“And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us”. -Luke 9

These past couple of weeks have been extremely busy, it seems, both with new and routine things. I’ve acquired yet another few extra classes lately. A couple of which involve Mineo Moriai. As mentioned briefly before, he is my main associate at the school; a Japanese man who speaks English fluently. He knows much about the Bible and American culture, but does not yet know Christ. He is one of our biggest points of prayer.

We will possibly car-pool weekly to the new class, as it is in a town named あわら (Awara), which is some distance away. We are praying for this to become an open door to witness to him more. Also, I have started a new class that only has two students – my boss and Moriai-san. It has already facilitated some Biblical discussions, and we are hoping for more “water” on his heart in this way. Thank you for your continued prayers for his salvation!

Mia has also started her own class this past week! She is now teaching a 3 year-old girl named さら (Sara). Mia is able to use Bible-based materials, and we are praying that it will not only plants seeds in the young girl’s heart, but also in her family’s (her grandmother is one of my students). There is also the possibility that Mia will be working with me in one of my larger future classes as well. Please keep her in prayer as she is working hard and seeking open doors!

Two Sundays ago we had what’s called お茶会, or a Tea Ceremony, at the church. This is a very formal event for Japanese. It was a good time to witness to some who do not know the Lord. Pastor Emori gave a much longer message than some expected, but I believe it was a very good one. There was a Japanese man that sat next to me during the ceremony. He happened to be saved. While I was away from the table, he spoke to Mia and asked that we would reach Eiheiji to make it “a better place”. We surely hope that the Lord will though ordinary people like us (well, we’re a little peculiar at times, but mostly ordinary)! There was also a couple that accepted the Lord last week after the Tea Ceremony (the husband actually passed away later that week)!

 

We finally got to join our church for tract distribution. For one reason or another, we’ve not been able to join them until now. It involved going “door-to-door”, but not quite in the Biblical sense. We simply put tracts in mailboxes in a somewhat-plotted area. Mia and I gave out gospel tracts and spoke (very little) to people as we walked by them – this seemed foreign to the others (and not just because we’re foreigners)! We still have the vision of starting an outdoor outreach in the city, but it requires more Japanese fluency and perhaps more conducive weather – it has already become cold here and it would not be very realistic with Hannah. Japanese are culturally uncomfortable with initiating conversations with strangers. In-turn, it is very effective for us when we simply ask how someone is, or interact in other ways that they don’t expect. We hope to use this difference to positively influence our church and to reach more people. Please help us pray about wisdom for this – it’s so hard to think that nearly everyone you is dying in their sin without the remedy. We need to reach them!

 

Also, in regards to door-to-door, we were very surprised to have a pair of J.W.s (Jehovah Witnesses) come to our apartment a few days ago. We’ve been spiritually “brought-up” to differentiate good and bad teachings, and have been taught to “endure sound doctrine”, holding to that which God upholds (which we very much should!). We, in the meanwhile however, have also been essentially taught to shun all other denominations that have “wrong doctrine”. It was certainly interesting to, instead of seeking to contend with our visitors, but rather to offer them a drink and pray for them. While some would be offended with this story, it was strangely refreshing to do so with them. The Lord gave me peace with this reminder in Philippians chapter 1:

 

“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice”.

It truly is a daily grief and reminder that hardly anyone around us knows Christ as their Saviour. We may not agree with many things of other groups (especially J.W.s), but if they lead someone to trust in the Lord and to love him with all of their heart, we will no longer be the ones to condemn it. We must all develop convictions and study to know God’s Word, but we mustn’t sacrifice the lost for the sake of “being right”.

Lastly, we had another ministry opportunity at Tanpopoen. It was similar to before: singing and a short Bible message. We are scheduled to return again to give them a Christmas kind-of service. Praise the Lord for a continued door to reach them there! We hope that we will one day see fruit.

Lastly (again): One last note! We’ve been making a point of praying whenever possible when we pass a shrine (there are a lot). One thing we pray is for God to destroy the idols, and to replace them with Christ. Here is a recent picture of one of those shrines.

We don’t know how, but it’s been completely demolished. While we don’t know the events leading to it, but it is certainly a “big deal” to both us and the local people, and we certainly believe in the ability of our God! Please keep praying against the evil that is here, and for the Spirit of the Lord to fill Japan!

 

There are a couple of more updates, but we’ll leave them for the next post. As always, we thank everyone so much for your support and your prayers! You are as much a part as we are.