20220901
Shalom, dear all!
Thank you for faithfully praying for us. The wedding on August 13th in Wewak went very well. It was raining quite heavily that day and the night before, and the puddles on the way to the church in the jungle were big enough to discourage many of our friends from coming to the wedding. But we were all in God’s good hands, and His Holy Presence made the wedding filled with His glory. What we wanted was merely to glorify Him. Our wedding video has been forwarded to many people that we are still receiving congratulations. Actually, since I announced the date of our wedding on the 18th of July, I have received many replies from those on my update list saying that our good news has strengthened their faith in Christ.
各位代禱勇士，收信平安。
感謝大家忠心代禱。八月十三日在威瓦克舉行的婚禮十分順利。雖然婚禮當天及前一天晚上雨勢不小，通往叢林裡教會路上的水窟大到足以令大部分的朋友卻步，但是我們在神的手中，神的同在使整個婚禮充滿祂的榮耀。而我們想要的也只是單單地榮耀祂。婚禮的剪影短片被轉傳給很多人，到現在還有人持續在恭喜我們。事實上，自從我在七月十八日宣布婚期，已經收到很多人的回響，告訴我這個好消息如何增進他們在基督裡的信心。
On the 16th in Ambunti, there were hundreds of people attending our newlywed thanksgiving ceremony. Douglas and I just came back to Wewak from Ambunti last Friday because our small air craft flight was cancelled that extended our stay there for three days. While in Ambunti, I had a fever on the first three days and struggled a lot at the thanksgiving ceremony on the first day, after ten days staying there, I recovered from the cold, gained more strength, and my blood pressure is now back to normal.
八月十六日在安布恩提舉辦的新婚感恩禮拜有數百人參加，由於原定小飛機班次被取消，我和道格拉斯在那裏多停留了三天，到上星期五才從安布恩提回到威瓦克。雖然前面三天我都在發燒，第一天的感恩禮拜我全身軟趴趴的，但是在安布恩提的十天當中，不但感冒痊癒，體力也變得比較好，甚至現在連血壓都恢復正常了。
After my fever was gone, Douglas took me to different villages each afternoon, visiting local friends. All the villagers were very happy about our getting married. And I received very warm acceptance from them. As we walked along the trail next to the air strip, seeing some egrets in the field, Douglas told me that the local people give him the name “Egret of East Sepik” as he is white, tall, slim, with long neck and very long thin legs, and mostly because they think he belongs to the East Sepik Province of PNG. Taking a deep breath, I looked at this man who is now my husband, wondering his 44 years of staying in this country of that the weather is so different from where he is from, and his being deeply involved in all the local events happening here over the years. No wonder many women gave me warm hugs and kisses when Douglas introduced me as his new wife to them. Douglas has known four generations of their families during his past 44 years of life, knowing and having worked with their parents, seeing them get married, seeing them have children, and then grandchildren. This egret is here running the race for the crown that is not perishable.
我的高燒退了之後，道格拉斯每天下午帶我去不同的村子探訪朋友。所有的村民都很高興我跟他結婚，很多人溫情表示他們對我的接納。走在飛機跑道旁邊的小徑時，我們看到草原上有許多白鷺鷥，道格拉斯告訴我，當地的朋友稱他是「東希比克的白鷺鷥」，因為他是白皮膚、高高瘦瘦、有著長長的脖子和又細又長的腿，最主要是因為他們認為他是屬於新幾內亞東希比克省的人。看著身邊這位先生，現在是我的丈夫了，我深深地吸了一口氣，想像他在這裡居住的四十四年，在這個氣候環境與他成長的地方截然不同的地方，多年來這裡發生的大大小小的事情，他都深度參與在其中。難怪當他介紹我著個新婚太太給大家認識時，很多婦女會給我溫情的擁抱跟親吻。在他過去四十四年的生命中，他結識他們四代的家人：認識他們的父母並且一起共事過、看著他們結婚、接下來兒女成群、然後子孫滿堂。這隻白鷺鷥在這裡為著不能朽壞的冠冕賽跑。
Because of Douglas, I got to know a young American missionary couple, Ben and Mary. They have four children. The youngest is only few months old. They are very interested in knowing about the ministry Kellen and I are doing. Actually, they had heard a lot about our ministry even before they knew I was the woman Douglas was getting married with. So, Kellen and I paid them a visit in their temporary rented house in Wewak on Monday, discussing about what we can do in the village they are serving in. With a new born baby needing close care and the other three blond kids crawling and running around, they let us know their practical and highly feasible projects they are doing in the village that is about an hour away by boat from Ambunti. It will take time for their resource center to be facilitated, and hopefully we will be able to do some work with them next year. This young couple give me a lot of encouragement and strengthen my faith in Christ, too. As we run the race for the imperishable crown, running with those who rejoice in Christ makes us run happier and longer.
透過道格拉斯，我結識了年輕的美國宣教士夫婦，班和瑪莉。他們有四個小孩，最小的才幾個月大。班和瑪莉對我和Kellen的事工很感興趣，事實上在他們知道我就是道格拉斯的結婚對象之前，他們就聽聞我和Kellen的事工了。所以，星期一我們到他們在威瓦克臨時的住處拜訪他們，討論以後在他們服事的村子裡與他們合作的事。四個小孩的其中一個還需要密切照顧，其他三個金髮小孩還在到處跑滿地爬，他們卻談論著他們在村子裡做的那些很實際而且可行性很高的事工。那個村子離安布恩提搭船約一個小時。他們的資源中心要再長一點時間才能建置完畢，我們應該明年可以和他們同工。這對年輕夫婦給我很大的鼓勵，也增進我在基督裡的信心。當我們為著不可朽壞的冠冕賽跑的時候，和這樣靠基督喜樂的人一起跑，可以跑得比較快樂，也比較長久。
Please remember us in your prayers.
敬請繼續在禱告中記念我們：
1. There were conflicts between the police and some drunkards on a main road intersection near where I am living now and it ended up protest with arson on Monday night. May God give people peace and wisdom, and quench the flights.
Sandy現在住處附近的主要道路交叉口發生警察與醉漢的衝突，導致星期一晚上發生縱火抗議事件，求神賜下平安與智慧，止息爭鬥。
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. The general director of CMMI and the Chairman of TMM are going to visit PNG on September 5th-13th. May God bless their journey and visa application.
國際華人動員宣教協會的總幹事以及台灣華人動員宣教協會的理事長將於九月五日至十三日來訪新幾內亞，求神保守他們的旅程及簽證。
4. Kellen and I are helping Meni Beach Baptist Church develop the ministry of making sanitary napkins for school girls and women who newly give a birth in the hospital. Buying the right materials and the shipping to Wewak are going to be very costly. May God give me wisdom in finding the right resources.
Sandy和 Kellen正在幫忙梅尼濱海浸信會發展衛生巾製作的事工，用以贈送給女學生以及醫院裡剛剛生下小孩的婦女。要買到適合的材料以及貨運到威瓦克都是十分昂貴的事，求神給Sandy智慧找到適當的資源。
5. 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
IG: chao.sandy.png
20220901