Dear friends,

Thank you for your precious prayers and warm thoughts for the people in Japan. Thank you also for your patience and anticipation before this report finally arrives at your sight.

It was a hectic semester I had in the spring. In addition to my primary tasks at an elementary school of Kanto Gakuin (KG) University—that included teaching Bible classes for grade 5 and 6 (two classes for each grade) and their parents as well as speaking at the chapel regularly—, I taught English for kindergarteners (3 classes), assisted with conversational English classes in another elementary school (2 classes), became an advisor for a volunteer club of the university (it is called the Sigma Society), spoke at the university chapel and served as a representative of American Baptist International Ministries (ABIM) on KG’s Board of Directors and Board of Counselors.

In the meantime, my ordination was granted in May/June at Vancouver Myanmar Baptist Fellowship, Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, and celebrated in such a loving and memorable manner by my Canadian family, friends and the church in British Columbia. In July, as an associate missionary of ABIM, I had the privilege to participate in the All Staff Gathering and the World Mission Conference in Wisconsin to celebrate ABIM’s 200th anniversary.

This fall, I decided to entrust some tasks to others so that I can focus more on my primary ones such as teaching bible classes and serving in the chapel services of KG elementary school. That is the school where I was quite impressed and encouraged in April when I first heard the principal speak before students and their parents: he freely and without hesitation presented the school’s Christian principles and missions. In Japan where people tend to value the public, majority voice, I did not think that his presentation was very easy to make. I believed that there would be no reason God does not bless this school. Having 36 students in each room and students who know that they are not graded (for this subject), however, my classes are pretty messy and chaotic. My creativity, genuine love and discipline of prayer are certainly tested. But I do enjoy interacting with each child as well as their parents and teachers and am hoping to become closer to them over time.   

I would be very grateful if you could remember and pray for the following,

• For God’s grace and lead as the election of the president of KG is currently taking place.     

• For Rev. Stan Murray, our area director and my supervisor at ABIM, and his wife, Marty, as she recovers from her surgery and they look after their grandson.

• For godly wisdom, creativity, and love so that I could clearly communicate the gospel message and build meaningful relationships with the recipients as I teach Bible classes and speak at the school assemblies at KG elementary school.

• For the students and their teachers and parents so that they may become interested in and deepen their love for Christ and start going to church. 

• Please pray for the university students (specifically of the Sigma Society) so that they may encounter Christ and accept him as their Saviour.

Thank you for your continued love and prayers for people in Japan and specifically for the students, teachers and staff at KG. I do hope that God’s grace and care are delighting you every moment of your life.  

Sincerely,

Shigemi