2. Manna issue 65 - Overseas Missionary Trip Journal—Myanmar Philippines 國外宣教之旅日誌 緬甸 菲律賓
Overseas Missionary Trip Journal—Myanmar (2010) and Philippines (2011)
國外宣教之旅日誌 緬甸(2010) 菲律賓(2011)
Derence Voo—Singapore 新加坡 Derence Voo
By God’s grace, brother Derence Voo
had the opportunity to participate in various overseas missionary trips in the past two years.
Since 2010, he has been regularly teaching Religious Education (RE) classes at Batam, Indonesia.
End of 2010, he visited Myanmar (formerly Burma) together with six choir members from Singapore,
riding on a missionary trip of the Myanmar Mission Committee (MMC).
Mid 2011, he had the opportunity to join the Voluntary Missionary Team (VMT)
from Sabah to serve in Manila, Philippines.
Following are some of his reflections on these trips for mutual encouragement.
靠著神的恩典，Derence Voo 弟兄，
過去兩年，有機會參與各種海外宣教的活動。
自 2010 年開始，他常常去印尼巴淡島，定期去教授宗教教育 (RE) 課程。
到了2010 年底，他與六名詩班成員，從新加坡出發，一起去訪問緬甸（舊稱 Burma），
參加了緬甸事工委員會（MMC）的宣教之旅。
2011 年中，他有機會加入志工宣教團（VMT），
從沙巴去菲律賓馬尼拉事奉。
以下是他對這些旅行的一些感想，以期相互勉勵。
MYANMAR 緬甸
In August 2010, Preacher Timothy from Myanmar visited Singapore
and invited local church members to visit the churches in Myanmar.
Seven choir members, including myself, took up his invitation
and decided to visit two places in Myanmar in December 2010.
2010年八月，緬甸提摩太傳道訪問新加坡，
並邀請當地教會信徒參訪緬甸的教會。
包括我在內，有七名詩班成員接受了他的邀請，
並決定於2010年12月訪問緬甸的兩個地方。
Before the trip, we spent two months preparing ourselves;
we learned the phonetics of the native language Mizo and some basic phrases
so we could carry out basic conversations with our brethren there.
More importantly, we wanted to be able to sing simple hymns in this language.
Hence, we practiced almost every evening until late into the night.
Yet nobody was murmuring, which was heart-warming to see.
I was particularly touched by two new choir members
who were also willing to strive, learn and grow together with us.
行程出發前，我們花兩個月的時間準備自己；
我們學習當地母語 Mizo 語的音標，以一些基本詞語
這樣我們就可以與那裡的弟兄姐妹，進行基本的對話。
更重要的是，我們希望能用這種語言，唱一些簡單的讚美詩。
因此幾乎每天晚上，我們都練習直到深夜。
然而沒有人會抱怨，這種情況令人暖心。
兩位新的詩班成員，讓我特別感動，
他們也願意與我們一起努力、學習和成長。
December 2010 finally came, and we embarked on our missionary trip.
In total, we spent ten days in Myanmar.
During our trip, we visited churches at two locations
and learned many precious lessons.
2010年12月終於到了，我們踏上了宣教之旅。
我們總共在緬甸花了十天。
在我們的旅行中，參觀了兩個地方的教會
並學到了許多寶貴的教訓。
Yangon 仰光
In Yangon, one of the largest cities in the South of Myanmar,
we saw many brethren who love the Lord, despite their difficult lives.
Among them was an elderly brother in his seventies.
One of his sons contracted Polio and his daughter-in-law’s leg was amputated due to a misdiagnosis.
His whole family of ten depends totally on this elderly brother’s income.
Every day he cycles two to three kilometers to his students’ houses to tutor English.
Although his life is difficult,
he told me,
“There isn’t much furniture in my house;
it’s just a simple house,
but as long as I have Jesus Christ, that’s enough for me.”
緬甸南部最大的城市之一就是仰光，
我們看到許多弟兄姐妹，儘管生活很艱難，但仍然很愛主。
其中有一位七十多歲的年長弟兄。
他有一個兒子得了小兒麻痺，而且媳婦的腿也因為誤診而被截肢。
全家十口人，全都依靠這位年長弟兄的收入。
他每天騎車兩三公里到學生家去家教英語。
雖然他的生活很艱難，
他告訴我，
“我的家具不多；
只有一個簡單的房子，
但只要我有耶穌基督，對我來說那就足夠了。”
I had heard many similar testimonies before
but when I saw these believers with my own eyes, I was really touched.
In spite of their tough life, they preserve their faith.
This has encouraged me to be contented and to draw near to God,
even when my work gets very busy.
我以前聽過很多類似的見證，
但是，當親眼看到這些信徒的時候，我真的很感動。
儘管他們的生活很艱困，但他們仍然保守自己的信仰。
這鼓勵我要能知足，並且要親近神，
即使我的工作很忙。
Kalay 卡萊
Besides Yangon, we also visited Kalay in the northern part of Myanmar.
The infrastructure of this town is even less developed compared to Yangon,
although the people are generally richer.
除了仰光之外，我們還參觀了緬甸北部的卡萊 Kalay。
與仰光相比，這個小鎮的基礎建設更不發達，
雖然當地人民普遍比較富有。
During a spiritual convocation that
we attended at Sanmyo church in Kalay,
I saw how believers offered vegetables, cows and pigs for consumption.
Brethren who came from other rural churches brought their own mattresses and stayed overnight at church.
Their spirit in attending the spiritual convocation really amazed me.
在一次靈恩會期間，
我們去卡萊 Kalay 三苗 Sanmyo 教會參加，
我看到信徒怎麼奉獻蔬菜、牛和豬供大家食用。
有來自其他鄉村教會的弟兄姐妹，自已攜帶床墊，在教會過夜。
他們參加靈恩會的精神，真讓我很驚奇。
Apart from attending the spiritual convocation,
we also visited some local church members’ houses.
During one of these visits,
I met an elderly sister who left a deep impression on me.
In a time of crisis,
when many members in Sanmyo joined other denominations,
she had encouraged the brethren with the following words:
“If the bottle does not contain wine,
it doesn’t matter whether or not the word “wine” was written on the bottle,
because it’s still an empty bottle.
Likewise, if the church has lost the truth, then that church is not a church.”
除了參加靈恩會，
我們還訪問一些當地教會信徒的家。
其中一次訪問期間，
我遇到一位年長姐妹，她給我留下深刻的印象。
危機的時刻，
當時許多 三苗 Sanmyo 的信徒加入其他教派的時候，
她用以下的話鼓勵弟兄姐妹：
“如果瓶子裡沒有酒，
不管瓶子上有沒有寫著“酒”這個字，都不重要，
因為它只是一個空瓶子。
同樣地，如果教會失去了真理，那教會就不是教會。”
Back then, only five families remained faithful.
Undeterred by such setback,
these faithful brethren congregated at a member’s house for family services.
Thank God, they have kept their faith until today;
now the MMC has given them another piece of land
to build a new place of worship.
From their testimony, we can see God’s care for His church,
despite internal conflicts and other difficulties.
那時，只有五個家庭仍然忠心。
沒有因為這樣的挫折嚇倒，
這些忠心的弟兄姐妹，聚集在一個信徒的家裡，進行家庭聚會。
感謝神，他們一直保守信仰到今日；
現在 MMC 緬甸事工委員會已經給了他們另一塊土地，
可以用來建造一個新的聚會所。
從他們的見證中，我們可以看到神會關心自已教會，
儘管有內部的衝突和其他困難。
Next on our missionary agenda was conducting evangelistic services,
at Pr. Timothy’s hometown church in Natkyikong.
At another village, we even preached at the premises of a Presbyterian church!
We also held an evangelistic service at the house of an observer
from another denomination near Sanmyo.
He invited some of his church council members to attend the service.
After the service, one church council member told us
that the sermon had really touched him;
he could experience that the sermon was filled with hope and life.
接下來我們傳教的議題，就是要進行佈道會，
到提摩太傳道的家鄉 Natkyikong 教會。
在另一個村莊，我們甚至在長老教會的場所佈道！
我們還到一位旁觀者的家中舉行了佈道會，
祂是三苗 Sanmyo 附近的另一個教派。
他邀請他們的一些教會職務會成員，來參加這次聚會。
聚會結束之後，一位教會職務會成員告訴我們，
講道真的感動了他；
他可以體驗到，這次講道充滿盼望和生命。
Thoughts on Myanmar 緬甸回顧
Our churches in Myanmar need workers to help with various types of church work,
such as evangelism, pastoral work, religious education, sacred music etc.
God willing, the choir members will go to Myanmar again to assist in the work.
Through this trip we have grown spiritually,
and have learned to be content with what we have.
More importantly, we realized how many blessings we have received from the Lord,
which has inspired us to serve the Lord more.
我們在緬甸的教會，需要工人來幫助各種類型的教會工作，
如傳福音、牧養信徒的工作、宗教教育、聖樂等等。
若神願意，詩班成員將再次前往緬甸協助工作。
因為這次旅行，我們屬靈上有所成長了，
並且已經學會滿足於自已所擁有的。
更重要的是，我們意識到，自已從主那裡已經得到了多少福氣，
因此感動我們要更多的事奉主。
MANILA, PHILIPPINES 菲律賓，馬尼拉
In the past, I had heard much
about the love of Sabah General Assembly’s VMT for God’s work in the Philippines.
I was told that many working youths take leave every year
to help with the work in the Philippines.
They had also formed a VMT choir to assist hymnal evangelistic services in that area.
For this reason, I was eagerly looking forward to my July 2011 trip to Manila.
過去，我聽過很多
關於沙巴總會 VMT 志工宣教團對神菲律賓聖工的愛心。
聽說每年都有很多工作的青年請假，
來幫助菲律賓的聖工。
他們還成立了一個 VMT 志工宣教團詩班，來協助該地區的詩歌佈道會。
出於這個原因，我熱切期待自已 2011 年 7 月的馬尼拉之行。
However, when I realized that
there were only four workers joining this trip, I was quite disappointed.
I learned that the Manila church had taken over most of the holy work
such as religious education, hymnal evangelistic service etc.
For this reason, the VMT’s focus has shifted
towards training local members in the area of planning and execution.
In other words, Manila church has grown up.
Thank God!
然而，當我意識到，
這次旅行只有四個工人，我其實很失望。
我得知馬尼拉教會，已經接手了大部分的聖工，
例如宗教教育、詩歌佈道會等等。
因為這個原因，VMT志工宣教團的焦點已經轉移了，
變成訓練當地信徒進行計劃和執行的方面。
換句話說，馬尼拉教會已經長大了。
感謝神！
During this missionary trip,
we visited church members, assisted in the Children's and Youths’ Day program
and held a hymnal evangelistic service.
On Children's Day, the kids were very happy.
After hymn singing and prayer,
all fifty to sixty children sat down quietly to listen to Bible stories.
Among them were nursery class students who are too young to understand the stories,
yet all of them sat there quietly and obediently;
listening intently.
No one was running around.
It was such a joy to teach them.
這次宣教之旅期間，
我們訪問教會信徒，協助兒童節和青年節的活動，
並舉辨詩歌佈道會。
兒童節那天，小朋友都玩得很開心。
唱詩和禱告之後，
五十到六十個孩子都安靜的坐下來聽聖經故事。
其中有幼稚園的學生，他們年紀太小，聽不懂故事，
然而他們都安靜而乖巧地坐在那裡；
專心聆聽。
沒有人跑來跑去。
教導他們真的很愉快。
During weekdays we visited members,
among whom there are many faithful families.
I remember a family who lives far away from church.
Every Sabbath, they would take a taxi to church.
The monthly taxi fare would use up almost half of their income yet, by faith,
they are willing to spend this amount of money to keep the Sabbath.
平日的時候，我們會拜訪信徒，
其中有許多有信心的家庭。
我記得有一個家庭，住在離教會很遠的地方。
每個安息日，他們都會搭乘計程車來教會。
每月的計程車費用，會幾乎佔用他們收入的一半，但憑著信心，
他們樂意花這麼多的錢來守安息日。
There is another family, whose members, from old to young, serve the Lord.
The older members are the church ministers
and the younger ones follow the adults to serve in church.
I like this family’s spirit in serving the Lord,
as it is a very good example of a family altar.
還有一個家庭，其家人從老到少都在事奉主。
年長的家人是教會的職務人員，
年輕人則跟隨成年人在教會事奉。
我喜歡這個家庭事奉主的精神，
因為那是家庭祭壇一個很好的例子。
Another member who touches me is an elderly sister
who has been serving the Lord faithfully and fervently ever since she was baptized.
Despite her age, she is still very keen to learn the word of God.
We spent one whole morning with her to clarify her queries on the Bible.
If only more of us shared this thirst for the precious word of God!
另一個感動我的信徒，是一位年長的姐妹，
自從她受洗以來，一直很虔誠熱心的事奉主。
儘管她年紀大了，但仍然非常渴望學習神的話語。
我們花了一整個上午的時間和她一起，闡明她對聖經的疑問。
要是我們有更多的人，同樣具有這種對神寶貴話語的渴望就好了！
During this trip, I also achieved a breakthrough,
which is to interpret sermons from Chinese into English.
Normally, I do not interpret into English but the usual interpreters were not available.
Therefore I had to step in.
In terms of interpreting,
I could be described as the servant who has only received five hundred talents
—not even one thousand talents.
Yet, by God’s grace, I was able to help with this work.
Later on a preacher encouraged me with the following verse,
which indeed rang true for me:
這次旅行，我也取得了突破，
就是能把中文的講道口譯成英文。
通常，我不會翻成英語，但是找不到一般的口譯員。
因此我必須介入。
在口譯方面，
我可能只可被認為，只有領取五百兩的僕人
—甚至不是得到一千兩的人。
然而，靠著神的恩典，我能夠幫助完成這項工作。
後來有一位傳道用以下的經文鼓勵我，
經文對我來說確實都是真的：
“For if there is first a willing mind,
it is accepted according to what one has,
and not according to what he does not have”
(2 Cor 8:12).
12因為人若有願做的心，必蒙悅納，乃是照他所有的，並不是照他所無的。
(林後 8：12)
Thoughts on Manila 馬尼拉回顧
Although Manila church was established more than twenty years ago
and local church members have gradually taken over much of the holy work,
many areas of church work are still in their infancy.
For this reason, we need to pray for them,
and ask that God will raise more local workers to pastor the church.
雖然馬尼拉教會成立了二十多年，
當地教會信徒逐漸接手了大部分的聖工，
許多教會工作的領域仍是處於起步階段。
因此，我們需要為他們禱告，
祈求神會興起更多的本地工人可以牧養教會。
This missionary trip has shown me the beauty of serving God wholeheartedly,
away from the pressures of the secular world,
where work demands have often hindered me from offering the best to my Lord.
I have learned that
we will experience God’s presence and guidance,
when we focus fully in our service to God.
這次宣教之旅讓我看到了，全心全意事奉神的美好，
遠離了世俗的壓力，
而世界的工作常常阻礙我把最好的奉獻給主。
我了解到，
當我們全神貫注事奉神的時候，
將會體驗到神的同在和引導。
SERVICE OF LOVE 愛的服事
Visiting churches abroad, especially in pioneering areas,
is also a great opportunity to hear many precious testimonies from our brethren,
which will encourage us in our faith.
We don’t need to be very gifted in order to serve in the missionary field.
Our overseas brethren may not need tangible assistance;
just a pastoral visit, could already be a form of encouragement to them.
What they need is our love and care.
訪問國外的教會，尤其是開拓地區的教會，
也是聽到許多自已弟兄姐妹寶貴見證的好機會，
這將會鼓勵我們的信心。
我們不需要非常很有恩賜，就可以在宣教的事情上服事。
我們海外的弟兄姐妹，可能不需要實質的幫助；
只要一次牧會訪問，對他們而言，就已經是一種鼓勵了。
他們所需要的，不過是我們的愛心和關懷。
I hope that this sharing will encourage more youths
to serve and to participate willingly in the overseas missionary ministry.
Our busy work schedule often does not allow us to leave work for too long;
therefore, I would encourage working brethren
who would like to participate in missionary trips
to prioritize and to plan their annual leave as early as possible.
May the love of God compel us continually to serve the Lord in this area.
希望這次的分享能鼓勵更多的青少年，
甘心樂意去服事和參與海外宣教事工。
我們忙碌的工作行程，常常不允許自已離開工作太久；
因此，我會鼓勵工作的弟兄姐妹，
他們這些想要參與宣教之旅的人，
可以儘早優先安排和計劃好自已的年假。
願神的愛不斷激勵我們，可以在這方面事奉主。
May all glory, honor and praises be given to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
願一切榮耀、尊貴和讚美都歸予我們主耶穌基督的聖名。
阿們。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
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