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Reading outside the St. Paul public library.
Before the Triennial Conference, I was able to spend some time in South Dakota and Minnesota with family and friends. I enjoyed hikes and drives (only driving on the left side of the road once!), watching sunsets, eating lots of delicious food, and having many conversations. Thank you all for your hospitality!
The evidence of a fire in my former condo has been considerably reduced. It looks beautiful with new wallpaper and flooring, as well as a new kitchen. Before it was officially put on the market, I invited my neighbors and friends who helped me clean and pack to come see the renovations and have a little tea party, on the floor. Although I had casual relationships with my neighbors before the fire, God has provided opportunities for these relationships to deepen. I have enjoyed getting to know these women and their families, even getting to hold a new grandchild while I had tea with his grandmother! I am praying that the peace of Christ in me will be evident and attractive to my friends.
Yuri and I continue to have the opportunity to study God’s word with ladies around the JBC. Since my last newsletter, we have been to two churches and will have seminars about once a month in the next quarter, also. Sometimes there are several churches who join for a seminar, which gives us quite a large number of participants who have discussions in small groups around tables. Sometimes just one church gathers, which means we often have discussions all together. Either way, I love hearing the women talk about God and his Word, teaching and encouraging one another.
The youth group we started in 2020 with the four students from Komyo Church and Kongo Church has also recently been attended by friends from Heijo Church in Nara. In June, we had a bowling night, where I was reminded of the privilege I had of a bowling unit in junior high P.E. class. Even though our scores were low, everyone got at least one strike, and we had lots of laughs. In August, we will join youth from around the JBC for our summer camp. Since it will be my last one, I was asked by the committee to be the speaker. I am praying the students will be filled with the peace of Christ and learn to be people of peace in their schools, homes, and places of work.
God continues to fill Yuri and me with his peace as we walk through this time of transition in Japan. As we continue filing paperwork with the government here, we wait patiently for the process to be completed. My desire is to finish well in Japan and visit all my supporting churches before I make big decisions about my next steps in ministry. Thank you for walking this journey with me, for your encouragement, prayers, and even ideas for future ministry possibilities.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).