Dec 04- A Different Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Jason and I saw the first falling snow in our life this morning. For “Sua Gu” Singaporeans like us, we just stood at the window for a long time. We have always been dreaming of a white Christmas. However, it may not be white enough this Christmas as snow is not that thick yet. Nonetheless, we are still thankful for a sight we have never seen before.

Indeed, Jason and I have much to be thankful for.

We are thankful that we have found a church home here in Arlington Chinese Church. There are a few Singaporeans here and the new English Pastor is also from Singapore. The people here are really warm and friendly and made us feel very welcomed. We are glad for the Couples’ Cell group that we are attending on Friday nights. There are many Godly couples in this group and we have made good friends with many of them.

Jason and I are not used to be just church attendees without serving in any ministries. We are thankful that God has open doors for Jason to begin serving in the music ministry. We would also have the opportunity too to teach Youth Sunday School from January.

Despite the tough stuff we went through the last months, we still learned to be thankful. We are thankful that we learn dependence on God through our sickness. We are thankful that Jason and I learn to love each other more as we take care of each other. We are thankful for experiencing suffering because we can better comfort others in future. We are thankful that despite my rash, I was still able to breathe and move around. We are thankful for learning humility through working as custodians in school. We are thankful that God loves us.

Christmas here is not as eventful and exciting as Singapore. The Christmas Light-up in Downtown Fort Worth is nothing compared to Orchard Road! Churches here also do not have as many activities.

However, we are thankful for a different Christmas this year as we’ll be joining a short mission trip to Austin & San Antonio. We are glad to be given the opportunity to spend Christmas in a meaningful way. We are also thankful for an all-paid trip to San Diego. Jason is invited to help in a recording of a Mandarin Praise & Worship album. We appreciate your prayers for these two trips.

We pray and hope that you will have a different Christmas this year too. A Christmas that will help you understand deeper the meaning of Christ’s birth. Have a Blessed Christmas!!

We appreciate your prayers for:

• The provision of our tuition fees for the next semester.
• Jason to find a suitable part-time job on campus.
• Good health, as we are not really used to the cold weather.
• Our mission trip to Austin from 23-27 Dec. We will be visiting 4 Chinese churches, helping them in the evangelistic Christmas musical and doing personal evangelism.
• Thank God for an invitation by Lamb Music to join them for the recording of their next Mandarin Praise & Worship album. We’ll be in San Diego from 29 Dec -10 Jan and Jason will be involved in the recording. Please pray that the project will be smooth and God-honoring.

Dec 04-真的经历了祂！(Experiencing God)

不知不觉第一个学期就这么过去了。回想祂几个月来的带领，除了感恩还是感恩。还记得在上一封季讯中曾提过要更经历祂吗？上帝果然让我们“如愿以偿”，更深的经历了祂。先是文庆连续几天发高烧，体温还曾一度高达40度，差一点就要送往医院。然后是雪伦严重咳嗽，再来是药物敏感导致她全身红肿。另外还有房子里有害虫的问题等等…… 问题就像浪涛一样接种而来。诊所也先后去了好几回，连医生都熟悉我们了。生病了还要应付排山倒海的作业与测验，真的很不简单。心里不禁就会问很多次的“为什么？”。上帝祂到底听见我们的呼求吗？我们不是已经听从了祂的旨意来读神学了吗？我们实在没足够的体力与时间去面对这些问题。

面对这样的情况，我们对约伯的经历就更加感同深受了。我们不知道上帝到底要教导我们什么功课。在上帝的旨意中是否还会受苦？伯2：10讲到：“难道我们从上帝手中得福，不也受祸吗？”这段经文提醒了我们，到底我们信靠祂是因为祂赐的福分，还是因为祂在十字架上所做的牺牲？

回想起来，上帝其实一直都在我们的身边，只是我们没有察觉到。祂的恩典确实够我们用的。至少我们的病情没有严重到需要进医院，学院的教授也都相当仁慈，让我们迟交作业。对我们这对刚结婚不久的夫妻来说，我们学习到如何在艰难的时候彼此照顾, 更加体会什么是“爱的真谛”。我们也学习了更深的去依靠祂。虽然目前我们仍没有能力支付下一个学期的学费，我们仍相信祂是全然的供应者。祂正在磨炼我们，为要装备我们面对将来的事奉道路。

不一样的圣诞
原本非常期待今年的圣诞，到了这儿才知道这里的圣诞气氛没有新加坡来得热闹。当初也以为有机会过一个白色圣诞，后来才了解德洲属于美国中部沙漠地带，不常下雪。每逢圣诞期间，这里家家户户都会“张灯结彩”，几乎每个房子的里里外外都会好好的布置一番，感染圣诞的气氛。有些房子的确装饰得非常漂亮，有些却不怎么样。感觉上有一点儿像新加坡马来人过Hari Raya时候的样子。市区的圣诞装饰也远远比不上咱们著名的乌节路圣诞装饰（仿佛为自己是新加坡人而感到自豪！）。好想念新加坡圣诞期间的热闹气氛！
在这来临的圣诞期间，我们将会参加一组短宣队。地点是美国德洲的另一个城市，距离神学院需要大约四个小时的车程。我们将有机会在那里协助当地的华人教会举办圣诞布道会，做个人布道与探访等工作。但愿能把圣诞的意义传达给当地还未信主的华人。我们俩都满怀感恩的心，期待这不一样的圣诞！

但愿你今年的圣诞也会不一样。能与你心爱的人过一个充满感恩、平安与喜乐的圣诞节。祝大家：圣诞蒙恩！

帖前5:18：“凡是感恩，因为这是上帝在基督耶稣里向你们所定的旨意。”

特别感谢那些在我们生病的时候为我们祷告的弟兄姐妹们， 请大家继续在祷告中支持我们。
1. 请大家为我们下个学期的学费不足祷告，求上帝供应。
2．愿上帝为文庆安排下个学期能找到合适的校园兼职工作。
3．这是我们第一次在美国过冬天，我们都不太习惯寒冷的气候。有时温度会降到摄氏零度。愿上帝继续赐健康的体魄。
4．感谢上帝，我们有机会从12月23至27日参加一组短宣队。愿上帝赐平安的旅程，队员们都有活泼的灵命与健康的体魄，把圣诞的福音传给当地的华人。
5．12月29至1月10日，文庆将会参与“小羊音乐事工”新专辑的录音事工。感谢上帝赐这难得的机会。请大家记念每位服事人员身体和心灵的健康。愿整个录音的过程都顺利。

-文庆-

Oct 04-Suffering

October has been a tough month for Jason and me.

Both of us have been to the doctors four times just this month. He went twice for he had a high fever that did not subside after three days. We almost had to send him into emergency. Thank God his fever finally gone down after a shot from the doctor. (We were praying that we don’t have to step into a hospital for medical fees can go sky-high here!)

After he recovered, I started coughing badly and it turned out to be acute bronchitis. Yesterday, I had to go back to the doctor for I had developed red spots all over my body; face, palms and everywhere. The doctor said it was an allergic reaction to the medication she had given me the last time! Sigh.

Before all these, we were already having a bug/flea problem. We were bitten all over by a mysterious bug and itching everywhere. The pest control from school housing is still trying to help us solve the problem. For this, we are reminded of Mark’s account of the man with leprosy. Our prayer to the Lord has been, “If you are willing, you can make me (or the house) clean.”

In such situations, Job becomes more real. We have been asking God what He’s trying to teach us out of all these. Can we be in God’s will and still suffer? However, Job 2:10 says it best: “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” This really makes us ponder if we are following Christ for the blessings He has promised, or simply because of what He has done on the cross for us. Will we still follow if prosperity and blessing are not in sight?

Will you still follow?

Please pray for:

1. Good health. We have been missing classes and it’s tough trying to cope with readings, papers and tests while sick.

2. Bug problem will be solved soon.

Nonetheless,

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Sept 2004-经历祂！

记得还没到美国之前，朋友曾问我最希望在美国学习到什么。当时，我非常肯定的回答我这位朋友：“我想要更经历祂！”

回想起来，自从我和雪伦第一天到达美国，我们每一天都在经历祂的恩典。其实，上帝真的非常恩待我们。一抵达美国，就有同学(也是新加坡人）帮我们安顿好一切，所以我们俩很快就适应了这里的环境。这里的生活节奏没有想象中的美国城市那么快，所处之地是美国西南部的浸信会地区，教会随处可见。

再次步入学校生涯，对我这个已经离开校园七年的学生来说，是一个极大的挑战。为要应付排山倒海而来的作业、读书报告、测验等，我曾一度对自己的能力感到失望。可能是因为离开学习的环境太久了，再加上自己的记忆力本来就不是很强，因此学习的过程中难免遇到好些问题。还好上帝的话语不断的鼓励我，在好几次的灵修和信息当中，上帝一直提醒我要仰赖祂。我尽我的本分，其他的只要交托。

神学院的每一堂课是如此的精彩。教授们的爱心教学，都是一篇篇精彩难忘的信息。来到这里才发现，我对神的话语认识实在太少了！

跟从耶稣的代价 (路9：57－62)
记得当初要离开去念神学，最舍不得与放不下的，就是家人和教会的那班青年。这段经文提醒了我，要跟从耶稣，就必须放下舒适的生活，撇下一切所有的，忠心完成耶稣所托付的任务。要做到耶稣所说的这几点，真的很不简单，我们都还在学习当中。

我们知道要完成耶稣所托付的任务，必定会遇到困难与挫折，但这一切都是成长与学习的必经之路。只要我们愿意去经历神，神就必定与我们同行。

相信还有更多经历祂的机会在等待着我们！

-文庆-

Aug 2004-Our First Arrival

I am now writing from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. To some of you, this may be a surprise. I’m sorry I was not able to say goodbye to all of you. Well, when Jesus called his disciples, Peter and Andrew left their nets at once, James and John left their father without delay. There is no time to say goodbye.

But of course, I have not answered to God’s call at once. I have never really pictured what it meant to walk up front during a Missions conference when I was 17. I only knew that I wanted to let God use my life in whatever way He wanted. This simple decision has led to events in my life I’ve never imagined.

I’ve always imagined serving God full-time after I’ve worked a couple of years and become more mature and advanced in years. However, God “pulled” me right into working for Him in youth ministry in Grace Baptist Church after my graduation from NUS. Then, He led me to work 4 years in ORTV reaching the Chinese speaking folks through media. I finally understood that God wanted to use my life NOW, not when I’ve retired. So, I figured if I’m going to work for Him for life, I’ve better get myself equipped. That’s where I am now.

I’ll be pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Education, with an emphasis in student ministries and media. My husband, Jason, will be doing his Master of Divinity here in SWBTS as well. We hope to partner each other in serving the Lord. Our immediate prayer request is that we’ll find a good tenant for our S’pore flat and be good stewards of money over here.

“For it is God who works in you (and me) to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13. The bewildering call of God can never be understood absolutely nor explained definitely. Yet, to answer it is simply to trust Him and allow Him to accomplish His own purposes in each of our lives.

We thank God for:
*Going through US customs smoothly and easily with all our barang-barangs.
*Joseph and Amelia, a Singaporean couple studying here too who helped us tremendously before our coming and in our 1st week of arrival.
*Providing us with furniture for our apartment as we learn to be karang-gunis.

Will write more after term starts on August 19th.

-shelen-