March/April, 2018

Many students graduate in February and March, and start their new jobs in April.  For those of you reading our newsletters you might remember that in 2017, Manae left us to start work as a preschool teacher in her hometown on Shikoku, a different island of Japan.  Tomoka left to go to work for a hotel.  It's not that far away, but she lives in a dormitory and works a lot of split shifts, especially on Sundays.  So she isn't able to visit here very often.

This year was the year that Akihiro graduated from university.  Akihiro was baptized last year after being a part of Agape for around two years.  Akihiro is fluent in English and his dream was to spend one year living abroad in Australia after graduation.  During his last months of one-on-one Bible study with Murray, Murray was able to have him assist in some historical research for the Sunday messages.  Akihiro prepared a handout in Japanese to accompany the messages that Murray was preaching from the book of Genesis.  Akihiro also gave an oral presentation to accompany the message.

It was hard to say good-bye to him when he left.  He is living in Sydney.  Life hasn't been easy, and we recently learned that his Grandma back here in Japan passed away shortly after he went to Australia and he wasn't able to return.  He was very close to her so this has been a difficult time for him.

In Tokyo, our sweet granddaughter, Emma (pictured below with little sister, Mia) started first grade in elementary school.  While Japanese schools still require a certain style of backpack, the colors are no longer restricted to red for girls and black for boys.  Emma was thrilled to be able to choose a sky blue backpack to carry her books and things to school.  Mia just turned 3 and loves meeting new people.  Pray for their language study and the relationships they are developing in Tokyo.

February, March 2018

As the Japanese fiscal year and school year winds to a close in mid-March, we found ourselves praying for wisdom and evaluating various responsibilities and ministries.  This is the time of the year for shutting down things that aren't working or for starting new things.  This year we mainly made adjustments to the schedule to fit with students' changing schedules and adding some more new students.  We chose not to start any new programs as we both feel that we are doing all that we can at the moment.

The Monday morning group continues but we were disappointed to lose 80 year old Mr. S for an indefinite time.  He is such a lively, friendly fellow and added a unique spark to the class and sometimes stayed for Bible.  His brother-in-law is ill with cancer and it is falling on Mr. S to take him to the doctor every Monday.  So please pray that the seeds of the Gospel planted in his heart will take root and be growing.

About this same time, Mrs. O shared in Bible time that her adult daughter would be entering the hospital during March to have an operation on a tumor that was found on her head behind her ear.  Kathy didn't feel she was well enough acquainted to press for more details or to make a visit, but prayed in class for the situation.  Mrs. O was asking how we can be thankful during times of such shock and pain.  It is so obvious that the Holy Spirit is working there.  The following week, Kathy was at the same hospital for an outpatient visit, walking down a hallway that she usually doesn't use, when she heard her name being called.  (Kathy teacher, Kathy teacher) This is a very large teaching hospital with hundreds of people going here and there.  So Kathy was very surprised.  She looked around and there was Mrs. O, grabbing onto Kathy's arm.  Mrs. O was preparing to leave the hospital after seeing her daughter admitted.  After grasping the situation, Kathy was able to go with Mrs. O up  to the 8th floor and meet the daughter, and pray with both of them right there in the hospital hallway.  Mrs. O kept exclaiming, "I was so troubled.  I kept wishing that I could see you (Kathy). Your faith is so strong and such an encouragement to me."  Kathy couldn't have planned such a timely encounter even if she had wanted to.  God completely orchestrated the meeting in the hallway that day.

Mrs O's daughter's surgery went well, and praise be to God, they were able to remove the entire tumor.  Her recovery has also gone well.   Mrs. O continues to study the Bible to learn more about God.

January, 2018

January, 2018

With the cold winds of January came the beginning of the new year with some new students joining classes.  Mrs. O is one of the new adult students.  A friend invited her to visit the Monday morning adult English conversation class.  Mrs. O is a very cheerful woman who believes in showing kindness to all around her.  She works as a volunteer with handicapped children and young adults.

In fall of 2017, Kathy decided to try having a Bible study (evangelistic) directly following the English Conversation Class.  We have tried numerous methods over the years to include Bible teaching along with our English.  The methods tend to vary a lot depending on the students.  One woman of the 6 members seemed more interested than usual in the Bible and had started visiting Sunday services occasionally. (Mrs. N).  Kathy was concerned though that the level of the messages were too difficult for a new seeker.  Mrs. N became faithful in staying for the Bible studies on Mondays, along with others who stayed now and then.

By January, when Mrs. O joined the class, there were 3 women who were staying for Bible study almost every week.  She was intrigued and she began to stay for the study as well.  The study is called Firm Foundations and starts at the very beginning -- with the Creation.

Mrs Itoh (left) and Mrs. N.

Mrs. Itoh, who was saved and baptized at Agape Bible Church was able to attend one of the Christmas events.  We were delighted to hear that her work schedule which has prevented Sunday attendance for some years, has become more flexible.  Her goal is to start attending services once a month during 2018.  This is a wonderful boost as she is a proficient pianist and loves to play.  So now she is the church pianist once a month.  This frees Kathy up from the piano to take on the role of worship leader/MC for the service on the weeks that Mrs. Itoh serves at the piano.  We are so grateful to see her back fellowshipping with the other believers and also willing to serve.

December, 2017

December, 2017 was a full month of engaging with people, often having conversations related to the true meaning of Christmas.  Because of Murray's similarity in appearance to the likeness that most people think of as Santa Claus, he gets numerous invitations to parties and events.  The most exciting thing about these events is that they almost always include parents.  So these opportunities to share about the true meaning of Christmas with adults provide our largest audiences of the whole year.

Even one of the local Starbucks stores invites us to come and do a program with moms and their kids.

Kathy sometimes joins as Mrs. Claus.  

 Each year Murray is challenged to create a unique object lesson for a story that will lead to the story of Jesus.

For many of the listeners, it is not a REMINDER that Jesus should be the center of our Christmas but, rather, most of them are hearing the story of the birth of Jesus for the VERY FIRST TIME!

 Notice any similarities between the above and below photos?  Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC Japan) loves to dress Colonel Sanders in Santa's clothes each year.  Why?, you may be asking.  Because what would Christmas Eve dinner be without KFC Fried Chicken.  Well, not just KFC's, but roast chicken has become the go-to meal for Christmas Eve, which is either a family dinner at home or a special date night out, if you have a special someone.  In fact, many Japanese young ladies feel very panicked if they don't have a date for Christmas Eve.  It's very interesting how these customs develop in different countries.

Below are a few more photos of our December ministries. 

Children watching a video about the very first Christmas (in Japanese)

 These little girls really enjoyed the special treats.

 These boys were more partial to the popcorn they got to eat during the movie.

These ladies are moms of some of the children.

Mothers of our students

These are some of our youngest students.

How do I choose to value my earthly life?

September 4, 2016 is just a few days away.  It's hard to imagine but, on that date, 28 years ago, we trudged through airports with three exhausted kids, piles of luggage and carryons, to arrive at our dream destination--Japan!!  Murray and I were married in December of 1980, already feeling the call of God to take the gospel to the Japanese people.  Eight years later we were finally on our way.

The first few months in Japan were rough.  We battled pneumonia, asthma, broken washing machines, culture shock, language study, rain, rain, and more rain, mildew, constant dampness, clothes that wouldn't dry--the list goes on and on.

It was during one of my heart to hearts with God toward the end of our first six months that God spoke to me very clearly about our call to Japan and the Japanese people.  He did it through the following verse in His word, in the book of Acts, spoken by Paul during some of his hardships,

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God!" Acts 20:24 NLT

しかし、わたしが自分の行程と、主イエスから受けた務めを全うして、神の恵みの福音を厳かに証しするためには、¹自分の²命を尊いとは思いません。使徒 20:24

We are currently in the United States on Home Assignment.  It has been GOOD.  We have been blessed over and over by dear ones here who have loved on us in so many ways.  We will be here three more months until the end of November.  During the next few months we are hoping to complete visits to all of our supporting churches and also see many of our faithful partners who share  in our ministry through their faithful prayers and financial support.  While here, we are grateful to be able to share the Gospel with some whom God is bringing across our path. (Ask us about the Chinese restaurant in SE Kansas.)  We also look forward with eagerness to our return to Japan to continue the ministry to which God has called us--sharing the Good News about God's wonderful grace with the Japanese people.  So, what is the value of my earthly life?  Nothing, if I cannot be sharing the Good News with others wherever I am and whenever God gives me the opportunity.

Along with us being able to GO to Japan and tell others about Jesus, one of our deepest prayer requests is that God would use us to encourage others to answer His call and become missionaries to Japan!  God has been answering this prayer in some really awesome ways, and I'm excited to be able to tell you more about that in our next blog post!

 Here we are in Nashville with the best ever tour guide, Clint Fields (who also just happened to be our host along with his sweet wife, Amy, during our time there.)

Workers for the Harvest

It has been great to have a Bible college student from the USA join us for a summer of ministry.  

Elia Downey arrived in early June and will be with us until late July.  She is very interested in teaching English to speakers of foreign languages so she has been doing some observation of our English classes and is now starting to become more actively involved in teaching practice.  She is very enthusiastic and friendly, and is enjoying opportunities to spend time with Japanese people. 

We are also thrilled to announce that Paul and Liz Godwin, a married couple about our age, will be joining us from August of this year for a two year ministry assignment.  Paul and Liz have been actively involved in working with exchange students in the USA, particularly those from Japan.  During their assignment here, they are desirous of working with college and university students as well as doing follow-up with Japanese returnees who have studied overseas and have now returned to Japan.  Many Japanese returnees get involved with Christians and churches while they are in the USA but then find it difficult to continue when they return to Japan.  Paul and Liz hope to help make that transition easier as well as train Japanese to also get involved in outreach to international students studying here in Japan.  They will also assist at Agape as they can and Paul hopes to develop some English classes for outreach.  

Refreshing Rains

Rainy season is coming to a close.  I actually enjoyed the occasional rainstorms and, sometimes, the cooler breezes they would bring.  However, there are also those days with super high humidity and now we start adding more and more heat to go along with the humidity.  However, the rains have replenished the earth with moisture and kept the flowers and trees green, so it is something to be thankful for.

We have also been experiencing the rain of spiritual blessings in our ministry and we are so thankful for the refreshment and encouragement that brings!  Mrs. H and Mrs. W, two older ladies, are making the transition from attending only Sunday morning services to studying the Bible in a biweekly Bible study.  The course is "Foundations for Faith".  They both are interested in learning more about what it means to get baptized so this is a key step to learning more about the Christian faith.  Please pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten their study as one mentioned the other day, "The Bible is really difficult, isn't it?".  However, it is a joy to see them also starting to participate in serving.  Mrs. W. always arrives early and eagerly puts out songbooks, or starts water for tea.  Both ladies often stay after to help with anything that needs to be done.

In April, the Lord brought us a lovely young college student, M, who moved to Kobe to attend a nearby university.  A fellow TEAM missionary from her hometown introduced her to our church and she has been faithfully attending.  She is also very eager to do Bible study and learn more about her faith.  She is training to become a preschool teacher so she is willing to help out with the children's story on occasion.

My knee surgery also presented the opening of new doors with two Mrs. Ms.  From two days before the surgery to a month afterwards, I was in the hospital.  I got to know two older ladies, my roommates, very well.  One of them has had connection to an Episcopalian church in her past.  During our stay I was able to share God's love with them on a number of different occasions.  Two weeks ago I was very  excited to see both of them again when I was back for my weekly rehab session.  We had a very good visit and look forward to more.  Mrs. M #1 is age 80 and is already back in the hospital for the surgery on her other knee.  So now I get to see her weekly when I return for my rehab.

The recovery has been slower and harder than I imagined it would be, but I am still encouraged as the pain I have now is the aftereffect of the surgery and will eventually go away.  Please pray that I will continue to be faithful with the daily exercises.