7979爱走动还未预备好的凉水 A Cup of Cold Water Which is Not Ready Yet

12/15/2021

7979爱走动还未预备好的凉水 A Cup of Cold Water Which is Not Ready Yet

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还未预备好的凉水
7979爱走动 · 文/蔡欣仪

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A Cup of Cold Water Which is Not Ready Yet
7979 Let Loves Move Around . Word / Chua Sing Gee

“This time, will it be my turn?” Yu Ting (pseudonym) wondering worriedly as she was waited alone at the quarantine hotel.

Yesterday, when she learned that she had close contact with diagnosed patient, she was feeling scared but she still remained calm. She called her parent after she did her PCR test which was tested negative, she arranged to be quarantined in a hotel. She had been staying in her friend’s house for sometimes, but with this latest incident, it’ll be better for her not to return to the house, she couldn’t quarantine at her own house too, as she has an aging father at home. Even though she was tested negative, but what if she did bring the virus home?

Entering into second day of quarantine, she received a phone call from her uncle, who is the chairman of BCCM Menggatal (C). Just recently, the church decided to heed the call of Basel Church Chinese section in setting up “Basel · Love · Safe Quarantine House” project. Although, it was not formally open yet, nevertheless, the church still immediately allowed Yu Ting to quarantine at the premise, because the hotel that Yu Ting stayed was located at suburbs, which was not too safe for a young lady to stay.

So, after five days of quarantine, Yu Ting was arranged to be quarantined at the church’s quarantine house.

A few days ago, BCCM Menggatal (C) had a meeting and decided to set up a quarantine house, and immediately began to work on it. When Yu Ting’s uncle received a call from Yu Ting, the quarantine house was still in progress.   After understanding her situation, he discussed the matter with his church for Yu Ting to stay at the quarantine house.

Even though, the quarantine house was still under preparation, but thankfully, the one that was set up as quarantine house was the parsonage, which already has bedrooms and basic facilities. After some basic toiletries were added in, Yu Ting’s uncle fetched her to stay at the quarantine house.

So, this was what happened, when the quarantine house set up by Sabah Basel Church was still not ready, they already took in one occupant, and the only occupant at that time.

The beginning of establishment of quarantine house

The number of confirmed cases in Sabah still remain high, the virus was like a wind blowing into every house, and more and more people were diagnosed.

When Sabah Basel Church was puzzling don’t know what to do, they received a call from HISTEAM 7979 encouraged their church to attend a vision sharing meeting of “7979 Love Quarantine” project. Responses from churches were very fast, some churches instantly agreed to participate in this project, and set off to work on establishing quarantine house in their respective area immediately. These areas were Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran and Sandakan, 3 areas with 11 quarantine rooms. Among these were Sunday School rooms that had been vacant for long time, they turned it into 5 isolated quarantine rooms; there were also vacant shop lots that being turned into quarantine house. Some churches also opened up their parsonages to host those who needed to be quarantined.

The Chief Person in Charge, Rev Rosemary Chong shared: “It was the church’s deacons who really made the decision. They were willing to open up the vacant buildings that enable the establishment of quarantine house.” The fulfilment of a ministry depends not only on physical equipment, but also on people willing to serve together. When the church decided to set up quarantine house, they split 8 individuals into 2 teams. One team was the executing team which in charge of all labour works regarding quarantine house, the other group was the management team, they were in charge of all administration matters regarding quarantine house, such as finance. Whether it is purchasing, cleaning, disinfection and meals, we did it together and contribute our strength. Just like the body of Christ, everyone does their part to accomplish God’s work. Quarantine houses, too, cannot be built by one person alone, but when we worked together, in just 3 days, 9 quarantine rooms were set up.

Yu Ting said: “I’m very thankful to the church for they had helped me when I’m in difficulty.” When she realised that she needed to be quarantine, she was very scared, knowing that there were people around her who had been diagnosed, she was worried that she might had contracted the virus. “Aside from fear, the first thing that came to my mind was, no matter what the situation is, I must self-quarantine at the soonest possible, I don’t want my family to be contracted.” Initially she was assigned to a hotel at suburb area, later on she moved to the church’s quarantine house. “I was so happy; I think that it is safer to stay at the church.” When she was at the church, she received many caring phone calls from church brothers and sisters. So coincident, her birthday fell on those few days of quarantine, so the church gave her a birthday cake to celebrate.

Facilities in quarantine house

The birthday cake the church given to Yu Ting

Delicacies during quarantine

A cup of cold water which is not ready yet?

Sabah Basel Church spent much efforts to set up quarantine houses, but God miraculously brought a little girl in need of quarantine into their midst before they were ready. If they had turn down the young lady with the excuse of “We are still not ready.” Will they miss the reward of serving this little one? The ministry that God wants us to do, many times it started before we are even ready. When the church finally completed everything, surprisingly God did not send anyone else *. Do you think that it is a waste? I don’t think so, I believe that God’s plan is always the best, just like the Bible’s verse, God does remember and will rewards those who had extended assistance to this little one.

In the future, this quarantine house project will eventually come to an end. However, there are still various needs in the community, the church still has to be ready to go beyond the four walls into the community, and give every little one a cup of cold water.

(*Later in October, after our interview, the church took in another 3 individuals.)

“这次，轮到我了吗？” 雨婷（化名）在隔离酒店里，独自胡思乱想。

昨天，得知自己曾近距离接触确诊患者后，雨婷心里虽感害怕，但尚且还算镇定。做了新冠肺炎检测，确保自己没有确诊后，她打电话给家人，然后安排到酒店隔离。原本在朋友家住的雨婷，现在不好回去了；家中的爸爸年事已高，也更是不敢回家隔离。虽然检验了并没有确诊，但万一真把病毒带回去怎么办呢？

没过两天，雨婷收到了叔叔的来电。叔叔是沙巴巴色会孟家达堂的教会主席。最近，教会正好参与中文大会呼吁的设立“巴色会·爱·安全隔离屋”计划。虽然还没正式开放，但教会却立即让雨婷入住隔离。因为雨婷住的隔离酒店位于郊外，一个女孩子在那里实在不太安全。

就这样，雨婷在隔离的第五天，就被安排入住了教会的隔离屋。

几天前，孟加达堂进行会议时，教会决定要开设隔离屋，随后便马上着手筹备。在设置隔离屋的当儿，叔叔接到了雨婷的来电。了解她的情况后，叔叔便和教会商讨让雨婷入住隔离屋。

虽然隔离屋还在准备中，但所幸被设置成隔离屋的是牧师楼，本就有住房，里面的设备一应俱全。添购了一些卫生用品后，叔叔就把雨婷接来隔离屋入住了。

就这样，沙巴巴色会所设立的隔离屋，在还未预备好时就迎来了第一位，也是当时唯一一位入住者。

隔离屋设立的开始

沙巴确诊病例高居不下，病毒就像是一阵风，无孔不入地吹进每家每户，越来越多家庭有人确诊。

沙巴巴色会正愁不知如何是好时，就接到7979全人关怀团队的呼吁，参加“7979爱隔离”分享会。很快地，就有一些堂会同意参与，在各自地区开设隔离屋。这包括亚庇区、斗亚兰区、以及山打根区，共3个地区，设立11间隔离房间。其中，有把空置已久的主日学课室开放，设置成5间隔离房间的；也有弟兄姐妹把空置的店屋改造成隔离屋。另外，也有堂会开放牧师楼来接待需要隔离的人。

“真正做决定的是那些教会执事会，他们愿意把空置的建筑开放，才促成隔离屋的落成” 总筹张玉芬牧师分享道。一个事工的落实，不单单靠硬体设备，更是在人力上有人愿意一同服事。在确定要设立隔离屋时，教会中有8人组成2支团队。其中一支是执行组，负责处理隔离屋的大小事；另一支团队则是筹委会，一切大小决定都由他们负责，包括财务。不论是采购、清洁、消毒及膳食等，大家群策群力、奉献自己的一点力量。就像是基督的身体，大家各尽其职完成上帝的工作。隔离屋亦是如此，单靠一个人的力量并无法落成；但把大家集结在一起，只用了短短3天时间，就将9间隔离屋设立好。

“很感恩教会，在我困难的时候愿意帮助我。” 雨婷说到。当她知道自己要隔离时，心里很害怕；知道身边有人确诊，也怕自己受感染。除了害怕，第一个想到的就是“不管什么情况，都要快点隔离，不好传染给家人。”原本雨婷是在郊外的一家隔离酒店里，后来搬到了教会的隔离屋。“很开心啊，我觉得教会那边比较安全。”在教会时，也有很多弟兄姐妹致电关心。隔离期间，刚好遇上雨婷生日，教会还特意送了蛋糕给雨婷为她庆生。

隔离屋设施

教会送的蛋糕

隔离时的“美食”

还未预备好的凉水

无论谁，只因门徒的名，就算把一杯凉水给这些小子中的一个喝，我实在告诉你们，他一定会得到赏赐。” 马太福音 10:42

沙巴巴色会“大费周折”地设置隔离屋，但上帝却奇妙地在他们还未预备好的时候，将一位需要隔离的小女孩带到他们当中。若他们以“还未预备好”而拒绝接待，那是不是失去了服事小子的赏赐呢？上帝要我们做的服事，往往不是等我们预备好了才开始。教会在一切都预备好了后，上帝就没再把人带来了*。你说这可惜吗？我看不然，上帝总是有祂的美意，就如同经文一般，接待了一个小子，也是会被上帝纪念与赏赐。

在未来，隔离屋终将结束。但社区里依然有各式各样的需要，教会依然要准备好，走出四面墙进到社区里，将一杯杯凉水，递给每一位小子。

（*10月采访结束后，教会又接待了3位入住者。）