Prayer Partner Letter February 2013

SO SORRY I HAVE BEEN LATE IN POSTING THESE

Thank you for your prayers. Through the wonderful mercy of God we had 4 baptisms in the last 3 months of 2012. This is something to be so thankful for. And yet none of these people were the tsunami victims we have been trying to reach! The tsunami victims are mostly elderly, country folk and strongly traditional. Please pray that God would give us the words to say and that we would be bold, clear and effective. 

On 14th Feb (Thurs) we are having an evangelistic Bible study in Yamamoto Town. This area was badly hit by the tsunami and according to the church member who books the venue and invites people some of them are close to believing.

On 15th (Fri) Rod is speaking to 1700 high school boys. This is a wonderful opportunity! Pray for the message of the gospel to sink in! We always pray that 200 would come to faith!

On 16th (Sat) we have a evangelistic concert in Shichigahama in the temporary housing. Usually about 30 people come. We have been there many times before and the people trust us, enjoy singing hymns and like hearing the bible message, BUT we want them to accept Christ and give up them their buddhist altars. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to give them the new birth so that they will trust in Christ alone!

On Sunday afternoon (17th Feb) we have the chapel service near the harbour.

Glenda returned safely from South Africa. She teaches English to 10 women each week. Some of them are strongly buddhist. Pray for them to get saved! She also does loads of baking for all the events.

Rod goes to UK from 18 Feb to 11 Mar. Pray that he can be a real help to his parents and that his Dad will recover from his operation quickly.

Miss Y who came for counselling last month has started to attend church in Tokyo. Praise the Lord.

Tadamitsu Nishimura has been our church evangelist reaching out to the tsunami victims in temporary housing for the past 18 months. He has been helping with distribution of relief goods, counselling and evangelism. Tsunami victims will stay in these temporary units for at least another 2 years. The OMF tsunami relief fund will run out in July (we have been told) and we would like to continue this ministry for another couple of years. OMF has set up a Japan Field local project for this called "Ministry of Sendai Evangelical Christian Church" (project number L60117). Please pray for God to supply this need if it is his will.

love in Christ 
from Rod and Glenda

Prayer Partner Letter January 2013

Happy New Year! Thank you for your prayer support in 2012. May God give you your heart's desire this year!

It has been an eventful month. In mid-December we were grateful for the baptism of Mrs Matsui. She says that despite all her trials (divorce, depression, ill-health) she feels the Lord has been drawing her to himself since she was a child and is now so happy to be a Christian. She is now in hospital for a bad back. Please pray for her recovery and growth in grace. 

Rod went to South Africa to join Glenda for 3 weeks. We were able to spend quality time with her mother and it seems that we now have a 5-day/week househelp and care for her. Rod's Dad had a colon cancer op recently and is recovering slowly. Please pray.

Last Sunday, a daughter of a church member, Miss Y stayed behind and wanted to know more about the Lord so please pray for her. She said she will come to the bible study tomorrow. Please pray that she comes to faith and starts going church in Tokyo where she lives.

On Saturday (19th) we have a concert in the Okada temporary housing for tsunami victims in east Sendai. And on Sunday (20th) after the main worship service we have the monthly Sunday Chapel near the harbour. Please pray for God to present by his Holy Spirit. On 29th we have another evangelistic concert in Natori. In all this activity please pray for God to be present by his Holy Spirit and to save many in this spiritually barren country.

Glenda returns from South Africa on 23rd Jan. Andrew- please pray for his safety. Amy and Sam are back in Rwanda, and Amy starts practising medicine in a Kigali hospital on Monday (21st). Christine is learning to drive and doing practical OT in an Oxford hospital. Esther is trying to train up others to serve in the Farnham CU which is well-attended; some students saying that the bible study has become the highlight of their week.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry." Ps 40:1 

Prayer Partner Letter December 2012

We are grateful for the baptism of old Mr Chiba last month. He has diabetes and failing eyesight and weak legs. Despite all that he is joyful with no trace of self-pity and said in his testimony that he had accepted God's will that he was not going to be healthy.  We are close to baptising Mrs M. She is also very cheerful and evangelistic despite bad health. Please pray for them!

Evangelism in the temporary housing continues at a relentless pace. Last week we had another concert in Arai (east Sendai) and we were encouraged by the hunger for the New Testaments and other literature we were giving away. At Natori (south Sendai) the week before, the gospel message was quietly and respectfully listened to. This month the 4 concerts are between 14-16th. Please pray for us that we will be bold and full of the Holy Spirit. There is also carolling at a convalescent home on 22nd.

This year our Sunday service attendance averaged 33 adults. Please pray for the independence of the church with its own land, building and Japanese pastor.

Family News
1. Andrew please pray for his safety. 2. Rod's Dad is having an operation soon so please pray for complete healing. 3. Glenda's Mum needs long-term care in Cape Town. 4. We are meeting for Christmas in Cape Town (Glenda is there already and Rod leaves Japan on 16th Dec, Amy and Sam fly from Rwanda, and Esther and Christine from UK).

Thank you for praying for us. May God pour down many blessings for you and your family this Christmas time and throughout the New Year!