20230502
Shalom, dear all!
Thank you for faithfully praying for us. Douglas and I safely arrived in Ambunti last Tuesday. As we opened the door of the house, what we saw did remind us the bear intrusion last year. The 7.3 earthquake in PNG that happened on April, 3rd (we were still in Taiwan) had its center 23km away from Ambunti. And it shook many items in our house off the shelves, moved the tables from where they had been, and caused the master power switch of the house shut down and the fridge plus food in it got totally moldy. We were blessed that another missionary’s family, the Urschitz, were here in Ambunti. And they sent their helper to help us clean up the mess.
感謝您忠心地為我們禱告。道格拉斯和我上週二安全抵達安布恩提。當我們打開房子的門時，眼前所見的一切讓我們想起了我們去年的熊熊入侵事件。4月3日(當時我們人在台灣)新幾內亞發生的7.3級地震震央離安布恩提只有23公里，強震使我們屋子裡許多物品從架子上晃下來、桌子也不在原來的位置，地震也導致房子的主電源開關關閉，冰箱和裡面的食物完全發黴。我們還是很蒙恩的：另一個宣教士家庭，鄂旭一家人，剛好這陣子到安布恩提，他們派他們家的傭人來幫我們清理這團亂象。
The house we are staying was built in 1968. And the earthquake made one of the walls of our house 2 centimeters apart from the ground floor. As, in the wall, there is a pillar supporting the ceilings, Douglas would have to make the enforcement by setting in another pillar that would be buried into a cement base made by chiseling a square off the original cement base. Or the house can be tilting after the next strong earthquake. This work can be easily done in Taiwan since everything is available and easily reached. But it would be a totally different matter here as the town where we can possibly purchase the materials takes a 2 hours boat ride and 6 hours truck journey to reach.
我們住的房子建於1968年。這次地震使我們房子的一面牆與一樓地板之間產生兩釐米的間隙。由於在牆上有一根支撐天花板的柱子，道格拉斯必須通過設置另一根柱子來進行補強，這得將原始的水泥底座鑿出一個方體，將新柱子埋入方體灌漿的新水泥底座上。否則房子可能在下一次強震時發生傾斜。這項工作在台灣可以輕易完成，因為什麼東西都可以容易買得到。但在這裡完全不是這麼回事，可能購買材料的城鎮，距離我們有兩個小時船程加上六個小時車程之遠。
Seven houses in Ambunti collapsed during the 7.3 earthquake. No death was reported. And a lot more injuries were caused by running out of the houses than by the collapsing houses. There are still quite significent aftershocks happening. The ones in the early morning on April, 28th literally wakened me up from my sleep. And I was once thinking if I should get out of the house.
在這次七級強震中，安布恩提有七間房子倒塌，沒有造成死亡。從房子裡逃出來造成的受傷人數比房子倒塌造成的受傷人數多很多。現在仍然有許多次很有感的餘震。四月28日清晨的餘震真的把我從睡夢中震醒了，我腦中也會閃過是否要跑到屋外的想法。
Because of the damages caused by the earthquake, there are several friends needing consulting about their houses’ structures. Douglas and I have been visiting them. Some of their houses take boat rides to reach, some long walks on steep paths. What we can do for some of them is very limited as well as some problems can be solved by doing it right. A big cement-based house on the top of the hill was built by John who retired from PIM’s sawmill. He could have had the job done properly at the first point as he had the most available resource comparing with most of other people. But sadly, he was not concerned about the quality of the cement foundation. And now he is suffering from the consequence. The base had collapsed even before the strong earthquake. And, after the earthquake, he has to sleep in the kitchen. There are many “earthquakes” in our life. And how important is it to be concerned about our foundation of life instead of how it looks outwards!!
由於地震造成的損害，有幾個朋友需要諮詢他們房子結構的問題，道格拉斯最近就抽空拜訪他們。有些人的家需要搭船才到得了，有些要在陡峭的地勢上走一段很長的路。有一些問題可以透過正確的方式解決，有一些實在愛莫能助。山頂上有一棟頗大的水泥基底的房子，是由從PIM鋸木廠事工退休的約翰建造的。他原本可以在第一時間好好地把這件事情做對，因為比起其他人來說，他當時擁有最多的資源。但遺憾的是，他當初沒有注意水泥基底的問題，現在看到後果了。基底早在地震前就有些崩解，地震之後他就只能睡在廚房。我們的生命中會有許多「地震」，與其注重生活的外貌，注意生命的基地是多麼重要的事呀！
It is very nice to be able to have fellowship with the Urschitz family. PIM’s long-term mission partner, Friedemann Urschitz, was brought up in PNG. His parents were German missionaries that served in Ambunti. He was 13 years old when Douglas first came to PNG in 1978. After getting married to his Austrian wife, Friedemann’s family started staying with and working with PIM. All his 3 children were brought up in PNG. Now 2 of them are married and he is a grandfather to 3 grandchildren now. This time they decided to have their family reunion in PNG. Last Thursday afternoon, we all took a very long walk in the villages. It was amusing to see Friedema’n's sons introducing their wives and sons to the villagers who had known them since they were born. And to PIM, it is such a precious mission partnership over decades.
這次很高興可以與鄂旭一家人相聚。PIM的長期宣教夥伴弗里德曼．鄂旭從小在新幾內亞長大。他的父母是在安布恩提服事的宣教士。道格拉斯1978年第一次到新幾內亞時，弗里德曼才13歲。他與奧地利籍的妻子結婚之後就住在PIM的房舍並與PIM合作，他的三個小孩也都在新幾內亞長大。現在其中兩個小孩已經結婚，弗里德曼當祖父了，有三個孫子。上星期四下午，我們大家一起在村子裡散步很久，看到他的兩個兒子對從他們出生就認識他們的村民介紹自己的妻子和小孩，真是很有意思。對PIM來說，這是數十年來相當珍貴的宣教夥伴關係。
Please remember us in your prayers.
敬請繼續在禱告中記念我們：
1. PNG is facing severe fuel crisis that leads to power blackout, many flight cancelations, and other social issues. May God’s mercy dwell in PNG.
新幾內亞正面臨嚴重的燃料危機，這導致電力危機、大規模航班取消和許多其他社會問題。願上帝的憐憫臨到新幾內亞。
2. Recently, the bank used by PIM updated their security system, and there were many problems in the process that could not be solved, some people had less money in their accounts, some people had a lot more money than they should have had in their accounts, and we could not check the balance and transaction details online. PIM have to make fund transaction from the US to PNG several times a month. May God bless the fund wiring process.
最近PIM使用的銀行更新他們的安全系統，過程發生很多問題尚未能解決，有些人帳戶裡的錢少了，有些人帳戶裡多出很多錢，我們也無法上網查詢餘額及交易明細。PIM每個月要從美國將數筆資金匯入新幾內亞，求神保守資金電匯的流程。
3. The parts Douglas has ordered for the generators of PIM have arrived in Wewak. May God have his mercy on the maintenance of the power supply system in the headquarter of PIM in Ambunti, and give Douglas the wisdom to test them when they arrive in Ambunti.
道格拉斯為PIM的發電機所訂的零件聽說已經抵達威瓦克。願上帝施憐憫PIM在安布恩提總部的供電系統維護，並賞賜道格拉斯智慧在收到零件時進行測試。
4. May God bless Douglas’ work in ordering the needed materials and conducting the reinforcement construction of our house in Amunti.
願上帝保守道格拉斯順利採購所需材料並進行我們在安布恩提住處的補強工程。
5. I am going to run 2 two-week-long Level One sewing training courses, starting on May, 8th. And they are aimed for training church women to be able to conduct Dorcas Fellowship in their own churches. This is also the first time to accept students from far-away villages. During the 2 weeks of class, they (and perhaps their children) will be staying in Ambunti. And I will have to buy food for them. May God bless us in preparation and communication, and the safe boat journey for them to come to Ambunti.
Sandy將於五月8日開始開設兩個第一級縫紉培訓課程，每個課程為期兩周。主要是為了培訓教會婦女得以在她們自己的教會進行多加團契。這也是我的一次招收遠道部落的婦女來安布恩提學習，她們上課的兩個星期裡要住在安布恩提，我必須負責她們的伙食支出。願上帝保守我們的預備及溝通，並保守遠道婦女搭船來安布恩提的旅途安全。
6. May God heal Douglas’ swollen ankle.
願上帝治癒道格拉斯腫脹的腳踝。
7. The 3 PIM staff who are to attend the national medical conference in POM, the capital of PNG, are supposed to be there until May, 6th. May God protect and bless them.
三名在首都莫斯比參加全國醫療研討會的PIM工作人員，要到五月6日才會回來，求上帝保守他們。
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
Line ID : sandytw2014
IG: chao.sandy.png
20230502
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