Dear Friends,

It has been a little while since we wrote and we wanted to keep you updated on our time here in the US. We had a wonderful Christmas with John’s family. Ami was home for Christmas and had lots to share about her first semester of college.

Our time of US assignment has been a blessing to us as we have met many new friends in churches and at conferences. We have also seen many old friends. Two of those friends are Jim and Ali Sandholdt, former IM missionaries, now living in Montana where Jim is a pastor. They were our mentors in missions in Japan and have been friends ever since.

I remember clearly where I first met Jim, at Inagawa Camp, a Baptist church camp. I thought this would be good time to share a story of an on going ministry that Jim and Ali were also a part of in Japan.

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Have you ever been to church camp? Did you or do you know someone who met Jesus Christ at camp? Are you a camp supporter? We want to tell you about some camp supporters. Mr. Arakawa, Mr. Ishikawa, and Mrs. Chito are just a few people on the “Sukiya en kai”, or “Lovin’ It Committee!” This is a group that prays for and supports “Inagawa Camp” outside of Osaka-Kobe, Japan.

In the years before the second world war, ABC-IM missionaries, John and Margaret Foote, were working with the churches of this area. They felt the youth of the cities needed a church camp. One day they brought some youth to camp along a small river near a country village. They had pitched tents and made a fire when suddenly the village mayor was standing there. He asked what they were doing. When he heard their story the mayor, who was not a Christian, offered his help to find and secure land along the river. Inagawa (Ina River) Camp was born. The war brought an end to church camping and the Footes returned to the US.

After the war, the Footes came back to a Japan where the youth were hungering in both body and soul. Inagawa Camp was reopened and the youth of the cities again came to camp along the river. Over the years the camp has touched lives untold. Some of those whose lives have been touched, encouraged or changed in meeting Christ, have become supporters of church camping through the “Lovin’ It Committee”. Rev. Sawano and Mrs. Maeda are two more who, through prayer and support, help make Inagawa Camp a place where young people continue to meet Jesus Christ.

The “Lovin’ It Committee”! What a great name. What a great mission.

One final point, the name, “Sukiya en Kai” or “Lovin’ It Committee” came from Jim Sandholdt.

*We always give thanks for your prayers and support. You are a blessing to us personally.

*But also remember, by your prayers and support, you are a part of church camping in Japan.

*Pray for the youth of Japan who still have a hunger in their souls.

Grace and Peace,

John and Tomoko Armagost

American Baptist International Ministries missionaries to Japan