Dear Friends,

We are less than a month away from our return to the US for our one year US assignment. We give thanks for your prayers and support over these past four years, and trust the Lord has blessed you as we have been blessed by you. The Lord has answered prayers and provided a place for us to live, and a car. We still have many prayers about this coming year, but we trust the Lord will continue to lead, bless and open the right doors. We are still putting together our schedule for this year is the US, and hope to see you sometime during the year.

Please note our new email address is: tjarmagost@gmail.com

A couple of weeks ago one of the children who came to our Summer Bible Club, Kuroe Chan, came to church. She walked in with a huge smile and said to me, "I came today!" I said, "Yes, you did. And I am glad you are here!" I was sure her smile grew a little bigger as she skipped into the sanctuary.

Earlier in May, Tomoko was the camp director for the Kansai Area Family Camp. It feels like we have a million things to do to get ready to return to the US, and here is Tomoko planning and leading camp. You can guess which of us was feeling the stress the one who didn't have to prepare for camp. Last Sunday I preached at one of the churches in Osaka, and all the children were telling me how wonderful camp had been. (I wasn't able to attend.)

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a late Friday night at the American village, a part of the city of Osaka known as a hangout for young people, with Rev. Naoto Ohya. Rev. Ohya is a young pastor with a passion for young people. He had been praying about a ministry to youth in Osaka and a year ago, he and some other pastors opened a prayer room in the village. They rent a small apartment over looking a small park where skaters (skate board riders) hang out. Each Friday evening Rev. Ohya and some others gather for a time of prayer and singing before they go out into the streets to meet and talk with the young people they meet.

I share these stories because Tomoko and I are praying about where our ministry will lead us when we return to Japan in 2008. Our desire is to spend more time focused on children and youth. Japan is a modern, wealthy country. The needs of the children and youth are seldom material needs. But the emotional and spiritual needs are great. As many as 1 million mostly young people have withdrawn from society altogether, not leaving their parents homes for months, even years at a time. They are part of what is called Japan's lost generation.

*Pray for us as we pack.
*Pray for us as we travel not just to the US, but we have several conferences across the US this summer.
*Pray for our children, Ami, Alisen and Andy, as they leave friends and schools.
*Pray for the Lord's leading in this year as we travel and visit churches and pastors.
*Pray for our plans to return to Japan in 2008.

Grace and Peace,

John and Tomoko Armagost
International Ministries missionaries in Japan