親愛的弟兄姊妹平安:
「我們曉得萬事都互相效力,叫愛 神的人得益處,就是按祂旨意被召的人。」 (羅8:28)
感謝 神,藉差會四十週年感恩紀念的日子,讓差會的宣教士可以有幾天退修的時間,一起述說 神恩與帶領,也讓我們有機會見證 神在泰國工場的奇妙作為與眾民族一同來敬拜 神。
因為離開教會幾個月,從泰國回來之後,開始恢復服事的腳步。當我得知在離開北美之前服事過的姊妹又住院,便去探訪她,卻沒想到就成為我們永別的一天。探望她之後幾天,傳來她的噩訊,她被電車撞死,我無法相信那是她。後來證實是她之後,就提供住宿給姊妹的妹妹與外甥女,她們從台灣趕過來辦理身後事。雖然那位妹妹是佛教徒,剛到埗時,她們住了兩天佛光山提供的住處。後來因為住到我家,就有機會帶她們去查經班、去教會,接觸弟兄姊妹。藉著大家的慰問、禱告與幫忙翻譯文件等,使得她們都感受到基督徒的愛心。她們也蒙 神的恩典,弟兄姊妹為她們的禱告蒙垂聽,讓她們看見一件神蹟,申請文件得以順利辦理,所以每次吃飯前都會叫我領她們禱告。教會有一對夫婦正好和她們要飛回同一個城市,母女因為之前手續未能在短時間內完成,需更改機票,便與教會夫婦同一班航班回家。後來由於那位女士的母親入院,她們又更改機票,提前兩天回家。但是她們已經彼此認識,只等教會夫婦回去再跟進。
最近也得知一位年輕媽媽,生下雙胞胎之後就被轉送到另一家醫院做手術,之後一直住在醫院,至今已有七個多月,常有發高燒的現象。雙胞胎就只好交給爸爸與看護來照顧,初為人父的還要去醫院看望妻子,由於長期這樣,那位爸爸也很感到精疲力盡。雖然他們是越南人,由於教會有姐妹認識他們,便提出呼籲去幫助他們,希望輪流去幫忙,減輕已經在服事的幾位婦女的壓力。目前只能按一位中醫師指示,帶點湯水去醫院給她喝,增加她的抵抗力。
服事人的需要永遠不會停止,但是 神給我們看見,不論是什麼信仰背景,什麼種族,都可以是我們的服事對象。幾星期前有機會參加德國教會為難民舉辦的福音聚會,因爲現在的難民大部份是有伊斯蘭教背景的,他們聚會用亞拉伯語和德語進行。看到那家德國教會的弟兄姊妹很熱心,準備了很豐富的飲食,還有幾位印尼裔的弟兄姊妹來幫忙。
難民是歐盟國家面對的一個很頭痛的問題,但是針對那些已經進入德國的難民,有些德國教會也開始去服事他們,也有些已經做了好幾年的難民事工。由於我們的場地、語言有限,我們很難獨立去做難民事工。但是我們還在觀摩,看看我們如何能協助德國教會一起分擔這樣的事工。上週我們的一位弟兄帶了一鍋炒飯過去,他很開心,因為當天的熱菜比較少,他的就被吃光了。或許就從提供飯食開始服事他們。
感恩代禱事項:
- 感謝 神使用弟兄姊妹的關愛,讓那位佛教徒體會 神的愛與大能!求 主繼續感動她,讓她願意跟教會夫婦參加當地教會的活動,從而認識真 神。
- 求 主憐憫那位年輕媽媽,醫治她的疾病,早日回家乳養那對自出生就沒有機會接近母親的雙胞胎!求 主也憐憫那位父親,讓他有能力堅持下去,照顧好兒女與妻子!
- 求 神憐憫那些因戰亂而被逼離棄自己家園的難民,讓他們得到安定的住處,學習好當地的語言與適應當地的文化,藉著歐洲眾教會的幫助,使他們認識真 神!
- 教會的聖誕主日崇拜將於十二月十三日舉行,求 主幫助那些排演話劇的弟兄姊妹,使他們都能配搭完美! 求 主使用弟兄姊妹邀請朋友來參加聚會,使他們有機會聽聞福音以及日後繼續願意來尋求認識 神!
雖然沒有在感恩節之前寄出此代禱信,但是 神恩滿溢,我們就可以天天獻上感恩的祭!
願 主的平安喜樂與你們同在!
聖誕快樂!新年蒙恩!
神 的使女
鄧秀珍
二零一五年十二月四日
請支持鄧秀珍宣教士之宣教經費,支票抬頭China Evangelistic Mission列明「鄧秀珍宣教士支持」郵寄China Evangelistic Mission, 2400 Old Crow Canyon Road, Ste A6, San Ramon CA94583
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Germany – Karen Tang’s prayer letter December, 2015
Dear brothers and sisters,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28
Thank God, through the 40th anniversary of CEM, missionaries got together for a few days to have a time of fellowship and sharing of God’s grace and leading. We also had the opportunity to witness God’s wonderful works and ministries in Thailand and a time of worship with various ethnic groups
Because of an absence from church for several months, after returning from Thailand, I resumed my ministry. When I heard that the sister whom I’d been serving before I left for N. America was hospitalised, I went to visit her not knowing that that day would be our last day together on earth. A few days later, I was told of an accident in which she was killed instantly by a street car. I was shocked and didn’t believe that it could be her. Later it was confirmed that she was that sister. So, I offered to provide accommodation for her sister and her niece who came hurriedly from Taiwan to help bring the ashes home. They stayed at a place provided by the buddhist temple for the first two days. Even though the dead sister’s sister is a buddhist, after she and her daughter moved to stay at my place, I was able to bring her to bible study group, to church. They were surrounded by Christians who offered their condolence, who offered help in translating their documents etc. They also prayed for her. They were touched by Christian love. God listened to their prayers and did a miracle. They got the necessary document which was originally thought that it would be hard to get. She would then ask me to pray at each meal. Because they didn’t have enough time to get all the processes done in time, they changed their flight to one which was the same as a Christian couple who flew to the same town. But unfortunately, the sister’s mother was hospitalised and they changed their flight back again to fly home two days earlier. Although they could not fly together, they knew each other already and hopefully the couple could follow up.
Recently I also learned that there was a first time mother who gave birth to a twin. Right after her delivery, she was sent to another hospital for an operation. She was hospitalised since then. It has been more than 7 months now. She still has high fever now and then. The twin was taken care of by the father and some helpers. The father was so tired of taking care of the new born babies and visiting her wife at the hospital that he felt very weak. Although they are Vietnameses, because our sister knew them, she asked if our church could help. By taking turn. we might help to lessen some of the pressure of a few women who had been helping along. We could only help to bring her some soup cooked according to a Chinese doctor.
There are always needs for serving others. But God give us a vision that no matter what kind of religious background, what ethnic group one could be, they are still our serving targets. Several weeks ago, some of our church members and I had the opportunity to attend a gospel meeting for refugees. Since most of them have an Islamic background, the meeting was held in Arabic and German. We saw that the German brothers and sisters were very zealous in preparing a good meal for them. Among the helpers, there were some Indonesian brothers and sisters too.
Refugees is a very disputable issue in the European countries. But for those who had already entered Germany, there were German churches who tried to help them. Some churches had refugee ministry for some years already. Because of our limitations on place and language, our Chinese church is difficult to start a refugee ministry independently. We are still observing in which areas where we could help together with the German church to share their burdens. Last week our brother brought a pot of fried rice to the meeting. He was very happy because it was all gone since there was not much hot food that day. Perhaps we could serve in cooking for them.
Thanksgiving and prayer items:
- Thank God for the caring love of brothers and sisters so that the buddhist might see God’s love and power! Pray that God will continue to touch her so that she would be willing to go to church and know the true God!
- Pray that God has mercy on the young mother and heals her sickness so that she could go home and take care of the twin whom have never been nursed by their mother! Pray that God will also have mercy on the father and give him the strength to live on and take care of the wife and babies!
- Pray that God has mercy on the refugees who left their homeland because of war! Pray that they would be settled down and be able to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture! Pray that through the help of churches in Europe that they may come to know God!
- Our Christmas worship service will be held on 12.13.15. Pray that God will help those brothers and sisters who are preparing for a Christmas play! Pray that new comers will be invited to hear the gospel message and they will continue to come to church to seek God!
Although this letter didn’t make it to you before Thanksgiving, God’s grace is abundant that we can give thanks to Him every day!
May God’s peace and joy be with you!
Happy Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Serving Him,
Karen Tang
Email address: [email protected]
Pls support missionary Karen Tang’s mission fund.
Check title: China Evangelistic Mission, pls state “for missionary Karen Tang”.
Send to : China Evangelistic Mission, 2400 Old Crow Canyon Road, Ste A6,
San Ramon CA 94583