親愛的代禱夥伴：
十二月教會有不少活動，是事工比較繁忙的日子。聖誕節前的三個月，雅麗就開始為德班教會籌劃兒童的表演：選曲、練習、加上動作。每個星期的主日學後都需學習，利用錄影並找家長幫助督導。如此，雖然有時我們去別的城市服事，孩子們仍然可以練習；孩子們都很配合，他們也開心可以藉著表演來服事神。今年聖誕節是在星期一，德班的批發城放年假，一些在新華商城聚會的弟兄姐妹得以來到教堂聚會。來參加的人數比往年多一些，有近七十人。那天兒童的表演很成功，三個多月來的辛苦沒有白費。讓孩子學習有機會就要服事神，他們也親嘗服事的喜樂！
在德班慶祝聖誕之後，我們飛到開普敦，因為十二月底我們在開普敦城外小鎮帕阿爾（Paarl）舉辦四天三夜的家庭營會。營會主題是「得豐盛生命」。講員劉俊義傳道引用約翰福音和約翰壹書，從認識生命的源頭，跟隨基督的生命，到基督徒豐盛生命的生活。為著配合主題，我們選定了兩部電影欣賞。一部電影是講人生的真正意義和生命的價值《一路上有你》（Simon Birch）。另一部電影是《心靈小屋》（The Shack），講述在苦難中全知全權的神對我們永恆不變的愛。
這次的營會還有兩個與家庭生活有關的專題，一個是「培養及管教兒童」，由克達主講。他從兒童的心態和行為的動機，講到父母教導兒女的正確方法。另一個專題是「家庭健康須知」，由黃弟兄主講。黃弟兄是南非的全科醫生，他從南非醫療體制講到華人家庭應如何選取醫保，日常的預防和急診的需知。因為內容很豐富，亦很實用，大家都感到獲益不少。
最後一晚是跨年之夜，我們先燒烤，然後有跨年篝火晚會，大家有很好的分享和交流。這次營會對不同的人有不同的收穫：教會一個新加入的家庭就有機會和大家一起生活，這家的弟兄比較不講話，但生活在一起，發現他其實蠻健談的；一位姐妹的弟弟才剛到南非三天，他在慕道，對他較觸動的是大家生活的見證，讓他能感受到大家像一家人。營會後，他繼續來參加主日聚會。上個主日，克達還與他談聖餐的意義。感謝主，他很願意明白基督教是什麼。請你為這位周先生的信主代禱。
南非西開普敦省連續三年乾旱。現今開普敦市要施行六級限水，限制每人每天用水不超過五十公升；並開始零儲水倒數，預計到四月中旬就會到達零儲水。零儲水時，全市設二百個取水站，居民每人每天可領取二十五公升使用。進入零儲水勢必帶來經濟及民生壓力，希望不會引起治安的問題。這對開普敦華人教會的事工亦會有一些影響，我們靜觀其變。
請你為這些事項代禱：
- 請為西開普敦省所需要的雨水向主祈求。
- 請為周姓慕道友禱告，求主幫助他離開理智的分析，看見自己需要認罪悔改。
- 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
二零一八年二月
下載 PDF 格式 (中文)
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Dear Prayer Partners,
December was a busy month. About three months before Christmas, Christina had started preparation for the children’s performance for our Christmas celebration in Durban. From picking songs, learning the Chinese lyrics, to dancing with challenging moves, every Sunday the children were cooperating and practicing diligently. Due to our regular absence, some parents would take over the practice sessions while we were away. Christmas was on Monday. The Chinese wholesale center in Durban had a three-day break so brothers and sisters were able to come to the Christmas celebration. There were around 70 people in attendance. The children’s performance was a great success, and the children reaped the joy of serving God!
After Durban’s Christmas celebration, we flew to Cape Town for a four-day-three-night family retreat held in Paarl. The theme was “The Abundant Life.” Pastor Liu used passages from the Gospel of John and I John to lead everyone through “knowing the origin of life,” “the life of following Christ” and “living the abundant life.” We also showed two movies that corresponded with the main theme. The first one was “Simon Birch” which emphasized the real meaning and value of life. The other one was “The Shack” which depicted God’s unfailing love for us even in times of crisis.
In addition, we had two workshops. One workshop was on parenting. Ko-Ta explained the underlying motives and thinking patterns of children for parents to respond with correct parenting tactics. The other workshop was on family health. Brother Huang is a practicing GP doctor in South Africa. He detailed the medical system in South Africa, how to choose family insurance as well as daily prevention and emergency procedures. It was well received as there were so many important and helpful information for every family.
The last night was New Year Eve. We had a barbeque and great sharing time. Everyone felt the closeness in Christ! A family just joined our church, and the husband was very quiet. Through this retreat we discovered that he actually was very open and enjoyed fellowship with other Christians. A sister’s brother just arrived in South Africa three days before the retreat. He was impressed with the warmth and love in Christ’s family. He continues to come to church after the retreat. Last Sunday before church, Ko-Ta had the chance to evangelize to him through explaining the Holy Communion. Praise the Lord; he was very willing to further understand what Christianity is about. Please pray for Mr. Zhou’s salvation.
There is a serious drought in the West Cape Province. At this moment, Cape Town is under Level 6 water restriction. That means everyone is allowed a daily water consumption of 50 liters. Cape Town has already started the countdown to Day Zero (at present, it is set in the middle of April). From that day on, everyone can only get 25 liters of water per day from one of the 200 water stations. That will certainly create tensions on Cape Town’s people, its economy as well as law and order. It may also affect the ministry of the Cape Town church. We will have to wait and see.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for rain in Cape Town.
- Please pray for Mr. Zhou so he would not just analyze Christianity but knowing his need to repent of his sins to be saved.
- 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
