Dear Praying Friends
Thank you so much for your prayers. Our big official prayer request last year was to be fully supported. We are very grateful to all our supporters because this year so far we are. Another prayer was that we wouldn't be bored if and when we got back. (Although Japan is unreached it can be boring; the same meetings, faces, problems etc). Well, the tsunami took care of that - everyday has been different and exciting and challenging, though we never wished for this tsunami!
1. Tadamitsu
OMF has given a grant from the Sendai Earthquake Relief Fund to our church to open a preaching point and relief centre staffed by church member, Tadamitsu Nishimura. Three years ago our church sent him to New Zealand to study theology and he returned a few weeks before the tsunami. He will give up his job at the end of June and our first decision will be where to locate. Arai Machi is our first choice. The new subway terminal will be located here when it opens in 2013. The station itself will be just south of the Sendai Higashi motorway exit. Arai Machi was hit by the tsunami and the area seaward of it, Arahama, was totally destroyed. Tadamitsu has already done relief work in this area. We are looking for a shop front which is accessible and public. It can be then used to stage relief supplies, or a coffee shop, a 2nd hand clothes shop, Christian bookshop, or short termers could teach English - the possibilities are endless. His first plan would be to work through the volunteer centres, but the needs change with time, and he will learn on the job. Please pray that the Lord will guide us to choose the right place, Tadamitsu's preparation, and for this to be fruitful etc.
2. Higashi
Many of our church members have become more zealous, serious, joyful, prayerful and evangelistic. This is true of Yoshiya Higashi. He is our treasurer and a professor. Because his university has a Christian constitution he has many opportunities to use his influence for the gospel and is getting more and more busy so please remember him.
3. Ministry
At Shichigahama by the time most of you read this the evacuation centres will all be empty and the evacuees will have moved into temporary housing and will face loneliness, higher living costs etc. Pray for us as we must adapt and find new creative ways to minister to them.
4. Christine will be coming back to Japan on 23-24 th June. It is quite a journey: 8 hr bus journey to Bangalore, flight to Hong Kong, another flight to Tokyo and then a 5 hour car drive to Sendai. Esther will be leaving Cape Town for UK on 9th July. Please pray for safe travel.
Thank you for your prayers
No comments:
Post a Comment