親愛的代禱夥伴：
今年元月一日至三日我們在靠近德班的恩德堡（Underberg）舉辦家庭營會。有美國加州南谷基督徒會堂的許學舜長老來領會。今年的主題是「跟隨我」，大家都有很好的學習。今年有五十多人來參加，有從開普敦來的弟兄姊妹，亦有一些慕道友，他們也感受到神的愛在我們當中。一位慕道友分享：基督徒都較有愛心也少煩惱；他的寶馬車胎壞了，那款車又沒有備胎，一位弟兄借車給他，大家為他禱告。在放假的日子竟然有一家車胎店營業，他也說感謝上帝幫助了他。求主繼續在他心中動工使他早日得救。他的分享也提醒我們，信徒要彼此相顧、以愛心相待、並且行善（希10：24）。
一月份我們去紐卡索聚會，也為四位弟兄姊妹施浸。楊弟兄是前一封代禱信所提到的慕道友。感謝主，他的率直和認真讓他在真道上成長，他的信心和執著也給他的妻子許多正面的影響。請為楊太太早日信主禱告。廖弟兄來南非工作後就一直參加教會的聚會，他是一個品行良好的青年人，從聚會中真道學習裡知道自己是罪人，所以悔改信主，接受救贖。辛姊妹是受高等教育的人。聖經曾是她讀書學習時的一個科目，她以前是以文學作品的角度去讀。我們初接觸她時，她對屬靈的事物沒有興趣。後來，在她人生困難的時候，她來到教會，每週日她都來聚會，神的話語給她力量去面對她的困難！因此她決定信主。請為辛姊妹的丈夫及家人信主禱告。卜姊妹初來南非時很不順利，後來得到基督徒的幫助，開始來教會；以前在塞班島打工時也有去過教會，現在才對真道有完整的認識也願意受洗歸主。神在他們每一位的人生中都有奇妙的引領。神將得救的人加給教會。
一月下旬我們開始新一個任期的工作匯報，我們往香港、台灣及美國支持我們的教會作事工匯報，分享過去三年在南非的事工及我們未來事工的展望。工作匯報期間，有時常搬遷，有時飛行，網路時有時斷，加上時差，通訊常遲延。每個主日在不同教會證道，週五和週六去不同教會的團契或小組分享事工或宣教見證。有時週間亦有個人探訪或服事或會議要參與。我們見到許多老朋友亦結識不少新朋友。感謝主，各地都有弟兄姊妺願意對南非的事工更多了解。也有弟兄姊妹要來短宣或訪宣探勘如何參與事工。三年的分別沒有減低弟兄姊妹對我們及南非宣教的關切。我們亦有機會在教會不同宣教活動中見證神在南非奇妙的作為，鼓勵弟兄姊妹回應上帝的呼召踏上宣教之路。
感謝主，在工作匯報期間我們亦有機會作工。克達摯友的妻子是主內的姊妹，一直希望她的父親信主。她邀請克達去向她父親傳福音。知道之後，我們就為她父親得救禱告亦求主賜下話語。今天去與他談道，他的心已打開，聽完後，立刻就決志信主。請為這位田弟兄靈命的成長代禱。前兩個星期到一間教會分享宣教中的學習，雅麗分享到自己如何饒恕傷害她的人，一位姊妹特別向雅麗訴說自己二十多年來要饒恕家人的掙扎。雅麗輔導她，幫助她願意放下自己的執著來順服神，這位姊妹也願意禱告求主給她力量饒恕傷害她的人。感謝神，在祂的時候成就美好的事。
代禱事項：
- 請為我們工作匯報期間的分享代禱，求主賜我們話語見證主奇妙的作為並鼓勵人回應主的呼召。
- 請為一月份新受浸的弟兄姊妹靈命成長代禱。也為他們的配偶及家人信主代禱。
- 求主差派工人到南部非洲來宣教。
- 請為我們申請納米比亞簽證的準備工作代禱。
- 請繼續為我們在南非出外往各地事工的安全及行車的安全代禱。
您的同工
克達、雅麗
二零一六年三月
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South Africa Prayer letter ( 3/2016 )
Dear Prayer Partners,
Our church family retreat was held from January 1st to 3rd in Underberg. Elder Rupert Hsu from Chinese Church in Christ, South Valley, was our speaker, and our theme was “Come, Follow Me.” There were more than 50 people in attendance; a couple even came as far as Cape Town. There were also some non-believers; they not only heard but also experienced the love of God among us. One of them was very amazed at how gracious and worry-free Christians are. He got a flat tire at camp, but the particular model of his BMW did not have any spare tire. One of our brothers let him borrow his car to go into town to look for a tire shop, and all of us prayed for him at camp. He was able to find a tire shop that opened during this long weekend. He even shared that he was grateful that God had helped him! May the Lord continue to work in his heart to accept Him as his personal Savior! This reminds us to continue to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Heb. 10:24)
Four brothers and sisters were baptized at our January meeting in Newcastle. Brother Yang is the seeker we mentioned in our last prayer letter. His earnest commitment to know the Lord enabled him to grow in the truth; his genuine faith also has a positive influence on his wife. Please pray for Mrs. Yang’s salvation. Brother Liu is a mature, good-mannered young man. He started attending church meetings after he came to work in Newcastle. He began to recognize that he is a sinner and he accepted Jesus’ gift of redemption and forgiveness of his sins. Sister Xin is well-educated. The Bible was one of her courses in college, but she studied it as literature. When we first came in contact with her, she had no interest in spiritual things. Soon she faced great difficulties in life, and she began to come to church. God’s Word gave her strength to walk through her struggles, and she decided to follow Jesus. Please also pray for her husband and her family that they will also receive the Lord. Sister Bo encountered huge obstacles when she first arrived in South Africa. She received help from some Chinese Christians, and she started to come to church. Back when she was working in Saipan, she had attended church a few times. Now she really has a thorough understanding of the truth and wishes to be baptized. God leads each one of them in His unique and amazing ways, and He adds the saved to the church.
We left South Africa for our furlough in mid-January. We visited different churches in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the States to share our ministry in the past three years as well as our future plans. During this period, we moved a lot, flew a lot, due to limitation of internet access and time differences, we were not able to communicate on a timely basis. In addition to Sunday preaching and evening sharing, we also met with different people during the day. We not only got re-acquainted with old friends but also made new friends. We thank the Lord that fellow Christians in all these places were eager to learn more about the ministry in South Africa. Some of them also showed a keen interest to form short-term mission teams to South Africa. Our absence for the last three years did not lighten their support for us or the mission in South Africa. Moreover, we were invited to give testimonies of God’s wonderful work in South Africa at different mission conferences. May the Lord stir up Christians’ hearts to obey God’s calling to the mission field!
Thank God! He never takes “leaves.” The wife of one of Ko-Ta’s good friends is a Christian. She has been praying for her father’s salvation for many years. As we are in the States, she requested to arrange a time for us to meet her father and share the gospel with him. Ever since we knew about the meeting, we have been praying for the readiness of his heart and words of wisdom from the Lord. We met with him this morning, and was he ready! He accepted Christ after Ko-Ta explained the gospel to him. Please pray for Brother Tian’s growth in the faith. Two weeks ago, Christina had the opportunity to share about her experience as a missionary. One of the things she learned was true forgiveness. After the meeting, one sister approached her and told her about her own struggle in forgiving her family for the last twenty years. Christina was able to counsel her and help her realize that it was actually a matter of her submitting to God. The sister was willing to let go and ask God for help in forgiving those who had hurt her. Praise the Lord! His timing is everything.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for our sharing during our furlough. May the Lord grant us the words to testify His wonderful deeds and encourage others to answer God’s call for mission.
- Please pray for the new Christians who were baptized in January that their faith will be strengthened. Also pray for the salvation of their spouses and family members.
- Please pray for more missionaries for the southern African countries.
- Please pray for our work permit applications for Namibia.
- Please continue to pray for our safety as we travel to different cities and towns.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina
吳約瑟牧師師母帶著使命重回金邊，先是參與大學生福音工作，後在新發展又鄰近大學的社區渥巴昂開荒植堂，設立大學生宿舍，開辦語言及職訓課程，讓從鄉村來金邊讀高中及大學的菁英一代，以及在渥巴昂區居住的本地人，得聞福音，歸向基督。蒙神恩領，2009年在渥巴昂鄰區購得三棟排屋作禮拜堂暨大學生宿舍，排屋的地下為教會禮拜堂，週間用作幼稚園並託兒服務，閣樓為辦公室及課室，二樓為大學女生宿舍。
