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Contents: Catching up #2: April - July 2017
1) He is Risen! Easter in Tokyo
2) Kumamoto Disaster Relief Follow-Up
3) Building NEW Bridges in Tsukishima
4) Prayer Requests
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1) He is Risen! Easter in Tokyo
On April 16th, Easter Sunday, Grace Harbor Church celebrated our 2nd anniversary of weekly worship. We currently average a core of about 65 local adults & kids (not including missionaries or out of town visitors) on a Sunday morning. However, on special occasions like Easter, or a visiting mission team, it can get pretty crowded with more than 100 total people. Pray with us that God would grow our maturity as a young congregation.
On Good Friday, we had the unique opportunity to host a performance of the ballet "Messiah" by the ABC Ballet company in our local Toyosu Civic Center Hall. A beautiful and well-performed visual interpretation of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ through ballet. We were so encouraged to have over 250 people in attendance, and even had a nice article published by "Christian Today" - a Japanese Christian news source.
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2) Serving Temporary Shelters in Kumamoto
 About 1 year after the devastating earthquakes in Kumamoto (about 600 miles southwest of Tokyo) I returned with a group of 6 from Grace Harbor to continue support of ongoing ministry by local Christians in the temporary shelters. A total of about 4,300 of these temporary homes have been built in various communities around Kumamoto city.
 We particularly worked with one local Christian family (father and son pictured on far right) picking up trash and supporting their community in other tangible ways. We were glad to help strengthen their ties to the leadership of the temporary housing community where many of their displaced neighbors live.
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3) Building NEW Bridges in Tsukishima
Grace Harbor Church has targeted the residential Tokyo waterfront communities around the man-made island of Toyosu (where we live). Our outreach events to date have been very Toyosu centered.
One of these nearby communities is called Tsukishima, where our pastor Seima lives. There are already 6 physical bridges connecting greater Tsukishima to mainland Tokyo and other man-made islands. This summer we particularly focused on investing in relational bridges, as we look to starting a second GHC worship location there in the next few years.
#1) June 24: Jazz & Gospel Lunch @ Spain Club in Tsukishima
 Two Grace Harbor members - Yukari, a young Jazz pianist who was baptized last Christmas, as well as Tomomi ("Donna"), a professional gospel music singer who was baptized 2 years ago - headlined this music driven outreach event. We had about 185 total attendance, many who were attending a Grace Harbor event for the first time. Thanks to Christ Church East Bay (Berkeley, CA) for their help!
#2) June 28-30: American English & Culture Program @ Tsukudajima Elementary
 A large team from The Journey (St. Louis, MO) enabled us to visit all 21 classrooms in the local Tsukishima elementary school where our pastor's kids attend. Our pastor Seima is head of the PTA and was able to arrange this culture exchange event with the school principal. It was a great success and was even written about on the school website. We did not share Christian content during the program, but Seima is well known in the community and we were able to "show" the positive impact of our church and strengthen our pastor's reputation with the school.
#3) July 24,25 - Kids English Week @ Tsukishima Sports Plaza
 We have been running Kids English Week programs for 6 years now, but this summer was the first time to host an event in Tsukishima. We had about 45 kids in two classes, and had a great time connecting with new families. Thanks to Covenant Life Church (Gaithersburg, MD) and Korean American Campus Mission (KCM) from Southern CA for all their help!
#4) August 1: Jr High & Elementary Basketball Clinic @ Tsukudajima Elementary
 In our third year of hosting a youth basketball camp in partnership with Elev8 from Columbia Presbyterian Church (Columbia, MD), we held a special 1-day clinic for Tsukudajima elementary and junior high basketball programs.
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4) Prayer Requests
- Please pray for new Grace Harbor Church lay leaders, staff and interns in the years ahead. Back in March 2017, at the end of previous ministry year, we had 8 staff (5 Japanese, 3 missionary) serving with Grace Harbor Church. Soon after, 2 interns finished their terms and 1 Japanese pastoral staff was sent out to plant a new church. By March of next year, another full-time Japanese staff will be leaving to start seminary and a 2-year missionary from Singapore will be completing her term.
We are thankful for how God is sending people out from Grace Harbor into new ministries, but please pray with us that God would raise up more Japanese lay leaders and provide new Japanese staff and/or interns to serve with Grace Harbor as we continue to grow and serve our community.
(GHC Staff & Interns will reduce from total of 8 this past Spring down to 3 next Summer)
- Please continue to pray for Sarah's ongoing health. Sarah's energy level and stamina are much improved, but joint pain is still her most challenging symptom. Prescription medication for fibromyalgia as well as dietary supplements have helped a lot, but weather changes, over exertion, etc. can still bring significant pain. Ministry life with 5 kids always keeps us on our toes. Pray for God's continued sustaining grace and wisdom as we continue to serve here in Toyosu.
- Please pray for our kids who start school this week in Tokyo. Olivia and Annabella start their second year at Christian Academy in Japan (1 hr train ride away). Big steps for both of them as Olivia starts high school and Annabella begins middle school. Calvin, Gideon, and Sophia start a new year of home school. Gideon has been asking all summer when he will finally start 1st grade! Sophia is eager, too, for when she can finally "do school" with her siblings.
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