第二日
四月十七日(週五)

今天我們與一位已認識三年但未信主的朋友一同午餐。每次短宣隊拜訪，這位朋友必定熱情接待牧師和隊員。從傾談中，這位朋友對耶穌的救恩一直存有好奇心，可惜他仍未能打開心門接受。他曾有一個不平凡的過去，已至今天帶着沉重的心去面對每一天。我們看見這位朋友真的需要我們的祈禱和耶穌的恩典。求主親自在他每日的生活中能認識神的偉大和大能，讓他知道神是何等愛他！

晚上吳牧師帶領第一次的門徒訓練！為了聚會，弟兄姊妹放工後急忙到楚霞家幫手煮飯用饍。

我們先用詩歌讚美開始團契聚會。吳牧師分享浸禮的意義，讓團友參加主日浸禮時更能明白和體會浸禮的禮儀。之後，介紹門徒訓練。什麼是門徒訓練？為什麼門徒要受訓練？並介紹存活寶鑑的內容和課程。再將隊員分成兩組： Sylvia 和 Winnie ，Dorothy 和 Tracey 各帶一組彼此認識未來的屬靈伙伴，鼓勵他們參加多個月的門徒成長旅程。

能夠得到牧者在團契中教導對這裡弟兄姊妹是一個難能可貴的機會。他們專心聆聽牧師講解，渴慕追求學習，參與和訓練，讓短宣隊員心靈得鼓勵和喜樂。感謝神這次服事機會，可以讓短宣隊在他們成長過程中有份。

Day 2
Friday, April 17, 2015

Discipleship Training

Today, we had lunch with a non-Christian friend who we met three years ago. At each of our visits, he extended warm hospitality in welcoming us to the Mission Team. Through our conversation, he shows much interest in knowing about God, but his heart is not yet open to receive Him. He comes from a background that is very out of the ordinary, which brought tremendous despair in his life. Our friend needs our prayer so he can find the grace and love of Jesus. May he experience God's power, and greatness in such a way that he will know how much God loves him!
In the evening, Pastor Andrew led the first Disciple Training. Brothers and sisters have to rush to the meeting after work, quickly cook and serve dinner.
We began by singing praises to God. Pastor Andrew explained Baptism and what it means, so when they attend the Baptism Service on Sunday, they will have a better understanding of the ordinance. He then introduced Discipleship Training by explaining what Discipleship Training is, the reasons for needing the training, and the material of Survival Kit 1. The group then divided into two groups: Sylvia and Winnie led one and Dorothy and Tracey led the other. They got to know their spiritual partner as they embarked on a long spiritual journey to last many months.
It is a much treasured time that they can have a pastor among them to teach and to engage them in God’s Word. They listened attentively, and were eager to learn. We thank God for this opportunity to serve them with joy and be able to be their partner.

Fun Experience on Mission: Earthquake in Casa Linda

After a long day of ministry and working on the blog till 2:30 a.m., when Ms. A went to bed, she immediately went in a deep sleep mode. Around 3 o’clock in the morning, Ms. B who shared the same bed next to Ms. A, was woken up suddenly, finding a certain body part on top of her. With instinctive reaction, she immediately flung that “whatever” off her body and continued her sleep. The next morning, Ms. A asked "Did you feel the earthquake last night?

第一日
四月十六日(週四)

活泉華人教會:：千里送愛

活泉短宣隊在十五日下午正式從三藩市國際機場出發前往委內瑞拉。途經候斯頓，隔日早晨五時半平安抵達委京加拉加斯。感謝主！順利通關檢查和領取行李，並與聶牧師會面，一同在機場享用委式早餐。然後，在內陸機場與Rosa姊妹相會，十一時半一同乘搭委國內陸班機飛往聖基道 市。一小時十五分鐘後我們平安到達。全程前後約二十小時。當地弟兄們前來接機，之後一起去吃地道午餐。

當晚，在金波弟兄和楚霞姊妹家裡聚集，慶祝他們女兒生日。聚會十分熱鬧，出席人數七十多人，這是認識新朋友的美好機會。開心的是與團契的朋友重逢，見到過去一年他們生命的成長，聽到他們生命改變的見證，我們不覺而同的讚美神！
晚上留宿柳英姐妹家，蒙她熱情款待，享受主裡的厚愛。

Day 1
Thursday,  April  16, 2015

We Have Arrived!
We departed from San Francisco at 4:30 in the afternoon. After a stopover in Houston, we arrived safely in Caracas early the next morning. After a Venezuelan breakfast, we met up with Pastor Semson Nip and Rosa. We immediately traveled to San Cristobal. Praise the Lord! After around twenty hours of traveling, we have arrived in San Cristobal safely! Although we are exhausted from flying, our hearts are excited to meet all the brothers and sisters here once again!

All of us have had experience going on a mission trip, but with a dozen meetings to prepare, equipping and training, we still feel inadequately prepared. However, we are eager to see the movement of God, to witness the working of His hands, and to experience His guidance and protection! May His Spirit be with us so we experience a fruitful harvest!

Encounter

In the evening, we had the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of Johana’s daughter. She invited her friends and family to her home for dinner. While the hostess was busy preparing things in the kitchen, we offered to greet her guests. We had many opportunities to make contact and to meet new friends.
We were excited to see many familiar faces, and had a great time renewing our friendship. After a year of separation, we give thanks to God for the spiritual growth and changes God has made in their lives. All together there were over seventy people crowded into their home. God gave us a snapshot of what "a church" would look like in San Cristobal, as this is the vision for people here - to have their own church one day.
We were delighted to be hosted by Sister Lau Ying in the evening as she provides us comfortable accommodations in her home.

We treasure each opportunity God gives us to share His love. We appreciate your prayers that, with the enabling of God’ Spirit, we may speak boldly!

神的呼召．人的回應

在一次差傳部例會，有人提問：「我們為甚麼不能像英文堂的年青人出去傳福音？」
　　為此，我們開始物色一個差傳的地點。但幾乎每個給我們考慮的地點都要求用普通話，因而順延了計劃。這時，神在我們在不覺中已預備了本堂去回應祂的呼召：
■二○一○年秋，當吳牧師在多倫多出席美加華浸年會，其間聽到委內瑞拉的需要，而當地華人操廣東話為主；
■跟著的三月在本堂一次聚會中，中信之溫以壯牧師鼓勵吳牧師考慮帶領短宣隊到委內瑞拉。他們深入討論到當地的需要；
■在九月，一位剛從委內瑞拉回來的宣教士到本堂分享當地的需要；
■同一期間，有十多位會友接受了傳福音的培訓。
　　呼召到委內瑞拉的聲音在每一件事情上更覺響亮。二○一一年底，溫牧師應邀到本堂與曾裝備去傳福音的會友分享。到委內瑞拉的短宣隊遂告誕生。二○一二年四月中旬，短宣隊第一次踏入委國西部的聖基道市作探訪僑胞和傳福音的工作。感謝主的宏恩，二○一四年短宣隊再次回& #21040;聖基道市，並見證上次撒播種子的果效：三人受浸歸主名下並正式成立華人團契。該次短宣隊著重關心華人；提供醫療服務；和訓練當地信徒帶領團契，經常聚會，彼此扶持。
　　今年短宣隊會重覆舊轍，繼續探望該地華僑，用醫療、醫藥講座來接觸他們和關心需要；並會裝備團契領袖帶領門徒訓練課程，教導崇拜的重要，為未來教會建立根基。
　　我們是一隊對神呼召作回應的信徒。 隊員為：聶深信牧師（中信領隊），吳天凱牧師（隊牧），陳李瑞雲姊妹，譚淑嫻姊妹，李黃少玲姊妹，霍翠明姊妹。雖然我們曾努力去裝備和接受培訓，但仍有許多不足之處，期盼你們每日用禱告支持。

　　請弟兄姊妹為短宣隊代禱：
■神使用衪的器皿去成就祂的旨意
■短宣隊經歷神對失喪者豐盛的慈愛
■有許多機會與相遇的人分享耶穌的佳音
■能激發起當地基督徒的信心和熱愛主的心
■聖靈先啟導聖基道市華人的心，讓見證的言語能深入人心
■短宣隊員心靈的準備，使他們的生命開放，流出基督的香氣，
　為主作見證
■委國面對經濟困難，因而動蕩不安。請為在政亂下出入有安全
■求主賜智慧和言語，能為主作見證，高舉主名

聶深信牧師．陳李瑞雲姊妹．譚淑嫻姊妹．李黃少玲姊妹．霍翠明姊妹．吳天凱牧師

李瑞雲決定第二次參加短宣再回到委內瑞拉。她重覆前轍的原因何在？

李瑞雲：我曾經猷疑應否參加今次的短宣隊。當靈修時，讀到以弗所書六章10-11節：「

我還有末了的話：你們要靠著主，倚賴他的大能大力作剛強的人。要穿戴神所賜的全副軍裝，就能抵擋魔鬼的詭計。」藉著神的話語的提醒，我有主耶穌基督為我的大元帥，又有聶牧師和吳牧師為大將軍，帶領著我這個下士，我深信必能順利完成作業。再加上我十分掛念委內瑞拉眾弟兄姊妹，這就是我今次決定參加短宣的原因。

第十二日 五月六日 禮拜二

五月五日下午 感謝各弟兄姊妹特意前來送行；聶牧師，Alberto 和 Paco 弟兄更抽出他們的寶貴時間開車送我們前往機場。感謝神的保守，五月六日下午，我們平安抵達三藩市機場，今次的短宣隊行程到此為止。願我們在天上的父，繼續建立聖基道華人福音團契的事工，保守弟兄姊妹以基督耶穌的心為心，同心興旺福音，阿們。

Day 12   May 6, Tuesday

Afternoon of May 5
Special thanks to Pastor Nip, Alberto and Paco for taking their precious time to take us to the airport. In the afternoon of May 6, we arrived in San Francisco safely. This concluded this Short Term Mission Trip. May our Heavenly Father continue to build up the ministries of the San Cristobal Chinese Christian Fellowship, and to keep the hearts and minds of the brothers and sisters there, united together for the sake of the Gospel. Amen.

第十一日  五月五日  禮拜一

感謝神的保守帶領，今天是短宣隊在委內瑞拉的最後一天。早上早餐後，聶牧師、師母和主恩堂Alberto弟兄接我們到委京四海社區服務中心作最後服事。這服務中心主要是幫助新移民，學習西文，提供法律和醫療問題幫助。在中心服務的都是一班委京浸信會和主恩堂的弟兄姊妹。在此刻，我們認識了一班正在學習西文的年輕學生。課後，一位作老師的教會姊妹就趁著機會讓短宣隊跟他們説説笑笑和分享福音。Tracey 亦為部分學生驗膽固醇及血糖與及解答一些關於健康上的問題。

感謝神！看見當地弟兄姊妹從不放過任何機會藉著幫助別人的需要讓基督的愛流出。這一次的短宣，不單經歷神無比的愛，更見證主在各人身上的恩賜，各盡其職。

願天父上帝祝福這裏一切教會事工，興旺福音！

Day 11  May 5  Monday

God kept us and protected us. Today is the last day of the Short Term Mission Team in Venezuela. Pastor and Mrs. Nip, together with Alberto, took us to visit the Caracas Four Seas Community Service Center after breakfast. This Center is to help new immigrants to learn Spanish, provide assistance in legal and medical services. Serving at this center are members from the two Chinese churches in Caracas. We took advantage of this opportunity to get to know some of the students. After the class, we chatted with them and shared the gospel with them. Tracey also measured their blood pressure and performed the glucose test, as well as answering some of the questions they had on health and medical issues.

Thanks be to God! It is wonderful to see brothers and sisters taking advantage of every opportunity to help those in need, and at the same time, letting the love of Christ flow out of them. On this short term mission trip, we experienced the love of God and witnessed that God granted each person with gifts and when exercised together, much is accomplished.

May God bless the ministries of the churches here, and may the gospel be shared all around.

第十日  五月四日  禮拜日

上午　委京浸信會

星期六從聖基道市回到加拉加斯，經過一晚休息後，星期日早上到委京浸信會崇拜。我們有幸被邀請獻詩，我們選了「安靜」一詩，配合証道信息「在患難中有平安」，因為有主時刻在看顧。因為委國動盪不穩，吳牧師用詩篇34篇去安慰提醒當地信徒要倚靠主，因為祂是我們的避難所。我們還播放由此行短宣相片匯集而成的幻燈片，籍此分享我們在聖基道市的經歷；加上愛是不保留的背景音樂，去見證數算神在聖基道市的工作和神怎樣去愛聖基道市的中國人。Tracey 姊妹在主日學時段帶領和查考使徒行傳。

下午　主恩堂

主恩堂弟兄姊妹以笑容和西方熱情的擁抱來歡迎我們。看到弟兄姊妹在離鄉別井、異國政局動盪不安下相處也能彼此相愛，真是難得。弟兄姊妹心情激動地帶領會眾敬拜讚美神，中西語言一齊合聲美妙極了，他們的心靈誠實敬拜為神為人所喜愛的。

我們短宣隊獻上詩歌「安靜」。接著有 Sylvia 姊妹分享為什麼第二次來到委內瑞拉因為當地弟兄姊妹渴慕神很深因此激勵她盡自己責任把福音傳到地極。也有Tracey姊妹分享她來的原因。最後有吳牧師用詩篇 27篇鼓勵信徒要「在恐懼中有膽量」。

Day 10  May 4  Sunday

AM: Iglesia Bautista China De Caracas

We returned to Caracas from San Cristobal on Saturday. After a good night rest, we worshipped at the Caracas Chinese Baptist Church. The team sang the song “Still” to lead into the message “Peace at the Time of Turmoil” by Pastor Wu. With the upheaval in Venezuela, he used Psalm 46 to remind the Christians to depend on God as He is our refuge. We also presented a slideshow compiled with photos of our trip to San Cristobal. The background music was “Unreserved Love” as it tells God’s unreserved love to the Chinese in San Cristobal and the work that was done there. After the worship, Tracey led the Sunday School class through Acts 2.

PM: Iglesia Evangelica China Gracia de Dios

We were received warmly with smiles and hugs by the brothers and sisters of the Lord’s Grace Church. Even though they are in a country of instability, it is exciting to see that they are so warm and filled with love. They were passionate in worshipping God with praise in both Chinese and Spanish. Their worship in spirit and in truth is treasured by both men and God.

The Mission Team presented the song “Still”. Sylvia shared why she returned again to Venezuela: it is because the hunger and the thirsting after God of the people that motivates her to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. Tracey also shared her testimony. Pastor Wu used Psalm 27 to encourage the Christians, “Be Bold at the Time of Fear”.

第八日  五月二日  禮拜五

因今晚是我們在聖基道市最後的一天，在波仔和楚霞家弟兄姊妹預備了很多美味的餸菜為我們送行，真感謝他們的愛心欵待。餐後，由吳牧師為團契作最後一次訓練聚會，最後的部份Sylvia 姊妹解釋中信中心為我們預備的五色珠福音救恩禮物，然後送給他們作為記念。

牧師在祈禱結束時作救恩呼召，亜紅找著這次機會舉手決志接受主耶穌成為她個人的救主，她是我們在兩年前認識的朋友，真興奮她今次能決志跟隨主，將一切榮耀歸與神。

會後我們互相擁抱依依不捨道別，弟兄妹妹們更囑咐我們要盡快回來相聚。但願弟兄姊妹經過今星期的門徒訓練後，能實踐個人靈修和禱告生活，按時有團契聚會，彼此以愛心相待，同心興旺福音。當晚短宣隊在波仔和楚霞家睡，方便一大清早趕搭飛機前往委京加拉加斯。

探望委京浸信㑹，主恩堂，四海社區中心，聶牧師夫婦和向當地的眾弟兄姊妹問安。

Day 8  May 2  Friday

Tonight is the last day in San Cristobal, the brothers and sisters there prepared many delicious dishes to bid us farewell. We thanked them for their loving hospitality. After the meal, Pastor Wu led them in the final training session. We ended the night by presenting each one of them a gift: a five-color bead that tells the story how one can find salvation in Christ. Sylvia took the time to explain this to them.

Pastor Wu led an altar call. 亜紅 took advantage of this opportunity and raised her hand, indicating she wanted to accept Jesus as her Savior. She is a friend we got to know at our visit two years ago. We are excited that she decided and wanted to follow Jesus. May all glory be to God.

After our meeting, we said our farewell reluctantly with embraces. They asked us to return as soon as possible. After this week of training, we hope they continue to draw close to God by having their daily Bible reading and prayers, attending fellowship regularly, and love one another and to share the Gospel of Jesus in one heart.

That night we stayed at the home of 波仔and 楚霞, so we could get our ride to the airport early next morning, and to serve in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.