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Dear Family and Friends,
Though I missed being in Japan, I enjoyed Easter celebrations back in Edmonton, AB, Canada. It was good to celebrate with family and friends and get re-connected with many whom I haven’t seen in a long while. Celebrating our Risen and Living Saviour is a great start to my home assignment year. I look forward to sharing about Japan and meeting up with many of you throughout the year. It’s been over 4 years since my last home assignment and hard to believe that so many years have passed already.
The picture above shows the ladies of the Aichi prefecture area (3 churches) gathering together at the end of February to study God’s Word. Shan Reed and I have been leading these Ladies seminars for several years at the Komyo Church. One of the pastor’s wives has attended nearly every one and she has spread the word that these seminars have been an encouragement to her. Other churches wanted this as well and thus began our first ever Aichi chapter! The ladies were very excited and encouraged to gather together to share and to study together. They definitely want this to continue. The vision is to start more of these seminars in Mie prefecture and also in the Kyoto areas. I hope to be a part of this when I return for another term in Japan.
The second picture shows what the ladies at the Nagoya Inokoshi Church and their seeker friends made last February 28, when I visited and shared about “faith” and what that means during their Ladies Open Day. There are many things that we unconsciously put our faith in as we live our daily lives. However, we need to have faith in the most important life-changing truth of our Creator God and Jesus Christ as our Saviour. The seekers who attended were challenged to make a decision to put their faith and trust in the resurrected Jesus.
On March 26-27, the JBC youth had a spring camp. The theme this year was on “Truth or Lies.” The youth were challenged to know how to distinguish Truth and to live by it. The picture is of the youth making “takoyaki” (octopus balls) for supper. The camp was highlighted by good testimonies, worship, and fun fellowship. It is always encouraging to spend time with this generation.
On April 14, the Heijo Christian Church celebrated with an installation service of their new pastor! It is such a wonderful answer to prayer. The church members were pleased that their church was filled with close to 50 people who came to celebrate from the other JBC churches. Pastor Keisuke Yamamoto is a huge encouragement to the church who have been praying for a pastor for over six years. Praise the Lord for answered prayer!
Thank you for your partnership with me through your prayers and support.
In His Love and mercy,
Yuri Nakano
My upcoming church visits and travel schedule:
May 12: Edmonton Japanese Christian Church
May 13-15: Sumas, WA, NAB Retired Workers’ Retreat
May 17-18: Cochrane, AB, wedding
May 19: Calgary, Pavilion of Hope Church
May 26: Edmonton, Zion Baptist Community Church
May 28-30: International Office Visit, CA
June 2: Valleyview, AB, Emmanuel Baptist Church
June 5: Edmonton, Rabbit Hill Baptist WMF
June 9: Smoky Lake, AB, First Baptist Church
June 17-28: Eastern Canada trip with my sister
June 29: Leduc, AB, First Baptist Church
July 7 : Camrose, AB, Century Meadows Baptist Church
July 28: Calgary, AB, Hawkwood Baptist Church