After three years, I finally completed the reverent reading and hand copying of the Bible. In July 2019, I fell ill and was admitted to an oncology hospital. Over these years, I have experienced illness and endured significant suffering four times. Time and time again, intravenous drips, targeted therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine became my companions. I entrusted myself to God, and I pulled through.
I look at so many fellow patients who have passed away, and some are lying beside me who are still suffering. My being alive is nothing but the mercy of God on this unworthy child of His.
There was a time during my severe illness when I felt weak and stopped praying. I simply asked God to take me away and spare me from further suffering. I once asked in despair, "God, why will You not completely heal me? I began to reflect within: Have I sinned?"
However, this is grace in disguise; it is through this that we truly know that He is the true God and Saviour. It makes us understand what we should truly hold onto and depend on.
Now, I envy those co-workers in the church who can still serve, and I long to serve with the same passion as I did from the beginning. However, my legs no longer respond to my commands.
I am a believer, and I cannot continue grunting in pain every day. Praying, reading the Bible, and hand-copying the scripture daily are my obligatory lessons. Most especially when it comes to hand-copying the scriptures, sometimes I become so engrossed that I forget to eat. As I wrote and meditated on the scriptures, I began to receive spiritual nourishment and comfort for my soul. During these years of illness, believers from the church visited me in my house many times and prayed for me.
How I long to return to the church, play the piano, offer praise, listen to the pastor's sermons, fellowship with my brothers and sisters, and go out to appreciate the beautiful world that God has created.
But I do not know how much time I have left. I can only stay at home, continue to read and write the scriptures, pray, and praise.
(The author of this article is a staff worker in a church in Anshan, Liaoning Province.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
经历三年的时间，我终于把圣经恭读、抄写完了。2019年7月我生病了，住进了肿瘤医院。这几年经历病痛，大的折磨有四次。一次次、一回回，我与吊针、靶向药、中药“为伴”，交托给祂，我挺过来了。
看看那么多的病友都离世了、身边还有些人躺在那里受苦。而我还能活着，是神怜悯我这草芥不如的孩子。
我曾经在病重的时候软弱过，不再祷告。只求神把我接走，不再遭罪。我曾经灰心过：神啊，你怎么就不彻底医治我呢？我曾经反思自己：是不是犯了什么罪？
可是，这是化了妆的恩典，唯有如此我们才知道祂是真神、是救主。晓悟自己真要紧抓的是什么、倚靠的是什么。
现在啊，我羡慕那些还能在教会事奉的同工，我渴望如当初一样火热的事奉；可我的腿已经不听我的使唤了。
我是信徒，我不能每天在病痛中唉哼。祷告、读经、每天抄写圣经是我的必修课。特别是抄写圣经，有时甚至忘了吃饭。边写边灵修，我得到了灵里的食粮、我得到了抚慰。患病的这些年，教会的信徒多次来我家探望，为我祷告。
多么想再回圣殿弹琴赞美，听牧者的证道；和弟兄姊妹们聚会、交通；出去欣赏那上帝创造的美好世界。
而我不知道余下的时间还有多少，只能蜗居在家里，继续读写经文、祷告、赞美。
（本文作者为辽宁鞍山一教会同工）
病中三年完成抄写圣经全文
After three years, I finally completed the reverent reading and hand copying of the Bible. In July 2019, I fell ill and was admitted to an oncology hospital. Over these years, I have experienced illness and endured significant suffering four times. Time and time again, intravenous drips, targeted therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine became my companions. I entrusted myself to God, and I pulled through.
I look at so many fellow patients who have passed away, and some are lying beside me who are still suffering. My being alive is nothing but the mercy of God on this unworthy child of His.
There was a time during my severe illness when I felt weak and stopped praying. I simply asked God to take me away and spare me from further suffering. I once asked in despair, "God, why will You not completely heal me? I began to reflect within: Have I sinned?"
However, this is grace in disguise; it is through this that we truly know that He is the true God and Saviour. It makes us understand what we should truly hold onto and depend on.
Now, I envy those co-workers in the church who can still serve, and I long to serve with the same passion as I did from the beginning. However, my legs no longer respond to my commands.
I am a believer, and I cannot continue grunting in pain every day. Praying, reading the Bible, and hand-copying the scripture daily are my obligatory lessons. Most especially when it comes to hand-copying the scriptures, sometimes I become so engrossed that I forget to eat. As I wrote and meditated on the scriptures, I began to receive spiritual nourishment and comfort for my soul. During these years of illness, believers from the church visited me in my house many times and prayed for me.
How I long to return to the church, play the piano, offer praise, listen to the pastor's sermons, fellowship with my brothers and sisters, and go out to appreciate the beautiful world that God has created.
But I do not know how much time I have left. I can only stay at home, continue to read and write the scriptures, pray, and praise.
(The author of this article is a staff worker in a church in Anshan, Liaoning Province.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
Hand Copying the Entire Bible During Three Years of Illness
