From Japan to the United States HAPPY EASTER! CHRIST HAS RISEN…HE HAS RISEN INDEED!
The Lord blessed our day of worship in many ways. We began the day worshiping in our new church. (This was our third Sunday in Okazaki.) After church there was lunch and program/celebration. Michael even had a skit with another language school student. We aren’t exactly sure of the translation, but the punch line at the end was pretty funny…apparently.
After the Easter Celebration we went to a dinner at some of our Japanese friend’s house. They recently returned from the US so the mother had bought plastic eggs for an Easter egg hunt. Tobin was able to partake after dinner in his first egg hunt! The most special part of the evening was when the eldest son performed a skit with his sisters discussing the death and resurrection of Christ. After the skit, which he personally wrote, they performed praise songs for us. What a special blessing and celebration of our Lord!
To give you a better idea of our day we put together a video. Nothing too fancy, but a look at the celebration of Christ from Japan. Many blessing as you now celebrate in the resurrection of CHRIST THE KING…he truly “has opened paradise!”
This past Sunday we attended church for the second time in Okazaki. (This marks our third Lord’s Day in Japan.) We are blessed to have found a church that prays, read scripture, and sings song of praise and hymns. As peculiar as that sounds there are a handful of churches in our town with few attendees and many which no longer preach Christ. We realized in our city of 400,000 people there are probably less then 250 worshiping Christians on Sunday! This is a constant reminder of why we work so diligently to learn the language so we might be used by God to plant churches in this lost country. Please pray for our city and pray for the Christians to stand firm and for opportunities during Holy Week to share the message of Christ with others.
This is the latest update from Peter. He recently returned from a trip up north helping with relief efforts.
Up to this point, the Nagoya Team has made eight trips up to the quake affected areas. These trips brought much needed supplies to the earthquake areas. The work is now shifting toward work teams and volunteers to come alongside those in need and offer further assistance in whatever way we can. Long term efforts will continue helping in clean-up, as well as offering emotional support and caring for the spiritual needs of the people. Recently we traveled to Kamaishi to help a local church there. Kamaishi is one of the towns that was hardest hit by the Tsunami. Our daughter Rita, as well as a nurse, another volunteer and myself traveled by van. We joined with others from our team who were already there helping with volunteers. The nurse and Rita had planned to care for the older women in an evacuation center. Plans changed and they joined us all in shoveling mud and debri to clear the front of the church. They also helped in preparing food for all the workers. It was very moving to listen to residents of Kamaishi speak of their experiences and for us to be a small part of their lives at this time. The response of the Church has really shown the ministry of the ‘Body of Christ’ as each part works together and responds in love.
We appreciate your prayers and support. It truly is a team effort. – Peter
Yesterday we were able to obtain our three year visa. This is such a blessing because now we can purchase cell phones, open a bank account and much more. The first step after having our new residency status was a trip to the town office. Our goal was to submit paperwork for our alien registration. This might sound like an easy task but in fact is VERY difficult. This morning we both prayed the Lord would provide and we wouldn’t have to go back.
Upon our arrival we were pretty confused. Then Michael ran into another student from language school and PRAISE THE LORD he knew enough Japanese to help translate for us. What a blessing! We were able to register and officially Tobin is the only alien in the family. We have to wait about six weeks before we’re considered aliens!
Thanks for your prayers concerning our visas. This is great news for us and we are so thankful to have this step complete.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to worship at Nisshin Church. What a beautiful picture of the universal church. It was beautiful to stand side by side with our Japanese brothers and sisters and worship our Great God.
Our Next Steps
Very shortly we will be leaving for language school in Okazaki. (This is an hour away from our team in Nagoya.) We are moving into our apartment and will be unpacking. As you can imagine this is a good time as we will be in a place and get to stay!
The Lord has already been paving a way for us and answering many of our prayers about our time in Okazaki. There is a Japanese family who recently arrived back from the United States. We had met them two years ago and so our reunion yesterday at church was sweet. This family has actually moved to Okazaki and are graciously going to show us around. We anticipate starting a Bible Study with this family and some other Christians who are in Okazaki and have not found Christian community. Please pray for ministry opportunities, the Bible Study we hope to begin, for the Lord to open doors with Japanese in Okazaki, and our language learning.
Personal Notes
So far we have acclimated well to Japan. Jet lag was minimal for Michael and I. Tobin has struggled to get on a schedule but is physically feeling much better. Last night we had a team dinner and are so excited about the families we have the opportunity to serve with. The time was filled with food, fun, laughter, stories, prayers and celebration of God’s work. We are excited to serve alongside our team and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ is this land where there truly is little to no knowledge of Him! Thank you for your constant prayers and encouragements!
This is a video I created of the Nagoya Team’s work. It is a little over 4 minutes but gives a great picture of where our team is currently partnering and what ministry on the home front in Nagoya looks like.
Continue to pray:
Pray for wisdom as the Japan missionaries meet and best try to form a long-term relief strategy.
Pray as the missionary teams equip the Japanese members to be equipped to serve in Northern Japan.
Pray for all the new contacts in Nagoya who are now connected to the various churches.
One of the trucks from the Nisshin Church in Nagoya returned this morning at 5:30am this morning from Kamaishi-Iwate. This city had massive damage from tsunami. Below I have embedded one of the videos from YouTube of residents taping the tsunami hitting the city.
Our team is partnering with New Life Kamaishi Church. This church has only 15 members. How can 15 members possibly reach this city? The Lord knew. The church is the ONLY place in the damaged area of the city with running water. Many many people from the damaged area have descended upon the church for help. With help from agencies including the Nisshin church in Nagoya deliveries are being made, residents being helped, and construction/clean up projects started.
This morning members of five local Nagoya Churches (inter-denominational) met at the Nisshin Church to load the seventh truck sent up north. (The second truck to Kamaishi-Iwate.) Please pray as the truck is traveling and for the members who will be gone for the next five days. Please also pray as the Nagoya team as they work to potentially create a long to partnership with this church!
The Lord is moving throughout Japan. It is amazing the amount of people coming to the churches helping and in need. Many many open doors for the Gospel!
