20240327

Shalom, dear all!
Thank you for faithfully praying for us. We safely came back to Amunti last Saturday though news of robberies on the highway had been being heard before we made the trip.
代禱勇士們，收信平安：
感謝您忠心為我們禱告。雖然在我們上星期六回安布恩提之前，不斷有路上的搶案消息傳出，我們還是安全回來了。

Being worried that the rough journey on the road would cause blood clots in my eyes again, this time, Douglas drove the van of PIM instead of hiring a Landcruiser. It happened that some other PIM staff would like to come back to Ambunti, too. So, we had company on the road. And Ruben, a PIM manager, drove the van back to Wewak for his business trip. We were blessed that it worked out for all off us. And I did not get sick from the rough journey since Douglas would slow down when there were holes on the road.

由於擔心路程的顛簸再次讓我的眼睛出現血塊，這一次我們沒有雇越野車，而是道格拉斯開PIM的麵包車。碰巧其他幾個PIM工作人員也要回安布恩提，可以給我們作伴。然後，PIM的經理要到威瓦克出差，順便把車子開回去。我們很蒙恩，整個安排對大家都有益。而且道格拉斯開車遇到路上有窟窿就放慢速度，這次的旅途比較不辛苦，我就沒生病了。

We were away for three weeks, and came back to a water world. Many houses in our surrounding areas are soaked in the water. And the river behind our house covers the bank and reaches the grass near our gate.

我們離開了三個星期，回來時這裡變成水世界。我們周邊地區的許多房子都泡在水中。我們家後面的河水覆蓋了河岸，水位到達我們柵門旁邊的草地。

About 6:25 on Sunday morning, an earthquake scaled 6.9 shook the kettle of tea Douglas was making off the gas cooker, and I was wakened by the earthquake, screaming in bed. We had some repairable damages like broken water tank, bended doorframes. It was good that Douglas had some rotten pillars replaced last year, or we could have had part of the house collapse this time. The center of the quake was 32km away from Ambunti. It has cause about a thousand houses collapse. And there have been aftershocks nearly every hour that are still frightening. Villagers would rather sleep underneath the houses and get easier access to flee out than sleeping inside the houses that are high above the ground. But those who live in the flooded area have no safer way. Literally, some family have to row a canoe from the house they sleep in to the house they use as a kitchen.

星期天早上六點25分左右，一場6.9級的地震把道格拉斯正在泡茶的水壺從瓦斯爐上面搖了下來，也把正在睡得我震醒了，我在床上尖叫。我們的房子有一些損壞，但都是可以修復，像是水槽破了、門框歪了。幸好去年道格拉斯帶著工班把幾個爛掉的柱子換掉了，否則這次我們房子可要歪一邊去。這次地震造成約一千個房子倒塌，震央距離安布恩提僅32公里，幾乎每個小時都有非常有感的餘震。許多村民們不敢睡在高腳屋裡面，選擇睡在房子底下，方便逃出去。然而，住在淹水地區的人，就沒有所謂比較安全的選擇了。有些家庭從他們睡覺用的屋子到用作廚房的屋子，真的得划獨木舟過去。

Besides usual multi-tasks in the office and in the workshop, Douglas is busy with repairing damages from the earthquake and preparing sermons for the 4-day-long Easter convention in the village called Tonganjamb that is 2 hours away up the river from Ambunti. I am between unpacking and repacking, trying to get life back to normal in Ambunti and preparing for the stay in Tonganjamb at the same time.
除了往常在辦公室和機房的繁雜工作，道格拉斯也一邊在處理地震損壞的修繕，一邊準備主理《當格將》為期四天的復活節特會的講章。當格將是距離安布恩提兩個小時船程的上游部落。我則介於拆包與打包之間，一邊努力讓我們在安布恩提的生活恢復正常，一邊準備在當格將食宿的需用。

The sewing ministries in the churches in Ambunti are at the bottle neck of upgrading. Leaders like Mrs Carson can see the necessity of upgrading, but people are used to lousy works and can get mad when being asked to redo the work. They tend not to follow instructions but do the work in the ways they suppose to be short cuts. And they convince them that this is way of PNG. Looking at the pictures sent to me, I was not happy about their work done when I was away and asked Beverlyn and Mrs Carson to have the ladies tear the biases and redo them. As what I had expected, the ladies felt frustrated and wanted to get away with it. But they eventually submitted to their teachers and agreed to redo the work. This is unusual. Please keep praying for them that they finally appreciate good products after doing the work according to instructions.
安布恩提教會裡的縫紉事工正走在升級的瓶頸。雖然像卡森太太的領袖們看到升級的需要，但是大家習慣隨便亂做。當學員被要求重做的時候，他們會發脾氣。你教他們正確的工法，他們偏偏不從，自己想出一些捷徑亂做，然後騙自己說新幾內亞就是這樣。我不在的這段時間，她們把一些縫紉事工的相片寄給我，我對她們的作品不滿意，要求貝芙琳及卡森太太讓婦女們把包邊拆掉重做。如我所料，婦女們覺得很煩，想要這樣就算了。但是她們後來還是順從老師們，同意重做。這真是不尋常。請繼續為她們禱告，願她們按照正確的工法重做之後會漸漸看重良品。

There was something amusing that I heard from Mrs Carson: While they were sewing together in the church, they talked and made the conclusion that they had used to argue and complain all the time instead of being good help to their husbands. Thank God for inspiring them. These women used to come to me and ask for this and that. When I told them off and said that they had been blessed very much and must become givers as good Christians, they said they were going to report to Douglas of me.
卡森太太告訴我一件很有趣的事：當她們在教會裡一面做縫紉一面聊的時候，大家得出了一個結論：她們過去老是在爭吵與抱怨，沒有真正成為丈夫的幫助。感謝上帝激發她們。真的，過去她們常常來要我給她們這個給她們那個。當我責備她們，說她們已經很蒙福了，應該想想當個基督徒應該如何分享給別人時，她們就說要去找道格拉斯打我小報告。

One of the big issues for missionaries is how available we should be for others. We missionaries can feel guilty when needs of others are not met. As I have said in one of the previous updates that I have been providing the service of buying fabrics from Wewak for the women. Though I have set the day and time for them to come and buy fabrics, they have been coming anytime they want, and I have had to refuse them again and again. On Monday, a pastor’s wife came again and wanted to buy the latest arrived fabrics. I told her I have done my part as I have risked robberies and provided this service. Pointing out of the window to the fence, I said, “We can’t have good neighbors unless we have good fences. Good friends need good boundaries, too. If you don’t comply with the time I have set for buying fabrics, we are not going to treat each other in peace. I am not to please everyone. You should not make your problems into mine. Keeping a good boundary will bring us a good relationship.” Understanding I am talking about good relationship, she finally left with a smile. And Beverlyn, who was in my house at that time, said to me that being direct in love is the best policy in PNG.
對宣教士來說，最大的議題之一就是我們應該鞠躬盡瘁到什麼程度。隨時待命嗎？當別人的需要得不到滿足時，我們宣教士會感到內疚。我在之前的一次代禱通訊中有說，我有在為婦女們從威瓦克代買布料。雖然我定好了她們可以來買布料的日期和時間，但她們常常想來就來，我不得不一次又一次地拒絕她們。這星期一，一位牧師的太太又來了，想買最新到的布料。我告訴她我冒著被搶劫的風險提供了這項服務，已經盡了我自己的一份力量。我指著窗外的籬笆說：「我們要有好的籬笆，才可能有好鄰居。好朋友也需要良好的界限。如果你不遵守我規定的購買布料的時間，我們就不能好好相處。我不是要取悅所有人。你不應該把你的問題變成我的問題。保持良好的界限才能給我們帶來良好的關係。」她能理解我也是為著維持好關係著想，終於帶著笑容離開了。當時也在我家的貝芙琳對我說，在新幾內亞，在愛中直話直說是上策。

Please remember us in your prayers.

敬請繼續在禱告中記念我們：

1. PNG government is short of US Dollars for buying fuel. The chain effects have caused a sharp rise in prices and other social issues. May God help PNG government in sorting out the currency issue and the fuel crisis.
新幾內亞政府缺乏購買燃油的美元。其連鎖效應導致物價大幅上漲及其他社會問題。願上帝幫助新幾內亞政府解決貨幣問題及燃油危機。

2. May God grant His mercy and protect us all from all harms through the aftershocks of the mega earthquake in Ambunti area, and give wisdom to the PNG government in helping the thousand families that lost their houses in the earthquake.
願上帝憐憫我們，在大地震之後頻繁的餘震中保守我們免於災害；並賞賜給新幾內亞政府智慧，得以幫助成千戶在地震中喪失住屋的家庭。

3. Mission Aviation Fellowship is facing severe shortage of manpower, aircrafts and fuel. May God has His mercy on the great aviation needs of missionaries in PNG.
宣教飛行團契正面對人力、飛機及燃油的嚴重短缺，願上帝憐憫在新幾內亞宣教士們的大量飛行需要。

4. PIM has been having a project with The Education Department of PNG, distributing 100,000 copies of religious education textbooks to high schools in all provinces in PNG. May God bless the big job of distribution.
PIM與新幾內亞教育部已經展開合作方案，發送十萬份宗教教育教科書到各省的公立中學。求神保守此龐大的分發工作。

5. May God grand wisdom and patience to the trained women in the sewing training course in developing the sewing ministries of Dorcas Fellowship in South Sea Evangelical Church in Ambnuti and the AOG Church in Ambunti.
求神保守在縫紉訓練課程受訓的學員，讓她們有智慧及耐心在《安布恩提南海福音教會》及《安布恩提神召會》發展多加團契縫紉事工。

6. May God give me wisdom in efficiently helping the ladies here in long term with pricy sewing resource.
求神給Sandy智慧有效且長效地幫助這裡的婦女解決縫紉物資的問題。

7. May God remember Beverlyn’s & Jennifer’s hearts in serving Him in the sewing ministry, and provide their families with their needs.
求神記念貝芙琳和珍妮芙在縫紉事工事奉祂的用心，供應她們家庭的需要。

8. May God bless the work of the Women’s fellowship in South Sea Evangelical Church in Ambunti at raising fund for the generator.
求神記念並賜福安布恩提南海福音教會婦女團契為發電機募款的努力。

9. May God remember Douglas’ hard working and bless him with good health.
願上帝記念道格拉斯的工作辛勞，保守他有健康的身體。

10. May God bless us with a save journey to Tongajam on Thursday and back to Ambunti on Sunday, and grant Douglas strength and wisdom in preaching for the Easter convention.
願上帝保守我們星期四往《當格將》及星期日回安布恩提路途平安；並賞賜力量及智慧給道格拉斯主理整個復活節特會。

11. May God pave our path to renewing my work visa.
求神為Sandy工作簽證的續簽程序開路。

12. May God grant His mercy in my old parents’ financial needs, take care of them, and grant them salvation, health, peace and joy.
願神憐憫Sandy年邁父母的財務需要、看顧他們，賞賜他們救恩、健康、平安及喜樂。

13. May God watch over my brother’s family：remember their hard working and traveling, and bless their work and study.
願神看顧Sandy弟弟的家庭，記念他們的辛勤與奔波，賜福他們的工作與學業。

All for Him

願神得榮耀

主內末肢

In Christ

Sandy

Line ID : sandytw2014

20240327

P. S. Sandy在結婚之後仍然需要兄姐們的支持。若您有感動為Sandy奉獻，敬請與我聯絡。願神賜福給您。