8. Manna issue 91 - Desire, Difficulties, Determination: A Reflection on Volunteering in Myanmar 緬甸志工行的反省：渴望，困境，決心
Zhi Xian—Singapore 新加坡
Every year, around April to May,
a week-long Bible camp is held in Taungzalat, in the town of Kalaymyo,
for children and students across Myanmar.
By God’s grace, I had the opportunity to assist in three of these camps between 2016 to 2019,
as a teacher and facilitator.
I thank God for this blessing
and would like to share my reflections from these experiences under three Ds
—desire, difficulties, and determination.
How do these affect our members in Myanmar,
and how are they also relevant to our own lives?
每年四月到五月，
在緬甸卡萊鎮(Kalaymyo 緬語意為“兒童之城”) 的東雜略教會(Taungzalat) 舉辦為期一周的聖經研習營，
所有緬甸各地的兒童學生都能參加。
靠著神的恩典，我有機會於 2016 至 2019 年期間，協助三個研習營活動，
作為老師和輔導員。
我感謝神賜予我這個福份，
想要分享自已從這些體驗，延伸而出三個英文字母 D 的反思，
—渴望、困難和決心。
這3方面如何影響我們緬甸的信徒，
他們還與我們自己的生活有什麼關係？
1. DESIRE 渴望
The first D is Desire.
This desire is for God
—to be with God, and for the things above that are of God.
This includes the desire to be pleasing to God
and to become better children of God.
Do we have godly and spiritual desires?
The Myanmar Bible camp students are strongly motivated by such godly desire.
第一個 D 是渴望。
這個渴望是為了神而來，
—能與神同在，為來自於神的天上之事而忙。
這包括渴望討神喜悅，
並成為神更好的兒女。
我們是否有敬虔屬靈的渴望呢？
緬甸聖經研習營的學生，受到這種敬虔強烈的渴望激勵。
Every year, children from Yangon will travel to Kalaymyo by coach for this annual Bible camp.
In the past, this trip could take over twenty hours.
With better roads, it now takes just over half a day.
But this is by no means an easy journey.
There is a stretch where the bus has to travel through the mountains, on windy and bumpy roads.
The trip usually happens overnight,
when visibility is poor, making it difficult for the children to get a good night’s sleep.
Some even succumb to motion sickness.
They endure this knowing that, a week later,
they will have to make the return journey along the same route.
每年，仰光的孩子都會乘坐客運班車前往卡萊鎮，參加年度聖經研習營。
以前，這趟車程可能需要花二十多小時。
隨著路況改善，現在只需半天多一點。
但這絕不是一段輕鬆的車程。
其中有一段路段，公車必須在大風崎嶇不平的道路，穿越許多高山。
這趟表程通常選擇坐夜車，
當能見度差的時候，晚上孩子很難睡個好覺。
有些人甚至會暈車。
他們忍受著這些情況，知道一周後，
他們將要沿著同一條路回家。
Yet, the youths would smile throughout the journey.
Why were they so happy despite the long and arduous bus ride?
I like to think that their cheerful demeanors revealed their spiritual desire
—desire for spiritual companionship with their brothers- and sisters-in-Christ.
Their desire to seek God at this week-long camp helped them
to overcome their travel conditions.
Their desire to leave their day-to-day environment and be in God’s house,
to immerse themselves in Bible stories and sharing, in prayer, and in singing praises to God,
brought smiles to their faces.
然而，年輕人整個旅程都會很開心。
儘管長途跋涉，他們為何還如此開心呢？
我喜歡認為，他們愉悅的行為，表明了他們屬靈的渴望，
—渴望與自已基督裡的兄弟姐妹，建立屬靈的同伴情誼。
他們的渴望，想要在這一周的研習營，尋求神幫助他們，
能克服他們的旅途狀況。
他們渴望離開日覆一日的普通環境，並進入神的家中，
能沉浸在聖經故事，彼此分享，祈禱，歌頌神的情境，
給他們帶來笑容。
Happy faces on the trip to Kalaymyo 卡萊鎮之行的快樂臉孔
I am reminded of a Bible character who desired God.
We can see his desire in good times when he was blessed by God,
in bad times when he needed help,
or even after times of folly when he had sinned against God.
He is none other than David, a man after the heart of God
(Acts 13:22).
我想起了一個渴望神的聖經人物。
我們可以看到他渴望，無論是環境美好得神祝福的時候，
或是環境困難他需要幫助的時候，
甚至他有好幾次愚蠢，得罪神的時候。
他就是大衛，一個合神心意的人
（徒 13：22）。
One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
(Ps 27:4–5)
4有一件事，我曾求耶和華，我仍要尋求：
就是一生一世住在耶和華的殿中，
瞻仰他的榮美，在他的殿裡求問。
5因為我遭遇患難，他必暗暗地保守我；在他亭子裡，
把我藏在他帳幕的隱密處，
將我高舉在磐石上。
(詩 27：4-5)
This is a psalm where David expresses his desire to dwell in God’s house,
seek God’s presence, and inquire of His word.
這一首詩篇，大衛表達自已的渴望，想要住在神的家中，
尋求神的同在，並研習神的話語。
In Psalm 63:1–8, David again expresses his desire for God.
Pay particular attention to each active verb in this passage
(emphases added):
在詩篇 63 篇 1-8 節中，大衛再次表達自已對神的渴望。
特別注意這段經節的每個主動狀態動詞，
（重點補充）：
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.
1神啊，你是我的神，我要切切地尋求你，在乾旱疲乏無水之地，我渴想你；我的心切慕你。
2我在聖所中曾如此瞻仰你，為要見你的能力和你的榮耀。
3因你的慈愛比生命更好，我的嘴唇要頌讚你。
4我還活的時候要這樣稱頌你；我要奉你的名舉手。
5我在床上記念你，在夜更的時候思想你；我的心就像飽足了骨髓肥油，我也要以歡樂的嘴唇讚美你。
6合和譯本併入上一節
7因為你曾幫助我，我就在你翅膀的蔭下歡呼。
8我心緊緊地跟隨你；你的右手扶持我。
(詩 63：1-8)
David’s desire for God was the motivation behind his actions.
Even after committing the grave sin of adultery,
he still desired God’s mercy and forgiveness (Ps 51).
He did not want God to leave him.
David was indeed a man after God’s heart:
He continuously desired God in all circumstances.
大衛對神的渴望，是他行動的推力。
即使犯了姦淫重罪之後，
他仍渴望神的憐憫和寬恕（詩 51）。
他不想讓神離開他。
大衛確實是合神心意的人：
他不論何時何地，都不斷地渴望神。
Reflecting on David and these smiling children,
I ask myself, How much do I desire God?
Consider how much we seek God amid the things of the world,
be it financial stability, emotional well-being, or a successful career or family life.
How much do we desire the fullness of the Holy Spirit,
the fulfillment of God’s word and will?
Do we desire to know how to be more pleasing in God’s sight?
Do we desire to remain in the faith so that one day we can boldly enter the gates of heaven?
回想大衛和這些微笑的孩子們，
我問自己，有多渴望神？
我們為世間之事環繞，想想自已有多飢渴想要尋求神，
無論是收入穩定，心靈健康，還是成功的職涯或家庭生活。
我們到底有多渴望聖靈充滿，
讓神的話語和旨意可以實現？
我們是否渴望知道，如何在神眼中更得神喜悅？
我們是否渴望能保守信仰，以便有一天，我們可以剛強壯膽進入天堂之門？
We can gauge the level of our desire based on our decisions and actions.
The Lord Jesus tells us clearly in the Gospel of Matthew:
我們可以根據自已的決定和行動，來衡量渴望的程度。
主耶穌在馬太福音，清楚地告訴我們：
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels,
and then He will reward each according to his works.”
(Mt 16:24–27)
24若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。
25因為，凡要救自己生命（生命：或作靈魂；下同）的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得著生命。
26人若賺得全世界，賠上自己的生命，有甚麼益處呢？人還能拿甚麼換生命呢？
27人子要在他父的榮耀裡，同著眾使者降臨；那時候，他要照各人的行為報應各人。
(太 16：24-27)
If we genuinely desire to follow Christ,
this will be reflected in our behavior and the choices we make.
Denying ourselves means to physically
or mentally put aside our personal interests, yield to God’s will, and follow Him.
To take up the cross means to obey God’s word, fulfill our Christian duties,
and bear the sufferings of Christ in our lives.
This manifests through our daily prayers, our pursuit of God’s word, and our worship of God.
More practically, we can see this in how we make decisions in life.
Do we decide based on the word of God and striving to be Christ-like in our daily conduct?
Do we honor God both in good and peaceful times as well as in troubling and trying times?
Let us learn to cultivate such sincere godly desire
so that we can overcome our carnal desires through the power of the Holy Spirit.
如果我們真的渴望跟隨基督，
這將反應在我們的行為，及我們的選擇。
捨己意味著身體心靈，
放下個人利益，順服神的旨意，跟隨神。
背起十字架，代表順服神的話語，盡自已基督徒的本分，
並在我們的生活中，肩負起基督的苦難。
這會體現在我們每天的禱告、我們對神話語的追求、我們對神的敬拜。
更實際地，我們可以從自已生活中，做決定的方式，看到這點。
我們是否以神的話語來下決定，並努力在日常行為中，活得像基督一樣？
無論是美好平和的時期，或是困苦艱難的時期，我們是否都會榮耀神？
讓我們學習培養這種真實敬虔的渴望，
這樣，就可以通過聖靈的力量，克服自已肉體的情慾。
Participants of the Myanmar Youth and Student Bible Camp, held from April 27 to May 3, 2019
2019 年 4 月 27 日至 5 月 3 日，緬甸舉行青年學生聖經研習營的學員
2. DIFFICULTIES 困境
Overcoming carnal desires is especially important when we face the second D: Difficulties.
Specifically, the difficulties one faces in keeping the faith.
當我們面對第二個 D：困難時，克服情慾特別重要。
具體來說，就是保守信仰時，所要面對的困難。
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose,
faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions,
which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra
—what persecutions I endured.
And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse,
deceiving and being deceived.
(2 Tim 3:10–13)
10但你已經服從了我的教訓、品行、志向、
信心、寬容、愛心、忍耐，
11以及我在安提阿、以哥念、路司得所遭遇的逼迫，苦難。
我所忍受是何等的逼迫；但從這一切苦難中，主都把我救出來了。
12不但如此，凡立志在基督耶穌裡敬虔度日的也都要受逼迫。
13只是作惡的和迷惑人的，必越久越惡，他欺哄人，也被人欺哄。
(提後 3：10-13)
Here, Paul talks about perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, evil men, and deception.
All who desire to live godly in Christ will face all of these things.
The cross that Jesus bore was not light.
We may also find this cross heavy and difficult to handle at times.
在這裡，保羅談到堅忍、逼迫、患難、惡人和欺騙。
所有渴望在基督裡敬虔生活的人，都會面對這一切的事情。
耶穌所背負的十字架並不輕省。
我們也可能會發現，這個十字架有時很重且難以處理。
Not all of the children I met in 2017 were able to return to the camp in 2019.
There were many reasons for their absence,
including school commitments, having to supplement family income,
or simply because their families could not attend church services regularly.
並不是所有我 2017 年遇到的孩子，都能在 2019 年回歸研習營。
他們的缺席有很多原因，
包括學校作業，必須幫補家用，
或者僅僅因為他們家人不能定期參加聚會。
Poverty and Family Life 貧困和家庭生活
Our members in Myanmar are generally not as affluent as members in more developed countries like Singapore.
The poorer members have to live from hand to mouth,
and some families require the children to work to make ends meet.
Poverty can be challenging to the faith because people are preoccupied with surviving.
This takes up so much focus that they may not have time or energy for things like keeping the Sabbath.
Poverty can even drive people to do unconscionable things,
such as selling tobacco or alcohol or committing crime.
Additionally, some members head overseas to work in the hope of earning more money,
yet stumble in their faith over time,
as they work in foreign lands without access to our church and community.
我們緬甸的信徒，一般不如新加坡等較發達國家的信徒富裕。
較貧窮的信徒不得不依靠勞力討生活，
有些家庭要求孩子工作以維持生計。
貧困可能對信仰構成挑戰，因為人們會一直想要生存下去。
生存會佔據很多的注意力，以至於他們可能沒有時間精力，去從事像遵守安息日之類的事情。
貧窮甚至會驅使人們做出沒有良心的事情，
例如菸酒販賣，或是去犯罪。
此外，有些信徒為了賺更多的錢，到海外工作，
但隨著時間的推移而信仰跌倒，
因為他們在異國工作時，沒有接觸我們的教會和團契。
Culture 文化
Many cultural influences and vices, such as smoking, chewing betel nuts,
and drinking hard liquor, conflict with Christian beliefs and values.
Divorce and remarriage are also not uncommon in Myanmar society,
with people eloping with their lovers or parents deserting their homes,
resulting in many broken families.
許多文化影響和惡習，例如抽煙、嚼檳榔、
和喝烈酒，都與基督教信仰和價值觀產生衝突。
緬甸社會的離婚再婚也漸漸稀鬆平常，
有人會和愛人私奔，或有父母拋棄家庭，
導致許多破碎的家庭。
Moreover, developing technology and social media
are also threatening our members’ spiritual lives.
In 2016, I observed that only the senior church youths, aged eighteen and above, owned smartphones.
In 2019, around a fifth of the teenagers in my class had their own mobile phones and social media accounts,
giving them unfettered access to the internet.
If they do not know how to discern right from wrong,
they could be corrupted by harmful online content.
此外，科技發展和社群媒體，
也威脅到我們信徒的靈命。
2016 年，我看到，只有十八歲以上的稍長的教會青年，才擁有智慧手機。
2019 年，我班上約有五分之一的青少年，擁有自己的手機和社群媒體帳號，
讓他們可以無限制地上網。
如果他們不懂如何辨別是非，
它們可能就會被有害的網路內容污染。
Religion 宗教
Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country.
In a society where schools and workplaces advocate Buddhist rites and practices,
it can be tough to be a small Christian church.
緬甸是一個以佛教為主的國家。
在學校職場都提倡佛教儀式做法的社會中，
身為一個小型基督教會，有時會很困難。
Kalaymyo has a relatively large Christian population
because, historically, many Christian missionaries have preached and established churches there.
To many locals, churches are akin to community centers
where people can find support, so church-hopping is common.
If our members are tempted to do the same,
these churches could influence
and lead them away from the true church.
卡萊鎮有相對較多的基督徒人口，
因為，從歷史的原故，有許多基督教傳教士在那里宣道並建立教會。
對許多當地人來說，教堂就好像是社區中心，
人們可以在哪裡找到幫助，所以轉移教會很常見。
如果我們信徒也被引誘這樣做，
這些教會可以產生影響，
並帶著他們離開真教會。
Our children in Myanmar, 2017 我們緬甸的兒女 2017 年
We Must All Endure 我們全部必須忍耐
Members in more developed countries face similar issues, albeit to a different degree
—things like dissatisfaction with our quality of life,
struggling to make ends meet,
and the need to work hard to achieve success and upward social mobility.
Some members head overseas
because they perceive that the grass is greener there,
yet their focus strays and they lose their faith.
發達國家的信徒亦面臨類似的問題，儘管程度有些許不同，
—有些事，比如對我們生活品質的不滿，
辛苦努力維持生計，
並且需要努力工作以取得成就，並獲得社會階層流動提昇。
有些信徒前往海外，
因為他們覺得，外國月亮更圓，
然而他們心思意念走偏了，失去了信仰。
Cultural influences that may negatively impact our faith are pervasive in modern societies.
Secular mantras that encourage us to put ourselves first
and do what makes us happy may
cause us to become more self-seeking
and deviate from our traditional Christian values.
Technology and social media, too, have changed the way we plan and spend our time,
and multitasking is taking our focus away from things that once mattered to us.
While praying or reading the Bible at home,
how many of us would stop to answer a text?
Or during services, would we be tempted to answer active chat groups
or scroll through our Instagram or Facebook feeds?
現代社會中，普遍存在可能對我們信仰產生負面衝擊的文化影響。
世俗的準則，鼓勵我們把自己放在第一位，
從事那些會讓我們快樂的事，
讓我們變得更自私，
而偏離我們傳統的基督教價值觀。
技術和社群媒體，也改變了我們規劃使用時間的方式，
同時處理眾多事務，正從那些曾經對我們重要的事情上，帶著我們的注意力。
在家禱告或讀經的時候，
我們有多少人會停下來，去回覆一則簡訊？
或者聚會期間，我們是否會想要回覆不斷跳出訊息的聊天群組，
或是一頁接著一頁，持續瀏覽我們的 IG (Instagram) 或臉書 (Facebook) 的貼文？
Additionally, alternative religious influences
may pull us away from the biblical doctrines of the True Jesus Church
and the belief in the one true church.
Many Christian denominations subscribe to simpler and incomplete gospels of grace and salvation
while infusing popular culture into worship.
These trends often attract believers from a younger or middle-aged demographic in droves.
We may even have friends, colleagues, relatives, or family members drawn to such trends.
However, does the Lord want us to abridge or amend the gospel of salvation
in an attempt to attract more people to the church?
此外，其他宗教的影響，
可能會使我們脫離真耶穌教會的聖經教義，
並且不信獨一真教會。
許多基督教派贊同簡單又不完整救恩的福音
同時將流行文化融入崇拜活動。
這些趨勢會吸引的信徒，往往一群年輕或中年人口。
我們甚至可能有朋友、同事、親戚或家人，被這種潮流所吸引。
然而，為了想要吸引更多的人進入教會，
主會要我們刪減修改救恩的福音嗎？
On reflection, we are indeed not too different from our members in Myanmar.
We face the same difficulties that attack our faith from all angles.
What should we do then?
As Paul endured, we have to endure.
回想起來，我們確實與緬甸的信徒，並沒有太大的不同。
我們面臨同樣的困難，會從各方面攻擊我們的信仰。
那我們該怎麼辦？
正如保羅所經歷的，我們也必須承受。
But you must continue in the things which you have learned
and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Tim 3:14–17)
14但你所學習的，所確信的，要存在心裡；因為你知道是跟誰學的，
15並且知道你是從小明白聖經，這聖經能使你因信基督耶穌，有得救的智慧。
16聖經都是神所默示的（或作：凡神所默示的聖經），於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的，
17叫屬神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。
(提後 3：14-17)
We should not stop in our tracks or turn from this path.
Continue with what we have learned from the Holy Scriptures.
The world is changing,
but what we were taught will make us wise for salvation.
We have to persist and be corrected by God’s word whenever we stumble.
Carry on improving ourselves until we become perfect and complete.
This is what our heavenly Father desires for us.
我們不應該停止自已的跑道，或偏離這條道路。
繼續從聖經學習自已需要學會的東西。
世界一直轉變，
但我們所學的，會使我們有得救的智慧。
我們每次跌倒，都要堅持用神的話語來修正。
不斷完善自己，直到我們變得完美完備。
這就是我們天父對我們的渴望。
3. DETERMINATION 決心
The third D is Determination
—the determination to remain in this faith and the one true church.
We have to believe that despite the winds of change,
and the doubts that may cloud our hearts,
the Lord God is in the True Jesus Church;
the church holds fast to and preaches the complete truth according to the Bible.
The church also has the presence of the Holy Spirit,
evidenced by speaking in tongues alongside miracles, signs, and wonders.
第三個英文字母 D 是代表決心，
—決心堅持這個信仰和獨一真教會。
我們必須要相信，儘管有改變的風氣，
可能有疑惑，會遮蔽我們的心，
主耶和華是在真耶穌教會；
教會也會根據聖經，堅守傳講完備的真理。
教會也有聖靈的同在，
有靈言、神蹟、異象和奇事伴隨，就是明證。
I truly praise and thank the Lord that in the 2019 Bible camp,
twelve students received the Holy Spirit.
God even manifested His presence through a vision witnessed by one young brother.
While the students would typically be playing or resting during a lunch break,
this brother and his friends had set their hearts to pray for the Holy Spirit in the church hall.
As he prayed, he felt an intense light shining upon him, and he was lifted up to heaven.
He saw a beautiful golden building before him, with shimmering ponds surrounding him.
Above, figures with loud voices were flying like birds in the sky.
It was a magnificent sight.
He felt that his prayer was so sweet,
and he was filled with joy.
His tongue also started rolling smoothly as he prayed.
我真心讚美感謝主，2019 年的聖經研習營，
有十二名學生得到聖靈。
神甚至通過一位年輕弟兄見証看到異象，彰顯祂的同在，。
雖然學生通常會在午休時間，玩耍或休息，
這位弟兄和他的朋友，定意於教會大廳祈求聖靈。
當他禱告的時候，他發覺有強烈的光芒照耀在他身上，他被提升到天國。
他看到前面有一座美麗的金色建築，周圍環繞著閃閃發光的水池。
在上方，有好多身影正在飛舞，發出大響聲，如天上飛鳥一樣。
這是一個壯麗的景象。
他覺得自已的祈禱是如此甘甜，
心中充滿喜樂。
當他禱告時，舌頭也開始流利地轉動。
Now, the truth is we do not have to rely on signs like these
to prove that God abides with us.
In our walk with God, we would have probably experienced something spiritual
or supernatural in one form or another.
This could have been when God answered our prayers,
planted wisdom in our hearts,
or moved us to feel comforted
or to experience tears of joy or sadness.
At the very least, whenever we pray in tongues,
it is not self-taught.
Upon receiving the Holy Spirit,
speaking in tongues is the sign that the Spirit of God is dwelling within us!
It is essential to engrave these spiritual experiences deeply on our hearts
and not to forget them.
When we are feeling down or weak in faith,
we can recount God's blessings and mercies that we have experienced.
These will strengthen us and make us more determined
to remain in the faith and in the True Jesus Church.
現在，事實是，我們不必憑著像這樣的異象，
來證明神與我們同在。
在我們與神同行的過程中，可能會體驗一些屬靈的事情，
或是以一種或另一種形式出現的超自然現象。
當神回應我們禱告的時候，可能是一直有，
在我們心中植入智慧，
或感動讓我們得到安慰，
或體驗到喜樂悲傷的淚水。
至少，每當我們用靈言禱告時，
靈言不是自已學得來的。
一領受聖靈之後，
說靈言就是記號，代表神的靈與我們同在！
將這些屬靈體驗深深刻劃在我們的內心，不要忘記這些經歷，
是至關重要的。
當我們情緒低落或信心軟弱的時候，
我們可以數算自已經歷過神的祝福和憐憫。
這些體驗會加添我們的力量，使我們更加有決心，
堅守信仰和真耶穌教會。
CONCLUSION 結論
Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour.
Resist him, steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
But may the God of all grace,
who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
(1 Pet 5:8–10)
8務要謹守，儆醒。
因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，
尋找可吞吃的人。
9你們要用堅固的信心抵擋他，
因為知道你們在世上的眾弟兄也是經歷這樣的苦難。
10那賜諸般恩典的神曾在基督裡召你們，得享他永遠的榮耀，
等你們暫受苦難之後，必要親自成全你們，堅固你們，賜力量給你們。
(彼前 5：8-10)
In this passage, the brotherhood refers to the church,
our spiritual family worldwide,
who endure the same sufferings as we do.
Be it physical sufferings like poverty and illness,
or moral ones arising from the conflict between worldly values and our Christian faith,
these same difficulties unite us because they are the sufferings of Christ.
Those who desire to be followers of Christ, to bear our cross,
and be raised from the dead into eternal life as He was, must suffer as He did.
這段經文中，兄弟姐妹的情誼，指的是教會，
我們在世界各地的屬靈大家庭，
他們和我們忍受著同樣的痛苦。
無論像是貧窮和疾病肉體的痛苦，
或因世俗價值觀與基督教信仰之間的衝突，而產生的道德問題，
這些同樣的困難會使我們團結在一起，因為它們就是基督的苦難。
那些想要跟隨基督的人，要像基督一樣背負大家的十字架，
從死裡復活進入永生，就必須像祂一樣的受苦。
Dear brothers and sisters, we are not alone.
Let us be determined in our desire for the Lord
and endure all difficulties.
One day we will be perfected.
It is then we will find rest in eternal glory.
To God be the glory forever and ever.
Amen!
親愛的兄弟姐妹，我們並不孤單。
讓我們堅定對主的渴望
並忍受一切困難。
總有一天我們會達到完全。
那時，我們將於永恆的榮耀中找到安息。
願一切榮耀歸於神，直到永遠。
阿們！
Myanmar Situation Update 緬甸情勢更新
Philip Shee—Myanmar Mission Committee (MMC) 緬甸宣道委員會 (MMC) - Philip Shee
The church in Myanmar has over three hundred members spread across four areas
—in the city of Yangon and in three rural towns and villages of Kalaymyo.
As the COVID-19 pandemic took center stage in 2020,
our church activities in Myanmar were severely disrupted.
After February 2020, the borders were shut down,
forcing us to suspend all missionary trips to Myanmar.
Physical church services were subsequently stopped
as the country imposed a lockdown.
Initially, the local preachers continued pastoral work over the phone
and conducted Sabbath services in members’ homes
as they gathered within their residential districts.
When further restrictions were imposed,
the local preachers, together with the Myanmar Mission Committee in Singapore,
started to conduct services online via Facebook Messenger.
Regular online services were eventually established on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings,
with a mix of speakers from Singapore and the two local preachers.
A virtual Bible study gathering on Wednesday evenings
and youth fellowship on Sundays were also organized.
Thank God that our members in Myanmar cherish the opportunity to gather online.
At the end of 2020, we also managed to conduct year-end spiritual meetings for Yangon and Kalaymyo,
respectively over two weekends.
Both were very well attended.
緬甸教會有三百多名信徒，分佈在四個地區，
——在仰光市和卡萊鎮的三個鄉村。
隨著新冠疫情在 2020 年成為重點，
我們緬甸的教會活動受到嚴重中斷。
2020 年 2 月之後，邊境關閉，
迫使我們暫停所有緬甸的宣道之旅。
實體教會聚會接著停止，
由於該國實施封城。
最初，在地傳道通過電話繼續巡牧工作，
當信徒集中自已的住宅區時，
在他們家中進行安息日禮拜。
當實施更嚴格的限制時，
當地傳道，與新加坡的緬甸宣道委員會一起，
開始通過臉書通訊軟體 Facebook Messenger 在網路聚會。
最後，周五晚上和周六早上，建立了定期網路聚會，
講道有搭配來自新加坡講者和兩位當地傳道，。
週三晚上有網路查經聚會，
周日亦舉行青年團契。
感謝神，我們緬甸的信徒，珍惜網路聚會的機會。
在 2020 年底，我們還成功為仰光和卡萊鎮舉辦了年末靈恩會，
兩次都分別舉行了兩週。
兩次都有很多人參加。
The recent political developments in Myanmar
have further complicated the situation on the ground.
Internet connection has become intermittent across the country.
Despite this, we were initially able to continue our virtual services as planned.
We also managed to continue with our weekly morning devotion with staff,
which include the local preachers, church administrator,
and the two Singapore preachers who are involved with the Myanmar ministry.
However, as the situation deteriorated with increased unrest and martial law now imposed,
some members have scattered into rural areas
and internet connection has become even more unstable.
This led to a disruption to our online services.
As such we cannot take for granted our current ability to maintain contact with our brethren.
We thank God that we have been able to stay in touch with them
and have resumed Sabbath services for those who are able to join in online.
There are also food shortages in the country, causing food prices to soar.
Although the MMC distributed food to the members earlier in the year,
it is certain to have run out by now
and the logistics involved in distributing food are not easy.
It is therefore important for us to pray earnestly
for the Lord to preserve and protect our church in Myanmar.
緬甸最近的政治動盪，
使當地局勢進一步複雜。
全國各地的網路連線已經斷斷續續。
儘管如此，我們一開始，還是能夠按計劃繼續網路聚會。
我們還設法繼續與聖工人員一起進行每週早禱會，
其中包括當地傳道、教會職務長執，
和兩名新加坡傳道，他們有參與緬甸宣道。
然而，隨著局勢惡化，動亂加劇，現在實施戒嚴令，
有一些信徒分散到鄉村地區，
網路連接品質變得更加不穩定。
這就導致我們的網路聚會中斷。
像這樣的情況，我們不能認為，目前能與當地弟兄姐妹保持聯繫的能力，為理所當然。
感謝神，我們一直能與他們保持聯繫，
並為那些還能加入網路的人，恢復安息日聚會。
該國還存在糧食短缺，導致食品價格飆升。
雖然緬甸宣道委員會 MMC 在今年早些時候，向一些信徒分配了食物，
現在肯定是已經用完了，
而配送食物所涉及的物流作業，並不容易安排。
所以很重要，我們要迫切禱告，
讓神保守保護緬甸的教會。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
