Dear friends,

We are in the middle of a busy and we trust a fruitful summer. We will continue the after school program, Olive Club, at Sone church until the end of July, then take August off. We have had some new kids coming recently. Our large group of 5th grade girls from last year are now 6th graders and busy with ‘after school’ school, juku, preparing for junior high entrance exams, so we don’t see them very often. The new gang is some 4th grade boys. They remind me of some of the kids who used to come to Bethel Neighborhood Center in Kansas City, KS, when I worked there as a seminary student. They are 4th graders with an ‘attitude’. But they keep coming back, and recently the ‘attitude’ has softened just a little.

Last month Rev. Takahashi at Nishi Okamoto Christ Church, got a surprise phone call from one of the 3rd grade teachers at the elementary school. He said the class had asked if they could visit “that new church” to see what it was like inside for their neighborhood field trip. 40 third graders came. Mrs. Mito had ‘Tea-Chime’ that day, so they listened to the ladies who practice “Tone-Chimes”. Then Rev. Takahashi talked with them about Christ, and answered their questions. Wow! We pray that we will see some of them again at Summer Bible Club.

Swedish Jazz!

“Big Street”, a Christian Soul-Jazz group from Sweden has been in Japan playing at Christian schools, coffee houses and churches. They shared music and testimony with us on Sunday night. It was good chance to invite family and friends who are not Christians and we had several first time visitors. It really was a great time of music, testimony and fellowship.

Keeping our hearts and eyes open

Once a month I take a 2 ½ hour trip to Nagoya to preach at the Nonami Christ Church.  They have been without a pastor for several years.  It is a small group of 6-8, a long trip and I confess sometimes I leave home without the best attitude. While on the train this month I made this same confession in my prayer, and asked the Lord to give me a heart to expect and see the special things that the Lord had planned for that day.

One of the younger members, Mrs. Tanishita, had invited a neighbor.  After worship she introduced me and said, “I brought my friend and told her you would pray with her”. She asked for prayer for her husband.  Later during lunch Miss Ishihara reminded everyone that it was her one year anniversary of attending for the first time. First Sunday of July, 2009.  I preach on the first Sunday of the month. How could I forget what the Lord has been doing?  

Thank you for your prayers for us while Tomoko was in Kansas.  She was blessed and encouraged by the many friends she saw and made. And the rest of us survived too. We deeply appreciate your prayers and support.

Prayer Points

• Thanks for “Big Street” and their testimony in music and word.
• Pray for Olive Club at Sone Church.
• Pray for Mrs. Tanishita’s friend and her husband.
• Pray for the youth of FBC Kansas City, MO who will be here in Japan in July!

THANK YOU!  You are the ones who sent us, and the reason we can be here.

Grace and Peace,
John

MPT Website: www.armagostjapan.org