Dear Friends,

If we had one word for the past year it would be “providence.” The Lord has provided for us.  From the home we have lived in, to the car we drive and the schools our children attended and the friends who have helped us along the way. It has been God’s providence.  Just look at the view from the deck of the home that was provided.

RETURNING TO JAPAN!

It doesn’t seem possible, but we will be returning to Japan at the end of June.  Please pray for us, as there are a lot of little things that we have to do before we leave. Also pray for us because we do not yet have a place to live when we get to Japan.  We will move in with Tomoko’s parents for a couple weeks while we search for a place in the Kobe-Osaka area.  We trust that the Lord will again provide just the right place that will fit our needs for family and ministry.

It has been a special year for us in many ways.  Ami finished her first year of college at the University of Waterloo near Toronto, Canada, and is home with us for the summer. Alisen had a great freshman year at Chief Sealth High School here in Seattle. Andy made a lot of friends and had fun as a 7th grader.

We have done a lot of traveling, visiting churches and friends from New York to California, and many, but not all, places in between.  We have made a lot of new friends and had some wonderful times with old friends. And Japanese Baptist Church has been a wonderful church for us on those Sundays we were here in Seattle. We give thanks for each one of you who has prayed for us and supported us in this year of assignment in the US.  We know that we did not get to visit all the churches and friends we wanted, but trust that you understand if we did not get to see you this time.  The whole year is really like one long year of transition, but your support has made it a special year for us.  Thank you.

OUR MPT

One of the last jobs we got done this year was putting together and meeting with our MPT. What is a MPT? Well, it is our Mission Partnership Team.  A group of seven wonderful people who have agreed to be a part of our mission team, to pray for us, and work with us in connecting with all the churches and individuals -- that is you -- who are a part of our network.

Our network of prayer and support is amazing, but it is also covers a wide area. As much as we wanted to visit every church and every person that is a part of our network it was not possible. We believe that our MPT will be a valuable part of helping us keep connected with you, so that we can be a help and blessing to you as you pray for us and are a blessing to us.

Here is our team: Carolyn Predmore from Bucyrus, KS; Dawn and Danny Trent from Lawrence, KS; Ruth and John Clark from Kansas City, KS and Barbara and Dennis Burris from Leavenworth, KS.  (Also in the picture are Jim Bell and Stan Murray, both on staff with American Baptist International Ministries.)

Please remember to keep them in your prayers too.  You will be hearing more about them and possibly from them in the future.  

We will keep you up to date on our return.

Grace and Peace,

John and Tomoko Armagost

American Baptist International Ministries missionaries to Japan