What takes 127 years, four judges, eleven contestants, and a missionary? What’s your final answer? It is the annual 9^th grade Soshin Girls’ School (Soshin) Recitation Contest!  This year the theme was “People in the History of Soshin.” The school is 127 years old. The eleven contestants memorized speeches about five significant leaders of Soshin. Nathan Brown, Clara Converse, Denkichi Fujimoto, Annabelle Pawley, Winifred Acock, Ayako Hino had stories about their life at Soshin. What do you think they all had in common? They were each part of the American Baptist (AB) movement in Japan. Nathan Brown was an AB missionary who translated the New Testament into common Japanese. Nathan’s wife, Charlotte, began teaching Japanese girls. That was the beginning of Soshin School. Clara Converse, AB missionary, came as the second principal of Soshin. She changed the name to Soshin: “truth seekers.” She believed the girls needed to have faith in Christ in order to have a good education. Denkichi Fujimoto, a Soshin teacher, became a Christian through Miss Converse’s leading. Annabelle Pawley and Winifred Acock were both AB missionaries who taught and served at Soshin. Ayako Hino served at Soshin as headmaster. She was also a leader in the national and international women’s Baptist groups.

            The girls did a great job competing. Of course, there were nerves, some tears, and some mistakes. It was amazing how much they improved in just a month of preparation. Afterward, they all enjoyed some of Lee Ann’s homemade brownies. Lee Ann encouraged the girls, before and after the contest, that they were all winners. It takes courage and determination to speak a foreign language in front of all your peers (~500 junior high students).

            Lee Ann will coach the winner, Miss N, for the next contest. It is like the state competition for English recitation. If Miss N places in the top five, she could compete at the regional and the national competition. Winning is desirable, but not the goal. We pray that through the competition, Miss N will experience God’s grace and strength. Perhaps she will be like Mr. Fujimoto and become a Christian! Please pray with us for her salvation. 

P.S. From May 1 to June 30, International Ministries has a new Matching Gift Campaign. If you are a) new giver or b) individual who gives toward our ministry above and beyond your regular amount. You can use the special matching gift link on the IM web site or send a gift directly to IM with a note that says “Matching Gift,” for example, written on the memo line of a check.