任克達、任麥雅麗代禱信2018年4月
親愛的代禱夥伴:
十多年前在伊麗莎白港幫助事工時,我們就認識劉弟兄夫婦,那時他們開服裝店,孩子還沒對象,現在他們已做了爺爺和奶奶。幾年前他們搬到開普敦來重立基業,改行做糕餅麵食工廠。在南非,從事各行各業都有機會生存,當然對已上了年紀的他們並不容易,但基督的信仰給他們信心和力量堅持下去。他們深信是天父在供應他們,總是快快樂樂的,抱著希望的面對挑戰和失敗。每次探訪他們,總是聽到他們對神的感恩。雖然講到困難時也會請求替他們祈求,然仍總是充滿信心,知道神一定會幫助他們。南非麵粉品質和中國不同,所以他們生產的成品需要調整和研發,他們都能按部就班,謙卑的學習。他們生產的麵條特別爽口,一定加蛋,不加人工色素、添加劑和防腐劑,壓麵一定要壓到位,不怕生產費時。他們說賣吃的食品,不可以對人體有害。劉弟兄說他們的生產要對主負責,不要壞了基督的名聲。他們將聖經的教導「無論做甚麼,都要從心裡做,像是給主做的,不是給人做的」(西三23)實行在生活中,且有美好的見證。
每次遇見劉弟兄夫婦的兒子和兒媳婦時,總是看見他們的笑容主動來打招呼。他們很細心的照顧著他們的爺爺和奶奶來教會聚會。你可以感覺到他們生活在一個快樂愛主的家庭中。他們的女兒(劉弟兄的孫女)雖然只有四歲,亦願意把玩具讓給別的孩子玩。每天開工,一家人在工廠裡,拉著手同心禱告,求主引領保守每天的生產及安全。劉弟兄夫婦不僅將基督的信仰生活出來,更將他們信仰承傳下去。
劉弟兄夫婦有一對朋友張先生夫婦從中國來南非定居多年,與女兒女婿同住,並照顧兩個外孫女。但是,最近半年和新來居住的親家在相處上產生矛盾和困難,以至情緒失調,全家人的關係緊張,亦有暴力行為發生。他們從自已的立埸看事行事,所以糾結的很厲害。經由劉弟兄夫婦引見,我們這兩個月都去輔導張太太。目前事情稍有舒解,上次會面後,她發微信告知我們:「焦慮的心情放鬆很多,慶幸能認識你們,而且得到很大的幫助,我的心結在逐步打開,你們是上天派來解救我的恩人。」感謝主使用我們幫助了張太太,相信是神奇妙的安排,往開普敦幫助一位慕道友。她說她願意從閱讀微信資料來暸解基督教,請為張太太信主禱告。
開普敦教會在南區週五晚上的查經班,參加的人很是踴躍。各人下班後就直接來我們的住處,先聚餐後查聖經。簡單的便食加上各人愛心帶來的佳餚和甜點,成了豐盛的一頓,大家盡情享用並閒話家常。每次查經之後,由於明天不用上班,不趕著回家的人就留下來聊天。在聚會中,在主裡的團契交流,讓每一個參加的人都感到溫馨。請你為這個聚會代禱,求主保守使用。
最近德班教會週間的查經完成了查考新約書信,我們轉用專題式查經,上個星期開始了「基督徒與錢財」的專題,由教會同工帶領聚會。感謝主,大家都很感興趣,發言踴躍而且討論的很深入。本來預定一次研討的材料,只討論了一小部份,給帶領的同工很大的鼓勵和信心。求主使用她教導的恩賜,服事教會。
請你為這些事項代禱:
- 南非事工需要多位新宣教士,求主差派。
- 請為各個教會的同工代禱,求主興起同工,賜予恩賜使他們能承擔教會事工的需要。
- 請為南非西開普敦省所需要的雨水向主祈求。
- 請為開普敦的張太太,周姓慕道友,德班的吳女士及許教授信主代禱,求主幫助他們謙卑在神的面前。
- 請繼續為開普敦教會的事工代禱,我們想在北區新設立一個查經小組,求主引領。
- 請繼續為我們出外往各地事工及行車的安全代禱。
您的同工
克達、雅麗
二零一八年四月
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Dear Prayer Partners,
I knew Brother Liu and his wife more than 10 years ago when I was helping with the ministry in Port Elizabeth. They owned a retail shop at the time, and their son was still single. They moved to Cape Town a few years ago and started a pastry factory. Their son is now married with a daughter. It is not easy for them to venture into a new business at their age, but their faith gives them strength and hope to face their failures as surmountable challenges. Every time we visited them, there were no complains but joyful thanksgivings. Even though they ask for prayers in their difficulties, they always have faith that God’s help is on its way. Due to the different quality flour in South Africa, they had to test and revise their recipe so many times. It was a long and humbling process. The result, though, is a uniquely fresh and tasty product. There are real eggs in the ingredients, but no preservative or additives. They believe that they are responsible to God and would not produce food that can be harmful to the human body. Christ’s reputation is at stake! They are living out a real testimony of Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men …”
Whenever we meet their son and daughter-in-law, they are always so pleasant and friendly. When we take notice of how they care for their grandparents at church and how generously their little daughter shares her toys with other children, we see four generations of Christians living a blessed life together. Every day before work, they will join their hands in prayer for The Lord’s leading and protection. Brother Liu not only lives out his faith but also passes it on to the next generation.
Brother Liu and his wife have known Mr. and Mrs. Zhang since they came to Cape Town to live with their daughter and son-in-law a few years ago. They have been helping with caring for the two granddaughters since they were born. The seemingly good life was disrupted when their son-in-law’s widowed mother came to live with them about six months ago. There were different opinions on how the household should be run, and conflicts turned into violence. Through Brother Liu and his wife, we were able to meet and counsel Mrs. Zhang these last two months. After the last time we met, she sent us a WeChat message saying, “I am not so distressed now. I am really grateful to have met you because you have helped me a lot. I am starting to let things go. You are my savior sent from heaven.” We thank God for letting us to be His messenger to help Mrs. Zhang. It is His amazing plan to fly us to Cape Town to meet her. She also shows willingness to learn more about Christianity through the WeChat Christian sites we sent her. Please pray for her salvation.
The Bible study group at the south side of Cape Town has been growing. It is now on Friday nights, and everyone comes to our apartment straight from work to have a home-made dinner before Bible study. What usually starts as a simple meal quickly becomes a great feast with the various additional dish and desserts. After Bible study, those who do not need to hurry home will stay and continue to chat. Everyone enjoys the warm sharing and fellowship. Please pray for this Bible study group. May we learn to know the Lord and love one another more and more.
The Tuesday Bible study group in Durban just finished the study of the New Testament. We began a new approach to go by topics. Last week was the first lesson on “Christian and Money” and was led by one of our co-workers. Praise the Lord; there were great participations and discussions. Even though she was only able to cover a small portion of the material, our co-worker was greatly encouraged. May this be the beginning of her teaching ministry in the church.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for more missionaries to South Africa.
- Please pray for co-workers in the church. May God raise up more leaders with different gifts to serve together in the ministry.
- Please pray for rain in Cape Town.
- Please pray for the salvation of Mrs. Zhang and Mr. Zhou in Cape Town as well as Mrs. Wu and Professor Xu in Durban.
- Please continue to pray for the ministry in Cape Town. We are planning to start a second Bible study group on the north side of town.
- Please continue to pray for our safety as we travel to different cities and towns.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina