親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：
「與喜樂的人要同樂；與哀哭的人要同哭。」（羅12:15）
新冠疫情延續了這兩年多以來，好些弟兄姊妹在疫情期間登記結婚，到今年夏天才補辦婚禮。就吉森團契而言，在六月份就連續三週都有婚禮。第一對新人是在泰國認識的，中國姊妹在泰國宣教，德國弟兄去短宣，彼此認識。因為疫情，只得在網上交往，最後姊妹嫁到德國來，繼續與丈夫在德國教會參與難民事工。
第二對新人都是在吉森大學的博士生，在學生宿舍裡認識，中國弟兄娶了德國姊妹。中國學生為了與姊妹交往，便尋求信仰，雖然母親已經是信徒。感恩他參加完福音營後，在團契的弟兄家裡接受救恩！婚後他要搬到南部，與妻子建立新家庭。
第三對新人是中國弟兄迎娶台灣姊妹。弟兄從小移民德國，讀完博士後再進入神學院接受裝備。畢業後參加OMF成為宣教士，做中德跨文化的工作。姊妹在德國大學的神學系畢業，結婚後也加入OMF事奉！
由於早被邀約參加一對夫妻的生日派對，就未能參加第三對新人的婚禮。這是一對中德夫妻，中國姐妹一直努力在當地的中德家庭作見證，想多傳福音給那些未信主的德國先生。他們就舉辦一次比較隆重的慶祝（德國先生70歲，中國姐妹60歲），藉此機會向他們的朋友傳福音。由於被邀請的講員——他們德國教會的牧師——剛好被感染了。他們臨時邀請葛忠良牧師，即創辦德華福音會的年老宣教士。因此還能見到老朋友，格外感恩開心。他雖然年老，也有病在身，只要他有精神，他都繼續服事，是我們的好榜樣。
除此之外，六月份還觀看了兩場網上的婚禮；分別是我的外甥女在加拿大舉行的婚禮和一場牧師兒子在香港舉行的婚禮。本以為今年的婚禮就那麼多，沒想到前幾天又收到一位弟兄的婚禮邀請。他是以前查經班認識的慕道友，我離開該地之後，他信主並受洗。他因為工作的緣故搬去南部，反而跟我聯繫上，每年大節日都會來拜訪我。
與大家分享完弟兄姐妹的喜樂之後，也與大家分享一個不是太好的消息，就是去了英國幾天回來，週四測試得到了新冠肺炎陽性。不過症狀不算嚴重，就像感冒那樣。因為有症狀，催逼我去看了醫生，告訴她我已經咳嗽快一年，是自從打完疫苗之後的反應，她便叫我去照肺，等我自我隔離完再去照。得了新冠，也讓我體會身邊同病相憐的弟兄姐妹。越來越多的弟兄姐妹都受感染，兩週前就有一位年長的姐妹得了新冠，但感恩她四天就轉陰性了。上週也有一對年輕人受感染，比較嚴重一點，有發燒、喉嚨痛得厲害。我們在德國的教牧同工裡，也相繼有些人被感染。
感恩與代禱事項：
- 感恩在疫情期間也難阻不了神對弟兄姐妹的祝福，使他們結合建立新家庭！求主保守他們的婚姻，體會基督的愛在他們中間！
- 求主祝福新人在OMF的事奉，成為中德文化的一個信仰橋樑！
- 求主保守葛忠良牧師的身體，使他事奉得力！
- 求主保守被感染新冠的弟兄姐妹，早日康復！
- 求主帶領吉森團契兩位中學生畢業後的前路！他倆都是由單親母親養育成人，看到孩子在教會長大，兩位母親特別安慰。因此，下週為她們辦一個感恩見證會，榮神益人！
無論是順境或逆境，讓我們都能同聲感謝讚美我們的神！
感謝你們的陪伴與代禱！
主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二二年七月十日
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Dear brothers and sisters,
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15
Because the pandemic lasted for more than two years, many brothers and sisters registered their marriages during the pandemic and did not have a make-up wedding until this summer. In Giessen Fellowship, there were weddings for three weeks in a row in June.
The first couple met in Thailand. The Chinese sister was serving in Thailand and the German brother went on a short term mission trip. They got to know each other. Because of the pandemic, they had to communicate online. Finally, the sister married to Germany and both continue to participate in the refugee ministry in a German church.
The second couple, both doctoral students at the University of Giessen, met in the student dormitory. A Chinese brother married a German sister. The Chinese student sought faith in order to get involved with this sister, even though his mother was already a believer. We were grateful that he received salvation in a fellowship brother’s home after attending a gospel camp! Unfortunately, he had to move to the south to start a new family with his wife.
The third couple is both Chinese, a mainland brother marrying a Taiwanese sister. The brother immigrated to Germany as a teenager, and after completing his doctoral studies, he entered the seminary to be equipped. After graduation, he joined OMF and became a missionary, doing cross-cultural work between German and Chinese. The sister graduated from a German university with a degree in theology and joined OMF after her marriage!
I was invited to a couple’s birthday party earlier, so I was unable to attend the third couple’s wedding. This is a Sino-German couple. The Chinese sister has been working hard to witness to the Chinese-German families in her area, trying to reach out to the German husbands who are not yet believers. They held a relatively grand celebration (the German brother turned 70 and the Chinese sister turned 60) and took the opportunity to reach out to their friends. As the invited speaker, their German church pastor, happened to be infected, they immediately invited Pastor Glaw, the elderly missionary who founded the FMCD. So it was a great joy to see an old friend. Although he is old and sick, he continues to serve as long as he has the spirit and is a good example to us.
In addition to the above, I also watched two online weddings in June; my niece’s wedding in Canada and a pastor’s son’s wedding in Hong Kong. I thought that these should be all the weddings for this year. But a few days ago, I received another wedding invitation from a brother. He was a seeker when I met him in a former Bible study class. After I left the area, he was converted and baptized. He moved to the south because of his job, but he kept in touch with me and came to visit me every year on major holidays.
After sharing with you the joy of our brothers and sisters, I would like to share with you the not-so-good news. After spending a few days in England and returned home, I tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. But the symptoms were not serious, just like a cold. I went to see a doctor and told her that I had been coughing for almost a year and that I had been reacting since the vaccination, so she told me to get a lung test. I can only do it after I am done isolating myself. Having Covid-19 myself, it has also allowed me to experience the brothers and sisters around me who are suffering from the same illness. More and more brothers and sisters are getting infected. Two weeks ago, an older sister got infected, but thankfully she became negative in four days. Last week there was also a couple of young people who were infected, a little more seriously, with fever and a very sore throat. Some of our pastoral staffs in Germany have also been infected.
Thanksgiving and prayer items:
- Grateful that nothing can stop God’s blessings to brothers and sisters even during the pandemic, so that they can unite to build a new family! Pray that the Lord will preserve their marriage and to experience the love of Christ among them!
- May the Lord bless the new couple who serve in OMF and become a religious bridge between Chinese and German cultures!
- Pray that the Lord will protect Pastor Glaw and enable him to serve effectively!
- Pray that the Lord will protect the brothers and sisters who are infected with the Covid-19 virus and recover soon!
- Pray that the Lord will lead the way for the two middle school students of the Giessen Fellowship after graduation! They were both raised by single mothers, and the two mothers were especially comforting to see their children growing up in church. Therefore, next week, they will hold a thanksgiving witness meeting for them to glorify God and benefit people!
Whether in good times or bad, let us all thank and praise our God in unison!
Thank you for your company and prayers!
Serving Him,
Karen Tang