親愛的代禱夥伴：
南非的十一月和世界各地一樣出現異常的氣候，大冰雹、狂風、大暴雨。極端劇烈的氣候帶來自然的災害，也造成許多的悲劇和傷亡。十一月中，南非微信僑民網路新聞報導：在自由省布魯芳登暴風雨中發生一件嚴重車禍。從新聞中描述車禍的地點和車型，我們知道喪生的是我們認識了十五年的蘇姐妹。許多熟識她的弟兄姐妹也為她突然離世而傷痛。十五年前，她初到南非波沙貝魯的成衣工廠工作時，我們就認識了她。那時，她是慕道友，每次坐車都會暈車，克達車速都只能開在十公里上下。還好，我們是在工業區內接送，不必上公路。我們擔心她會因此中斷，但是她依然堅持來參加學習。我們大家也都為她的暈車禱告，感謝主，她後來就不再暈車了。幾個月之後，她信了主，克達為她施洗。
信主之後，蘇姐妹一直信心單純的專一信靠主。她和丈夫初創業時，受人欺負，她都能原諒和感恩。神為他們伸冤另開生路。那時，因為勞資的問題，引致許多華人成衣廠遷走或關閉。多年來，神卻源源不斷供給他們有訂單可做。我們在工廠區的事工也因工廠搬走而停止。因為路途遙遠，所以蘇姐妹不常有機會來聚會。但是，一點不影響她的信心。許多年，當路過波沙貝魯的成衣工廠區，若有時間，克達就會去探望蘇姐妹夫婦，她總是喜樂的招待。運作成衣工廠很是不容易，有時我們要去幫助她翻譯。所以，知道他們經營工廠的艱難。有時，她會提出需要我們禱告祈求的困難情況。但是，從未看過她憂愁煩惱或抱怨過。她總是很平靜。因為她有神做主，她總是有平安和喜樂在心中。她用她單一信靠的心見證了神的信實。
南非西開普敦省出產不少水果，開普敦教會在十一月初辦了一次草莓園之遊，全教會一起去採草莓。除了飽餐清甜的草莓外，採來的草苺以一半市價買回家，大夥都滿載而歸。大家興緻盎然，相約這個週末要一起去採櫻桃，並且一起燒烤。感謝主，這些活動將大家的感情拉近了，可以更多交流和互動。借著這些活動，我們也和教會的成員更多交往，建立更緊密的關係。這個關係是我們事工的基石。有了這個基石，我們才能深耕我們的服事。
最近，教會中幾位成員個别約我們尋求輔導，他們將生活中的問題和我們分享。他們的信任讓我們感到是一份特權和一份從神給我們的托付。我們將自己在主裡學到的功課與他們分享，和他們一起禱告，安慰他們，鼓勵他們，扶持他們繼續行在神的旨意之中。感謝神！見到本來很焦慮的人，平靜下來，能依靠主，滿有信心的生活。經過輔導，信心軟弱充滿自責的人，恢復信心，願意改正，為要討主喜悅而行。我們看見神的大能，施慈愛憐恤幫助憂傷痛悔的人。請你為那些有需要的弟兄姐妹禱告，求主恩待他們。也請為我們禱告，求主賜給我們智慧的話語，幫助仍然在輔導中的弟兄姐妹。
請你為這些需要代禱：
1. 請你為南非工場需要多名宣教士代禱。求主差派工人來南非事奉。
2. 請為開普敦教會的輔導事工代禱。求主賜給我們適當的話語開導有需要的人。
3. 請為這個月底在開普敦舉辦的營會代禱，為天氣，為講員，報名和專題講座代禱。
4. 請為我們事工在德班，紐卡索，開普敦教會的正常運作代禱。
5. 請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
二零一七年十二月
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Dear Prayer Partners,
Similar to other parts of the world, South Africa experienced severe weather in November with strong winds, thunderstorms and hails. This extreme phenomenon resulted in many natural disasters as well as lost lives. In mid-November, there was a news report of a deadly car accident in Bloemfontein. From the description of the accident location and the car model, we knew that the victim was our Sister Su. We met Sister Su when she came to work in one of the manufacturing factories in Botshabelo about 15 years ago. She was not a Christian then. She suffered from motion sickness, and Ko-Ta had to keep his car speed under 10 km/hour whenever she was in the car. Fortunately, we only needed to travel within the industrial area, and she kept on coming to our meetings. We prayed for her illness, and she miraculously experienced God’s healing. A few months later, she accepted Christ and was baptized.
After she became a Christian, Sister Su followed Christ whole-heartedly with a genuine faith. She faced a lot of unfair treatments when she started her own factory with her husband. However, she did not harbor any hard feelings but always filled with thanksgiving for God’s providence and protection. As many factories left that area, our ministry at that location was suspended a couple years later. Since she was far from Bloemfontein, she was not able to come to church regularly. Nevertheless, her faith remained strong. Whenever we visited her, she received us joyfully. At times we would help her as her translator with customers and labor authorities. It was not easy running a factory, but she never showed any worries or complaints. She always remained calm because God was her Lord and that gave her joy and peace in her heart. Her single-hearted faith was a true testimony of God’s faithfulness.
The Western Cape in South Africa produces many different kinds of fruit. The Cape Town church went to pick strawberries in early November. In addition to tasting sweet juicy strawberries, everyone bought some home at half of the market price. This weekend we will be going cherry picking and barbeque. Praise the Lord, these activities let everyone get to know each other better. We are also able to build up relationships with the congregation. This is really the stepping stone for our service to the church.
Recently, a few brothers and sisters started to contact us for counseling. They opened themselves up to us and seek our help. Their trust in us makes us feel privileged to be able to fulfill God’s call. We shared with them the lessons we learned; we prayed with them; we comforted and encouraged them to continue to walk with God. It is exciting to see the down casted stood up, willing to own up their mistakes, pick up the pieces and walk in faith again. We experience the mercy and mighty work of God in those who are broken and contrite. Please pray for this special need. May the Lord’s grace be with them. Please also pray for us that we will speak with words of wisdom from above.
Prayer Requests:
- May the Lord send more workers to South Africa.
- Please pray for wisdom for us in counseling those in need in the Cape Town church.
- Please continue to pray for the preparation and messages for the December retreat in Cape Town.
- Please continue to pray for the ministries in Durban, Cape Town and Newcastle.
- Please continue to pray for our safety as we travel to different cities and towns.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina
