Blossoming Branch--a testimony from Carol Huang

 Carol Huang | English translate: Zizian Zhong

Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.  —Hebrews 12 :6

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. —Hebrews 12 :11 

 

Since I was little, I have been very aggressive. I have always had a strong desire for success. When I was in high school, I joined various musical groups, such as violin club, school choir, and piano club. Meanwhile, I organized several events on campus. I also actively involved in off campus activities. I would do whatever I was interested in; No matter it was dancing, singing, painting or playing piano, I always had a success. Because of all these achievements, I was getting more and more prideful. And then, I was admitted by my dream University. My life at the time made me firmly believing that I could plan my future by relying on my own talents. However, God made me experiencing his profound disciplines. 

When I was a little girl, I have caught chronic?dermatitis. My parents took to see various doctors, but none of them was able to heal me. Some of the doctors comforted us that my illness would get better naturally after I became a teenager. In desperate, my parents and I set our hope on such comfort. 

However, the reality was far apart from my hope. My healthy was getting worse every day. Every time when my skin was itchy again, I used a kind of steroid medicine to make myself feel better. Until about two years ago, this medicine was very effective. However, when I was about studying in my University, my body had managed to ignore the steroid medicine totally. My illness had been out of control. There were countless cuts and breakouts on my face. Some kind of liquid came out of these wounds. Later, the wounds recovered a little bit, and then the scars were broken again. There were lots of wounds on my neck, too. They were so deep that I couldn ’ t turn my neck. There were wounds everywhere, my face, hands, arms and legs. I was so sick that I could no longer live a normal life. I couldn ’ t wash my hair by myself, so my Mum had to wash it for me. For 5 months, I couldn ’ t take a bath because there were too many cuts on my body. Because of all the wounds and scars on my face, I couldn ’ t open my mouth to eat. I had to ask my Mum to feed me bite by bite. I couldn ’ t brush my teeth because I couldn ’ t put a tooth brush into my mouth. I couldn ’ t laugh. Neither could I cry. The most painful moment was when I was sneezing. Whenever that happened, I lost control of the muscles in my face; all my scars were split at once. There was not even one night that I could sleep in peace. I was continuously shaking, and my Mum could do nothing but hold me tight. Sometimes, when my skin problem got worse, I was lying on the ground and shaking. No one else could help me, so I slapped my face. I tried to use pain to take away some itchiness. I knew I was torturing myself. I knew it was not a long term solution, and it would make my illness worse. However, that was the only thing that I could do at the moment. Everything for me was very challenging. I had asked God countless times for explanation. I didn ’ t think I deserved to be treated like that. Why did he allow his beloved children to experience such suffering? It was not until God took away everything that I was proud of, I finally understood that God was disciplined me for my sinful pride. I told God, I would give up everything in order to be healed by him, even if it meant that I had to withdrawal from school. 

In July, I read a Bible verse when I was doing my daily devotional. I felt God was talking to me through a Bible verse, which was Luke 1:24-25: “ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ‘ The Lord has done this for me, ’ she said. ‘ In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people. ’ ” . I told my mum that God would heal me in 5 months. To my surprise, she also had the same idea. During her devotional time, she was reading the book of revelation, which was talking about suffering for 5 months. God is faithful. In September, I recovered so quickly that I was able to go school. From April to August, it was exactly 5 months. Thanks the Lord, he does not lose his track. His timing is always perfect. 

God was continuously healing me, but the whole healing process was not always smooth. Firstly, I changed several doctors. I believed God would completely heal me in his time, but I was also secretly wishing the doctor could help me. Every time when I had such idea, God made me switch to a new doctor. In the end, I was desperate because of the doctors ’ boasting. I had to focus on God and his almighty power for healing. 

Later, my Dad was diagnosed with leukemia. Once my Mum heard this news, she left for Taiwan within 24 hours. When my parents were in town, they drove me to school every day. Before I finished my classes, they were ready to pick me up. Every week, they sent me to see a Chinese doctor near PNE, and they also helped me to prepare Chinese medicine. Whenever I didn ’ t feel well, they gave me massage and helped me to take bath. They were also my tutors for my homework and my close friends; they lifted me up when I was down. However, God took away all of these roles in my life within a day. I had nothing to rely on anymore. And then, I was scheduled for an eye surgery, which made me feeling very empty. I was so insecure, and I couldn ’ t stop crying. A counselor in church comforted me; many brothers and sisters encouraged my siblings and me. However, when I was facing all these caring elders, I couldn ’ t speak out the true concerns in my heart: I was not worrying about my Dad ’ s health — I truly believed God was with him, and he would be fine; I was worry because I was too weak to take care of myself. I was ashamed because I was too childish to take care of myself. 

However, the almighty God did not only care about my body, he also took care of my heart. One day, I was subconsciously walking to school cafeteria. I never liked the cafeteria in school because it was too crowded for me. However, I felt comfortable to sit down in cafeteria on that day. Right after that, I saw a Christian friend of mine was near to me. I finally got courage to open my heart. I told her all my helplessness and struggling. She encouraged me to believe God ’ s sovereignty was over everything in my life. After talking to her, I felt much peaceful in heart. God prepared right person at right timing for me. Thanks the Lord. 

Meanwhile, I had to take bus to my school or to Chinese medicine clinic. It was pretty far for me to go these two places by busing. However, God had a perfect plan ahead of time. The bus that I needed to take had a stop right in front of my home. This particular bus could also reach my school and the clinic. Can you imagine? God of the whole universe and the lord of all, he prepared the location of my home, my school, and the Chinese medicine clinic long time ago. He even planed the particular bus for me, so that I could go school every day and go to the Chinese medicine clinic after school. I could just take the same bus go home after my treatment. All of these made me filled with God ’ s grace and mercy. During that period, I was always staying very late. Sometimes, I couldn ’ t sleep until I heard the singing of morning bird. Every night, I slept about half an hour. I had classes at 8:30am, and I waken up at 7am. I slowly prepared my Chinese medicine, taking the medicine, and got ready to take care of myself when I didn ’ t feel well. However, God helped me every day. When I was lacking of sleep, he made me still go school energetically. When I was studying, God also gave me many blessings. For example, I had a lot of group projects in school. He prepared some very supportive group members for me. One of them was my neighbor; she voluntarily drove me to school everyday. Another of them told me that I didn ’ t need to worry about anything related to cardboard, and none of my group members judged me by their own standards. God was truly in control of everything. He had done so much for me. If I am continuously talking about it, I would never finish talking. 

Later, the condition of my skin was very unstable. One day, it got better; the day after, it got worse. However, I was courting on God. By faith, I believed God would heal me. Because of such faith, there was no fear in my heart. I was no longer struggling. I believed in God ’ s promises and his timing. Because of him, I was getting stronger in front of my weakest issue. Sometimes, I heard my friend asking, “ When God is pruning a branch, and the branch is hurting. Why God doesn’t just make the branch blossom right away? ” In my heart, I knew that the roots of the tree were growing deeper when God was pruning. In this way, the tree would bear sweeter fruits in following years. 

Whenever I am thinking about my spiritual journey during the past 2 years, I am always filled with tears. It was very difficult for me to fight with my illness, and such difficulty made me feeling overwhelmed. However, because of this painful illness, I was also blessed by godly courage. In the two-year period, God took away my pride, and he empowered me a heart with the fear of God. He teaches me with his word: “ I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. ” （ Romans 9:17 ） Because of God ’ s wonderful plans and promises, I no longer take this illness as a painful challenge. Instead, I think it is a blessing for me. May the name of our God be glorified; he is worthy of all praises.

普世歡騰，救主降臨！

Francis Loo | 中文翻譯：小米

歡樂的源頭是什麼？要回答這個問題實在不易。為了能更好地詮釋它的答案，讓我們先看看一個與歡樂隔絕的人生是什麼樣的。這也就要從瓊妮.E.約德的見證說起。
我是在2001年9-11月版的《靈命日糧》裡讀到她的故事的。故事的開頭這樣寫到：
“那時我的生活中滿是憂慮，無論是從身體還是精神上，我的力量都看似無以為繼……”
作者把那種重壓之下的無助形容得何其生動！而身處今世，我們週遭的壓力又何嘗不是那樣無孔不入？文章中所描述的這種感覺，於我們來說，並不陌生。她的話語從某個最根本的層面上，觸動了我心。原因無它，實在是因為多年以前的我自己，也有過類似的經歷。她在文中所流露的那種無助與無力、那種身心俱疲，正是我當時生活的最佳寫照。那時候的我，也曾像她那樣，感覺到了生活的無以為繼。無論我所面對的事情是如何無足輕重，而我原先又對此如何擅長，它們統統變得難如登天，讓我喘不過氣來。而對於這一切的一切，我的心裡不但缺乏自信，還滿有懼怕！我從靈裡面，被一份深深的沉重所壓抑。
因著神的恩典，自從我1993年10月受洗以後，就再也沒有落到過那樣陰鬱的境地。這都是因為我知道了：
“神是我們的避難所，是我們的力量，是我們在患難中隨時的幫助。所以，地雖改變，山雖搖動到海心……我們也不害怕。（詩篇46：1-3）”
現在，我學會了把我的信靠放在耶穌基督身上；學會盡我最大的努力與神建立起一個良好的關係；我學會了忍耐，學會耐心等候神、等候聖靈的引導來幫助我開?人生的下一段旅程。而這一切都多虧了《聖經》告訴我說：
“你當倚靠耶和華而行善，住在地上，以祂的信實為糧；又要以耶和華為樂，祂就將你心裡所求的賜給你。當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠祂，祂就必成全。?（詩篇37：3-5）”
見證裡瓊妮患的是焦慮症，面對著開闊的空間，她的心裡會有一種莫名的恐懼。她把自己關在家裡，因為只有這樣、只有在遠離人群的地方，她才能感覺到那一點點安全。她睡不安穩，進食也不正常，對於週遭的一切，她徹底喪失了信心。
對於人生，瓊妮有很多擔憂，可她又沒有辦法為自己的生活負責。她在無意中養成了一些病態的習慣，而這些習慣又讓她飽嚐苦果。可是，在她自己的眼中，她的所做所為總是正確的。更糟的是，瓊妮覺得她可以靠她自己個人的力量完成任何事，跟耶穌基督給我們的教導相反，瓊妮覺得她完全可以靠自己的力量得勝。後來，她崩潰了。?（摘自約德的見證）
幸好，因著神的恩典，瓊妮最終找到了主。在她後來的見證裡，她這樣寫到，“當神在我的生命裡動工，把我帶領到更為完全的所在，祂用四個方面的操練，使得我的生活有了一個持續不斷的更新變化。而這四方面的操練就是讀經、禱告、信靠以及順服。
讀經——從祂的真理當中得到餵養。
禱告——不僅僅在我自己有限的禱告時間，並且在每天的日常生活當中，在林林總總各種情況底下，跟神都有一個持續的交通。
信靠——在那些我們掌控範圍以外的事情上，堅定不移地信靠神。
順服——做那些我自知是神要我去做的事。?”
事實是，如果我們想要讓我們的生命滿有喜樂，我們必須相信主耶穌所說的，並把祂的教導在生活中行出來，《聖經》上說：
“……你們若順從耶和華，耶和華必與你們同在；你們若尋求祂，就必尋見；你們若離棄祂，祂必離棄你們。（歷代誌下15:2）”
主耶穌又說：
“我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子。常在我裡面的，我也常在他裡面，這人就多結果子；因為離了我，你們就不能做甚麼。人若不常在我裡面，就像枝子丟在外面枯乾，人拾起來，扔在火裡燒了。你們若常在我裡面，我的話也常在你們裡面，凡你們所願意的，祈求，就給你們成就。（約翰福音15?:5-7）”

於是，當歌聲響起的時候，本文起首的那個問題也就得到了解答，“普世歡騰，救主降臨！”

Joy to the world! The Lord is come

Francis Loo

What is the true cause for joy? It is a hard question. In order to answer it, it will be helpful too see how it looks like when someone feels absolutely no joy. Here comes a story about Joanie E. Yoder. I read this story in Our Daily Bread (September - October - November 2001 edition). And she began her story like this: 

My life was filled with anxiety and worry. I didn't seem to have the strength, physically or emotionally, to go on.... 

How vividly she has described the sort of feeling that is not uncommon to many of us in this world of stress-filled life! Virtually, she touched my heart for I was experiencing exactly the same feeling many years ago as I didn't seem to have the strength nor confidence, physically or emotionally, to carry on. No matter how petty a thing and what matters I used to do well would seem too big for me to manage--no confidence but fear! Spiritually down and depressed! 

Since I was baptized in the grace of God in October 1993, I do not seem to have ever experienced that sort of moody situation. This is because “ God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earths give way and the mountain fall into the heart of the sea. (Psalm 46:1, 2).NIV ” . 

Now I've learnt to put my trust in Jesus Christ; I've learnt to do the utmost to try to cultivate a good relationship with Him. I have learnt to be patient, waiting for God (the Holy Spirit) to guide my way. The Bible says: 

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. (Psalm 37: 3 - 5) NIV.

Joanie had become agoraphobic, which is a dread of open space. She kept herself at home where she felt more safe and secure and away from others. She couldn't sleep comfortably; she couldn't eat properly; she had lost confidence in anything. Joanie was generally anxious about life, but she could not handle responsibility. She had developed bitterness habit though she was not aware of it. She felt her behavior was always justified. Worse still, Joanie thought she could manage to do anything in her own strength. Contrary to what Jesus told us, Joanie thought that she was self-sufficient. At last, she crumbled. (Adapted from the testimony of Yoder). 

Fortunately, by the grace of God, Joanie found God. She continued to write: "As God worked in my life and led me toward wholeness, He showed me four disciplines that continue to have a profound effect in my life: reading, praying, trusting, and obeying. 、

Reading the Bible--feasting on His truths. 

Praying--talking with Him not only in my own little time of prayer, but throughout the day and in every situation. 

Trusting--relying on God in the circumstances that are beyond my control.

Obeying--doing what I know God wants me to do.... ” (Yoder.) 

In fact, if we are to live alife filled with godly joy, we must believe and do what Jesus says. The Bible tells us, “ ... The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. (2 Chronicles 15:2) NIV.  

Jesus also tells us:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing. If any one does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (John 15:5 – 7 ) NIV. 

Now, as the song goes, the answer is also here, "Joy to the world! The Lord is come."

飯糰姐姐

Zizian Zhong | 譯者: 小米

“飯糰姐姐”是教會裡的小白羊妹妹給她的昵稱，她本人既不複姓“飯糰”，她的大名也不叫“姐姐”。—編者注

小白羊篇
故事的起頭是這樣的，某一個星期天的早晨，在講道結束以後呢，大家照例去參加中文事工的茶話會。由於已經到了午飯時間，所以在下面聽牧師與同工們講話的小白羊呢就非常的餓。說時遲那時快，牧師已經開始謝飯禱告了，等他為桌上的茶點向神獻上感恩以後，小白羊發現有一個她認識的姐姐沒有跟別人一起去拿茶點。相反地，她在自己的包裡掏呀掏，找出一個白白的飯糰，看著好好吃的樣子。
於是，小白羊跑去問這個姐姐蹭飯糰——沒蹭到——小鬱悶……。
想不到，隔了幾週，又是一個星期天的早晨。在教會聽完講道以後，那個姐姐突然塞給小白羊一隻飯糰。她打開包裝紙一嚐，果然如同想像中的那麼好吃呢！
真是高興！
以後呢，每次看到那個姐姐，小白羊都會問她要飯糰。到最後，連她的名字也省掉了，就直接管她叫“飯糰姐姐”了。

飯糰姐姐篇
故事的起頭是這樣的，某一個星期天的早晨，在講道結束以後呢，大家照例去參加中文事工的茶話會。由於已經到了午飯時間，所以在下面聽牧師與同工們講話的她非常地餓。說時遲那時快，牧師已經開始謝飯禱告了，他正為桌上的茶點向神獻上感恩。桌上的茶點是由教會代為辦理的，每人需要向奉獻箱投幾毛錢。她沒有錢，又不想吃白食。於是，她在自己的包裡掏呀掏，找出一個用剩飯剩菜做成的飯糰。
這時候，教會裡一隻眼尖的小白羊看見了她，跑去問她蹭飯糰—她沒好意思把飯糰給人家—被拒絕以後，小白羊臉上流露出失望的神色……
隔了幾周，等她終於有一點餘力，她準備了一個改良版的飯糰。等星期天聽完講道以後呢，把這改良版的飯糰塞給了小白羊。吃到了飯糰的小白羊讚不絕口。看著小白羊高興的樣子，她的心情非常複雜。一方面是為能夠服侍這隻小白羊而欣喜，一方面又為了自己的生活而擔憂。

又過了幾週，她找到了穩定的工作，生活有了改善，就不用擔心自己的溫飽了。而每次看到她的時候，小白羊也還是一樣都會問她要飯糰。到最後，連她的真實姓名也省掉了，直接管她叫“飯糰姐姐”。

時過境遷，每每想起這段有關“飯糰”的過往，她都不住地為此感謝神。《聖經》裡說:“施比受更為有福”，又說“你們要給人，就必有給你們的，並且用十足的升斗，連搖帶按，上尖下流地倒在你們懷裡……”她覺得，神通過《聖經》給我們的教導不是空話，它是真的，是靠得住的。

Rice Ball

Zizian Zhong

“ Rice Ball ” is her nickname, given by Sister Little Sheep in church. Her first name is not Rice, and none of her family is called Ball.--by author

 

A little white sheep

It was the beginning of this story. It was a Sunday morning. Pastor had already finished his ermon. Everybody got together for the weekly Chinese tea gathering. It was about lunch hour. Everybody got hungry. Among them, there was this little white starving sheep. She was getting hungrier and hungrier while the Pastor was talking. And then, Pastor started to thank God for the food on table.

Finally, the little white starving sheep was able to focus on what Pastor ’ s voice. This was true until she saw a sister she knew from youth group. The sister was sitting close to her. When everybody was heading to the food, the sister was not moving. Instead, she was looking for something in her bag. Finally, she took out a white rice ball. It looked so delicious. 

Our little white starving sheep went to talk to that sister. The little sheep was thinking that she may get to taste the rice ball. She failed. She was sad for about two minutes. 

A few weeks later, it was another Sunday morning. It was also after a sermon. That sister came to the little sheep. Out of sudden, she gave our little sheep a rice ball. The little sheep opened the cover of this rice ball, and it tasted as good as her had always expected. She was so happy.

Later, every time she saw that sister, she would ask her for a rice ball. In the end, the little sheep just skipped the real name and called her “ Sister Rice Ball. ” 

Sister Rice Ball

This was how our story started. It was a Sunday morning in church. After sermon, everybody was in the weekly Chinese tea gathering. It was about lunch hour. 

Everybody was hungry. This was also true in her case. She was waiting for Pastor and some other people finished their talk. And then, she heard Pastor to thank the Lord for giving people all these food. All the tea and desert were prepared by church, and the suggested donation was 50 cents. She did not have money, and she did not want to take them for free. Therefore, she searched her bag and took out a rice ball. The rice ball was made from her leftovers last night. 

At that moment, a little white starving sheep went to her. The little sheep tried to taste the rice ball, but she was too shy to share the rice ball. The little sheep was looking sad. 

A few weeks later, she finally got some extra money. She prepared another rice ball with better fillings. It was also on a Sunday morning. It was also after a sermon. She gave the sheep a rice ball. The little white starving sheep was very happy. However, her own feeling was a bit complicated at the time. On the one hand, she was happy to serve the sheep. On the other hand, she was kind of worrying about her next meal. 

Half a month later, she found a stable job. She no longer worried about her next meal. Meanwhile, whenever they met up, the little sheep was always asking for rice balls. In the end, the little sheep just skipped her real name and called her “ Sister Rice Ball ” instead. 

Nowadays, when she thinks about this story of rice ball, she always thanks God for making everything happen. In the Bible, it is written “ It is more blessed to give than to receive, ” and it is also written “ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. ” What she experienced has demonstrated these verses in her life. The teachings that Jesus gave us through Bible are for real. They are reliable.

厄地馬拉宣教之旅

作者: 丘懿翔 | 譯者: 蕭淩

預備宣教
六年前，當我第一次聽到一位姐妹分享她的宣教旅程時，我就感受到了神要我參與宣教事工的呼召。那時，我心裡剛硬，不願為了宣教而放棄自己的年假。直到經過了為期兩年的，與神的不斷摔跤，我終於願意委身這個事工。可此時，神又向我關閉了通往宣教之旅的大門——父親與我在一年之內先後被診斷出患上癌症。於是對於神的呼召，我產生了懷疑，不僅如此，我更懷疑的是自己以後能否恢復健康。但在神醫治的大能及弟兄姐妹的禱告支持下，我的身體得以康復。並且在此期間，我對於宣教的熱心也從未冷卻。於是，我在禱告中再次尋求神的旨意，祂在夢中向我顯明我將要前往拉丁美洲。通過與多個宣教機構的面談，鷹派事工（ImpactMinistries）深深地觸動了我的心。更巧的是，他們服事的對象正是厄地馬拉的窮人。

屬靈爭戰
啟程前的一星期，正當我整裝待發之時，母親因腦部損傷被送入急診室。這個消息對我來說如同晴天霹靂，並且讓我感到十分困惑。我所不明白的是，既然神激勵我去參與宣教事工，卻又為何讓環境一再阻止我成行。在禱告中，我祈求神向我顯明祂的旨意，祂的回答是：當我委身參與神的事工，我就會進入屬靈爭戰。所以，我猜想我與我的家人正在遭受的是出於惡者的攻擊，唯有通過禱告，通過神的大能，才能戰勝撒旦的陰謀。禱告勇士們與我圍成一圈，為我們一家迫切禱告。在神的恩典與能力下，母親在腦手術後恢復迅速，這時雙親都不約而同地支持我繼續前往參加宣教。

早晨崇拜
每天早晨，宣教團都會與當地的基督教學校一同敬拜神。那是我第一次注意到這些可愛的厄地馬拉學生，他們身著漂亮的校服，眼睛緊閉，高舉雙手，在敬拜中大聲讚美神。然而我卻被當地的宣教士告知，在厄地馬拉，酗酒和家庭暴力現象非常普遍，大部分的婦女和她們的孩子身受折磨。也許在來到教會的前一天晚上，他們剛經歷過一場拳打腳踢。於是隔日早晨的敬拜之於他們，就像是神的避難所，在此他得以在神面前卸下心頭重擔，開始全新的一天。從那時起，每一次參加敬拜，我都淚流不已。他發自內心的誠摯敬拜，深深打動了我的心。

兒童
厄地馬拉的公立學校裡，有許多兒童從未聽到過耶穌基督的名字。我們宣教團的任務之一，便是前往建立一個兒童事工。去到厄地馬拉之前，我曾聽組裡成員聊起有可能會被孩子們的頭蝨和皮疹傳染，到埠後，更從他們身上聞到一股異樣的味道。孩子們渾身上下髒兮兮的，大部分孩童的衣服破爛不堪。因此，初來乍到的我覺得有些害怕。神就在那時提醒我，耶穌——神聖潔的兒子——來到這個充滿罪惡污垢的世界，擁抱接納我們。神的愛再次感動我，張開雙臂擁抱這些孩子。

異夢
宣教團曾有一次機會參觀當地的自由市場，體驗厄地馬拉人的日常生活。我驚奇的發現，一些曾在我以前的夢中出現過的場景，如今正展現在我的眼前！我想起夢中曾見到過這許多婦女兒童在塵土飛揚的街道兩側販賣物品的景象。我這才意識到，神早已在我的夢中讓我見到了這一刻。

洞穴和西希姆
當地傳教士帶我們參觀了幾個瑪雅人的敬拜場所：其中有一個洞穴，據說是冥界神靈的居所；另一個則是按傳統建立的崇拜大教堂。最初，我注意到教堂前面有兩個十字架，但當我走近觀看，發現十字架下面掛著一個朗姆酒瓶，裡面還有一些灰燼。走進教堂裡面，看到一個耶穌被釘十架的雕像，旁邊匾額卻寫?“西希姆之神”(LordofCixim)。傳教士向我們解釋，西希姆是當地粟米之神的名字，瑪雅人曾在此處向他們的神獻燔祭。西班牙佔領期間，羅馬天主教在此處建立了教堂，並豎立耶穌的雕像，將之命名為“西希姆之神”。看到天主教曾為了贏得信徒而將真理扭曲，以迎合當地的偶像崇拜，我感到很痛心。不幸的是，瑪雅人終究也沒能認識真正的耶穌，和差派他的那位真神，直到如今，他們仍然生活在謊言之中。在這兩個地方，我們宣教團圍成一圈向神獻上讚美，祈求祂將真光照進厄地馬拉的黑暗裡。

家庭探訪
家庭探訪是我整個宣教之旅的高潮，也是我印象最深刻的部分。部分團員或在宣教之前，或在宣教過程中，資助這裡的一些兒童。我們走訪每一個家庭，給他們帶去衣服、字典等禮物。通常大部分家庭都非常歡迎我們的到來。但當我們拜訪最後一個家庭時，情況卻大相徑庭。這家人住在山坡頂上，就在我們離他們家還有幾步路時，母親從家裡哭喊?奔跑出來。當我們走進他們家，只見家中每一個人都在哭泣，後來我們才知道，這是因為他們的小嬰兒剛剛夭折。房間裡充滿了悲傷淒涼的氣氛。我們呆若木雞，不知該如何回應。我暗自問神：“為什麼偏在這個時候，你把我們帶來這裡？你的旨意是什麼？”神藉著“除你以外”這首詩歌向我說話：祂才是那位唯一可以擦乾我們眼淚的，我們在這裡，充當祂的使者。我從背囊中拿出紙巾，過去擦乾孩子們的淚水，緊緊地擁抱?他們，並向神祈求祂的愛和安慰能通過我帶給這些孩子們。我甚至走近觀看那個剛剛夭折嬰孩的臉龐。雖然曾有過瀕臨死亡的經驗，再一次，我又直面死亡。我意識到我這一刻能活著，不是因為我比這嬰孩更應得到生命，乃在於神的主權。臨走前，宣教團員們圍在這家人的身邊，為他們禱告。我們告訴他們一個好消息，就是我們將會資助這家的其中一個孩子，讓他有機會接受教育並得到醫保。離開的路上，我們心情沉重，大家都很沉默。但神安慰我，在這家人絕望之時，我們被呼召代表祂給這家人帶來了希望。而祂會親自帶來醫治和生命的更新變化。

結語

通過這次宣教之旅，神拓展了我屬靈的眼光，通過特別的方式，我經歷了神的大能。我學到了，無論在人看來多麼微小的貢獻，只要我們敏銳地察覺到並順服聖靈的帶領，神就會完成祂自己的工作，並允許我們承受他所應許的果實。

My Sharing regarding Mission Trip to Guatemala

Yvonne Yau

 

I first sensed God ’ s calling to get involved with missions when I heard a sister ’ mission sharing about six years ago. At that time, my heart was hardened and I was not willing to give up my annual vacation for mission work. After two years of wrestling with God, I finally surrendered and signed up for a mission trip. However, the door was closed as my dad and I were both diagnosed with cancer within a year. I questioned God ’ s calling and doubted that I would ever regain my physical strength. Through God ’ s healing power and the prayer support from brothers and sisters, I was able to recuperate. Despite the situation, my heart for mission never ceased. Once again I prayed to seek God ’ s plan and He revealed to me in a dream that I will go to Latin America. After interviewing with many representatives from several mission organizations, Impact Ministries touched my heart the most. Coincidently, Impact Ministries serves the impoverished people in Guatemala! 

Spiritual Warfare

Just one week before my departure, as I was preparing for my mission trip, my mom had a brain injury and was admitted to the emergency room. I was devastated and confused. I did not understand why God would keep pounding on my heart to participate in mission work but the circumstances kept preventing me to go. When I asked God for clarity, He answered my prayer by telling me that as soon as I commit myself to do God ’ s work, I will enter into a spiritual warfare. I suspected that my family and I were under spiritual attacks and the only way to overcome Satan ’ s scheme was through accessing God ’ s divine power through prayers. I gathered a circle of prayer warriors and asked them to fiercely pray for my family. By God ’ s grace and power, my mom was able to have a speedy recovery after her brain surgery, then both my parents endorsed me to continue with my mission trip. 

Morning Worships

Every morning the mission team would join the worship at the local Christian schools. My attention was first drawn to the cute Guatemalan children all dressed in nice uniform as they closed their eyes and lifted their hands praising God at the top of their lungs. My perspective changed however when the local missionary explained that as alcoholism and domestic violence are very common in Guatemala, many children or their mothers were probably beaten the night before. The worship serves as their refuge in which God could release their burden and give them a brand new day. Since then my tears never stopped every time I was in the worship. I was so overwhelmed and touched by their sincere, heartfelt worship to the Lord our Saviour. 

The Children

One of our tasks was to deliver a children ’ s program to the public school students who may have never heard of Jesus. On our way there, some of my team members shared stories about getting hair lice and skin rashes from the children. I was a bit intimidated at first and as soon as I arrived, I could detect an unpleasant smell. The children had dirt all over their bodies and most of their clothes were torn. God reminded me of how Jesus, a holy man, came to this sinful world and embraced us. God ’ s love moved me and helped me to embrace the children with open arms. 

Prophetic Dream

Our team had a chance to go to the marketplace to experience the everyday life of the local Guatemalans. To my surprise, some images in the dream, revealed to me earlier, appeared right before my eyes! I recalled from my dream seeing many women and children selling things on both sides of the dusty streets. I realized in that moment that God had revealed to me a prophetic dream. 

Sink Hole & Cixim

The local missionary took us to visit a few worship sites of the Mayan people: One was a cave where it was believed the spirits of the underworld are. Another one was a cathedral church which was built on a traditional worship site. Initially I noticed two crosses in front of the church building but as I looked more closely, I noticed that there was a rum bottle and some ashes under the crosses. When I walked inside the cathedral, there was a statue of Jesus nailed on the cross but the plaque nearby says the “ Lord of Cixim ” . The missionary explained to us that Cixim is the name of the corn god and the Mayan people used to offer burnt sacrifice to their god on this site. During the Spanish Conquest, the Catholic built the church there and named the status of Jesus, the Lord of Cixim. It hurts to see how the Catholic church presented a twisted truth by syncretizing with the local religion in order to win converts. Unfortunately, the Mayan people never got to know the one and the only true God, and they are still living under the lies. In both places, our team stood in circle and praised God to bring light to the darkest place in Guatemala. 

Home Visit

The home visit was the climax and the most memorable part of my mission trip. Some of our team members have sponsored children or just started sponsoring children during the trip. We went to each of their homes and brought them gifts of clothes and stationaries. Usually all the family members would come to greet us with their warmest welcome. However in our visit to the last family, the situation was very different. That family lived on top of a steep hill. Just when we were a few steps away, the mother ran out from the house and burst into tears. When we arrived, every members of the household was crying because a baby boy just died. The entire room was filled with grief and sorrow. We were stunned and did not know how to respond. I asked God: “ Why did you bring us here at this moment? ” and “ What is you purpose in this? ” God spoke to me through a song (named 除 你 以 外 ) that He is the One who wipes our tears away and we are to be His representatives. I took the tissue papers out from my bag and went to wipe the tears of the children. I hugged them tightly while praying that God's love and comfort will flow through me. I also went to take a closer look at the dead baby. Having come close to death, I once again faced death. I was reminded that the reason I am alive today is not because I deserve to live any more than that little boy but because of God ’ s sovereignty. At the end of the visit, all our team members surrounded the family and prayed for them. We brought them the good news that we would sponsor one of her sons and from then on, her son will have access to education and the family to healthcare. When we left, our hearts were heavy and nobody said a word in the van. God had comforted me that all we were called to do is to represent God to bring hope to the family in the midst of their desperation. He himself will bring healing and life transformation. 

Conclusion

Through this mission trip, God has opened my eyes to the spiritual realm and I have experienced His mighty power in a very special way. I ’ ve learned that no matter how insignificant our contribution may seem, as long as we are sensitive and obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, God will complete His work and will allow us to inherit the fruits of His accomplishments.