短宣之嗎哪 / Manna for the Short-Term Mission
Shih-Ho Cheng
馬太福音 6:33-34
你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了。
Matthew 6:33-34
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
去年夏天，我們全家滿懷熱忱地報名參加教會的台灣短宣，我們迫不及待地想要與弟兄姊妹一同服事。時間與行程安排似乎都與我們原有的旅程完美契合，這讓我們深信這次短宣是出於神的計畫。
然而，在出發前大約三個月，我的膝蓋受了傷。即使醫生說需要手術，我卻不擔心，醫生評估我有足夠的時間完全康復，能如期參加短宣。我那時的信心仍然堅定－時間似乎安排得剛剛好。
真正的考驗出現在膝蓋手術前的兩天，為了獲得手術許可，我進行了一系列例行健康檢查，結果醫生在我的心臟檢查中發現異常。他們立刻告訴我，必須做進一步的心臟檢測，且通過這些檢測，手術才能進行。就在那一刻，我的信心開始動搖，憂慮也隨之湧上心頭。
隨著一項又一項檢查被加上，我的憂慮漸漸轉為急躁。我很快就發現，看心臟專科醫師和做必要心臟檢查的門診通常要等三、四個月，我連續兩週每天打電話給保險涵蓋的每一家心臟科診所，焦急地希望能有人取消預約，我的急躁最終變成了挫折。
沒想到，神一步一步地為我開路，各項心臟檢查都陸續安排上了，我最終拿到了心臟科醫師的許可，可以進行膝蓋手術。即便如此，我心裡的急躁仍然沒有完全消失。為了避免術後再次受傷，我在手術後的六週內都不能讓右腳著地，只能靠拐杖行走，而那時距離短宣出發只剩七週而已！
我那份焦慮其實並不是因為傷口是否癒合，而是我覺得自己需要「多一點時間」－幾週的「緩衝期」來恢復力量。我覺得傷口癒合後，只剩一週的時間訓練右腳著地走路，這幾乎是不夠的，我需要大量的時間重新學習如何不用拐杖走路。
但這時，我想起神當年賜給以色列人的嗎哪，祂的供應總是剛剛好，不多也不少。我意識到，我不需要擔心時間是否足夠；我只需要相信祂所預備的一切，哪怕只剩最後一週，都是充足的，神在短宣中證明了這一點！儘管我走得慢，行動也不方便，但仍能參與服事。每當我覺得自己能力不夠時，神就讓我明白，是祂在前面引領！
Last summer, our whole family enthusiastically committed to joining our church's short-term mission. We eagerly anticipated serving alongside our brothers and sisters. The timing and logistics seemed perfectly aligned with our existing travel plans, giving us great confidence that this mission was God's plan.
Then, with just over three months to go, I injured my knee. Even though surgery was necessary, I remained unfazed. My doctor estimated I had more than enough time for a full recovery, allowing me to participate as planned. My faith was unshaken; the timing still felt impeccable.
The real challenge came just two days before my scheduled knee surgery. During routine health screenings required for clearance, doctors detected irregularities with my heart. I was immediately told I needed additional cardiac testing before the knee operation could proceed. Suddenly, my faith began to falter, and worry took hold.
As one required exam led to another, that worry quickly escalated into impatience. I soon discovered that appointments for cardiologists and the necessary tests were typically booked three or four months out. For two solid weeks, I made daily calls to every cardiologist covered by my insurance, desperately hoping for a cancellation. My impatience boiled over into frustration.
Then, appointment by appointment, everything suddenly started to fall into place. I was finally cleared by a cardiologist to have my knee surgery. But even as God provided, however, my impatience lingered. To avoid re-injury after the surgery, I could not put any weight on my right leg for six weeks, meaning I was bound to crutches. And this was barely seven weeks out from the mission kick-off.
My lingering impatience wasn't about the healing itself, but about my need for an extra "buffer" time—a few weeks to truly get strong. I felt that the single week remaining before the mission was barely enough; I would be spending most of it simply relearning how to walk without crutches.
But then, I was reminded of when God provided manna for the Israelites. His providence was always sufficient. I realized I didn't need to worry about being given enough time; I just needed to trust Him that what He had provided—down to the very last week—was enough. And He proved it on the mission. Although I walked and moved at a slower pace, I was still able to serve. Whenever I felt I fell short, He made sure I knew He was leading the way.