後示威活動升級為搶劫和暴力，更迅速蔓延到其他的城市。成千上萬的人洗劫商場、封堵高速公路，企業、工廠、診所和學校都成為襲擊的目標。7月11日晚上，騷亂蔓延更多地方，引發哄搶事件，直到軍隊的介入才平靜下來。
騷亂之時神仍然在掌權！
教會的王弟兄在伊士台比開成衣廠，他的工廠被暴徒襲劫和燒燬，他女兒的腳也因此受了傷。主保守他們安全離開工廠，他女兒現在也順利完成了手術。手術曾延後，因為無法購買手術所需要的配件。請為王弟兄和他女兒代禱，求主使他女兒的腳傷早日康復，安慰他們的傷痛，並且引領他們前面的道路，求主賜他們信心及恩典。
與王弟兄同一個工廠區，陳牧師的雨鞋廠也遭到打劫和破壞，暴民將廠房牆上消防的銅管都拆走了。陳牧師和其他工人翻牆安全離開工廠。原來以為工廠的工具，配件全部丟失，後來發現主機完整沒被破壞，尋索整理後找回了工具和配件，所以機器仍然可以生產，所剩的原物料也夠生產今年的訂單。他滿心數算主的恩典，雖然受損，仍看見神在看顧，仍然為所發生的事感恩。他在教會群組中分享，使大家都得到鼓勵。正如一位弟兄分享說：「通過一場的劫難，讓我們不但看到恩主的大能和神奇，更讓我們看到真正屬靈生命的魅力」。
在伊士台比還有五家成衣工廠是教會弟兄姐妹經營的，感謝主這次他們都沒有被騷擾。在那裡開廠的李弟兄夫婦，前兩個星期感染新冠病毒，教會弟兄姐妹為他們禱告，求主幫助他們復元；感謝主，經過兩週的服藥及療養，現今他們已經恢復。
上次遇劫蒙神保守的陳弟兄夫婦，再次經歷到神奇妙的眷顧。當暴亂事件蔓延到豪登省時，陳弟兄請弟兄姐妹們為他們兩間店鋪的安全代禱，求主看顧。他們見證說：「昨晚我們一號店的商場被攻破，我們沒有其它辦法，只能不斷祈禱，求恩主保守。禱告之後，神給我們有平安。早上去看才發現我們周邊的店舖全被洗劫一空，唯獨我們的店毫髮無損，如詩篇91篇所應許的，一切榮耀歸於恩主！我們二號店對面的整個商場被洗劫一空，而我們所在的商場毫髮無傷。」神行了奇妙的事，保存了他們兩個商店！
請您為這些事情代禱：
- 請為騷亂之後南非政府的恢復工作代禱，求主幫助他們能早日回歸正常。
- 南非施打疫苗速度緩慢，求主幫助政府官員安排更快速的流程施打疫苗。
- 南非新冠肺炎疫情最近是第三波的高峯期，求主賜智慧給南非政府官員做好抗疫的工作。
- 請為王弟兄女兒腳傷恢復代禱，求主使她早日康復。求主也引領王弟兄前面的道路。
- 感謝主，每週在網上的敬拜和查經都正常運作，不受攪擾，弟兄姐妹都能認真的學習。
您的同工
克達、雅麗
二零二一年七月
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Dear Prayer Partners,
South Africa just experienced a severe insurrection in July, especially in the cities of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. It started on July 8th when former President Jacob Zuma was imprisoned for contempt of court in his bribery trial. On the next day, his supporters rallied protests in different cities that turned into violence and lootings. Tens of thousands of people joined in to block highways, to rob and destroy shops and malls, even schools and clinics. This continued for two more days and to other cities. It was finally controlled after the army was called in.
God still reigns in times of turmoil!
Brother Wang’s factory in Isithebe was totally burned down, and his daughter suffered injuries in her legs. The Lord helped them make it out of danger, and his daughter’s surgery was completed successfully this past Monday. She had to wait for a whole week due to a break in the supply chain of special nails for her bones. Please pray for her speedy recovery and Brother Wang’s plans ahead. May the Lord grant them faith and grace!
Rev. Chen’s factory in Isithebe was also broken in. He and his workers were able to escape by climbing over the backyard fence at the last minute. When he went back to survey the damages, he discovered that all machines were intact, and all production tools and parts were left behind. The remaining raw materials were enough to finish the orders for the rest of the year. He rejoices in the Lord’s protection and provision! He shared his testimony at the church’s WeChat group. One brother responded that, “through this catastrophe, we not only saw God’s amazing power but also the charm of a real spiritual life.”
We thank God that five other church members’ factories in Isithebe were spared. In addition, we have been praying for a couple who were infected with COVID-19 two weeks ago. We thank God for His mercy. They are now totally recovered.
Brother Chen (the one we mentioned in our last prayer letter) has two shops in two different malls in the Gauteng province. When the violence started to spread to his city, he asked for intercessions. This is his testimony on the day after: “Last night, my first shop’s mall was attacked, and no one could intervene. We could only pray for God’s protection. We felt immense peace after praying. The next morning, we went in and found that the shops on our right, on our left and across from us were all damaged. Ours was the only one that was completely untouched – as He had promised in Psalm 91. Praise be to the Lord! There is another mall across from the mall that our second shop is located. That other mall was totally ransacked, but our mall was skipped!” The Lord saved his shops in marvelous ways!
Thanksgiving and Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for recovery of law and order in South Africa.
- Please continue to pray for smooth administration of vaccines and at a quicker pace.
- Please continue to pray for wisdom for the South Africa officials to set up effective measures against the spread of the virus.
- Please continue to pray for Sister Wang’s recovery from her surgery; also pray for Brother Wang to know God’s will in his future plans.
- We thank the Lord for the smooth running of the various Bible studies and worship services as brothers and sisters are encouraging one another with one heart and in love.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina