10. Manna issue 86 - Overcoming Affliction for the Gospel 為福音勝過磨難
FF Chong—London, UK 英國倫敦 FF Chong
On the surface, pioneering work in Africa seems difficult:
one is forced to live without creature comforts,
handle numerous culture shocks,
and live through weeks on just bare essentials.
As a result, repeat visits in the field are rare.
However, serving God in harsh conditions brings many spiritual blessings,
which more than make up for the physical discomfort.
The lessons learned under such circumstances are invaluable.
表面上，非洲開拓工作似乎很困難：
人要被迫在擔憂衣食的情況下生活，
適應各種文化差異的衝擊，
並且在只有基本物質生活條件的情況下，撐過幾週的生活。
結果，要能夠實地常常訪問，就變得很不容易。
但是，在艱困的生活條件下，服事神會帶來許多屬靈的祝福，
這種祝福所帶來的補償，甚至會超過肉體上不適與不方便。
在這種情況下，所習得的教訓，是無價的。
A common problem, when doing pioneering work in Africa,
is coming into contact with illness and disease.
Despite modern medical science, personal health and safety precautions,
there is no such thing as being one hundred percent immune from disease.
Sometimes, despite the worker’s utmost caution, God will use affliction to teach the worker.
This testimony is about one such lesson I received from God during my service in Africa.
在非洲進行開拓工作時，常見的問題是
就是會觸碰到疾病。
儘管有現代的醫療科學，個人會注重健康和安全預防措施，
並不能作到，可以百分百免疫於疾病。
有時候，儘管工人已經非常謹慎，但神還是會用病痛來教導工人。
這一則見證，是我在非洲服事期間，從神那裡得到的一個課程。
ILLNESS BEGINS IN KENYA 肯亞開始生病
In 2002, I was assigned to minister in Kenya.
The work was going smoothly until one afternoon when I was conducting water baptism.
I suddenly noticed swellings on my left thigh, right foot, and other parts of my body;
I also began to pick up a temperature.
Initially, I thought I would sleep it off,
hoping that some rest would ease the swelling.
However, the pain in my thigh became so bad that I could neither walk nor sleep.
2002年，我被派遣到肯亞服事。
工作進展順利，直到有一天下午，我在進行洗禮。
我突然發現，左大腿，右腳和身體其他部位，有腫脹；
我也開始發燒。
一開妤，我以為睡一覺就會好了，
希望休息一下，能緩解腫脹。
但是，大腿的疼痛變得非常嚴重，以至於我無法走路或入睡。
That night was indeed a sleepless one.
I prayed throughout the night, sincerely asking God to have mercy on me.
I was anxious for daybreak so that I could seek medical help.
After consulting a local church worker,
I was persuaded to see a doctor at a private hospital in Kisumu.
When the doctor saw the swellings, he was shocked and asked me what I had done to myself.
I did not know how to respond.
In the end, I was given two antibiotic injections,
and left the hospital feeling quite dejected at the doctor's perplexed reaction.
那天晚上確實是一個不眠之夜。
我整夜祈禱，懇切地祈求神憐憫我。
我很急切想破曉的來到，以便可以尋求醫療幫助。
在諮詢了當地的教會工人之後，
我被說服，到基蘇木的一家私人醫院，看醫生。
當醫生看到腫脹時，他感到震驚，問我對自己做了什麼。
我不知道該如何回答。
最後，他給了我注射兩劑抗生素，
對於醫生困惑的反應，我感到非常沮喪，然後就離開醫院了。
The swellings subsided and the day of my return to the United Kingdom (UK) arrived.
Swellings were still visible on my face, and it took some time for them to completely disappear.
Foolishly, I did not see a doctor when I arrived home.
I thought that the disappearance of the swellings meant I was better and ready to continue God's work.
At that point, I had no idea I had contracted a liver infection.
My ignorance proved costly, and it severely impacted my subsequent trips to Kenya.
腫脹消退，而我要回到英國的日子臨近了。
腫脹情況，仍在我的臉上清晰可見，並且需要一些時間才能完全消失。
愚蠢的是，我到家後，並沒有去看醫生。
我以為，腫脹的消失，代表著我好了，準備繼續神的工作。
在那時，我不知道自己感染了肝炎。
事實證明，我的無知代價高昂，嚴重影響了我之後的肯亞之旅。
ILLNESS WORSENS ON RETURNING TO KENYA 回到肯亞病症加重
The following year when I returned to Kenya,
the infection that caused the swellings relapsed severely.
A number of boils appeared around my waist and grew to the size of dove eggs.
When burst, they seeped pus, and the pain was torturous.
I struggled with basic movements and my sleep was badly affected.
I debated internally whether I should return to the UK early to seek medical help.
However, part of me felt I must rely on God and continue as planned.
I was quite torn in deciding the best course of action:
my body cried out for help, yet my mind was uncertain.
To make matters worse, the next location on our itinerary was Sigulu Island,
located in the middle of Lake Victoria in Ugandan territory, East Africa.
This was a place so remote that basic necessities do not exist:
there were no toilets or washrooms.
Knowing what I would face, my desire to leave only grew stronger.
第二年，我回到了肯亞，
導致腫脹的感染，嚴重複發。
我的腰部出現許多腫泡，長到鴿子蛋般的大小。
當腫泡爆破時，他們滲出膿液，疼痛很痛苦。
我的基本活動感受很大的不便，睡眠亦受到嚴重的影響。
我在內心不斷爭論著，考量是否應該早點返回英國，尋求醫療幫助。
但是，其中一部分想法，覺到我必須依靠神，並按計劃繼續進行。
要決定，那個是最佳行動方案時，我感到非常的痛苦：
我的身體在大聲呼救，但我的心裡卻感覺不很確定。
更糟的是，我們行程的下一個地點，是錫古魯島
位於東非，烏干達境內的維多利亞湖中間。
這個地方太遙遠了，根本沒有生活必需品：
沒有廁所或洗手間。
知道我要面對的情況後，我要離開的想法，就變得越來越強烈。
The night before our departure, I prayed to God to help me make a decision.
To my surprise, prayer empowered my will to continue God's work.
My fears were driven away and I was no longer unsettled:
I was determined to continue as planned.
We remained at Sigulu Island for four days, walking distances of up to five kilometers or more each day.
During this time, God truly demonstrated His mercy and power on me whilst in this impoverished environment.
我們出發前一天晚上，我向神祈禱，以幫助我做出決定。
令我出乎意料的是，禱告加添我力量，得以下決定繼續神的工作。
我的恐懼被驅散了，內心不再不安：
我就決心，繼續按計劃進行。
我們在錫古魯島停留了四天，每天步行距離高達五公里，或走了更遠。
在這段時間裡，在這個貧窮的環境中，神向我真正展現了他的憐憫和力量。
Before this particular trip, my wife had prepared a small first aid kit for me.
To ensure no further infections, I carefully applied what was in the kit to the boils and affected areas.
At the end of each day, I would sterilize some water for my shower, and change the dressings after showering.
Each time I did this, I saw thick pus and blood clots.
However, I noticed the boils reducing in size.
The walking seemed to help.
And by the last day, the boils had virtually disappeared.
I still experienced twinges of pain but,
by the grace of God, I was able to complete the trip without further complications.
We even managed to visit some other places of worship to cater to the spiritual needs of the brethren there.
在這次特殊旅行之前，我妻子為我準備了一個小的急救包。
要確保不會有進一步的感染，我小心將急救包的藥品塗在了腫泡和患處。
每天結束時，我都會消毒要淋浴的水，並在淋浴後更換衣物。
每次這樣做的時候，就會看到膿液和血塊。
但是，我注意到腫泡減小了。
走路的運動似乎能有所幫助。
到最後一天，腫泡幾乎消失了。
我仍會感到刺痛，但是，
靠著神的恩典，我得以順利完成旅程，而沒其他的併發病。
我們甚至設法去拜訪一些其他的祈禱所，以餵養那裡弟兄的屬靈需求。
FINALLY HEALED 最終得醫治
Despite the healing of my skin, the liver infection persisted.
More boils developed over the months after my return to the UK,
but they were smaller than before.
I was referred to the Royal Free Hospital in London for treatment and a liver biopsy was performed.
This left me exhausted and in excruciating pain.
During the course of my treatment, I was diagnosed with a fatty liver, non-alcohol related
—a condition that required constant monitoring and further examination by the consultant.
This involved yearly scans and blood tests to ensure no relapses occurred.
After three years of careful monitoring and diet control,
the doctors were happy with my progress and I was fully discharged.
儘管我的皮膚病好了，但肝臟感染仍然存在。
回到英國後的幾個月裡，出現了更多的腫泡，
但它們比以前要小。
我被送往倫敦皇家免費醫院，接受治療，並進行了肝藏組織切片檢查。
這讓我很疲累，宛如受到酷刑的痛苦。
在我的療程中，我被診斷出患有脂肪肝，雖與與酒精無關
—這種情況，需要主治醫師，來持續觀察，及進一步檢查。
這涉及了，每年一次的掃描和血液檢查，以確保沒有復發。
經過三年的仔細監控，和飲食控制，
醫生們對我的進步感到滿意，我完全康復了。
DO NOT TAKE GOD'S WORK LIGHTLY 不可對於神的工作掉以輕心
This experience left enduring reminders about our appreciation of God’s presence and our attitude to God’s work.
We must not be nonchalant when taking up church assignments.
Although the church may assign you to carry out a task,
it is God who gives the ultimate green light on any project.
I would not have been able to serve the Lord in Africa had He not given me strength, protection
and, most importantly, life.
Through my experiences, I have come to know God's work as living and true,
rather than as just a concept preached from the pulpit.
Furthermore, we must do all our work for God with a heart of thanksgiving and humility.
There are many times when many of us
could easily have perished had it not been for God's direct intervention in times of danger.
這種經歷，會使人不停地想起，我們對於神同在的感謝，及注意對神工作的態度。
從事教會工作時，我們一定不能冷冷淡淡。
儘管教會可能會指派你來執行任務，
神才是對任何專案，給予最終的綠燈執行指示的。
如果神不給我力量，保護我，更重要的是保守我的生命，
我將無法在非洲服事主。
經由這樣的經驗，我才了解，神的工作是活潑而真實的，
而不只是在講台上，講說主題而已。
此外，我們必須懷著感恩和謙卑的心，為神做所有的工作。
很多時候，我們有很多人可能就死去，
如果不是在危急的時刻，有神的直接干預。
AFFLICTION PRODUCES A POSITIVE EFFECT 艱難產生正面的果效
When serving God, not everything will go smoothly and easily;
God allows afflictions to blight us when we work for Him.
His intentions are clear: He makes all things work for the good of His children (Rom 8:28).
With this in mind, affliction can be positive for our spiritual lives.
I learned to trust in God despite my physical pain.
I still remember how I prayed throughout that night of great agony and,
in the process, received a heart of peace in the face of uncertainty.
I managed to find strength only in the Lord.
With this, I could then continue with the work until the very end.
當事奉神的時候，並非一切都會很順利很容易進行。
當我們為祂工作時，神允許我們遇到苦難。
祂的用意很明確：他使萬事可以為神的兒女帶來好處（羅 8:28）。
若能有這種想法在心裡，苦難可以為我們的靈命帶來益處。
儘管我痛苦不堪，但還是學會了依靠神。
我仍然記得，是如何在整個極大痛苦的夜晚，禱告的過程，
在這過程中，當遇見無法決定方向的時候，如何獲得了內心的平靜。
我只能盡力在主裡找到力量。
有了這樣想法，然後我就可以繼續工作下去，直到最後。
Secondly, suffering can put us in the right frame of mind when serving God.
It is not about doing what we want to do for God;
rather, it is about what God wants us to do for Him,
regardless of what state we find ourselves in.
Some may judge my persistence in going to the poverty-stricken island
despite my severe infection as reckless, foolish and unwise.
I did not make that decision in a moment of extreme impulsiveness and madness.
I had gone ahead because, after deep and earnest prayer,
I was filled with a strong conviction to complete God's will.
其次，當事奉神的時候，苦難會使我們保持正確的心態。
並不是我們要為神，做我們想要做的事。
而是，神到底要我們，為祂做什麼事，
無論我們發現，自已是處於什麼狀態。
有人可能會，對於我患了嚴重感染，又堅持去這個貧困島嶼，有所質疑，
認為這是魯莽，愚蠢和不明智的。
我並不是在極端衝動和瘋狂的情況下，做出這個決定。
我是經過深刻而逼切的祈禱之後，
心中懷著堅定的信念，要完成神的旨意，才去進行這件事。
Thirdly, suffering can produce genuine faith.
When we exhibit faith in difficult circumstances,
we see that the power of God manifests itself to achieve His will.
Had I not been given faith in the first place to go to the island,
I would not have been able to evangelize there.
The joy and peace I had within me was boundless
because I knew that God was there to help me face this ordeal.
Furthermore, God gave me strength, endurance and wisdom to preach the gospel;
I really thank God from the bottom of my heart.
第三，苦難可以產生真正的信心。
當我們在困難的情況下，展現出信心時，
我們看到，神的能力自動彰顯出來，進而實現祂的旨意。
如果我起初，沒有得到去那座島的信心，
我將不會到那里傳福音。
我內心的快樂與平安，是廣大無邊的，
因為我知道，神會在那裡，幫助我面對這一磨難。
此外，神賜給我力量，毅力和智慧來傳福音。
我真的衷心感謝神
Fourthly, affliction shapes us for the better.
It makes us think about our relationship with God.
During times of trouble, we reflect and desire to be closer to the Lord.
The sense of uncertainty or loss drives us to make extra efforts to right the wrongs in our relationship with God.
During the two years of my infection, whilst serving in Africa,
I often took time to reflect over my work for God, my life, my inner being, and my faith.
Although I was unwell, I found myself with time, energy and willingness to search deeply into my heart.
It dawned on me that God is truly the sustainer of my servitude.
Without Him, I would be a mere shell without the substance of a soul.
I was only able to survive the trip because He mercifully chose to sustain me—thank God!
I may not have experienced this affliction, and subsequent closeness to God,
had I only served in comfortable environments.
Complacency would have robbed me of the chance to learn these invaluable lessons.
第四，苦難使我們變得更好。
它使我們思考，自已與神的關係。
在遇到困難的時候，我們會反省，並渴望與主更親近。
不確定或失落的感覺，會驅使我們付出更多的努力，來糾正我們與神的關係中的錯誤。
在我感染的兩年中，那時正是非洲工作期間，
我經常花時間反省，自已為神所做的工作，我的生活情況，我的內在生命，以及我的信仰。
儘管我不舒服，但我發現自己會有時間，精力和動力，更深入探索自已的內心。
我突然意識到，神才真是我可以維持服事的動力。
若沒有神，我將成為沒有實質靈魂的空殼。
旅途中，我之所以能倖免於難，是因為神仁慈選擇了支持我-感謝神！
我可能沒有經歷過這種苦難，以及接著而來與神的親密接觸，
因為我只在舒適的環境中服事神。
自滿會使我失去了學習這些寶貴經驗的機會。
Finally, affliction teaches us to be more understanding and empathetic towards others who are suffering.
The perennially healthy can never envision the amount of endurance needed to fight an illness.
Some illnesses are stubborn and recurrent in nature—a torment to the sufferer.
Even though what I went through was not too severe,
it has given me a clearer idea of how distressing and disruptive illness can be in a person's life.
For those who suffer, assistance, comfort and encouragement from brothers and sisters are essential
in uplifting the spiritual wellbeing of the sufferer.
As such, the church must always be ready and willing to provide this support in times of need.
最後，苦難教會我們，對受苦的他人，要有更多的了解和同情。
常年保持健康的人，永遠無法想像，那些與疾病奮戰的人，所需的耐力有多大。
有些疾病很頑固，且會反復發作，對患者而言，是持續的折磨。
即使我經歷的病症，不是那麼嚴重，
它使我對人的生活中，病痛是怎麼帶來苦難和破壞，有了更清晰的認識。
對於那些正在遭受苦難的人，兄弟姐妹給予幫助，安慰和鼓勵，是至關重要，
這樣才能促進病人的靈命的健全。
因此，教會必須隨時準備好，並樂意在有需要的時候，提供這種幫助。
CONCLUSION: COUNT IT ALL JOY 結論：都要以為大喜樂
It is understandable, given our human nature, to want to serve in comfortable and easy environments.
However, when serving in a pioneering area,
one must face the reality that hygiene levels and medical care may not be what we are used to,
especially for those living in developed countries.
Of course, if the church sends us to these areas,
we must responsibly ensure we take precautions to prevent illness.
Doing otherwise would be foolish and constitutes testing God, which is wrong.
Yet, illnesses do happen and workers may fall ill when ministering in a pioneering area.
If this happens to us, be positive,
knowing that affliction brings about the fullness of God's mercy, grace, strength and power.
In whatever circumstances, let our illness be a positive catalyst in our relationship with God,
helping us draw ever closer to Him as we come before Him with humble, prayerful and grateful hearts.
由於我們的人性，想要有舒適和輕鬆的環境來服事神，是可以理解的。
但是，在開拓地區服事神的時候，
我們必需要面對這樣的現實，即那裡的衛生水平和醫療看護水準，可能我們會不習慣，
特別是那些已經生活在經濟成熟國家的人。
當然，如果教會派我們到這些地區，
我們必須負責任地，採取預防措施，以預防發生疾病。
否則若是反其道而行，將是愚蠢的行為，形成了試探神的情況，這就錯誤了。
但是在開拓地區事奉的時候，確實會遇到疾病，而且工人也可能會生病。
如果這事發生在我們身上了，請保持樂觀，
要認知到，苦難帶來了神賞賜滿滿的憐憫，恩典，加添的力量和能力。
不論任何情況下，讓我們的疾病，成為自已與神關係的積極催化劑，
當我們以謙卑，虔誠和感恩的心來到祂的面前時，幫助我們能更加親近祂。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)