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Shalom, dear all!

Thank you for faithfully praying for us. We have been waiting for our car since the middle of April. It is supposed to our final step of setting down in Wewak. But who would have known that during this period of waiting, my life has been totally changed, and I am now preparing for my wedding? I had never thought this would happen to me since I became a missionary.

各位代禱勇士，收信平安。

感謝大家忠心代禱。我們從四月中旬就開始在等我們的公務車了，這算是我們在威瓦克安頓下來的最後一個步驟。然而，誰會料想得到在這段等待的時間裡，我的生活完全改變了，而現在我正在準備自己的婚禮？自從當了宣教士之後，從來沒想過會有這麼一天。

Many years ago, my friend Jayatti asked me if I would like to find a man to get married with. Well, I didn’t think I could really find a man who was going to come to PNG with me. That was one of but not the most critical issue. I thought I would have myself well prepared to glorify God, and then I would be alright either being single or married. And God would have His perfect timing. My pastor always says that there is a 3M prioritization when it comes to marriage. That is first who your master is; and then what mission of your life would be; finally, what your marriage would be like or who you are going to get married with and what your marriage would be like. Once we decide that our master is the Ever-Lasting God, and set apart ourselves for him, we would make glorifying God as our mission for life. And of course, our marriage is not for satisfying our own desires, but to glorify God. Then with God’s guidance you would clearly know who is the right one to spend the life with you glorifying God. Knowing that I was getting married, Jayatti wrote to me the other day, “I am so glad for you. This has fulfilled what you had told me before: As you are well prepared, God would have the right one ready for you.” ……Time flies, it has taken 14 years for her to see how God purifies my faith at this point.

很多年以前，我的朋友Jayatti問我有沒有想要找個男人結婚。我也不知道誰會願意跟我到新幾內亞，那是其中之一但也不是最主要的考量。我想我要好好預備自己榮耀神，那麼不論結婚或單身我都可以過得好，神自有祂美好的時機。我的牧師是這麼教導的，結婚要以3M為考量的次序：主人master、使命mission、婚姻marriage。也就是你生命中的主人是誰，這會決定你這一生的使命是什麼，接下來決定你跟什麼樣的人結婚以及你擁有什麼樣的婚姻。一旦我們生命的主人是永活的神，而我們也將自己分別為聖歸給他，我們人生的使命就是要榮耀神；那麼當然婚姻的目的就不是滿足個人的需要，而是為了榮耀神；神會清楚引導我們誰是可以共度一生榮耀神的對象。知道我要結婚的消息之後，Jayatti寫給我的訊息是：「真是太為妳高興，這印證妳曾告訴我：當妳準備好了，神會讓妳有個好伴侶。」時光飛逝，她親眼見證神在這方面淬鍊我的信心已經十四年了。

As Douglas and I are not young any more, after we announced our up-coming marriage, we had the same challenges from both sides of friends： All of his friends know that he took care of his past wife sick in bed for many years. Reading the article written by his father-in-law about how Douglas met her every need in sickness, I was in tears. Then here came the challenge from one of my side of friends saying, “You should not …...He is 10 years older than you. You are going to have to take care of him sick in bed soon.” Well, I am glad I have been well taught by several of my pastors and they have been my good examples. If I have the thinking of avoiding taking care of my sick spouse, I would not tell anyone that I am a Christian. Likewise, one of the ladies who know Douglas for many years wrote to him, “You should not marry Sandy. She is not good in health. You would end up having to take care of a sick wife again.” And he soon wrote back, “If that is what’s going to happen, with the help of God, I will do an even better job.” Most importantly, all challenges make us fathom more and more how Christ loves His church, and we are thankful for having to think a lot deeper of our faith.

我跟道格拉斯都已經不年輕，宣布婚訊之後，雙方的朋友給了我們一點挑戰：認識道格拉斯多年的人都知道，他照顧生病臥床的妻子很多年直到她過世。他的岳父寫的一篇文章當中有描述到道格拉斯是如何悉心照顧，滿足她病中大大小小的需求，那篇文章我讀了都會哭。我的一位朋友告訴我：「妳別呀！他大妳十歲，妳嫁給他不久之後就要照顧生病的他了。」幸好我多年來承教幾位非常良善的牧師，他們不但給我很好的教導，也是我很好的榜樣。如果我有避免照顧生病配偶的想法，我會不好意思告訴別人我是基督徒的。相同的，有一位認識道格拉斯多年的女士寫給他：「你不應該跟Sandy結婚。她身體那麼不好，如果你娶她的話，你到最後又得再一次照顧生病的妻子。」他馬上回給她：「如果事情是這樣的話，靠著上帝的幫助，我會照顧得比上次更好。」最重要的是，所有的挑戰使我們越來越了解基督如何愛教會，我們也很感恩有這樣深度檢視信仰的機會。

Please remember us in your prayers.

敬請繼續在禱告中記念我們：

1. May God bless PNG and grant peace and wisdom during this month of election.
求神賜福給新幾內亞，在這個選舉的月份中賜下平安與智慧。

2. Due to the shortage of fuel, commercial transportation has been seriously cut down. That has caused significant inflationary spike in town. And it would quite possibly develop more social security issue if it lasts too long. May God be in charge.
由於燃油短缺造成商務交通運輸大量砍減，導致鎮上物價明顯上漲，久之恐怕釀成更多治安問題。求神掌權。

3. May God protect our fruit of work in Ambunti and inspire the students to start Dorcas Fellowship in their churches.
求神保守我們在安布恩提做工的果效，激勵學員們在教會興起多加團契。

4. Kellen and I are developing the teaching scheme of the Level Two sewing course. May God grant us His Divine Wisdom.
Sandy和Kellen正在研發第二級縫紉課程的教案。求神賞賜屬天的智慧。

5. May God be in charge of the shipment of our car and bring it to us at the right time.
求神在我們車子運送過程中掌權，保守它在適當時間抵達威瓦克。。

6. May God guide Douglas and me in preparation for the wedding that is on August 13^th and provide everything needed at about time.
求神在八月十三日婚禮的預備工作上引導道格拉斯與Sandy，並且逢時供應一切所需。

7. Douglas’s flight to Ambunti this week was once canceled due to airstrip shutdown caused by election disturb. Today he will be put with the cargoes. May God bless him with safe journey to Ambunti and back to Wewak.
道格拉斯本周前往安布恩提，一度因選舉糾紛造成飛機跑道關閉，導致班機取消。今天(星期三)將搭貨機前往。求神保守他前往安布恩提及趕回威瓦克旅途平安。

8. May God take care of my old parents, grant them salvation, health, peace and joy.
願神看顧Sandy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

(新幾內亞的點滴分享，在line貼文串或IG，歡迎您來了解。若神感動您參與事工，請與我們聯絡。惟這裡網路不好，請耐心等候。)

IG: chao.sandy.png

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