Good News, Good TV

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! (Ps. 84:1)
God gave me Psalm 84 before my second visit to Israel in Dec. 2005. On my third and most recent visit while staying at the Or HaCarmel (Light of Carmel) Ministry Center, I experienced the blessing promised in this psalm even more, and learned a Hebrew worship song “Ma Yedidot” which is based on this verse.
I served more than three weeks as a volunteer at Or HaCarmel and knowing I would have to leave again, I actually started to miss Mt. Carmel while I was still there! Or HaCarmel is an international ministry center with three buildings, including a pastor’s apartment, women’s refuge, internship program and accommodations for volunteers. There are two prayer rooms where I was often drawn to spend time alone with God. It was not really a problem that I did not know Hebrew and although I was concerned that loneliness might be an obstacle for me, it was not that serious either. God blessed me and I was accepted as one of the team. Over the several weeks I was there, God revealed His guidance to me quickly and marvelously.

Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.
When I came to Or HaCarmel, I was praying and asking God whether He was guiding me to stay there for a long period of time. I was not sure what to do there since my English is not good enough, and I saw no need for a female pastor. The first sign from God came when I talked to Eliel, who is the sound engineer at Carmel Assembly, the congregation where Or HaCarmel is located. I discovered that they had no video cameras or projectors and when I asked Eliel, he told me about their desire and vision to have a Media Department. One year ago, when I visited Carmel Assembly with several other pastors from Taiwan, one pastor filmed the congregation’s passionate worship. Later, I could still feel their joy and love for the Lord through the DVD. So I told Eliel that I had the burden to produce DVDs like that. The second sign came after we prayed for a parcel of land in front of Or HaCarmel that needs to be purchased. I felt the desire to build a studio for television and audio recording on that piece of land. The worship of Carmel Assembly is full of anointing from the Holy Spirit. They have lots of wonderful worship leaders and some of them have their own CD albums. I thought of a nice studio for CD recording, editing and mixing that belongs to a worship team in Taiwan. If there were such a professional studio on Mt. Carmel they could record and produce live worship CDs easily. The studio could become a good resource for other Messianic worship teams in the Galilee and northern part of Israel.
After that, I felt that I received a lot of guidance from God. I began to deeply appreciate the biblical revelation and inspiration from God that comes to us through the Hebrew language and culture. If a media department were developed, a hidden treasury of teaching could be delivered to Chinese Christians, and could be used to equip lots of young people in China who are preparing to bring the gospel back to Jerusalem. I felt so excited about this vision that I sent an e-mail to Pastor Peter Tsukahira. At that moment, I was thinking there could be a connection with Good TV, a Christian TV station in Taiwan with two channels: one for the Taiwanese public and another one that covers most of Mainland China by satellite.
In the meantime, God did another amazing thing. Before I had the chance to talk to Pastor Peter, I began to record on film a ministry called House of Victory. There, I interviewed a young man named Elia whom I had met about 10 months ago. Elia, also had the burden to create a media department at Or HaCarmel. He was in the process of creating a website in Russian and English. Eliel, Elia and I, all non-professional media persons, in three nights of work made a program to introduce the work of House of Victory. We were encouraged by the result and felt excited about what God was guiding us to do.

What God provided for the church I serve
Before this most recent visit to Israel, the church where I serve was prepared to support me to fulfill God’s will in my life. When I mentioned plans for my two months’ trip in Israel, the deacons and church members showed great faith and willingness to stand with me. Now that I am sure of God’s guidance for me to serve Him on Mt. Carmel, I will pastor the church until the end of 2006. From the beginning of 2007, Pastor Paul Lin who joined our church ministry in August will be the formal pastor. While I was away, God brought new friends to the church where they found salvation. Some family members of others in our congregation got saved also. We know we are entering a season of preparations to move to a larger facility. I believe the Christian and Missionary Alliance Neihu Church will experience God’s beauty and abundance in greater measure during the coming year!

In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.
The media department ministry at Or HaCarmel began with very few resources. We had no budget, professional equipment, or full-time committed people. We were without a working plan and I had no official working identity to get a visa. Thanks be to God! The first resource I thought of was Good TV and I got the idea from God to apply for a visa as a foreign correspondent for the Taiwanese TV station. God gave me wisdom for a new ministry also. So I completed a proposal before I left Israel and handed it over to Pastor Peter and Mr. Tony Tseng the President of Good TV. One week later, they met in Malaysia and discussed my situation. Ten days after that, I had an appointment at Good TV in Taipei and the following day I got support more than I expected.
Good TV promised to provide equipment, a one month training course for Eliel, Elia and me as well as official employment for me so I can apply for a visa. Donations for my personal support from Taiwan will go to Good TV and get a tax-exempt receipt. Good TV will transfer the funds directly to me. The equipment budget will be about USD $15,000 and my support for a year will be USD $18,000. May God honor the faith of Mr. Tony Tseng and others from Good TV and bless their work.

#Please support me in your prayers:
1. Please pray for my Mom. She is going to live alone with two dogs and some fishes. May she get saved soon and be released from worrying about me. Very possibly she will need to move closer to my eldest brother. Changing locations always makes her nervous.
2. Please pray for Eliel, Elia and my training at Good TV from mid-January until mid-February.
3. Please pray for intercessors to come alongside this work and for God to supply all our material needs.
4. Please pray for my work visa application and the preparation for moving in the midst of such a tight and busy schedule.
5. Please pray for good communication between different countries, churches, companies and ministries.


Thanks for your support!!!
May God be with you always ~

Good News, Good TV

萬軍之耶和華阿、你的居所何等可愛
詩篇84篇是我去年底第二次前往以色列前神給我的經文，這次我在迦密山教會，越發體會這篇詩篇中所應許的福份，也學了一首以這節經文為歌詞的詩歌。
超過三週在這個教會的志工生活，讓我很快地開始想念這裡。這是一個國際化的事工中心，有三棟建築物，包括牧師館、婦女收容中心、宣教士和實習生宿舍。其中兩個禱告室，也吸引我時常在裡面彈琴唱歌親近主。在這裡服事，不會希伯來文的問題不大；單身需要面對的孤單感也不大。神祝福我，讓我很快地被接納成為他們的一份子，神也迅速向我顯明他的奇妙帶領。

他的量帶通遍天下、它的言語傳到地極
當我來到迦密山教會一兩週後，我持續為著自己是否蒙神帶領久居此地禱告。我不知道自己可以做什麼，因為教會對女傳道的需求不高，自己的英文又不夠好。第一個記號是來自與Eliel聊天，他是會堂的音控同工。當我問起這數百人的會堂裡竟然沒有單槍投影機和攝影機時，他提起建立傳播部門的負擔。我們一年前在此參加聚會時，有位內湖的牧師全程錄影，之後觀看時還能感受到當場敬拜的熱情，所以我也提起自己對這方面的負擔。第二個記號是在我們為著教會要購買前面一大塊空地禱告之後，我向幾位同工提起建立攝影棚和錄音室的感動。他們的聚會敬拜滿有聖靈的恩膏，敬拜主領是Karen Davis，持續製作許多屬於彌賽亞信徒的詩歌CD，另一位敬拜主領Brandon也預備發行第一張詩歌CD，人才濟濟。我想到天韻詩班的韻德錄音室，只要他們也有專業錄音室就可能發行現場敬拜CD，並且也可以成為加利利地區其他彌賽亞信徒敬拜團隊的資源。
之後，記號陸續出現，我也越發明白神的話語透過猶太語言和文化的理解，所產生的啟示和爆發力。想到建立傳播部門可以將這裡寶貴的信息傳遞給華人教會，也裝備許多在中國大陸蒙召參與回宣的準宣教士，就滿有負擔。也因此用email向彼得塚平牧師分享這個負擔，我當時想到的媒體就是好消息電視台。最奇妙的是，在還沒有機會與他當面談話之前，我去採訪一個戒毒中心，並且發現我十個月前就認識的青年Elia，竟然也對影音傳播有負擔，正在使用俄語和英語建製影音網站。就這樣，我，Eliel和Elia三個勇敢的業餘傳播人，製作了一個25分鐘的專題節目，成品是英文版，還算有個樣子，十分令人興奮。希望很快的未來可以完成中文版，與您分享。

神為教會所作的預備
上封家書中我說這個教會已經預備好了，在我對以色列的負擔及牧者的轉換上，執事同工們展現出極大的信心和配合度。我在宣道會內湖堂的主任傳道一職到2006年底結束，明年一月起由已經參與配搭事奉四個月的林楷鈞牧師接任。這幾個月神也帶領新朋友來到教會，決志信主；在會友的家人中也有決志者；同時我們也領受了預備遷堂的感動，要著手為此禱告奉獻。相信宣道會內湖堂已經進入新的季節，神的美善和豐富正等著我們去經歷！

在耶和華的山上必有預備
當想到要去迦密山教會開始傳播部門的事工時，我們現有的條件實在困窘。沒有開辦費，沒有設備，沒有專業人才，沒有頭緒，而我—沒有身份拿簽證。感謝神，當我對這件事有負擔的時候，我首先想到的是頻道，也就是好消息電視台。之後神給我智慧，讓我想到用電視台特派員的名義辦簽證，祂也給了我一些初步的構想。於是我趕在離開以色列之前將構想完成，交由彼得塚平牧師帶去馬來西亞與好消息電視台的曾國生總經理洽談。企畫案出爐一週後，他們兩人就這項事工作了初步的溝通，十天後我到電視台開會，又過了一天得到所需要的協助。
好消息電視台提供設備，提供訓練，提供我申請簽證的身份，並且憑信心支付我個人全年所需用各項費用。有感動為我奉獻的人，只要奉獻到Good TV指明為郭淑鳳--以色列事工奉獻，就可以拿到奉獻收據。為著這項事工，光是初期的設備就需要四五十萬，我全年所需費用也超過五十五萬，願神記念好消息電視台的信心，祝福他們的營運狀況。

>> 如需代禱消息或為淑鳳奉獻相關資訊，歡迎發電子郵件至sophiek_ii@hotmail.com, 多謝配合
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where is the real me?

last night I talked in MSN to my friend joseph. he mentioned about depression and his relationship with his mom. we discussed the rejection from our family and realized lots of babies are not welcomed in their family.

Some parents don't want to have one more bady. Some don't want a girl. Some didn't expect to have one at that time. Some from underground affair.

When I told to Joseph, my dad didn't want a girl. He asked me, you have brothers, right? Yes, I have two. So why? Two boys are enough for my dad. a girl? raising someone's wife, what for? That's the meaning of a girl for my dad: spending money, without benefit.

And my mom told my dad, she believed this one would be a girl. She wanted to have a girl. My mom fought for her gender, and my right to live. I thank God for saving me through my mom. But honestly speaking, I think the baby girl died young.

For my dad, a real girl existed only for a short time. Than I was recognized to be a helper, a person contributing to my family. Unless he would treat me like "why don't you just disappear immediately"? For my mom, she didn't know what a real girl is either. The baby girl inside her died young also. Before last night discussion I didn't understand my mom. I feel she is childish and unreasonable some time. Now I know why. We both want to go back to our young age and be a real baby girl.

Where is the real me? I need to look for her.

九死一生的底馬

來到這裡不到一週，就受邀參加同工們在家裡舉行的禱告聚會。在聚會中聽說底馬出嚴重車禍，亟需代禱，他是個出入勝利之家和教會多次的嚴重吸毒者，目前雖然信了主，還沒有下決心要好好戒毒。當我在為他禱告時，感覺到那種搶救靈魂的迫切感和屬靈爭戰，也相信他得救後在神的家會是一名大將。

之後我們不時聽見好消息，並且有一天晚上，好幾個實習生和來自世界各地的義工一起去醫院看他。他動了腦部手術，脫離險境，而且也已經轉入一般病房，但還不能進食，光靠打營養針。他背上有一根針，所以他無法自由活動身體，但與剛手術的那幾天比起來，已經進步很多，真是神的恩典。
後來我們在病房外與他母親談話（當然，不知是希伯來語或俄語，聽不懂），他母親談起家裡幾個孩子都吸毒，憂愁不已，實習生大衛很體貼地安慰她，讓我十分動容。很多讓人感動的畫面，因為不便拍照，實在只能用肉眼來記錄。 底馬還需要更多接續的禱告，請記念他的靈魂得救，身子得贖。
神透過勝利之家祝福也拯救了許多年輕的猶太男性，主要是來自俄羅斯背景的，他們在戒毒結業後所表現出來的體貼有禮，負責與承擔，實在令人激賞。

Testimony from Andre and Oleg

Andre和Oleg的見證

這裡現在有九個實習生，這裡並沒有神學院，但實習生在這裡有神學課程，也有生活教育，像是清潔，維修，粉刷等雜務。實習生來自世界各地，也有本地戒毒成功的信徒，Andre和Oleg就是其二。
Andre是個喜歡耍寶，肢體語言豐富的人，他生長在靠近中國東北的俄羅斯，因為吸毒弄到走投無路，所以申請來以色列。以色列政府出錢讓世界各地的猶太人回到以色列，所以他不需要旅費就回來了。來到以色列之後他繼續吸毒，多次出入監獄，也在監獄中被其他出入教會的人介紹，在教會中出入。他說自己常常早上來教會聚會，下午又在街上犯法弄錢來買毒，就這樣多次出入監獄。終於有一天他再次因為吸毒受審，他對自己說不能在這樣下去了，於是他禱告好讓自己可以進入勝利之家—由David Davis牧師開辦的戒毒中心。很神奇地，法院沒有判他刑，而他也很快地進入勝利之家戒毒。他在那裡待了一年半，算是結業了，然後來到迦密山之光當實習生。32歲，單身。
Oleg是另外一個來自俄羅斯的戒毒結業者，他看起來滄桑很多，我們當中有人猜他40歲，後來才知道他也才32歲，也是單身。因為我們語言不通（他只會說俄語和希伯來語），平時見面只有簡單的問候，有次與他同桌吃飯時，在座有人翻譯，他才說起他的見證。他也是長年吸毒，嚴重時在街上露宿，翻垃圾桶的食物來吃；也曾因犯法想買毒品而被揍 。
想到這些猶太人經歷怎樣的浪子生涯，但得以被主尋回，心中真的對神充滿敬畏，同時也盼望更多人可以為以色列的屬靈空氣禱告，讓人心中的空虛被真神和真理所填滿。

where I stay

我們所在的地方是迦密山上，山下是海法，一個靠近海邊的北方城市。由於這裡考駕照需要花很多錢，對他們來說算不小的負擔，所以帶著國際駕駛執照的我在此還算有用，當有人要跑銀行，超市，或下到迦密市中心另一個聚會點的時候，我就擔任駕駛。
因為這個原因，我已經摸熟了附近的幾個重要地點。海法大學就在5公里外，大學校區很大，有一棟27層樓高的建築，站在頂樓可以看見美麗的海法灣，和以色列與黎巴嫩的交界處。當我站在樓頂往北方邊境看時，我想像著在七八月間這片美麗的平原充滿著炮火，心中有說不出的感慨。
由於教會所在的地方地勢高（約海拔500公尺），在街上散步就可以看見北方的平原，一些特別的點還可以看見海法灣。駕車越過一個山嶺之後，整個北方平原和海法灣映入眼簾，無論白天或晚上，都是極美的景致。
身在以色列，就已經是極大的幸福。可惜這裡許多人還不認識耶穌，他們也為著生活和心靈空虛而煩惱，無法體會這樣的幸福。

迦密山教會--第一次接觸

居住環境介紹
迦密山教會所在的土地上，有三棟建築物。最醒目的那棟半圓形建築就是主要的會堂，地下室包括兒童主日學教室，防空洞和一個禱告室，叫做以利亞的洞。我第二次來時住的建築物叫做迦密山之光，包括主要的辦公室，實習生的宿舍，大廚房大餐廳，Dani牧師的牧師館，和可以容納24個訪客的客房。第一次來，我只進入第一棟；第二次來，我只進入前兩棟；這次是第三次，我終於進入第三棟，完全是女生宿舍。宿舍分成兩層，各有一些房間，也有公用的廚房和客廳。有些房間有衛浴設備，有些房間沒有。
因為我在禮拜天晚上很晚抵達，所以我先住在第二棟的客房。可是因為我是志工，不是訪客（我們應該不用付房錢和飯錢，需要再確認），所以今天（週四）他們從女生宿舍中弄了一間給我，開始了我與蘇丹婦女的第一次接觸。
老實說，今天一眼見到自己房間的時候，十分鬱悶，想裝出很高興的樣子都很難。我見過其他義工的宿舍，雖然不大，但我所見到的是有衛浴也有衣櫃的。而訪客住的客房較大（因為都是兩人或三人房），有衣櫃，若沒有衛浴的房間也會有水槽和鏡子。不過我目前所在的房間（正坐在床上打電腦），沒有衛浴，沒有水槽，也沒有衣櫃。這個房間大概和我在教會的辦公區差不多大，除了一張床，一張小塑膠桌子，想放衣櫃也難。房間裡有一面大落地窗，外面是沒有紗窗的百葉門，再外面是園子。因為是地下室，外面看不到什麼特別的風景。我知道，我又要開始和在印尼時一樣，與蚊子奮戰了。

與蘇丹婦女的第一次接觸
迦密山教會收容了10個蘇丹來的婦女，帶著15個孩子。他們是從蘇丹南部的達爾富逃難來到以色列的。她們的丈夫必須待在以色列的監獄，直到確定他們的身份和意圖為止。這些婦女大部分說阿拉伯語，只有三個會一點英文。他們的孩子多半都還很小，所以不大會說英文。
我對她們的第一印象，就是黑。兩天前，有個志工邀我幫她們按摩臉及手腳，因為她們隔天有機會去探監，我才第一次摸到她們的皮膚，其實很細，不像我們對黑人的刻板印象。他們的手掌和腳掌都是粉紅色的，不像膚色那麼黑，她們也很愛漂亮，手腳都擦指甲油。我拿出香水與她們分享，她們也很歡迎。
經過第一天晚上幫忙抱小孩和搓腳皮，我發現自己很難記住她們的名字和臉。禱告後，想到可以拿相機去幫他們照相，再抓了個上小學的女孩幫我寫下她們的名字，現在我已經可以記得大部分的名字了，不過要認出小孩還需要一點時間。
這些婦女中，有幾個是基督徒，也有幾個是回教徒。因為我和她們還不熟，這些資訊都是別人提供的，希望未來可以較深入的瞭解。
今天當我搬進來的時候，我房間對門的Aida對我說，歡迎我搬進來，她也說，之前有個志工搬進來兩天，就受不了大家這麼吵而搬出去了。我開玩笑的說，我也很吵，我睡覺的時候會打呼。由此可知，她們還是有點擔心別人對她們的想法。下午我出去的時候，買了一盒小西餅與她們分享，希望未來這段時間大家可以相處愉快。（不時傳來孩子大哭聲，雖然我不受影響，但希望這群婦女們與孩子們能和平相處…）

這些天又陸續幫她們照了一些照片， 但還沒用讀卡機存進電腦，以後再與你們分享。