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Shalom, dear all!

Thank you for faithfully praying for us. With God’s mercy, we have had good weather since I published the last update, so that we have been able to wash and dry almost all the stale-smelling clothes. And our apartment seems habitable now though we are still sorting all our belongings. And that makes us sleep better.

各位代禱勇士,收信平安。

感謝大家忠心代禱。因著神的憐憫,自從上星期發了代禱信之後,這裡就有好天氣讓我們把幾乎所有霉味的衣服洗淨曬乾了。雖然還在整理當中,住處現在感覺起來能住人了。這也使得我們睡得較好。

Spending some time visiting the stores in town last week, we are figuring out what tools are available in town and thinking of what kind of sewing machines we should buy once we are ready to run the sewing class. And that will shape our decision of what kind of car we should buy. Considering the shortage of power supply in the villages we are going to run classes, we might have to buy portable sewing machines that are paddles by hand. Though electric ones are much lighters, we are not capable of carrying the generator. I remember that the hand-paddled sewing machine was about 2,500NTD each in 2019. Now it is about 6,500NTD. And the electric ones are even more expensive.

上星期花一些時間逛逛鎮上的商店,看看這裡買得到什麼工具;也思考一下,等要開裁縫課時該買哪一種縫紉機,這將決定我們要買哪一種汽車。考慮到將來要開課的各村落供電不易,我們可能會買手槳式的縫紉機。(在台灣應該沒看過吧?幾十年前台灣的手動式縫紉機都是腳踩式的。在新幾內亞,大部分家庭沒有椅子,所以手動縫紉機做成手槳式。) 雖然電動縫紉機會輕盈很多,但是我們終究扛不動發電機。我記得2019年在這裡看到的手槳式縫紉機每台大約台幣2,500元,現在已經漲價到約6,500元一台了。電動縫紉機就更貴囉!

We were very excited when we ran into Nancy on Monday. She was our first student when we ran the sewing class in Wewak in 2019. And her brother Samuel helped us make the blackboard. She said that she had thought that we would never come back because we were afraid of dying from COVID-19. She is direct, isn’t she? …Well, we had been trying very hard to come back. But God has His plan. He has finally brought us back now. We are grateful for being able to serve Him in the country with many lovely friends like Nancy. One of the very important lessons we have learned over the past years is that: Our part is to listen and obey, and getting the ministry done is God’s part.

星期一很興奮在街上遇到Nancy,她是我們2019年在威瓦克開設裁縫班的第一位學生,她的哥哥Samuel還來幫我們做黑板。Nancy直剌剌地說:「我以為你們怕染疫死掉,永遠不會回來了。」嗯嗯!我們想盡辦法要回來,但是神有祂的計畫。現在神終於帶領我們回來了,我們很感恩能在這個國家服事神。在這裡有很多像Nancy這麼可愛的朋友。過去這些年來,我們學到的寶貴功課之一就是:我們做的僅是聽從與順服,事工成就則是神所負責的部分。

Please remember us in your prayers.

敬請在禱告中記念我們:

1. We have 3 DHL parcels on the way to Wewak. May God make them come safely.
我們有三件DHL包裹會寄到威瓦克來。求神保守它們順利寄達。

2. May God guide us with getting drivers’ license, opening bank accounts, buying a car, and figuring out the tax.
求神引導我們取得駕照、買車、銀行開戶,以及弄清楚稅務問題。

3. We are still uncertain about what sewing machine to buy. May God grant us with the wisdom.
我們還是很難決定買哪一種縫紉機。求神給我們智慧。

4. Kellen is having a great pain on her shoulder, back, and knee on the righthand side. And I have a toothache due to the very hot weather. May God heal us.
Kellen的右半邊肩膀、腰、膝十分疼痛。Sandy因為天氣太熱而牙痛。求神醫治我們。

5. 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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