親愛的代禱夥伴：
南非電力供應危機仍末見到有好轉跡象，南非總統最近宣佈，考慮延遲關閉高污染的火力發電廠，以紓緩停電的壓力；也有消息指金磚銀行願意出資幫助南非汰換老舊的發電設備，但都未有立竿見影的果效。更荒唐的是，停不停電竟然被南非極端的反對黨（EFF）利用去做宣傳，威脅政府未來三天不可停電，否則會發動全國罷市罷工。如此的解決方案亦有人提議和接受，真是奇葩！但完全供電三天後，又回到原來的停電日常！
目前南非每天分區停電三次，共十一個半小時，未來每天停電的時間將會更長。人們已經開始調整生活，家中備有儲電和照明功能的電筒，有電時就儲電，晚間照明都習慣用電筒了。開商店的店主就得自己預備柴油發電機供電，商城中家家都得依靠發電機，除了吵雜的燥音外，也有空氣污染。工廠是依靠私人發電機供電的，所以營運成本提高，利潤降低。加上南非物價通脹，人們的消費意慾減低，生意較早些時日更差。有一些華人商人已經選擇另覓出路，轉往他國發展。
每天十一個半小時的停電，對我們週間查經小組的聚會影響很大，有時因為停電出席人數不足而無法查經。求主恩待憐憫！雖然受到限制，但是大家彼此問候，仍然可以感受到互相的關懷，對主的信心並不減少。感謝主，每週的崇拜聚會都正常運作。
在異國他鄉生活最害怕的就是遇見變故，特別是在毫無心理準備下要面臨生死別離。前兩個星期，一位查經組組員告知我們要特別為林姐妹代禱，因為她已經返回家鄉，處理她兒子因車禍過世的事。我們認識林姐妹已二十年，她是一位愛主且常在網路上用禱告和分享去服事人的姐妹。以前她每年總會來參加我們教會的營會。她的兒子亦是一個愛主的年輕人。上個月才聽林姐妹分享兒子已準備好結束奈及利亞的工作，要返回家鄉結婚，並往南非陪伴林姐妹。可以想像，這惡耗使林姐妹承受巨大的痛苦。求主恩待她，保守她。深信主必親自與她同行，再賜給她力量，突破黑暗，如鷹展翅上騰，再次頌讚神。請您為她代禱。
莊姐妹的弟弟是一位成功的富商，每次莊姐妹向他傳福音，他總是說他沒有這個需要。物質上看來，他的確是很豐富，但是心靈上卻有缺欠；特別是最近他經歷婚變和離婚，使他對自己的信心動搖。他將聖經下載在手機上，經常會閱讀經文，還會向基督徒朋友提出信仰問題。請您為這位莊先生信主代禱，求主早日拯救他，引他出離黑暗，進入光明。
請您為這些事情代禱：
- 求主幫助南非政府能有效發展經濟，並控制通脹，提高人民就業機會。
- 求主保守我們能在網路上正常的運作，和南非兩個教會的弟兄姐妹一起敬拜和查考聖經。
- 請為林姐妹代禱，求主恩待她，安慰她。
- 請為莊先生信耶穌代禱，求主揀選他，使他早日得拯救。
您的同工
克達、雅麗
二零二三年四月
下載 PDF 格式 （中文）
Download PDF Version （English）
Dear Prayer Partners,
The electricity crisis in South Africa is worsening. Trying to relieve this pressure, the President has announced his intention to postpone the government’s plans to close many high-pollution coal power plants. In addition, there are news that the BRICS Development Bank is considering lending to South Africa for replacing its worn-out equipment. However, these measures are not going to produce any immediate results. The most unbelievable thing is that one of the political parties (EFF) seized this opportunity to threaten with a country-wide strike if the government did not give the people of South Africa a three-day break. The government conceded, but everything quickly returned to reality after the three days!
Right now load shedding has reached 11.5 hours per day, and it will climb to another new level in no time. People have learned to live with it. Many homes are equipped with battery-operated lanterns that can last a few days during power outages. Many stores have to use their own diesel-powered generators to keep their business going. However, the loud rumbling sound and added pollution create more problems. Factories have to resort to the same solution, thus making it more costly and less profitable to operate. Coupled with the raising inflation rate and less consumer spending, businesses are struggling to survive. Some of the Chinese merchants have already relocated to other countries.
This has also been interrupting our weekly Bible study meetings. Due to rotating load shedding, different areas have different outage schedules every week. Sometimes we have to cancel our meetings due to low attendance. We pray for the Lord’s mercy! Under the circumstances, our brothers and sisters still make good use of the limited time we have to encourage each other and build up each other’s faith. We thank God that our weekly worship services are not affected.
Being away from our home country, our greatest fear will be unforeseeable mishaps back home. About two weeks ago, we learned from a member of one of our Bible study groups that Sister Lin had to rush back to China to make funeral arrangements for her son who passed away from a car accident in Nigeria. We have known Sister Lin for 20 years, and she is a faithful servant of the Lord leading different Christian groups on the internet. During our time in South Africa, she would make every effort to attend our yearly family retreat. His son is also a godly young man. Just last month, Sister Lin told us that her son had already quit his job in Nigeria, planned to return to China to get married and come to South Africa to join her. Imagine what a great shock and unbearable pain it would be! May the Lord’s face shine on her and comfort her. We believe that our Lord will be with her all the way and will give her strength. She will soar on wings like eagles and praise God! Please pray for her.
Sister Zhuang’s brother is a very successful businessman. She tried many times to share the gospel with him, but he used to tell her that he had no need for any religion. He seems to have everything, but he is poor inside; especially he has been experiencing tremendous marriage difficulties which ended in a rather ugly divorce. He begins to rethink everything. A common friend shared with Sister Zhuang that, not long ago, her brother downloaded the Chinese Bible in his cell phone and started asking her questions about Christianity. Please pray for Mr. Zhuang. May the Lord lead him out of darkness into light.
Please pray for the following:
- May the Lord help the government to fight inflation, revive the economy and increase its employment rate.
- May the Lord continue to bless the various on-line meetings so they will not be interrupted by electricity outages.
- Please pray for the Lord’s grace on Sister Lin and comfort her in her time of need.
- Please pray for the salvation of Mr. Zhuang.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina