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Shalom, dear all!
Thank you for faithfully praying for us. Kellen and I have received feedbacks from many of you sharing the joy of hearing our good news last week. And we thank God that we have so many partners that have kept reading my updates and praying for us since 2009.
各位代禱勇士，收信平安。
感謝大家忠心代禱。上個星期大家聽到我們的好消息後，很多人分享了這樣的喜悅，給我們回應。感謝神，從我2009年開始寫代禱信到現在，讓我們有這麼多同伴為我們禱告。
And thanks to God that I am not as busy as a bee this month, and have some more time to get together with friends, eat Taiwanese street food, and enjoy the city I grew up in. Even finding an article written by me in 2005 online, I realized that I had used to be a very fussy person.
感謝神，這個月我必較不忙，能夠多點時間和朋友聚聚，享受台灣小吃，也享受這個我成長的城市。甚至還不經意地翻到一篇2005年自己寫過，自己沒保留網頁卻被他人轉載的文章，這篇文章讓我發現，原來我過去是個很吹毛求疵的人。
Actually, I am wondering if God had thought that we were not ready so that He had set obstacles that stopped us from leaving for PNG over the past few months. I had thought that I had had all my credit cards and debit cards ready for use, but the fact is that I have had to go to the bank over and over again even now, for there are many banking regulations that I didn’t know, and that would make me not able to use my credit card or withdraw money when I am abroad. No wonder God made even Balaam’s donkey talk. God’s protection can sometimes appear as something frustrating, such as losing a chance for promotion, ending a romance, canceling a trip…. etc. We should sincerely thank God for all these “talking donkeys”.
說真的，我在想，神是不是想說我之前沒準備好，所以過去這幾個月才容許我們有障礙，去不成新幾內亞。我本還以為我的信用卡跟金融卡都沒問題了，結果，這兩個月我常常在跑銀行，一直到現在。原因是各家銀行這兩年來有許多我不知道的新規定，沒有在台灣先處理好的話，出國時沒有辦法使用我的信用卡消費及金融卡轉帳。難怪喔…神甚至要讓先知巴蘭的驢子說出話來。神給我們的保護有時候會化妝成挫敗的樣子，譬如失去一次升遷的機會、結束一段戀情、取消一次旅行…等等。這麼一來，我們真得好好為著這些「會說話的驢子」感謝神。
There is something new that can be a good culture lesson: We are still having trouble shipping our over-weighed luggage to PNG. Earlier this month, we found out that we could no longer send parcels to PNG through the post office. Last week, we learned that we could try DHL. This week, we realized that DHL doesn’t deliver to a PO box. But people in PNG use PO box instead of addresses. Especially, in the town we base in PNG, we don’t actually have a so-called “address” as I know. Anyway, we will have to learn from doing and figure it out.
對了，我們現在又有一個新的文化課要學習：我們的超重行李還是沒能寄出去。這個月初得知現在已經不能透過郵局寄包裹了；上個星期打聽到可以試試DHL；這星期我們要寄的時候發現DHL不寄貨到郵政信箱。可是在新幾內亞大家都是用郵政信箱呀！據我所知，在我們於新幾內亞據點的城鎮，好像沒有所謂的「地址」。然而，還是得邊做邊學，找出辦法才行。
Please remember us in your prayers.
敬請在禱告中記念我們：
1. We have purchased the tickets, and are to set off on the 3rd of March, arrive PNG on the 4th, Wewak the 5th. May God bless us in our preparation and communication.
我們已經購買了機票，預計三月3日出發，4日抵達新幾內亞首都，5日抵達威瓦克。願神賜福我們的預備工作及溝通事宜。
2. We are trying to deal with the shipment of our over weighed luggage. May God show His favor to us.
我們正在想辦法把超重的行李寄到新幾內亞。求神恩待我們。
3. The number of daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 in PNG has picked up again. May God bless PNG and enable the people to be willing to take the wise epidemic prevention measures.
在新幾內亞的新冠肺炎疫情再次拉高。願神賜福新幾內亞，使人民願意採取有智慧的防疫措施。
4. May God take care of our old parents, grant them salvation, health, peace and joy.
願神看顧我們年邁的父母，賞賜他們救恩、健康、平安及喜樂。
All for Him
願神得榮耀
主內末肢
In Christ
Sandy
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