親愛的弟兄姐妹平安，
「我凡事給你們作榜樣，叫你們知道應當這樣勞苦，扶助軟弱的人，又當記念主耶穌的話，說：施比受更為有福。」 （徒20：35）
一月剛過去，馬上就是農曆年，教會繼續辦包餃子活動，因為去年大家都覺得很好！在陳傳道的計劃安排下，弟兄姊妹分成八組，在主日崇拜之後才總動員一起包餃子，讓大家在異國他鄉可以感受一點過年的氣氛。
上次提到參與德國教會的難民事工之後，在聖誕節之前，我們又參與了兩次行動。吉森團契聽到德國教會收集冬衣捐贈難民，於是我回去呼籲，華人教會也收集了兩次冬衣。不過，按德國教會的要求，當我把衣服送到吉森之後，那邊有兩位姊妹要先把它們分好性別、尺碼，然後按指定的紙箱（超市裝香蕉的紙箱）包裝好，才讓弟兄送去德國教會。因這行動，使得不同城市的弟兄姊妹有彼此配搭服事的機會。
另一次是我們教會的弟兄得知有一福音機構，他們組織兩天去難民營分發不同語言的福音單張、聖經和掛曆，我們便請纓參加。因為靠近聖誕節，便請了三位姊妹幫忙烤了一些餅乾，放在小袋子裡，加上幾顆糖果作為禮物送給難民小孩。因為烤製的器材不夠，她們花了八個小時包裝了六十袋。另外一天，我邀請幾位媽媽，她們用了不到一個多小時就完成其餘的四十袋，果然是能幹的媽媽們！福音機構開的車是滿載了多種國家語言的福音資料，包括現在難民說的一些方言。他們主要以分發掛曆為主，因為比較沒有那麼敏感，要明白難民大多來自伊斯蘭國家。但是掛曆上印有聖經金句，讓他們也可以看到神的話。同行有一位會說亞拉伯語的埃及弟兄和說土耳其語的德國宣教士，他們就有機會與難民溝通，還可以送單張和聖經給他們。有些難民也會一點英語的，我們也就可以交談。雖然難民營都讓難民自由出入，門口卻有保安守衛著，我們幾乎都不能進去這些難民營。但是車子停下來，就有難民來看，我們就可以分發掛曆、禮物給他們。有些保安雖然不讓我們進去，但願意告訴我們裡面有說甚麼語言的難民，福音車的姊妹便打包禮物給保安為我們分發。我們一天就跑了十幾個難民營，都在法蘭克福附近的城市。除了參與這次的活動之外，也見識了德國政府如何接待難民，非常人道。
由於除夕在科隆發生集體騷擾女性事件之後，也陸續聽到一些罪案發生，讓大家感到治安已經不如以往。到底是難民還是犯罪份子乘虛而入，都不是我們能控制的，現在只有多加防範。
隨著科技發達，發現除了照顧身邊軟弱的姊妹之外，還可以藉著微信來安慰其國內的媽媽。另一位已經回國的姊妹，也因被感情困擾而會與我微信，因此可以鼓勵她不要受外界壓力的緣故而輕易嫁人。雖然這些社交媒體是比較花時間，但也有它及時的功能，也不失是現代服事的另一類的工具。
感恩代禱事項：
- 求 主帶領二月七日在教會舉辦慶祝春節的包水餃活動，讓弟兄姊妹也可以邀請慕道朋友一起來感受 神的愛，並願意尋求認識神！
- 感謝主讓我們有機會參與德國機構分發單張、掛曆與聖經的活動！求 主藉著這些資料，使收到的難民有機會繼續尋求認識真神！
- 隨著大批的難民湧入，當中也有很多犯罪份子，使得德國治安變差。以前犯罪比較多是偷竊行為，現在開始多人身侵犯。求 主給政府有智慧與能力去保護市民！
- 求主帶領寄居我家的姊妹能早日找到工作，堅定她對主的信心！也求 主保守她國內的媽媽在基督裡得著力量與安慰！
- 全德門徒造就營將於3月24-28日舉行，求主感動弟兄姊妹踴躍參加，使靈命得以被激勵！
謝謝您們在禱告中記念我們！
願 春節蒙恩，喜樂！
神 的使女
鄧秀珍
2016年1月31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 January, 2016
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
January has just passed and Chinese New Year is just around the corner. Our church will continue to hold an event of dumpling wrapping for the response of last year was very good. Under the organization of Pastor Chen, the whole church will be divided into 8 groups and all will participate right after Sunday service. Through this event, hopefully we who live in a foreign land would feel a bit of the Chinese New Year atmosphere.
After mentioning the participation of a German church’s refugee ministry in my last prayer letter, we participated two more activities before Christmas. After hearing from Giessen Fellowship that a German church was collecting winter clothes for the refugees, I went back to our church to make the request. After collecting the clothes in two Sundays, I brought them to Giessen where two sisters helped to sort them out according to size and gender as requested by the German church. Then they packed them into banana boxes and a brother delivered to that church. Because of this activity, we could see that we could serve one another even in different cities.
At another time, our brother heard that a Christian organization planned to go to visit refugee camps for 2 days. They wanted to distribute gospel tracts, bibles and calendars in various languages. So we volunteered to go with them. Since it was just before Christmas, I asked 3 sisters to bake some cookies and added some candies in a bag to give to the kids in the camp. Due to the lack of appropriate equipment, they spent 8 hours to pack 80 bags. Then I invited some mothers to bake some more on another day. They spent less than two hours and packed 40 bags. Surely the mothers were more capable! The Christian organization had a van full of gospel materials in many languages including dialects spoken by the refugees. They distributed mostly calendars which were less sensitive as most of the refugees came from Islamic countries. But there were scriptures written on the calendars so that the refugees could still read God’s words. There were an Egyptian brother who spoke Arabic and a German missionary who spoke Turkish among us. They had a chance to speak with the refugees and gave them gospel tracts and bibles. There were some who could speak little English and we could communicate with them. Although refugees were free to go out of the camp, we were not allowed to go in for most of these camps were guarded. But once the van parked outside, refugees would come and take the calendars and cookies bags. Some of the guards were nice to tell us what dialects refugees spoke and the sister in the van would pack the materials and the guards would take them and distribute for us. For half a day, we went to over ten refugee camps located in cities near Frankfurt. Besides distributing calendars to refugees, we also saw that they were well received by the government.
Since the New Year Eve gang assaults on women occurred in Cologne, there were more news about crime happened recently. This made it no more a safe place to live like before. Whether the criminals were refugees or gangs, we had no control over them. We have to be very careful nowadays.
With the use of social media, I found out that I could even comfort a mother who lived in China while I also took care of her daughter here. Another sister who had already gone back home would also use Wechat to ask for advice when she felt burdened. Even though social media is time consuming, it is not a bad tool to serve others in a timely manner.
Thanksgiving and prayer items:
- Pray that God will lead the dumpling wrapping to celebrate Chinese New Year on 2/7! Pray that brothers and sisters will invite non-believers to come and feel the love of God and seek God.
- Thank God for giving us the opportunities to join the Christian organization to distribute calendars and bibles to refugees! Pray that they will seek and know God!
- Because of the large influx of refugees, among them are some criminals, making Germany a less safe place to live. Before, there were thieves. Now, there are sexual harassments. Pray that God will give the government wisdom to protect their citizens!
- Pray that God will help the sister who stays at my place to find a job and strength her faith! Pray also for her mother for strength and comfort in Christ!
- Pray that brothers and sisters will participate the Easter Camp from 3/24-28!
Thank you for remembering us in your prayers!
May God bless you a happy Chinese 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
