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Dear Friends and Family,
Cherry blossom season is a wonderful time. The anticipation of the first blossom is felt all over the country.
Each bloom is beautiful and wonderful to look at. We were excited to welcome back to Japan our co-worker, Yuri Nakano. She had a busy but rewarding home assignment and we praise God for that. Yuri will be working with two of our JBC sister churches supporting small groups. We are excited to see God’s plans unfold for this ministry.
We continue to be blessed by God as He brings people to the church. They come to seek, praise, be fed, and to find answers. Recently Soga San and her husband have started to attend Komyo church. She is originally from the Philippines and even after 30 years of living here still finds it difficult to worship in Japanese. She is very happy to have found our church that has a bilingual service every Sunday afternoon. It is amazing to watch Paul speak both English and Japanese in a back and forth rhythm as he translates for himself.
With the start of April and a new fiscal year in Japan we changed our service times. We now meet at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Change can be difficult to adjust to, but praise God things are moving along smoothly. With each quarter we continue to have a Gospel Café and Ladies’ Lunch in hope of serving, encouraging, and sharing the love of God to whoever comes. Each week the Bible studies continue and various English classes continue to be attended. This month we will be having a Ladies’ Seminar to encourage women to be faithful in their time set aside for devotions. Shan Reed and Yuri Nakano will be leading the seminar and we are hoping that women from our sister churches in the Kansai area will attend and be blessed.
God continues to be faithful to the Kansai Christian School, and we appreciate your prayers for new staff. We have hired the new staff needed for the new 2015-2016 school year and are praying that God’s hand will be upon the school. What joy it was to support the Jr/Sr HS in their futsol tournament. Futsol is similar to soccer but on a smaller field and only six players (similar to indoor soccer). Paul was able to support the team on the day of the tournament as the coach. Our school was the smallest one that participated but we had spirit and were proud to come in ninth out of twelve teams. The boys continue to amaze us with their adjustment and daily commute to the school.
In just a little over a year’s time we will be preparing to return to the States for our year home assignment. As we begin this preparation time, we would ask that you support us by helping us to update our information. Many times within a four year time, e-mails and contact people change. Please if you have changed your e-mail address or your church has changed the mission’s contact person, please respond to this newsletter with the new information. We appreciate your help in keeping us updated.
Many of you may be preparing for the Triennial this July and it will be an exciting time as the conference looks to how people are being sent within North America and around the world. Paul will be attending along with the Japan Conference leader Rev. Mineo Taniguchi and his wife, and another pastor Mr. Kensaku Higashi and his wife. Please greet these dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Please help them to feel at home in a foreign land. The boys and I will remain in Japan and keep the conference time in prayer as God’s leadership is sought.
Blessings,
Paul and Melissa
Carp banners are flown in honor of boys, for “Boys Day” on May 5, in hopes that they will grow big and strong.