Dear Praying Friends,
This was a recent Mainichi headline.
"Deputy PM Okada should fight against rapidly aging population, not political foes".
Hmmm, poor old people in Japan, and what a mean politician!
Another news headline says that Sendai is growing due to the influx of tsunami evacuees and companies doing reconstruction.
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120215p2a00m0na004000c.html
Let's pray for the spread of the gospel. We are in the midst of a very busy time and have mini-concerts at Temporary Housing Sites every week leading up to a big Billy Graham Evangelistic Association event in March. These concerts are a great opportunity. Local Japanese musicians sing and give their testimonies and then Rod speaks, usually explaining the cross of Christ and applying it. Last time they even clapped (though they didnt shout 'encore')! Usually about 20-30 people attend. The church members led by Tadamitsu help out and chat to them too which is good for their spiritual growth. We are hoping these can develop into worship services. On Saturday (18th) we are having two concerts at Shichigahama.
We also hear more survivors' stories. One woman told us how they were late evacuating from their house near Sendai airport. She saw the water carry off their car and went up to the 2nd floor. As the water rose further she went into the loft and was rescued by her son who broke through the roof. They spent a freezing night up there not daring to sleep. Her husband had swam to a pine tree and climbed it. But most buildings and trees in that area were washed away. There are many such tales. God has rescued them to be rescued again... May 'they give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men' Ps 107:8, 15, 21, 31.
Regular ministry continues at Sendai Evangelical church with 30-35 adults present each Sunday. Please pray for the church to get its own land, building and pastor.
Christine returned safely to Hebron. She had a transient but complete loss of vision in one eye last week which was frightening for her and us. She is having tests to diagnose the cause. Please pray for her.
Glenda is busy with English classes and mountains of baking for these concerts.
Thank you for your prayers!
love from Rod and Glenda
PS Am reading the 'Cross of Christ' by John Stott. It's an easy read, written in good English, in depth about the best of subjects.
Thursday 16 February 2012
Prayer Partner Letter January 2012
Dear Praying friends,
Thank you for your prayers! May you all have a very happy and blessed 2012.
1. We are so grateful that all of our children came out for at least 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year. What a blessing! But now they have all gone back.
2. On Monday we had a evangelistic concert at a temporary housing site for tsunami victims. About 30 people came and the gospel was proclaimed. There was a good atmosphere but please pray for God to open hearts. In the next 6 weeks we have 8 such concerts. Many of the victims are elderly and traditional and set in their ways. Also they are housed according to the areas they come from. So it is quite likely that they have the same neighbours - which always makes it difficult to strike out on their own. But grace can overcome the fear of man.
3. Christine is having her first university interview today (11th) at Oxford Brookes and on 18th at York, to do Occupational Therapy. She has managed the UK train system better than she feared but would appreciate your prayers for the offer of a place.
4. Mr High Bridge, neighbour to the church is now regular at services- please pray for his conversion..
5. We thank God for the believers in the church for their faith, cheerfulness and cooperation though some of them have severe trials.
6. Tomorrow we have another Bible Study in Yamamoto about 1 hours S of Sendai - four ladies who seem to be interested in the gospel.
7. Let's keep praying for revival in NE Japan as elsewhere. But God would have us also pray for boldness in telling the gospel - Acts 4:29-30.
love from Rod and Glenda
Thank you for your prayers! May you all have a very happy and blessed 2012.
1. We are so grateful that all of our children came out for at least 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year. What a blessing! But now they have all gone back.
2. On Monday we had a evangelistic concert at a temporary housing site for tsunami victims. About 30 people came and the gospel was proclaimed. There was a good atmosphere but please pray for God to open hearts. In the next 6 weeks we have 8 such concerts. Many of the victims are elderly and traditional and set in their ways. Also they are housed according to the areas they come from. So it is quite likely that they have the same neighbours - which always makes it difficult to strike out on their own. But grace can overcome the fear of man.
3. Christine is having her first university interview today (11th) at Oxford Brookes and on 18th at York, to do Occupational Therapy. She has managed the UK train system better than she feared but would appreciate your prayers for the offer of a place.
4. Mr High Bridge, neighbour to the church is now regular at services- please pray for his conversion..
5. We thank God for the believers in the church for their faith, cheerfulness and cooperation though some of them have severe trials.
6. Tomorrow we have another Bible Study in Yamamoto about 1 hours S of Sendai - four ladies who seem to be interested in the gospel.
7. Let's keep praying for revival in NE Japan as elsewhere. But God would have us also pray for boldness in telling the gospel - Acts 4:29-30.
love from Rod and Glenda
Prayer Partner Letter Christmas 2011
Dear Praying friends,
Thank you for your prayers and support this past year and we wish you a really happy Christmas with Family and friends and a blessed 2012. We are writing to all our supporters personally but it will take a little time. We hold all of you in very high regard because the work couldn't progress without your partnership.
On Saturday we had 40 people attend a Christmas party at a temporary housing venue and we had many opportunities to share the gospel. About half the church members turned out to help and we are so grateful for this level of involvement.
This Sunday (a few hours after you receive this) we are having another one at a different venue and are catering for 80 people. A church in Tokyo is helping us which is great too. Then on 23rd we are going carolling to several of these venues. We find many of the tsunami victims are friendly, eager to relate their experiences, grateful for our work but as soon as we talk about the Lord they say they are devout Buddhists. Pray on for revival. A neighbour, Mr Takahashi has started coming to church - please pray for his conversion.
We are so grateful to have all our children coming this Christmas. We never dreamed this would happen. Esther is in the air and touches down tomorrow. Christine flies from Delhi on Tuesday and Amy and husband Sam arrive on Christmas Day. So there will be 7 of us! Amy is a junior doctor in Glasgow but is finding the hospital understaffed and badly organised, for example she has to look after 90 elderly patients who she has never met before, which can't be good for doctors or patients. Christine has to go to UK from 7-20 Jan for university interviews. She is hoping to study Occupational Therapy.
It was -2C last night so it looks like we are in for a cold winter!
God bless you all
Thank you for your prayers and support this past year and we wish you a really happy Christmas with Family and friends and a blessed 2012. We are writing to all our supporters personally but it will take a little time. We hold all of you in very high regard because the work couldn't progress without your partnership.
On Saturday we had 40 people attend a Christmas party at a temporary housing venue and we had many opportunities to share the gospel. About half the church members turned out to help and we are so grateful for this level of involvement.
This Sunday (a few hours after you receive this) we are having another one at a different venue and are catering for 80 people. A church in Tokyo is helping us which is great too. Then on 23rd we are going carolling to several of these venues. We find many of the tsunami victims are friendly, eager to relate their experiences, grateful for our work but as soon as we talk about the Lord they say they are devout Buddhists. Pray on for revival. A neighbour, Mr Takahashi has started coming to church - please pray for his conversion.
We are so grateful to have all our children coming this Christmas. We never dreamed this would happen. Esther is in the air and touches down tomorrow. Christine flies from Delhi on Tuesday and Amy and husband Sam arrive on Christmas Day. So there will be 7 of us! Amy is a junior doctor in Glasgow but is finding the hospital understaffed and badly organised, for example she has to look after 90 elderly patients who she has never met before, which can't be good for doctors or patients. Christine has to go to UK from 7-20 Jan for university interviews. She is hoping to study Occupational Therapy.
It was -2C last night so it looks like we are in for a cold winter!
God bless you all
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