9. Manna issue 96 - We Thought We Were Just Passing By 我們認為自已只是過客
Yi Lin Wu—Taichung, Taiwan 台灣台中 吳以琳傳道娘
Editor's note:
On June 30, 2021, a fire broke out in the fifteen-story Chiao Yu Building in Changhua City.
Three floors of the building housed the Passion Fruit Hotel,
which was designated as a quarantine hotel
—part of Taiwan's strategy to control the spread of COVID-19.
Preacher Chien Kuang Chen was one of four people who passed away in the fire.
Here, his widow recounts the terrifying experience,
her last moments with her beloved husband, and how, despite it all,
God has granted her peace, a resolute faith, and a renewed sense of purpose in life.
編輯注釋：
2021 年 6 月 30 日，彰化喬友大樓十五層樓發生火災，
有三層樓進駐為百香果旅館，
該旅館被指定為防疫旅館，
—是台灣防控新冠病毒策略的一部份。
陳建光傳道是四位火場不幸的罹難者之一。
在此，他的遺孀回想起那場恐怖的經歷，
與其愛夫的最後時光，以及儘管經歷了這一切，
神如何賜給她內心的平安，堅定的信心，並重新賦予她生命意義的使命感。
In the face of the calamity that befell Job,
Job's friends could only rationalize it as divine punishment for Job's hidden sins.
However, the Bible reveals
that mistaking this calamity for divine punishment
was not only a misconception, but a sin.
Yet, such thinking is not only characteristic of Job's friends
but something we could be guilty of ourselves.
It is bewildering to think that such violence could befall a just man,
one who was blameless and upright,
who feared God and shunned evil
(Job 1:1).
Similarly, we may expect God to protect His workers today
and make their way as smooth-sailing as possible.
We are surprised when tragedy strikes His faithful servants.
約伯面對降臨身上無法理解的災難時，
約伯的朋友們只能理解為約伯隱藏罪惡的神罰。
然而，聖經透露，錯認這場災難為天罰，
不僅是種誤解，更是一種罪過。
然而，這樣的思維不僅僅是約伯朋友們的特徵，
也可能是我們自己所犯的過錯。
令人困惑的是，如此大禍竟會降臨在一位義人，
是一個無瑕且正直的人，
他敬畏神且遠離惡事
（伯 1：1）。
同樣的，今日我們會期望神來保護祂的工人，
讓他們的道路盡一切能一帆風順。
當不幸臨到祂忠心僕人的身上時，令人感到意外。
HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS 他領我在可安歇的水邊。
The preacher and I were sent to Thailand to support the church and missionary work.
During the years we served in Thailand,
we regularly returned to Taiwan during our vacations.
This time, as we were returning to Taiwan during the ongoing pandemic,
we had to stay at a quarantine hotel for two weeks.
We took an anti-epidemic taxi from Taoyuan Airport directly to the Passion Fruit Hotel,
which was a relatively new hotel in Changhua.
傳道和我被派往泰國去支援教會和宣教工作。
在我們去泰國事奉的那些年中，
在休假期間我們經常返回台灣。
這次，在疫情持續發酵期間我們返台時，
就必須待在防疫旅館隔離兩週。
我們從桃園機場直接搭乘防疫計程車到達彰化的百香果旅館，
這是一間相對較新設的旅館。
As part of the quarantine procedure,
the preacher and I were assigned individual rooms,
even though we were husband and wife,
and we could only leave our rooms to collect our meals.
Hence, we would communicate via Line[1] and plan our meal times
so we could meet each other outside.
We were content just to be able to see each other.
作為隔離程序的一部分，
儘管我們是夫妻，
傳道和我仍被安排在不同的房間，
並且只能離開房間去領取餐點。
因此，我們透過通訊軟體 Line[1] 來進行連絡，並規劃用餐時間，
使我們能在房外見面。
能夠看到彼此，我們就感到滿意了。
On the fourth night, after 7 P.M., a fire broke out in the hotel.
Initially, I noticed a faint smell of smoke in the air but thought it could not be a fire.
Nevertheless, I left my room and knocked on the preacher's door.
As he exited his room, it slipped his mind to keep the door from closing.
The hotel did not provide quarantine guests with keys, so he was now locked out of his room.
在第四個夜晚，晚上七點過後，旅館發生了火災。
一開始，我聞到空氣中有淡淡的煙味，並且以為不可能是火災。
儘管如此，我還是離開房間去敲了傳道的門。
當他出房時，忘了阻止房門關上。
旅館並沒有提供隔離住客房卡，因此他現在無法再進入自己的房間。
We did not think much of it at the time,
and since others were also coming out of their rooms,
we took the opportunity to walk to Preacher Yao's room.
Preacher Yao had arrived at the quarantine hotel four days before us.
While we were chatting with Preacher Yao, the firefighters arrived.
The firefighters instructed us to return to our rooms, following the quarantine procedure.
As the preacher's room was locked, we entered my room.
The smoke followed soon after.
那時我們並沒有想太多，
由於其他人也陸續離開房間，
我們便趁機去姚傳道的房間。
姚傳道比我們早四天就入住了這家防疫旅館。
當我們正與姚傳道聊天時，消防員趕到了。
根據防疫程序的指示，消防員叫我們返回各自的房間。
由於傳道的房間鎖住了，我們就進入了我的房間。
不久之後，濃煙也隨之而來。
YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷
The smoke came thick and fast, and in a matter of minutes,
it filled the room such that we could not even see our own hands.
Breathing was almost impossible,
and I had to stand on a small table to reach the open window.
Out of the window, I could see the thick plumes of smoke and the fire
rising from the lower levels of the building.
短短幾分鐘，煙霧迅速變濃，
充滿了整個房間，
以致於我們甚至就看不到自己的手。
呼吸幾乎變得不太可能，
我必須站在一張小桌子，以靠近打開的窗戶。
從窗戶望出去，我可以看到厚厚的濃煙和火焰，
從大樓的下層竄升上來。
Throughout this time,
I frequently called out to the preacher to ask if he was feeling okay,
and he would reply that he was fine.
After about half an hour, I could hear the preacher praying.
My first thought was that the preacher was not feeling well
and he was calling out to God for help.
He prayed for a few minutes before his voice stopped.
在這段時間裡，
我多次呼喚傳道，問他是否還好，
他每次都回答說，他沒事。
大約半小時之後，我可以聽見傳道開始禱告。
我的第一個念頭是，傳道感覺很不舒服，
正在呼求神幫助。
他禱告了幾分鐘後，聲音便停止了。
When he went quiet, I cried out,
"Are you okay? Are you okay?"
But he did not respond.
Fearing that he fainted,
I quickly got off the table and blindly groped around to find him.
Thankfully, the preacher was sitting next to the table where I was standing.
當他安靜下來時，我大叫，
“你還好嗎？你還好嗎？”
但他並沒有回應。
由於擔心他會昏倒，
我立刻從桌子上跳下來，盲目摸索著找他。
幸運的是，傳道就坐在我站立的桌子旁邊。
When I found him, I told him,
"Get up quickly. Don't sleep.
You can't sleep like this."
He looked very calm, almost like he was resting, just breathing normally.
However, the reality was
that he was too weak to get up or even utter a response.
I told him I would help him to the window
where he could breathe better.
當我找到他時，我對他說，
“快點起來。不要睡了。
你不能這樣就睡著了。」
他看起來非常平靜，彷彿在休息，呼吸也很正常。
然而，事實是，
他已經很虛弱無法起身，甚至無法回應。
我告訴他，我會幫他爬到窗邊，
那裡他可以呼吸得更順暢一些。
But I soon realized I did not have the strength to move him,
let alone lift him, and I had no choice
but to lay him on the ground where I thought the air would be better.
I started CPR on him and kept telling him not to sleep,
but I, too, was finding it difficult to breathe and feeling faint.
I had to climb quickly to the window to catch my breath
before returning to the preacher to continue CPR.
This went on for some time until I had no energy left to climb down from the window.
The last thing I recall saying to the preacher was,
"Are you leaving me?"
但我很快意識到，自已沒有力氣來移動他，
更不用說將他抬起來了， 而我沒有選擇，
只能把他平躺放在地上，以為那裡的空氣會好一些。
我開始對他進行心肺復甦術，一邊繼續告訴他不要睡著，
但我自己也發現越來越難以呼吸，且感覺頭暈。
我不得不趕快爬到窗邊喘口氣，
然後再回到牧師身邊繼續做心肺復甦。
這樣來回持續了一段時間，直到我再也沒有力氣從窗邊爬下來。
我最後記得對傳道所說的話是，
“你要離開我了嗎？”
It was at this point when I felt the most helpless
and could only focus on God.
When the fire started, and the smoke filled the room,
I was anxious and full of adrenaline,
going back and forth between the window and the preacher,
until finally, I could not even do that.
I could only call on God, clinging to the window, crying and praying.
I said,
"God, if there was anything that we lacked or failed to do as husband and wife,
please forgive us and have mercy on us.
No matter if we live or die, we will follow Your will.
May the Lord's will be done."
當我感到非常無助時，那時只能專心求神。
當火災發生時，煙霧充滿房間，
我很焦慮且充滿了腎上腺素，
在窗戶和傳道之間來來回回，
直到最後我甚至連這都做不到。
我只能向神呼求，緊緊抓住窗戶，哭泣並祈禱。
我說：
“神啊，如果作為夫妻，我們有任何缺乏或未盡之處，
請原諒我們，憐憫我們。
無論我們是生或死，我們會順從?的旨意。
願主的旨意成全。”
At that time, I felt peace at the thought that we might die.
當時，一想到我們可能會離世，心中竟感到平安。
Suddenly, I heard the firefighters coming into the room.
I quickly flashed my phone's torchlight toward the ground
so they could see the preacher lying there first.
I watched them try to save him,
but they signaled that his heart and lungs had stopped functioning.
Then, the firefighter turned to me and told me to come down.
He escorted me out of the building and into an ambulance
to be sent to Changhua Xiuchuan Hospital.
突然間，我聽到消防員進入了房間。
我趕緊用手機的手電筒照射地面，
所以他們可以先看到傳道躺在那裡的。
我看著他們試圖救他，
但他們示意他的心肺已經停止運作了。
然後，消防員轉向我，告訴我要下來。
他護送我走出大樓，並送上救護車，
把我送往彰化秀傳醫院。
FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME
因為你與我同在；你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我。
I broke down when I arrived at the emergency room at around 1 A.M.,
six hours after the fire had started.
My emotions and thoughts overwhelmed me, and I could not stop crying.
The preacher was still at the hotel,
and I did not know when he would be rescued.
I could only pray to God
that the preacher would be sent to the same hospital emergency room
so we could at least be together.
Should he be sent to another hospital,
I did not know how I would even be able to find him.
大約凌晨1點，我到達急診室時就崩潰了，
也就是火災發生六個小時後。
我的情緒和思緒大爆發，就不停的哭泣。
傳道仍在旅館裡，
我不知道他何時才會被救出來。
我只能向神禱告，
祈求傳道能被送到同一家醫院的急診室，
這樣我們至少可以在一起。
若他被送往另一家醫院，
我甚至不知道該怎麼作才能找到他。
After an hour, I saw the paramedics wheeling another patient
to the bed diagonally across from mine.
I recognized that it was the preacher by his clothes.
As I gathered myself to walk over to him,
the doctor came and told me to prepare myself mentally
as the preacher's condition was not good.
With that, I walked over to see the preacher.
Even though we had just come from the scene of a fire,
from a smoke and soot-filled room,
I saw the preacher's face
as like that of a bride adorned to be taken to meet her groom in her new heavenly home.
The preacher was smiling
and more beautiful than I had ever seen him in our thirty years of marriage.
I was deeply comforted by this vision of the preacher's radiant face.
I thanked God for allowing the preacher to be sent to the same hospital
so I could see him one last time,
and even more so that He showed me the preacher beautifully adorned
and prepared to return to his heavenly home.
一個小時後，我看到急救人員推送另一位病患，
到我斜對面的病床上。
我認出那是傳道，因為他的衣服。
我打起精神準備走向他，
這時醫生過來告訴我，請在心理上做好準備，
因為傳道的狀況不太好。
聽到之後，我走過去察看傳道。
即使我們才剛從火災現場，
充滿煙霧和黑灰的房間裡出來，
但我看到傳道的臉，
就像一位新娘的面容，打扮好要被接去，去迎見她的新郎，前往她天上的新家。
傳道的笑容，
比在我們三十年的婚姻中，我所見過的任何時候都更加美麗。
我被傳道這張光彩的面容深深安慰。
我感謝神，讓傳道可以被送到同一家醫院，
讓我能夠最後一次見到他，
更感謝神的是，讓我看到傳道美麗裝扮，
準備好回到他的天家。
I was kept in the ward for further treatment,
and although brothers and sisters were not allowed to visit me,
many of them sent words of comfort and encouragement.
In one of the messages I received,
a preacher reminded me that when we encounter disasters,
we should quieten our thoughts and trust in God.
Only with a quiet heart can we reflect on our circumstances.
The preacher's words resonated with me
as I was mostly left alone with my thoughts during my time in the hospital.
I was able to reflect on why God let this happen to my family
and what His will was in all of this.
And despite all that happened, even though my husband was taken away from me,
even though I went through great tribulation and faced the fragility of life, I survived.
I still endured great discomfort as I recovered,
but I felt the peace and comfort of God,
as He was personally with me each step of the way.
我被留在病房要進一步治療，
儘管弟兄姊妹不許探望我，
他們許多人還是傳訊息來安慰和鼓勵。
我收到的一則訊息中，
一位傳道提醒我，當我們遇到災難時，
應該安靜自己的心思意念，信靠神。
唯有安靜的心，我們才能反察自己的處境。
傳道的話語引起了我的共鳴，
在醫院的這段時間，大部分時間我都是孤獨一人靜靜思考。
我得以反省為什麼神讓這些事情發生在我家，
在這一切事上她的旨意是什麼。
儘管經歷了這一切，儘管我的丈夫被帶走了，
儘管我經歷了巨大的患難，要面對了生命的脆弱，但我活了下來。
在康復的過程中，我仍然承受著極大的不適，
但我感受到神的平安和撫慰，
因為每一步祂都親自與我同在。
YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP RUNS OVER
你用油膏了我的頭，使我的福杯滿溢。
I believe that, in the midst of adversity,
God personally comforted me.
Reflecting on all that happened on our return to Taiwan:
first, God had given the preacher and me the wonderful opportunity
to work together as husband and wife in Thailand,
and those years were the best period of my life thus far.
Second, just before the fire spread,
the preacher was locked out of his room,
which meant that we could face death together.
Third, the preacher was praying even as his life was ending,
and it greatly comforted me to know that he was entering paradise in communion with God in prayer.
Fourth, we were able to meet again in the emergency room of the hospital,
and God showed me that the preacher was radiantly prepared to be received into His paradise.
Finally, my fellow brothers and sisters continued to provide me with care and comfort
after the preacher's passing.
May the Lord remember their love and prayers!
在逆境中，我深信,
是神親自安慰我。
回想起我們返回台灣發生的整個過程：
首先，神給我和傳道一個極美好的機會，
讓我們以夫妻在泰國一起事奉，
那段歲月是我人生至今最美好的時光。
其次，就在火災蔓延之前，
傳道被鎖在房間外，
這代表我們可以一同面對死亡。
再來，即使在生命的最後時刻傳道仍在禱告，
這讓我深受安慰，因為知道他是在禱告中，進入天堂與神親密聯合。
第四，我們可以在醫院的急診室再次相遇，
神讓我看到傳道紅光滿面，準備好被接入神的天國。
最後，我親愛的弟兄姊妹一直給予我關愛與安慰，
在牧師離世後。
願主記念他們的愛心與禱告！
After all this, I feel as though I have already died and God has redeemed my life again.
This redemption strongly compels me to share about the grace of God.
I have been keenly reminded that
everything we hold dear in this world will one day pass away,
so there is no value in comparing ourselves with others and what they may have.
There is only one thing of value that we have to do with our time on earth:
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
(Mt 6:33–34).
Hence, we ought to persevere in our faith and love for God,
and whether it is doing his work or attending services to worship Him,
we ought to do more and love Him more.
經歷了這一切後，我感覺自己彷彿已經死過一回，而神再次救了我的生命。
這樣的救贖強烈的驅使我去分享神的恩典。
我深刻的意識到，
自已世上所珍愛的一切有一天都會逝去，
因此與別人和他們所擁有的一切來比較毫無意義。
在世上我們的時光只有一件有價值的事：
就是先求上神國和神義
（太 6：33-34）。
因此，我們應當在信仰上與神的愛中堅持不懈，
無論是在做祂的聖工或是參加聚會敬拜祂，
都應該更加努力作工，並且更用心愛祂。
We never know when we will be taken away
or if we will have a "next time" to attend service or serve God.
There is no better occasion to do what we need to do.
Seize the opportunity and accept the holy work we have been asked to do.
Simply thank God and say, "I will do my best."
If we are given the most delicious food or most beautiful clothes,
we would not wait till we are old, weary, and unable to enjoy them;
we would take the opportunity to eat or wear them immediately.
It ought to be the same with our faith.
我們永遠不知道何時會被帶走，
也不知道是否還有“下一次機會”可以參加聚會或服事神。
沒有比現在更好的時機來做我們該做的事。
把握機會，接受自已得到託負的聖工，
簡單的感謝神，並說：“我會盡力而為。”
如果我們得到賞賜最美味的食物，或是最漂亮的衣服，
我們不會等到自已年老，衰弱，無法享受的時候才享用；
我們會立即把握機會去品嚐穿戴。
同樣地的，我們的信仰也應該如此。
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER
我且要住在耶和華的殿中，直到永遠。
In my journey of faith,
I am truly grateful that God gave me a husband
who doted on me throughout our thirty-five years of marriage.
While it is commonly said that absence makes the heart grow fonder,
I sincerely hope that those blessed with a spouse
do not wait till death has separated them
before they begin to cherish and grow in their love for the other.
在我的信仰旅程中，
我真心感謝神賜給我一位丈夫，
他非常溺愛我，度過我們三十五年的婚姻。
雖然人們常說，小別勝新婚，
但我真的希望那些蒙福有配偶的人，
不要等到死別後，
才開始珍惜對方，不斷增長愛上對方。
Too often, we hear of spouses bickering and calling each other the most unpleasant names
—things we would not even say to strangers or acquaintances.
Perhaps some things irk us about our spouses, or worse still,
others are influencing us to believe our spouses have certain shortcomings.
But we have all taken our vows to walk this path together with them till death do us part.
Do not wait till you have lost your partner like I have before you realize what you have lost.
我們常常聽到夫妻爭吵，甚至稱呼對方為最難聽的名字
—是一些我們甚至不會對陌生人或熟人說的話語。
也許我們對配偶有些不滿之處，更糟的是，
別人影響我們，去相信自已的配偶有某些缺點。
但是，我們都曾立誓要與對方攜手走這條路，直到死亡將我們分開。
不要等到失去你的伴侶像我一樣，才意識到自已失去了什麼。
Finally, despite everything we may go through in life,
we have already been given the greatest treasure
—we have been baptized into the only church that is saved, the True Jesus Church.
We have been baptized with water and Spirit
and have received the certain promise of eternal life with our heavenly Father.
Having faced death, standing helpless before God,
I am now more confident than ever that our faith is the only thing that matters in this world.
I am sure that this path leads towards my heavenly home,
where I will meet our heavenly Father and my husband once again.
The Lord is coming soon, and dearest brothers and sisters,
when He comes, I sincerely hope we have all remained on the right path.
最後，儘管我們生命中可能經歷很多事，
我們已經得到了最大的寶藏
—我們已經受洗進入唯一得救的教會，真耶穌教會。
我們已經用水和聖靈洗禮，
並且得到與天父在一起確實的應許。
曾經面對死亡，且無助的站在神面前，
如今比以往更加有信心，自已的信仰是世上唯一重要的事。
我很確信，這條道路會通往我天上的家鄉，
在那裡，我將可以再次見到我們的天父和自已的丈夫。
主很快就會來到了，親愛的弟兄姐妹，
當祂來的時候，我真的希望大家都能留在正確的道路上。
Man is nothing; we only have strength through God's help.
As vessels of God, we are to carry out His will to manifest His glory,
and rely on His guidance to show us what we should do.
May all glory and praise be unto God of heaven.
Amen!
人算不得什麼；我們唯有靠著神的幫助才有力量。
作為神的器皿，我們要履行祂的旨意，以彰顯祂的榮耀，
並依靠祂的引導來指示我們應該做什麼事。
願一切榮耀和稱頌歸於天上的神。
阿們！
[1] An instant communications and social networking service app.
[1] 一款即時通訊和社交網路服務應用程式。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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