We are not sure if the most recent earthquake which happened approximately 3 hours ago will make American news channels, but we wanted to send a quick update in case you do wake up to the news.

There was a 7.1 aftershock/earthquake that hit Northern Japan Saturday night (EST). Originally they anticipated a tsunami of 1 meter but from what we have heard/read there were only very small waves. We did not physically feel the quake in Okazaki and from reports everyone from the Nagoya team is okay. We personally have not heard from the Tokyo MTW team, but usually no news is good news.

Thank you for your continual prays. Please continue to pray for Japan and the hearts of the many Japanese affected by these scary aftershocks. Many of the moms at church expressed great fear to Cathalain as they talked about the most recent quake. Please pray these will be inroads to share the Gospel with so many questioning life right now.

“Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.” – Psalm 119:76

This link takes you to an excellent overview of the recent trip our team took up north.  Our team is currently focusing on taking teams from the church to help with the recovery.  During this trip the group had the privilege and opportunity to share in the public schools!  This was an amazing opening by God and we pray he will use the time in the school to open the hearts of the Japanese and build relationships between the Christian church and the community.

The Persecuted Church
When Japan ended its isolationist policies and opened the country to foreigners many came to Japan including the first missionaries. During this period Christianity grew and there was a revival happening in the hearts of the Japanese. After two generations the new emperor did not like how Christianity taught that men were equal and God was above men as it opposed his desire to be supreme over all men. He banned Christianity in Japan and the brutal persecution of the Christian Church began. If Christians would not step on the face of Jesus (you can see a picture in the previous post.) and renounce their faith they were tortured and eventually killed.

This past week a Japanese friend took us to the Buddhist temple in Nagoya where many of the Christians in Japan at this time were executed. Today there is a small museum with artifacts from this era showing how Christians hid symbols of the faith in everyday items. All those who wished to abolish Christ are long dead with only artifacts and markers to remember them yet Christ is still alive and His church grows in Japan. We witnessed first-hand the growth of God’s church in Japan as two people were baptized in our church here in Okazaki. It was great to hear their stories of how the Lord worked in their lives to bring them to a saving faith. Please pray for the continued growth of the church in Japan and for many to know Jesus as their Savior.

Relief Work Update

Our team took a week long trip to northern Japan in late June. Unfortunately it was during exam week and I was unable to participate. Instead of trying to recap the trip we thought it better to send you to our team leader’s blog to see the comprehensive overview of the trip. http://newsomesinjapan.blogspot.com

Exams and Rest

This past month I completed my first quarter in language school. Praise God I passed all my exams and will start my next quarter tomorrow. (Cathalain will be starting in the beginner class.)

One of the first outings we had during the quarter break was to visit our team leaders in Nagoya. I was able to sit in on a Japanese Bible Study and then Cathalain and I were able to discuss our future in Japan with our team leaders and better know how to prepare for life after language school. In addition to meeting with our team leaders we were able to fellowship with other teammates (who we really just met upon our arrival) and continue our weekly Bible Studies.

The highlight of our break was spending a few days with the Japanese family we are closest with. They were able to get a discount to a traditional Japanese hotel in a nearby town so we went to spend a day there with them. This was a great time of fellowship and building of relationships. We also were able to tour a famous Shinto shrine and could see this huge Buddhist statue looking down upon us from a hill overlooking our hotel. It is really overwhelming to see such large structures of idolatry all around. (We’ll discuss this more in another letter.) Please pray for the millions of Japanese who pray to many gods but don’t know the ONE, TRUE, LIVING God.

Prayers and Praise to God

Thank you for your faithful prayers. New requests are below.

As we studied in 3 John tonight by partnering through prayers and finances you are with us and you are specifically ministering to the Japanese. Please be encouraged by God’s work and know your sacrifice and partnership are eternal!

July Prayer Requests

• Pray for the beginning of our new language school term. Pray especially for the transition of Tobin into “day school” and Cathalain as she transitions to a fuller and more intense schedule.
• Pray as Michael prepares to preach in September. Pray also for the hearts of those who will be there to be open and challenged by the Gospel.
• Pray for God to raise up a Japanese national pastor to work with upon finishing language school. Pray for wisdom in where God desires for us to plant a church. The need is great everywhere so pray this decision would be clear!

On Tuesday we met a Japanese friend in Nagoya who took us to see firsthand where Christians were tortured and persecuted. You won’t find this “attraction” in any English tourbook but our friend knew of the temple because her Jr. High class toured the museum. Not only had she toured the Buddhist temple, but this was her family’s place of worship. She is now a Christian and amazed how even early in her life God was exposing her to the Christian faith although her family was worshipping Buddha.

The best way to show you the temple is through the pictures.

This is the entrance to the Buddhist Temple.

Outside the temple was a sign in Japanese and English explaining the historical occurrence of the persecution of Christians.

This sign was put up throughout the town to announce Christianity was banned.

This is the box Christians were told to step on to renounce their faith. Otherwise they were tortured and killed. At least 200 in this location refused and died martyrs.

This is inside the Buddhist Temple today.

We can’t remember exactly what this marker was, but it is placed in the cemetery where many of the Christians were executed. We think it is in remembrance of the Christians.

This is the sign in the park next to the temple where criminals and Christians were killed. The dead bodies were often used for scientific experiments.

This past weekend we went to Gamagori with some Japanese friends. Our family benefited from a company discount and appreciated such wonderful guides. We stayed in a traditional Japanese hotel/onsen (Japanese hot tub.) On Saturday we toured Takashima Island which is a nationally protected Shinto Shrine, a museum in honor of a Japanese man who won the Nobel Prize, and then a local aquarium. This was a great time of fellowship and a great learning experience as we continue to better understand Japanese culture. As we often like to do we will give a tour through pictures.

If you click on the pictures and use the arrows below the pictures you can navigate through the slideshow. (The titles give a brief explanation of the pictures.)

[Show as slideshow]