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Dear Friends and Family,
During the next two months, Noah will be experiencing life-changing experiences. May 18–25 he will be traveling with his fellow seniors from Christian Central Academy (http://www.christianca.com) to the Dominican Republic. The CCA has been working alongside SCORE International for the past 13 years. Mr. Jeff Hackett of SCORE (https://scoreintl.org) has been training the students all year in order that they may join in the ministry taking place in the Dominican Republic. Please pray for these seniors as they embark on this life-changing experience. Pray that the Spirit will touch them and draw them closer to God as they bless the missionaries and others as they minister there.
On June 24, Noah will graduate from Christian Central Academy and begin the next season in his academic life. We are proud of Noah, how he has quietly transitioned this year from Japan to the US. It was not easy leaving Japan, as he knew that it would be longer than a year before he would see Japan again. Noah has been accepted and will attend Houghton College in Houghton, NY, (http://www.houghton.edu). He is excited to be attending this small, Christian school. He has been accepted in their honors program and to play soccer. We have met with the soccer coach, who is not only interested in Noah’s athleticism but his spiritual life as well. As Paul and I leave Noah on campus this August, we leave him knowing that God is taking care of him and bringing others alongside him who will make a difference in his life.
Paul and I traveled to Japan February 12–21 for a mission team building meeting. It was good to be with our team members sharing and working on being “one” as Jesus had prayed (John 17:21). Thank you to those who prayed for those meetings and to my mom, Linda, who cared for the boys while we were away. After recuperating, Paul was off to continue his visits with so many of our faithful supporters. Thank you to those who have opened their homes to him and blessed him in many ways:
- 2/26 Mission Baptist, Winnipeg, MB
- 3/05 Rowandale Baptist, Winnipeg, MB
- 3/12 Mission Baptist, Hamilton, ON
- 3/19 McClusky Baptist, McClusky, ND
- 3/26 Bismarck Baptist, Bismarck, ND
- 4/02 First Baptist, Plevna, MT
- 4/09 Calvary Baptist, Easton, PA
- 4/23 Pilgrim Baptist, Philadelphia, PA
Our time home is quickly coming to a close, but Paul will continue to visit churches up through July before we return to Japan. We continue to ask for prayer for his safe travels and finding time to be refreshed. Please contact Paul, pemedicus@yahoo.com, if you have any questions about a visitation.
We continue to meet with Reiko, who is studying at the University at Buffalo for this year. She is the sister of one of Jonah’s soccer teammates. She has attended church with us often. Please pray for her, as she has been exposed to the Gospel many times. I pray that as she has experienced life with our family that she will have been touched that we “do” life different because of Christ. We pray that the Holy Spirit will use all she has seen and heard to draw her closer to God. As she finishes her studies here in Buffalo this May and returns to Japan, we pray that we will continue to have contact and point her to God.
I have also been blessed to share with a mom who will be moving to Japan for her husband’s job. It was a wonderful time of sharing and giving her ideas to help prepare the family for the transition to Japan. They will be moving to Kobe, which is only an hour away from where we live in Japan, so I hope we will have opportunities to get together once we return.
Please continue to pray for Shan Reed, Yuri Nakano, and Ken and Rachelle Johnson as they shine for Him in their ministry contexts and communities. Pray for the people of Komyo Christian Church. Two more people have been welcomed as members to Komyo Christian Church. As Jesus prayed in John 17 for unity, please join with us in praying that the believers of Komyo Church would be unified in Spirit as they continue to grow in their relationship with Jesus and with each other. Pray that they will be spiritually protected and that they will continue to seek Jesus and work out their faith.
Blessings,
Paul and Melissa