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3. Manna issue 59 - My Family’s Conversion to Christianity 我家改信基督教

Overcoming an illness and persecution from family. 克服病痛和家中的逼迫

James Lee—Subang Jaya, Malaysia 馬來西亞，梳邦再也

FOLLOWING TAOISM 跟著道教

Twenty-eight years ago, my family lived in Sitiawan, 
a small town in the state of Perak, Malaysia. 
Most of the Fuzhou settlers from China immigrated to Sitiawan and adopted Christianity. 
However, we were Taoists and worshipped our ancestors. 
My mother never failed to place the daily portion of food on the altar.

二十八年前，我家住在小福州，
那是馬來西亞霹靂州的一個小鎮。
大部分中國福州的移民搬到小福州，並改信基督教。
然而，我們是道教徒且崇拜祖先。
我母親從不會忘了把每天的食物放在供桌上。

As a young boy, I did not dare to go near the altar 
because I was afraid the gods would punish me if I disturbed them. 
I was terrified by the way the idols looked, 
and I only worshipped them 
because I was afraid they would punish me for neglecting them if I didn’t. 
What irony! 
I knew of this other god called Jesus, 
but I thought that He was only for Westerners. 

作為小男孩，我不敢靠近供桌，
因為我會擔心如果自已打擾眾神，他們就會懲罰我。
我被偶像的外表嚇壞了，
我只拜他們，
因為我會擔心如果自已不這樣做，他們會因為忽略他們而懲罰我。
真的很諷刺啊！
我知道其他還有一位神叫耶穌，
但我認為祂只是西方人的神。

One day in June 1981, my mother was on her way to the market, 
as had been her routine for many years. 
While she was riding her bicycle, 
she felt very dizzy all of a sudden. 
She had difficulty continuing because it was so severe. 
When she finally cycled home, 
she was very tired and soon lost her appetite. 
She immediately went to see a doctor, 
but he was unable to diagnose her illness.

1981 年 6 月的某一天，我媽媽正要去市場，
正如她多年以來的習慣一樣。
當她騎著自行車的時候，
她突然感到頭很暈。
由於情況很嚴重，她難以繼續騎下去。
當她終於騎車回家時，
她覺得很累，很快就沒了食慾。
她立即就去看醫生，
但醫生卻無法診斷她的病情。

My father, a staunch follower of the teachings of Taoism, 
went to the temple to consult a medium. 
He said that my mother had met the ghost of a man 
believed to have committed suicide forty years ago 
by jumping into a well in front of our house.

我的父親是道教教義的忠實信徒，
會去寺廟諮詢靈媒。
他說我媽媽遇見了一個男人的鬼魂，
據信是四十年前曾經自殺，
跳進我們家門前的一口井中。

According to the medium, it was possible that she met the ghost 
while she was drying clothes in front of our house. 
He said that my mother became ill because of the ghost, 
and he gave my father a talisman to be burned and then mixed with water to drink. 
He told my father that this would cast the evil ghost out of my mother’s body.

據靈媒稱，很有可能她見過鬼魂，
當她在我家門前晾曬衣服的時候。
他說我母親因為鬼魂而生病了，
他給了我父親一個符籙，要燒掉然後混入水中喝下。
他告訴我父親，這樣可以把惡鬼趕出我母親的身體。

My father carefully followed the instructions of the medium 
and gave my mother the burnt talisman. 
However, it did not do her any good. 
She felt more miserable, could not sleep well, 
and felt very cold all the time. 
Her heart always felt like a piece of ice.

我父親認真聽從靈媒的指示，
並給母親燒掉的符籙。
然而，這並沒有給她帶來任何的好處。
她感覺更痛苦了，睡不好覺，
而且一直感覺很冷。
她的心裡總覺得像一個冰塊。

During this period of illness, 
she often felt compelled to call up to the heavens to help her. 
She did not really know whom she was calling to, 
but sometimes she would just cry out, 
“God, please help me!”

在此患病期間，
她常常感到有必要祈求上天來幫助她。
她並不真的知道自己在呼求誰，
但有時她就會大叫，
“神啊，請幫幫我！”

After being ill for three months, 
my mother could no longer perform most of the household chores. 
I had to help out with washing the dishes and sweeping the floor, 
chores that a seven-year-old does not like to do. 
My father was very busy managing a tapioca plantation, 
so we decided to ask my grandmother to come stay with us.

在生病三個月之後，
我母親不再屢行大部分的家事。
我必須幫忙洗碗和掃地，
那是七歲孩子不喜歡做的家事。
我父親非常忙於整理木薯園，
所以我們決定請祖母來和我們住在一起。

COMPLETELY HEALED 完全得治

My maternal grandmother was living in Sungai Siput, a neighboring town, 
but she did not have a telephone. 
My father had to call my aunt in Sungai Siput and ask her to pass on the message.

我祖母住在鄰近的小鎮和豐，
但她沒有電話。
父親只好打電話給我和豐的姑姑，請她傳達這個訊息。

It happened that my aunt was a member of the True Jesus Church. 
When she learned of my mother’s illness, 
she asked whether she could bring a few deacons to pray for her. 
Desperately in need of help, 
we agreed even though we believed that Jesus was a god of the West.

碰巧的是，我姑姑是一位真耶穌教會的信徒。
當她聽到我母親的病情時，
她詢問是否她可以帶幾位執事來為她禱告。
由於迫切需要幫助，
我們同意了，即使我們認為耶穌是西方的一位神，。

A few days later, my aunt came with two deacons. 
They prayed for my mother for half an hour and also laid hands on her. 
At first, we felt uncomfortable because they were praying loudly in tongues, 
but we ended up praying along with them anyway.

幾天後，我姑姑帶著兩個執事來了。
他們為我母親禱告了半小時，還為她按手。
一開始，我們感到不舒服，因為他們用靈言大聲禱告，
但不管怎樣我們最後還是和他們一起禱告。

Right after the prayer, 
we could see that my mother’s countenance had changed. 
She was no longer pale. 
She even invited the deacons and our aunt to stay for lunch.

禱告結束後，
我們看到母親的臉色變了。
她的面容已不再蒼白。
她甚至邀請執事和我姑姑留下來吃午餐。

During the meal, she finished everything that was served. 
From that day on, after only one prayer, 
my mother was completely healed and able to lead a normal life once again.

吃飯的時候，她把送上來的食物全部都吃了。
從那天起，僅僅只要禱告一次，
我母親就已完全康復，並且能夠再次過上正常的生活。

BAPTIZED INTO THE TRUE CHURCH 受洗歸入真教會

Our family continued to pray to the almighty God 
and began to attend services at the True Jesus Church in Kampung Koh, 
the nearest church to Sitiawan. 
My younger sister and I started attending religious education classes, 
and I enjoyed listening to Bible stories and singing children’s songs.

我們一家人繼續祈求全能的真神，
並開始參加甘文閣 Kampung Koh 真耶穌教會的聚會，
那是距離小福州 (Sitiawan) 最近的教會。
我和妹妹開始參加宗教教育課程，
我很愛聽聖經故事和唱兒童詩歌。

After attending services for about three months, 
my mother decided that we should all get baptized. 
My father was very interested in receiving baptism 
after the miracle that had happened to my mother; 
however, he felt it was his duty to uphold the rituals of ancestor worship 
and be a filial son to his parents. 
He had reservations because his mother objected to his conversion to Christianity.

大約參加了三個月的聚會後，
我母親決定我們都應該受洗。
我爸爸對於接受洗禮很感興趣，
在我母親身上發生神蹟之後；
然而，他覺得自己有責任維護祖先崇拜的儀式，
做一個他父母孝順的兒子。
由於他母親反對他改信基督教，因此他對此有所保留。

My aunt encouraged us to attend the year-end spiritual convocation in Singapore 
and be baptized there. 
We took a bus to Singapore to attend the three-day spiritual convocation, 
leaving my father back in Malaysia.

我姑姑鼓勵我們去參加新加坡的年末靈恩會
並在那裡受洗。
我們搭巴士到新加坡，去參加三天的靈恩會，
把我父親留在馬來西亞。

Our baptism was scheduled for Sunday morning. 
On Friday, during the first evening session of the spiritual convocation, 
my mother started feeling ill again.

我們的洗禮安排在星期天早上。
週五時，在靈恩會的第一節晚間聚會時，
我母親又開始覺得不舒服了。

That night she had a dream. 
She was in a dimly lit room and suddenly felt like vomiting. 
She used both of her hands to cover her mouth when she vomited, 
and she felt something in her hands. 
She walked towards the light to see what it was. 
To her surprise, she saw the Taoist talisman she had taken months ago 
when she had first fallen ill.

那天晚上她做了一個夢。
她在燈光昏暗的房間裡，突然間覺得很想嘔吐。
當她嘔吐時，用雙手去摀住自已的嘴，
她感覺到手上有東西。
她走向光亮處去看看那是什麼東西。
令她驚訝的是，她看到了幾個月前拿到的道教符籙，
當她第一開始生病的時候。

After that dream, she was no longer sick 
and was again convinced that Jesus Christ was real and alive. 
She was confident that the True Jesus Church was indeed the true church.

做完這個夢之後，她就不再生病了
並再次確信，耶穌基督就是真實存活的。
她很有自信真耶穌教會確實是真教會。

On Sabbath, the day before we were all to be baptized, 
my mother received the precious Holy Spirit. 
The joy that she felt when receiving the Holy Spirit was indescribable, 
and she felt great peace in her heart.

安息日，也就是我們全部人受洗的前一天，
我母親得到了寶貴的聖靈。
得到聖靈時她內心的喜樂是難以形容的，
她心裡感到極度的平靜。

The next day, my mother, sister, and I were baptized into the True Jesus Church. 
Even though I was only seven years old, 
I felt that I was a new person after baptism, no longer filled with sin. 
It was wonderful to feel such joy.

第二天，我和媽媽，妹妹都受洗加入了真耶穌教會。
儘管我當時只有七歲，
我感覺受洗後自已變成了一個新人，不再充滿罪惡。
能夠感受到如此的快樂真的很奇妙。

OVERCOMING TRIALS IN PEACE 平安克服試煉

Months went by after our baptism, and my mother’s sickness never recurred. 
We attended services regularly.

我們受洗後過了幾個月，母親的病再也沒有復發。
我們定期參加聚會。

Because my father was still reluctant to be baptized 
in fear of severing his relationship with his mother, 
my mother continued to preach to him. 
She would tell him that the True Jesus Church is indeed the true church 
where God could be found 
and that it would be a waste 
if he were to leave this world without being baptized since he already believed.

因為我父親仍然不願意受洗，
由於他會害怕與自已母親斷絕關係，
我母親繼續向他傳道。
她會告訴他真耶穌教會確實是真教會，
那是可以找到神的地方，
這將是非常可惜，
因為他已經相信了，如果他沒有受洗就離開了這個世界。

Every day she urged him to convert. 
After three years, my father decided to get baptized 
despite strong objection from my grandmother. 
I was very happy when my father was baptized 
because our whole family was finally in the Lord.

每天她都會勸他信主。
三年後，我父親決定要受洗，
儘管我祖母強烈的反對。
當父親受洗時，我非常的高興，
因為我們全家終於都在主裡。

The joy that we felt after my father was baptized was dampened 
whenever our extended family gathered together.

父親受洗後，我們感受的喜悅變少了，
每當我們的大家庭聚在一起時。

I remember vividly that, during reunion dinners, 
my grandmother would deliberately offer all of the best dishes to the ancestors 
before serving them at the table. 
Very little food was left for the four of us to eat.

我很清楚的記得，在團圓飯期間，
我祖母會故意把所有最好的菜都拿去祭祖，
在把菜端上桌之前。
我們四個人只剩下很少的食物可以吃。

During All Souls Day (also known as Tomb Sweeping Day), 
my uncles and aunts would insult my parents, 
accusing them of being unfilial children 
because they did not participate in the pagan rituals. 
Coming from our relatives, such accusations and treatment were very hurtful. 
However, by relying on our Lord Jesus Christ, 
we were able to find peace despite the persecution.

在悼亡節（又稱掃墓節）期間，
我叔叔阿姨都會侮辱我的父母，
指責他們是不孝的子女，
因為他們沒有參與異教儀式。
由於來自於自已的親屬，這樣的指責和對待非常的傷人。
然而，靠著我們的主耶穌基督，
儘管有此迫害，我們還能夠找到平安。

As it says in John 14:27,

正如約翰福音 14 章 27 節，

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; 
not as the world gives do I give to you. 
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

“27我留下平安給你們；我將我的平安賜給你們。
我所賜的，不像世人所賜的。
你們心裡不要憂愁，也不要膽怯。”

After some years, my grandmother was diagnosed with senile dementia. 
She started to lose her memory and could no longer take care of herself. 
At first, each of her nine children took turns to take care of her for three months at a time, 
but after only one rotation they felt it was too much of a burden.

幾年後，我祖母診斷出老年癡呆症。
她開始失去記憶，不再能再照顧自己。
起初，她的九個孩子每人輪流照顧她一次三個月，
但僅是輪過一次之後，他們就覺得負擔太重了。

Disregarding the many times that my grandmother had humiliated her 
out of resentment for bringing our family to Christianity, 
my mother patiently took care of her as her own mother. 
She looked after her every need for four years, 
up until my grandmother’s last breath.

儘管祖母曾羞辱她許多次，
出於討厭帶領我們全家改信基督教，
我母親像耐心的照顧她，就像自己的母親一樣。
四年來她照顧著她的一切需要，
直到我祖母嚥下最後一口氣。

My uncles and aunts were touched by the true filial piety my mother showed my grandmother. 
From then on, they no longer persecuted us.

許多叔姑都很感動我母親對祖母真正的孝順誠心。
從此他們就不再迫害我們了。

I thank God for guiding my whole family through such difficult times 
and giving us the strength and peace to continue with our faith. 
As Peter encourages us,

我感謝神引導我們全家度過了如此艱難的時刻，
並給予我們力量與平安，可以繼續持守自已信仰。
正如彼得鼓勵我們，

[Have] your conduct [be] honorable among the Gentiles, 
that when they speak against you as evildoers, 
they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 
(1 Pet 2:12)

12你們在外邦人中，應當品行端正，
叫那些毀謗你們是作惡的，
因看見你們的好行為，便在鑒察（或作：眷顧）的日子歸榮耀給神。
（彼前 2：12）

It is truly a blessing from God to be a part of the true church, 
and I am happy that I grew up with the truth. 
The heavenly road is never an easy one, 
but by relying upon our almighty God we will be able to tread with patience 
so that we will finally inherit the crown of righteousness and glorify His name.

可以成為真教會的一份子，確實真是一種神的祝福，
我很高興自己可以有真理而成長。
天國的旅程從來都不會很容易的，
但藉著依靠我們全能的真神，我們將能夠有耐心前進，
以便自已最終會承公義的冠冕，並榮耀祂的聖名。

May we all treasure our status as children of God and preach the good news.

願我們都珍惜自已身為神子女的身份，並且傳揚福音。

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