天鄰基金會在中國大陸辦教育事工已經約二十載，而且都得到當地教育局、老師、家長 及學生們所歡迎。工作包括重建了十二所農村小學，為農村小學生而設的暑期兒童班，每年提 供數百名高中助學金，為助學金學生舉辦青少年夏令營，每年兩次的英語敎師培訓班等等。自 從中國三年前國家改變政策，對海外非政府組織加強管控，特別是有宗教背景的團體，一切活 動改為公安局及國安局批準，而非以往的教育局批準，我們的工作被一一叫停，但是沒有給予 理由，唯一剩下的就只有高中助學金。
天鄰自今年年初開始，探討中國以外的敎育事工，曾到中亞、東南亞及中東等地區，最 後選擇了吉爾吉斯坦。吉爾吉斯坦與中國、哈薩克接鄰，可說是中亞細亞政策最寬鬆的內陸國 家，1991 年脫離俄羅斯統治獨立，國家語言是吉爾吉斯語，官方語言至今仍是俄語，而英語越 來越受到重視。2018 年人口約 622 萬，78% 的人是回教徒。這個回教國家聚集了不同民族，主 要有吉爾吉斯坦人、烏茲別克人、俄羅斯人和東干人等。失業率和離婚率甚高，民族衝突、貪 污和貧窮問題極其嚴重。
From July 22 to 29, a 10-member education team started the first English Youth Camp in Kyrgyzstan. A local Christian ministry assisted in selecting 60 students from elementary and high schools. Students were divided into three groups. The youth camp had a very rich program with its theme on love. The program used First Corinthians as reference. In addition, group games, singing of famous songs around the world, English classes, crafts, and dodgebee were part of the program. The theme song is on Galatian 5:22-23. The team was surprised that even though Kyrgyzstan is a Muslim country, Christian messages were allowed if given in a school and not publicly. They gave praise to our Lord for this wonderful opportunity to witness.
May God bless you abundantly!
Sincerely,
James Lau, M.D. Board Chairman