親愛的代禱夥伴：
二零二零結束，人們滿以為疫情亦會隨著一年過去而告終結，大家夢想新的一年將會有美好的正常生活，可是，去年底英倫發現變種疫株，而這種變種病毒很快在英國急速擴散，大家的美夢亦隨即幻滅了。
這英倫變種病毒極易感染，迅速取代舊病毒株，成為主流毒株，並使疫症感染個案再度增多。從二零二一年開始，全球各國都面臨更嚴峻的疫情。去年十二月份在南非已出現變種病毒，南非的變種比英倫的變種更容易傳染，使南非疫情感染快速擴大。從九月到十一月，南非已有12萬人染疫，新變種病毒在過去兩個月造成63萬人染疫，增加了500％。同時，這兩個月因染疫而死亡數字已超過二萬人，亦超過去年十二個月的總數！南非變種病毒的感染容易度及引起傷害的嚴重度，實在可怕。這當然對南非醫療系統造成很大的挑戰，使醫院病床及加護病床都不敷應用。在南非，沒有華人染疫人數的正式統計，只知道有人從疫症中康復，也有人因染疫過世。在開普敦，有華人教會因為沒有停止群聚、防疫不佳，導致有傳道人因感染而過世。在德班亦有傳道人因為發放物資過程中，沒做好防護而染疫，雖然後來她可以康復過來，實在感恩，但由此可見疫情十分嚴峻，每天嚴緊的防疫的工作，是不可鬆懈的。在疫情之下，弟兄姐妹每天都要面對不同的挑戰，其中一項就是要勸導一些不守法不戴口罩的顧客戴好口罩。疫情的嚴峻也提醒我們，保守我們生命的是神，我們不必過度懼怕，只要警醒並存感恩的心生活便足夠。
南非有一些華人希望及早接種疫苗，就藉著返國辦事而在中國接種。當然，也是因為南非政府疫苗接種的計劃一直不透明，在南非我們只知道到政府已訂購疫苗，但是品牌，價錢，數量，開始安排接種的日期等政府都沒有公佈。南非政府預計要為三分之二的人口接種疫苗，但是，不知道疫苗的實情令很多打算接種的人不安心。但是，南非的疫情持續嚴峻，專家警告若疫苗接種遲延，將來還可能有第三輪的疫情高峯。疫情使南非經濟下滑，現今要花費大量金錢購買疫苗，對南非政府而言，這是一項艱難的任務。請為南非政府禱告，求主為他們開路使南非國民早日得接種疫苗。
美國川普政府以國家安全利益為理由，用行政命令禁止使用微信的案件，一月十四日在美國舊金山第九巡迴法庭上，由三位法官判定暫緩執行原定9月20日生效的命令。法官判詞指出政府可能越權介入這個案件，妨礙了人們的言論自由，而關閉微信後，亦沒有提供其他的代替方案。法官收取了政府的申訴，到目前案件還沒有結束，亦沒有進一步說明，可能將會繼續擱置。請為我們能繼續使用微信服事代禱。
請你為這些事項代禱：
- 感謝主，教會每週在網上的敬拜和查經都運作正常，弟兄姐妹都按時出席，認真的學習。
- 感謝神，我們可以繼續用微信服事弟兄姐妹。請為微信禁令能夠早日的得到解決代禱。
- 求主賜智慧給南非政府做好防疫，幫助官員能認真執法減低疫症的傳播。
- 求主幫助南非政府及早為人民安排接種疫苗，使疫症得以控制。
- 德班教會的林滿足姐妹癌症轉移至肺部，感謝主，她的切除手術很成功，請為她手術後身體的復原禱告。
- 求主幫助開店和開廠的弟兄姐妹作好防疫保護的工作。也求主保守他們出入的平安。
您的同工
克達、雅麗
二零二一年一月
下載 PDF 格式 （中文）
Download PDF Version （English）
Dear Prayer Partners,
The end of 2020 gave people a wishful dream of the end of the pandemic and brought about a flesh start of normalcy. However, that dream was dashed when a variant of the virus stormed through UK with quicker and wider infections. The year 2021 actually started with a new surge in all the countries throughout the world. A variant was also found in South Africa during December 2020. It is spreading even faster than the UK variant and has been causing more deaths. In South Africa, there were 120,000 new cases from September to November of 2020. New cases of the variant has jumped to 630,000 during the two-month period of December 2020 and January 2021, a 500% increase. At the same time, the death toll was over 20,000, more than the last 12 months combined. This puts enormous pressure on the medical system, and beds in the hospitals and ICU’s are in alarming shortages. There is no official data on the infection rates and resulting death figures for the Chinese population in South Africa, but we do know of people who had been recovered as well as those who had passed away. One Chinese church in Cape Town continued to hold meetings during the lockdown period. Some among the congregation were infected, resulted in the death of the pastor. Another pastor in Durban got the virus when she disturbed food parcels to the poor. We thank God that she had since recovered. Therefore, no matter how the situation looks, we still need to exercise all precautionary measures possible to protect ourselves. The greatest challenge for our brothers and sisters, though, would be to strictly enforce mask wearing for their customers. Nevertheless, we should not be overly anxious because our God will keep and protect us. We need to be on high alert, but we can do it with thankfulness.
Some Chinese opted to receive their vaccination in China when they returned on their business trip. This is mostly due to the lack of transparency in the government’s plan in acquiring and distributing of the vaccine. The announced plan is to vaccinate 2/3 of the population, but there is no date in sight as when the general public will have access to it. The experts warn that if the coronavirus cannot be brought under control soon, the delay of vaccination will cause a third wave of infection. The economy has already been adversely impacted, the dire situation compounded with the need of payment for the large amount of vaccines. Please pray for the government in its efforts in securing enough vaccines for South Africa.
The case for the US government to ban WeChat was presented to the US Court of Appeals in San Francisco on January 14th. It was the court’s opinion to continue to suspend the Executive Order due to a possible infringement on the users’ right of free speech and the lack of alternatives offered by the Order. This case is still pending. Please continue to pray for a favorable result so we can continue our ministry on WeChat.
Thanksgiving and Prayer Requests:
- We thank God that our on-line meetings are in smooth operation with good attendance and attentiveness.
- We thank God for our continued ministry on WeChat. Please pray that the ban will finally be denied.
- Please continue to pray for wisdom for the South Africa officials to set up effective measures to halt the spread of the virus and pray for the people to comply with these measures.
- Please pray for quick administration of vaccines for South Africa.
- Please pray for Sister Lin of our Durban church. Her cancer has spread to her lungs. We thank the Lord that her operation was successful. Please pray for her full recovery.
- Please continue to pray for the health and safety of our brothers and sisters.
In His service,
Ko-Ta & Christina
