Left to the quality of my outdated iPhone camera, I snapped this quick shot of our street while the family was inside and I was grilling hot dogs. Warmer temps, orange sunsets, plum blossoms and a grill that stays on all point us to a hopeful spring!
Thanks for your continual prayers and support for our family and the people of Japan!
God's Necessary Work • March 2022 Update
"The first person God will reach..."the class of pre-field missionaries - Lindsay and I included - all taking copious notes and attentively listening"...will be YOU."
"Huh? Me?", we both thought sitting in that training facility in Colorado many years ago.
Signing up for mission work, we didn't realize our own transformation process was a key piece to the work we were signing up for. We can't tell you how many times we've come back to that wisdom shared with us just prior to moving to Japan.
March 1st marked our 5th anniversary of living and serving in Japan. And while we have a long way to go in terms of where we want to be...whether it be language, cultural understandingand the most necessary work - our own holiness and joy in Jesus...we can praise God for the work HeHASdone. Over the last several weeks, we've had time to reflect, celebrate, grieve and yet marvel at what GodISdoing.God's necessary work.The work of reaching me. Our family. Mrs. K. The older gentleman who gives us tips on growing our radishes. The local shoe shop salesman who waves tirelessly as we walk by to go to the supermarket. The young mom down the street whose newborn had heart surgery recently. And again...the work of reaching even me. He's so kind to do this. Our Father. Our Heavenly Father who loves us deeply. Who loves us enough to use the divinely placed circumstances of life to grow us - to produce within us a harvest of righteousness:
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it"
(Hebrews 12:11).
God's necessary work will always trump our own plans and agenda. He is bringing forth newness, life change and gospel transformation. In the lives of our friends in Japan and our own. What a good God we serve!
CHURCH PLANTING ... A 1,000 FT. VIEW
We've shared much about our church plant, Azamino Chapel (more on its name in a future update). Our team is also involved in plantingTWOother churches. That's three churches in fellowship together. Though we are separate church bodies, we areONEfellowship. This model of church planting has been utilized in other parts of Japan in our mission's history. 70+ years ago in Northern Japan (Yamagata), our teammate's home church used this same approach. The pastor that is the key voice for this church planting model preached at Denen Grace Chapel (Azamino Chapel's sending church) in January. We found it refreshing to hear a Japanese voice say things like"we must go!", "to all nations", "making disciples". For one of Japan's own - the largest unreached people group - to give these exhortations was encouraging and inspiring. Azamino Chapel is approaching its 2nd anniversary. Pray for its growth and leadership. Pray for the starting of Musashi-Kosugi Chapel. Pray for the Denen Grace Chapel believers to have deeper understanding of mission. Pray also that they would walk deeply with God during this 6th(?) covid wave.
IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS
At Azamino Chapel's February worship service during Kids Worship upstairs, some awesome gospel conversations were happening. The message was on Joseph and his forgiveness toward his brothers and that forgiveness being made available by God through Jesus. Apparently the story made a deep impact on S-kun, Clark's buddy from school. God is working in this little dude's heart. What a praise! Please pray for S-kun. Pray that God would soften his heart and that he would accept Jesus as Lord & Savior of His life. Pray for our WorldVenture colleague, Abigail, who graciously serves Azamino Chapel in the area of kids ministry as time allows during their language study season. And pray for the many children of Azamino Chapel to understand and believe in Jesus!
OTHER HAPPENINGS
Good conversations are being had regarding next steps for Azamino Chapel - budget, worship gathering frequency (currently on a monthly basis) and leadership structure.Please pray for God's grace, direction and blessing upon all involved in reaching the Azamino community for God's Glory!
Additionally, new colleagues will be arriving in Japan (Lord willing!) as of this month. Jeff & Malia Walker (and kids), Danny & Ray Follmer and Alissa Bauer will arrive on March 22nd/23rdafter many months of waiting for Japan's borders to open to new foreign residents. Please pray for their transition, adjustment needs, good good-byes and teamwork. We're excited to have them!
Additionally, beginning April 1st, Lindsay, Gary (fellow teammate) and I will begin a two-month language intensive. Your year-end giving last year helped fund Lindsay and I's tuition. We're excited to build upon what we've learned in the past, so we can more effectively share Jesus with our friends in Japanese! Please pray for a good learning experience and scheduling as this also coincides with assisting our new colleagues' on-field transition.
FAMILY UPDATE
We're in daily awe of God's grace toward our family. Clark and Mollie continue to enjoy life at the local elementary school. Bear enjoys his Japanese bento lunches at yochien and playing soccer with his friends. Lindsay and I have worked hard to take time to rest each week, so we can invest time into God's Word, our marriage and our home. We had some sickness in recent days, but all our bodies feel strong and well again. Thanks for praying! As always, please pray for a diligent mind and heart to shepherd our little people well. Pray that we'd listen to our kids' needs well and invest the proper time into studying God's Word with them.
