Voices from the Field Paul and Melissa Ewing Get to know Paul and Melissa

God’s Faithfulness

Published on May 13, 2020

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Praise

  • Safety and wisdom
  • Continued spiritual growth for the members of Komyo Church
  • God’s faithfulness

 

Prayer

  • We are praying that together we stay safe and healthy and that our hearts, souls, and minds would be led by the Spirit to continue to serve those around us so that God may be glorified.
  • Opportunities to lead through God’s sovereignty and thanksgiving
  • Yuri’s visa and return to Japan would be accomplished in a timely manner
  • The Gaudio family’s preparations and fundraising

 

For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”

2 Corinthians 8:21 (NIV)

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:9–11(NIV)

Greetings from Japan, where we are now under a State of Emergency and schools were not allowed to start a new school year in April but are hoping to start soon. As I have shared in our ‘Praise and Prayer’ email last month, Saijo Sensei has been typing up his sermons and they were being hand delivered, but since the State of Emergency the sermons are being delivered electronically or by postal mail. We have opted not to have online service, as a large portion of our attenders would not be able to utilize this service. Our members and regular attenders have been divided up into groups between the church board (Saijo Sensei and two others), Shan Reed, and Paul for weekly fellowship through phone calls. It is not ideal, yet God continues to work in people’s lives and we are being blessed by hearing testimonies of growth in relationships with Jesus. While the church will continue to be closed through May, we are praying and hoping that we may begin meeting face to face in June. Just like in many places in North America, all church events have been cancelled or postponed until the fall. We continue to pray for wisdom and guidance, along with protection. But more than that we pray that our relationship grows deeper with Jesus through this time. May our trust and faith in God grow knowing that He is in control and it’s His leadership in our lives that teaches us how to find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control even during times of trouble and uncertainty.

The world situation has affected Yuri Nakano, as she was not permitted to return to Japan at the start of April due to borders being closed. This was quite a disappointment, but we are thankful that she is safe in Edmonton, Alberta, and continues to live with her family. Please pray over this situation as Yuri’s visa has now expired and we will have to begin the visa process from the beginning, which brings much uncertainty with the coronavirus. The immigration office isn’t even open at this time.

Please continue to pray for the Gaudio family as this situation has affected their ability to visit churches to begin raising support. We pray they can find creative opportunities to meet with pastors and mission boards in order to begin the support-raising process. We are asking God to bring their family to Japan by August 2021. You can find their support page at nabonmission.org/missionaries/raffaele-sylvia-gaudio/.

We continue to be thankful that Noah and Jonah are safe at Melissa’s mom’s house in western New York, where they have been able to help out with shopping needs while finishing their semester online. Elijah’s school has been online since March 9 and will finish their school year May 29. KCS only has one student graduating this year, but the teachers are still trying to make the event as special as it can be.

We pray everyone is staying safe and healthy and that “out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3: 16–19).

Blessings,

Paul & Melissa Ewing

 

2-33-6 Miikedai, minami ku, Sakai shi, Osaka Japan 590-0134

680 Heim road getzville New york USA 14068

Paul: pemedicus@yahoo.com Melissa: japanewing@yahoo.com

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