20190826

Dear prayer warriors,

Thank you for your participation in our ministry through your faithful prayers.

各位代禱勇士，收信平安！

感謝大家以禱告與Sandy & Kellen同工。

Last week in the sewing class we had our Bible story study on the story of Dorcas. God’s Words has strengthened our faith and inspired us to love one another with a humble attitude. Our “Dorcas Fellowship” has been full of joyful laughter. On the first week, we made little purses out of feedbags; the second week needle bases that are always needed for sewing. This week we are going to make the pattern of a top. And hopefully we will be able to make sleeveless tops for women on the fourth week. The progress has been out of our expectation since I doubt that the participants would understand my logic. Though I speak their language, cultural difference must have caused the gap of cognition. Therefore I would say that all we have achieved in class is absolutely the work of God.

上個星期我們在縫紉課以多加復活的故事查經討論，神的話語堅定我們在祂裡面的信心，也激勵我們存謙卑的心彼此相愛。我們這個「多加團契」充滿歡樂的笑聲。第一週我們以飼料袋為材料，縫製小錢包。第二週我們製作縫紉必備的插針座。接下來，我們要開始製作女上衣的紙型。希望第四週我們就可以縫製無袖女上衣。這些都是神的作為。事實上，因為文化上差異，即使我會講皮欽語，學員們不見得聽得懂我的邏輯。我們課程的進度真是超乎所求所想。

Sewing takes great patience and a lot of practices. The three made-in-China mini sewing machines that I brought from Taiwan are not any more enough for the number of the students. They have to wait a long time for their turns. There are sewing machines sold in several stores in Wewak, but the average price is 10 times of my mini ones. It would be hard for us to make the decision to buy one. We found 4 mini sewing machines in the stores, but 3 of them didn’t work.

裁縫需要很大的耐心跟很多機會練習，Sandy從台灣帶來的三台中國製迷你縫紉機已經不敷使用，讓學生花太多時間等待。威瓦克現在幾家商店都有販賣裁縫機，但是售價很高，是迷你縫紉機的十倍價錢。Sandy和Kellen在各家商店裡看了又看，還是拿不定主意。我們也找到四台迷你縫紉機，但是其中三台是故障品。

Last week we bought 10 plastic stools for the class. And soon we found the legs of them too weak since the students keep falling off them. We are trying to figure out how to strengthen these stool legs.

上星期我們為裁縫課買了十張塑膠椅子，後來發現椅腳太軟了，學員會從椅子上摔下來。我們正在想辦法補強這些椅腳。

Mama Sherry who is from the Meni community showed the finished works of our class to the Meni mamas and told them what we do in class. They became so envy of her. So this week we are going to have more students. It’s quite a challenge for us to squeeze all of them plus the tables and chairs into a tiny space. Especially making the patterns and cutting the cloth requires a big table. This week we are going to add 10 minutes English phonics to each day. There will be more class items that need fitting in.

從梅尼社區到我們住處上課的Sherry太太，把上課完成的作品帶回去與社區的太太們分享，大家非常羨慕。這星期我們預計會有更多學員，小小的住處要塞進這麼多學員及桌椅，挑戰我們的智慧。尤其裁縫需要很大的桌子才可以製圖與剪裁。這星期我們要加入每堂十分鐘的英文自然發音課程，屋子裡會有更多教具。

Today is a national holiday---the Repentance Day. There is no bus service. And we have to have a day off from the class too. I had better sort out my bedroom since it has been packed with all our clothes, equipment, teaching tools and sewing material. Kellen can’t bear the breeze of the fan. And we have to locate her bed in the living room where is also used as our classroom. According to our budget, we are content with such an arrangement so far. Let’s wait patiently for God’s further provision. Thinking of that God’s Words and the fun of the sewing class have sweetened the lives of all the participants, we find all our hard work rewarding.

今天(八月26日)是新幾內亞的全國悔改補假日，放假一天沒有公車，我們今天也停課。我也該來好好整頓房間。我們的衣服、設備、教具，把我睡覺的房間塞得滿滿的。Kellen不能吹電扇，她睡在我們做為教室的客廳。按照目前的經費規劃，我們就先安心這樣做吧！然後慢慢等候神進一步的安排。想到上帝的話語以及縫紉的樂趣使大家的生活更加甜美，一切的努力都很值得。

I would like to invite all of you to pray with us and wait and see God’s marvelous hand:

1. May God bless Dorcas Fellowship and enable us to grow in both His Words and working skills.

2. May God’s love inspire each member of Dorcas Fellowship to take Jesus’ heart in mind and help the new comers catch up the lessons.

3. May God, according to His good will and beautiful timing, provide for us with a car, enough sewing machines and a proper classroom.

4. May God bless the outreach of Meni Beach Baptist Church this Saturday afternoon.

5. May God give me enough strength for work and cure Kellen’s cold and injured shoulder.

6. May God bless our families with salvation, good health and daily bread.

Sandy敬邀各位與我們一起禱告、等候神、觀看神的作為：

一、求神恩待我們的「多加團契」，保守我們在主的話語及工作技能之間有平衡的成長。

二、求神激勵「多加團契」以基督的心為心，讓舊生幫助教師，一起把新生教會。

三、求神按祂美好的旨意與時間，為我們預備公務車、縫紉機及教室。

四、求神保守八月31日下午梅尼濱海浸信會的社區福音行動。

五、願神賞賜Sandy夠用的體力，也醫治Kellen的感冒畏寒及肩頸疼痛。

六、求神保守看顧我們的家人，讓他們得到救恩、安慰他們的心、賞賜他們生活上的需要。

All for Him

願神得榮耀

主內末肢

In Christ

Sandy

20190826