Thanksgiving for The Lifeboat Fund From God (1)
December 2023
As we draw near Christmas, we want to take a break from our series of posts on “Bringing up Sara” to give thanks to God. This is a series of thanksgiving reports from our community in China.
Last November, the Lord impressed upon Sara, after our retreat in Pai, to start a Lifeboat Fund to help our brothers and sisters in China, which was under a hard lockdown. You can read it in the post: https://www.communityofbrokenspirit.org/blog/2023-don-t-be-a-dumb-elephant
The Lord’s timing is perfect, as usual, the Fund was specifically set for only four months, past Christmas 2022, through the Lunar New Year in January, until March 2023. Here are some of their testimonies and thanksgiving messages which are shared with permission, translated to by COBS members in Singapore.
** Names and certain locations have been changed for their privacy and protection.
Xin
I am a breast cancer patient living alone in a remote village of Zhangye. With the support of national welfare, I was preparing to find work in Lanzhou when my physical condition gradually improved. I am very grateful to the Lifeboat Fund. I was struggling financially in Zhangye and was dealing with health issues such as loss of physical strength and facing a lot of stress. When I contracted COVID-19 and lay in bed in the winter, alone without any family members, God and the sisters in Christ were truly a light in my despair. Lying on my sick bed, I found hope in the word of God. I believe that God will not let me go without food or water, warmth or sustenance. Throughout the winter, it was by this grace of God that helped me pass through the most difficult times. Thank you God, thank you, my sisters in Christ.
一个人生活，乳腺癌患者，身体生活都在向好的方向前进，已经申请了国家的低保，准备到兰州找工作！对救生艇基金的这笔资助，很感恩。因为一个人在张掖，经济的窘迫，身体不舒服，没有体力，心里各种压力，因为有上帝，有姊妹，才让我在疫情中，身边没有一个人，没一个亲人，又有病，在冬天，真的是绝望中有光亮，得了新冠的那几日，躺在床上，也是上帝的话语让我有希望，上帝不会让我没吃没喝，受冻挨饿，所以，整个冬天，靠着上帝的恩典也让我度过最难的时候，谢谢上帝，谢谢姊妹们。
Zhang
Zhang is a full-time preacher who has been living by the faith for over 20 years. She writes: “I am a divorcee, with a daughter who is currently studying for the middle school entrance exam. I am extremely thankful to God, my sisters in Christ and the Lifeboat Fund for their help and support during the darkest moments of our lives. In the most challenging and anxious of times, their assistance has helped us get through them. The Lord has truly not forsaken us! 20 years ago, I made a covenant with the Lord and dedicated myself to His service. I would be willing to go to prison, if it is the Lord’s will.”
离异，带一个女儿，今年中考。她是全职传道人，靠信心生活20多年。
非常感谢主，感谢姊妹们，在最落魄最难熬，焦虑的日子，这笔资助帮助我们度过生活中最黑暗的时刻，主从来没有忘记我和女儿！在20年前我就与主立约，我愿意把自己献给主，我愿意为主下监牢！
Madam Yu
We are an elderly couple. We work on our farm at home. Thanks to the Lifeboat Fund, we have been blessed with a bountiful and comfortable winter where we were able to keep warm. We were able to cover our heating expenses for the winter and celebrate the Chinese New Year. One of our grandsons has been able to find a job, and the other has returned to school. Life is back to normal now thanks to the blessings from our Heavenly Father! Our daily morning worship to the Lord brings us peace and joy. May our household continue to be blessed by the Lord!”
两老人在家种地，过了一个丰盛温暖的冬天，冬天取暖费解决了，过年的生活费解决了，两个孙子一个已经找到工作开始上班了，一个已经开学上学了，生活已经正常了，感谢阿爸父的大爱，每天清晨的敬拜让我很平安很喜乐。让我的家也越来越蒙福！
Yali
I am a widow with no children. I live alone and have now found work at a friend’s clothing store. I am grateful for the support from the Lifeboat Fund, which has helped me get through difficult times and saved me from hitting rock bottom. With the grace of God, I’ve witnessed love even from fellow believers that I have never met before and have deeply felt the love of God. I thank God and sincerely appreciate the support from my fellow believers!
寡妇、无儿女，一个人生活，已经找到了工作，在一个姊妹的服装店里卖衣服。
非常感恩，资助的基金渡过难关，生活不至于跌到谷底，籍着恩典的帮助，见证了未曾谋面肢体的爱，深切体会主的恩典够用。感谢上帝，感谢神的给予，谢谢各位肢体！
Rui Rui
Ever since my business failed, I felt like I haven't been happy for even a day in the 10 years. All I had was anxiety, depression, and a sense of unease. That is until I met God. I felt that life had hope and direction, especially with the assistance from the Lifeboat fund. It helped us solve a significant problem for our family. All of us live in Xinjiang, and due to the pandemic, we were under lockdown for over 100 days, from summer to winter.
With no income for our family of four, and my sister-in-law being pregnant, I'm truly grateful for the immense love from our Heavenly Father. He provided us with financial aid, allowing us to spend the new year in peace and joy.
What's more, our Heavenly Father prepared an emergency medical kit for us. When I returned home, my family members tested positive one by one. Fortunately, we had the emergency kit, which helped us get through the difficult times. We even shared it with our neighbours and those in need. My grandfather is 87 years old, my grandmother is 83, and my younger brother's baby is only 15 days old, and they all tested positive. I continued to pray and thank the Lord for His blessings. We got through those times, and now, we are all healthy! Thanks to the Lord and our team!”
自从做生意失败之后，我觉得10年了没有开心过，有的只是焦虑压抑和不安的坏情绪，直到遇见上帝，感觉人生有了盼望，有了方向，尤其是这次救生艇基金的资助，帮我们家解决了很大的问题，我们家人都在新疆，因为疫情的原因封闭了100多天，从夏天到冬天，一家4口人没有任何收入，我弟媳还怀孕生孩子，真的感谢阿爸父对我们如此的大爱，给予我们救济金，让我们一家平安喜乐的度过新年，尤其是阿爸父还为我们预备了急救包，当我回家我的家人陆续都阳了，还好有急救包，让我们一家度过了难关，甚至分给邻居和需要帮助的人，我爷爷87岁的老人，奶奶83岁，我弟弟家的宝宝只有15天也阳了，我不断的祷告，感谢主的保佑，平安度过，现在都健健康康的！感谢主，感谢我们的团队！
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