John and Tomoko serve with the Japan Baptist Union (JBU) churches in western area of Japan. Currently, they are working with the Nishi Okamoto Baptist Church in the city of Kobe.

They write: Recently we went to Hinomoto Church in Himeji.  This is a special place for us for several reasons.  First, our brother in law is the pastor.  Second, it is the church where I (John) first attended 22 years ago when I came to Japan as a seminary student volunteer.  22 years ago Tomoko was the Bible teacher at Hinomoto Jr-Sr Girls High School, and I was teaching English.  One of Tomoko’s students, Naoko, attended Hinomoto Church once in awhile, and came to a youth group that I tried to lead.  (Since I didn’t speak any Japanese, I wasn’t always sure if anyone was really following what I was trying to do. But we had fun.) This year we met her again when she came to the worship service at Hinomoto Church.  She was with her daughter who is now in 6th grade, and also 5 other members of her extended family.  We can’t tell you what a blessing it was for us to see Naoko again, and to see how she has grown in so many beautiful ways.

A second holiday in January was, “Coming of Age Day”, which celebrates young people who turned 20 during the past year, officially becoming adults.  On that day, the young women dress up in beautiful kimonos, and the young men in either suits or kimonos.  They attend a ceremony at the city hall to recognize this special point in life.  It is a celebration of the journey of our lives.  

It reminds me that our lives really are a journey, and just as the Lord promised to journey with Abram, the Lord has promised to journey with us.  However it is often easier to see how the Lord has walked with us when we look back 22 years later.

Perhaps in these economically difficult times we all feel a little uncertain of what the future holds.  I trust that one day we will look back and see that the Lord was providing in ways we may not see or even imagine at this moment.
We give thanks for your prayers and support.  We know the Lord walks with us through you.  We pray for you and the ministries of your church in these days.
Please pray for a new Bible Study called “Shalom Fellowship”, which begins on March 7, at Shin Ai Church. (God’s Love Church).  We will be leading this along with Rev. Masu.  It will be targeting youth and young adults.