Sara's Testimony

Kia ora everyone, my name is Sara, and I’m from Nanjing, China. 大家好，我叫Sara，我来自中国南京。

Before coming to Christchurch, I spent a long time searching online for a place to live, but nothing seemed right. Then, just two days before my flight, I unexpectedly found an apartment only a few hundred metres from OTBC. At that time, I didn’t think much of it, was it just a coincidence?记得来基督城前，我在网上找房子，一直没有找到合适的，可是就在来基督城的前两天，我意外地在离OTBC教堂几百米的地方找到了一间公寓，那时我并不知道，这是不是巧合？

Now I realise it was God’s plan all along. He had already placed me right at the doorstep of His house. “The Lord directs the steps of the righteous and delights in every detail of their lives.”(Psalm 37:23) 现在回想，那或许正是神的安排，祂早已把我安置在祂的家门口了。【诗37:23】义人的脚步被耶和华立定，他的道路，耶和华也喜爱。

God healed my insomnia  神医治我的失眠   

I first discovered the English class on OTBC’s website and decided to come. My first visit was at the end of June, during the school holidays. It was raining heavily, and I didn’t know the class was on break, so I came for nothing and got completely soaked!我在OTBC的网站上发现了英文课，就想来上，6月底，第一次来OTBC，那正是School Holiday，天下雨，我白跑了一趟，还被雨淋成了落汤鸡。

When I finally came back again, I was warmly welcomed by so many lovely brothers and sisters. They smiled, greeted me, and even invited me to the pastor’s home for dinner. I thought to myself, “Why are these people being so kind? Do they want to start a business with me?”来到教会，那么多的弟兄姊妹，那么热情地招待我，还请我去牧师家吃饭，我就想，这些人为什么对我那么好？他们是不是想拉我入伙做什么生意？

That night we had beef and carrot stew, the most delicious meal my son Ethan and I had eaten in more than twenty days since arriving in Christchurch. After dinner, everyone sat together in the living room for Bible study. I couldn’t understand a word, but strangely, I felt peaceful.当晚我们吃了牛肉炖胡萝卜，是我和儿子Ethan来到基督城20多天以来吃得最香的一顿。吃完后，大家围坐在牧师家的客厅里查经，我一句也听不懂，但心里却莫名地放松了。

When Pastor Jane asked if I had any prayer needs, I said, “I haven’t slept well for more than twenty days. Every night I’m afraid of the dark.” She said, “You must have a lot of worries and anxiety.” I said, “Yes,” but in my heart I thought, “How did she know?”查经后，当牧师问我有没有需要代祷的事，我说：“我已经二十多天没有睡好觉了，每晚都害怕天黑。” 牧师说，“那是因为你有焦虑”。 我说，“是啊。” 我心里想，“你怎么知道的？”

Then she invited me to pray and repeat after her, and I did. Amazingly, that night I slept deeply, all the way till morning. From that day on, my sleep score on my watch has been above 95 almost every night. God healed my insomnia! Not only that, He also healed my fearful and anxious heart.可是，神奇的是，当她带我祷告，我竟然沉沉睡去，一觉睡到天亮。从那以后，我的睡眠指数几乎每天都在95以上。神医治了我的失眠！不只是我的失眠，还有我那颗惶恐不安的心。 

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)【太11:28】凡劳苦担重担的人可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。

A hotpot prepared by God  一顿神预备的火锅 

One night I really missed Chinese hotpot, so I messaged a relative and invited her to join me, but she said she was on a diet. I was just about to go to bed when I suddenly received a message from Weiwei: “Come to my place for hotpot tomorrow!” At that moment, I cried. God had heard even the smallest desire of my heart. He truly is everywhere and loves us in such a detailed and personal way.有一天晚上，我特别想吃火锅，就给亲戚发信息想约她一起吃，她却说在减肥。  我正躺下准备睡觉，突然收到维维姐的短信：“明天来我家吃火锅吧！”  那一刻我哭了。神连我心里最小的渴望都听见了。祂真是无所不在，细致入微地爱我。 

He healed my headache and my heart  头痛被医治

One Saturday morning, I woke up with a terrible headache, but I still wanted to go to church to help with cooking for Alpha. Weiwei noticed how unwell I looked and gently asked, “Can I pray for you?” I agreed. After she prayed, I felt moved to message my husband overseas to apologise, because the night before I’d been upset over something small and had hung up on him. He replied, “You’re apologising? That’s not like you!”有个星期六早上，我头疼得厉害，但仍想去教会参与为Alpha的cooking服事。   cooking小组的维维姐看出我的状态，轻声问我：“我能为你祷告吗？”  我答应了。祷告后，我向远方的老公发了道歉信息，因为前一晚我小事和他生气，居然挂断了他的电话。  他说：“你怎么会道歉？不像你啊。” 

Soon after that, I realised my headache was completely gone. In that moment, I knew God was not only healing my body but also softening my proud and stubborn heart through forgiveness and humility.没过多久，我发现我的头居然不疼了。那一刻我知道，神不仅医治身体，也借着我的饶恕和道歉，来医治骄傲和刚硬的心。 

He brought my lost car back  神使我丢失的车归回

This Monday afternoon, I parked my car on the street outside the school, and it was stolen! I was really anxious, so I called Jane, and she said she would pray for me. Later she sent me a message reminding me that last Thursday, Raymond had noticed the bracelet I was wearing, something I’d bought from a temple for “protection.” He told me to throw it away in Jesus’ name. 这个星期一下午，我把车停在学校旁边的路边，结果竟然被偷了！我着急地打电话给Jane，她说要为我祷告。后来她又发来信息提醒我，说上周四Raymond发现我手腕上戴着一个从庙里求来的“保平安”的信物，他让我奉主的名把它扔掉。

At the time, I was a bit reluctant because it hadn’t been cheap. But Raymond said, “Ask the Lord to show you, this idol charm is actually harming you.” 我当时有点不情愿，因为那个信物不便宜。Raymond说：“求主向你显明，这个偶像的信物其实是在害你。”

After my car was stolen, I felt it must have something to do with my baptism. Jane explained that the bracelet belonged to the kingdom of darkness and needed to be removed so that God’s blessing could come. She said both Raymond and she believed the car would return if I got rid of it. I took it off straight away. God works so quickly! Just after I removed the bracelet, I was told that my car had been found. 车被偷之后，我也觉得这事肯定和我受洗有关。Jane解释说，那是属于撒旦国度的东西，要把它除掉，上帝就会赐福，车也会回来。我当时就信了，马上取下那个信物。神的作为真是奇妙又迅速！我刚把信物取下，就被告知车找到了。

You might think this was just a coincidence, but now I believe that God rules over everything. In His kingdom, there are no coincidences. When I close the door to Satan, he can no longer harm me.你可能觉得这只是巧合，但我相信上帝掌管万有，在祂的国度里没有巧合。当我向撒旦关上门，它就不能再害我。

God’s care in every detail  神在每一个细节里的看顾 

I have so many stories I could tell you, because in just over four months I’ve experienced so many of God’s miracles. My insomnia was healed, my headaches disappeared, my child smiles again, and our life has found peace and direction. I used to think I came to New Zealand simply to give my son a better environment. But now I know God brought us here to save and heal us. “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) 我还有许多的小故事可以告诉大家，神是何等的真实，祂看顾一切有需要的人，这短短四个多月，我经历了太多的奇迹，失眠被医治、头痛得痊愈、孩子重拾笑容、生活步入正轨。   我曾经以为自己只是带孩子来换个环境，但如今我知道，神真正想医治的，是我们的生命。 【诗篇147:3】 祂医好伤心的人，裹好他们的伤处。

Today I choose to be baptised because I truly believe there are no coincidences, everything is part of God’s wonderful plan. He has brought me out of darkness into His light, from fear into peace. I want to give the rest of my life to this loving Lord. 今天我选择受洗，是因为我深信： 没有任何一段经历是偶然的，一切都是主奇妙的安排。祂带我从黑暗走向光明，从恐惧走向平安。  我愿将我的余生，交托给这位爱我的主。 

Thank you, Jesus my Lord, and thank you to my OTBC family, you’ve become my home away from home. All glory be to our God!  感谢主，也感谢OTBC的家人们，你们就是我在异乡的家。  愿一切荣耀都归给我们的神。