GOD’S PROVISION:    It has been such a joy to see God’s continued faithfulness in the provision of things we need for Japan. We are now at 98% of our needed support and our trusting God for the other 2% to come in soon.  Even before the housing was settled, God had already provided a couple of dressers that the Smith family found, and a  refrigerator and washing machine from Mrs. Nakajima (the saved Japanese lady that attends the Smiths church). After bro. Smith secured the house for us Mrs. Nakajima also found a China hutch and a small loveseat (at least Shellee and I have places to sit now.  :o)  We are so blessed to watch God lead and provide each step of the way in this transition process.  We truly serve a mighty God!

GOD’S GRACE:   Most of us tend to forget  that is the Grace of God that allowed us to be born into the USA.  We are truly spoiled here with God’s blessings on our nation. In many other parts of the world there is much persecution and suffering. We had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of a very special church service a couple of Sundays ago in Chicago, IL. Chicago is a “Refuge City” meaning it houses refugees from other parts of the world who have landed here for refuge from their own country.  I was to fill the pulpit of a pastor friend of ours and found out a week or so ahead of time that he had been having a group of Karen people come to the services for the last few weeks. The Karen people are a hill tribe people in Myanmar (Burma), and they are 5th or 6th  What a privilege to be in the services with them!  They have only been in the country for a few months, and only one young girl speaks decent English.  Many of the people understood more English than they could say.  What a joy it was to hear some great hymns of the faith sung in the Karen language while we sang them in English.  It renewed my burden for the Japanese and the people of Asia and also served as a “wake up call” in realizing the difficulty of the task ahead of us.  (Oh how we covet  your prayers as we learn to communicate with the Japanese!)  I preached from John 9.  After I read a verse, they would read it in Karen.  Many of the Karen people are “Baptist” the way some in our country are, “religious but lost”. generation Baptists from the ministry of Adoniram Judson.

GOD ANDSWERS PRAYER:  Please continue to pray for us for the next few weeks as we try to finish up all of the loose ends here such as packing, shipping a few items, packing, paperwork, packing, well…you get the picture. :o) Also pray for the children as this is a difficult time for them parting with some of their things as well as parting from family. Thank you for those that have been praying for the different health situations in our family. My step-mom Dena is recovering well from her surgery and the outcome looks very good.  Shellee’s Grandparents are now in Indiana living with family for a time. Her Grandma has had some setbacks since the move and still needs your prayers also for wisdom for Grandpa and other family members as they take good care of her.   The Zikes are a couple of weeks away from being able to deliver their baby and still covet your prayers as well.

PRAYER REQUESTS