Feb - April 2010
Dear Praying Friends and Family,
Greetings once again from the Frozen (but thawing) Japanese North Country. We are grateful for all of you and for the privilege to be here. It is certainly an exciting time to be in the army of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are awaiting His soon return, but attempt to stay busy while He tarries.
Someone once said something to someone that somehow led them somewhere to Someone – a Saviour – that saved their soul. That’s some sentence that serves as a reminder for you to tell someone else of Someone who can change their life. Sometime soon, He’s coming again. He supposes that you are busily serving in the meantime. So let’s keep serving!
The past three months have certainly been structured, strenuous, and simply blessed. So here’s some details. . .
February
Something To Celebrate
Nathanael made it to the great age of eight in February. Shellee found his baby pictures and we reminisced about the crazy day of his birth. We were at BBTI in Texas and the midwife arrived six minutes too late. Another missionary (a registered nurse) helped us deliver our eleven pound bundle of joy. God sure has been good to us (and Nathanael) over the years and we thank the Lord for the blessing that he is to our family.
Somewhere To Reach The World Every February in Nayoro, there is an international snow carving competition. The teams this year came from Singapore, India, Russia, Germany, Japan, Czech Republic, South Korea, Argentina, Canada, China, France, and the USA.
Feb - April 2010
Dear Praying Friends and Family,
Greetings once again from the Frozen (but thawing) Japanese North Country. We are grateful for all of you and for the privilege to be here. It is certainly an exciting time to be in the army of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are awaiting His soon return, but attempt to stay busy while He tarries.
Someone once said something to someone that somehow led them somewhere to Someone – a Saviour – that saved their soul. That’s some sentence that serves as a reminder for you to tell someone else of Someone who can change their life. Sometime soon, He’s coming again. He supposes that you are busily serving in the meantime. So let’s keep serving!
The past three months have certainly been structured, strenuous, and simply blessed. So here’s some details. . .
February
Something To Celebrate
Nathanael made it to the great age of eight in February. Shellee found his baby pictures and we reminisced about the crazy day of his birth. We were at BBTI in Texas and the midwife arrived six minutes too late. Another missionary (a registered nurse) helped us deliver our eleven pound bundle of joy. God sure has been good to us (and Nathanael) over the years and we thank the Lord for the blessing that he is to our family.
Somewhere To Reach The World Every February in Nayoro, there is an international snow carving competition. The teams this year came from Singapore, India, Russia, Germany, Japan, Czech Republic, South Korea, Argentina, Canada, China, France, and the USA. Supplied with a variety of different language tracts from our missionary friends the Fort family in Chicago, and several dozen batches of cookies, the Smiths and we were able to give the Gospel to folks from many countries. Of course there were plenty of Japanese to give tracts to as well. We pray that these seeds will take root and spring up unto salvation for those that received them, and that these folks in turn will spread that Good News to those in their home countries. What a privilege it is to be in the King’s service!!
March
Something To Shout About In March I was blessed to witness a rare occurrence here in Japan. Randy Smith, Alan Minks, and I travel about four hours to Eniwa to witness the independence of a Baptist Church. Missionary Ken Beale had labored over twenty years to build the Grace Bible Baptist Church, and he was able to realize what most independent Baptist missionaries strive for: watching the church become completely autonomous. The church formally recognized Pastor Takahashi as their pastor and invited folks from around the island to come and rejoice with them. Many of the missionaries and pastors from Hokkaido were able to attend this special time with the church’s members. Watching the transition was certainly a great encouragement to me; adding some fuel to our language studies here.
Somewhere To Go After living in Japan for almost two years, I decided it was finally time to attempt to get my Japanese driver’s license. Japan is notorious for having the toughest licensing procedures in the world, with many people initially failing the test multiple times (I read of one person who failed seventeen times!). Since I already had a license from America, my testing would be quite a bit shorter and cheaper (it is usually around $3,000.00) than that of those people getting their license for the first time. The written portion of the test is only ten questions and it is usually passed. It is the driving portion that usually stymies any budding drivers and humiliates the most experienced.
I spent hours studying road signs and perusing website information on tips and tricks to passing the test. You basically have to look like a bobble-head, checking all mirrors and then over your shoulder and pretending that any imaginary bicyclist could come out of nowhere at any time. Of course everything is on the opposite side of the car than what I am used to and it is quite easy to turn on your windshield wipers when trying to turn on the blinker. The instructor did not speak English, but was patient and spoke slowly for me, and he drove me through the course before I actually drove it. After much prayer, a sympathetic tester, the grace of an Almighty God, and around $150 spent, I passed on my first try. Whew . . . . Now it’s Shellee’s turn J
Someone To Miss Shellee’s language helper, Mrs. Sato, left in March to begin teaching Japanese in China for a year. The news came rather suddenly and we were saddened to hear that she would be leaving so soon. The time spent with her was certainly beneficial to Shellee’s Japanese learning, and there were some good opportunities to present the Gospel as well.
On the other hand, Mrs. Sato’s daughter and son-in-law moved to Nayoro from New York City. We have had several opportunities to get together with them already, and hope to be able to again soon. The son-in-law, was born and raised in New York and speaks little Japanese. Pray for him as he adjusts to life in Japan and for opportunities to get to know him better.
April
Something To Eat Various Facts: In 1889 the last of the Ezo (or Hokkaido) wolves were killed. Japan has generally had a very stringent policy on owning firearms, and the requirements and licensing process to own a firearm is quite tedious. The hunting population in Japan is limited and aging. Deer meat is not very popular in Japan. As a result of all of these (and a few other factors), the Hokkaido deer population has exploded. Brother Kiguchi (an ex-army artillery officer) is an avid hunter, and has kept our family (and the Smiths) stocked with fresh venison since shortly after we arrived here.
On one Monday, Randy and I had the opportunity to go along with Brother Kiguchi on a hunt (mainly to carry back anything he shot – since Randy and I are unlicensed). Now, I have many not so fond memories of getting up at 3 AM on a frigid Indiana morning in order to trudge through some wooded area; braving the freezing cold and then only to come back empty-handed. This hunt was unlike anything I have ever been on. We did not leave until mid-morning and then drove out onto some country roads. A set of antlers perked up along a power line causeway as we drove by. The car was stopped, Randy and I waited for about five minutes in the car, a shot rang out, and we all went to work. When it was all done, we got in the car and drove on to our next encounter. I counted over thirty deer grazing along the roadside at various times throughout the day. This sure beat Indiana hunting. We certainly thank the Lord for His great provision!
Something To Shout About The Snow has stopped . . . for now. The snow outside has been steadily declining on the ground as the weather warms up during the day. It still gets pretty cool at night and it was still snowing the last week of April. I heard somewhere along the way that our area received over twenty four feet of snow this year. Our snow hill out back is down to about twenty five feet and shrinking slowly but surely. There are some signs of spring though : the crocus plants are blooming and the farmers are putting up their greenhouses. Global warming sure has taken a toll this year.
Something(s) To Be Grateful For
The boys are all doing well and growing like wildfire. We switched curriculum this year for their schooling and it has made a huge difference in the amount we are able to accomplish during the day. The curriculum is pretty self contained and does not require all of the prep work that Shellee had been spending with our previous one. Overall, everyone is happier with the switch, and they are all excelling in it.
We have not had any major medical needs so far this year, other than a few trips to the dentist. For that, we are VERY grateful. That of course is no small task with eight boys! Everyone is experiencing spring fever, and itching to get outside. After a flu-filled winter in Nayoro (and warnings by school officials for all students to stay home – which all students pretty much obey) we have been seeing the neighborhood children out playing lately. So the boys have enjoyed the opportunities to play with them, and we enjoy the opportunities to share the Gospel with them again.
Someone To Preach About Resurrection Sunday was a great blessing with a good many visitors. There were several specials sung and played, and a good time of fellowship with the saved. Brother Smith had asked me to preach the morning message, and I intended to speak briefly on the events leading up to the Resurrection as an introduction and then preach on the proofs of the Resurrection for the message. When I realized that there were a couple of people that had never been to church before, my introduction became the message. I preached the Gospel beginning with the triumphal entry up to the Resurrection. Brother Smith asked me to go ahead and finish the message in the afternoon service after lunch, which I did. It was a long and tiring day, but it of course is always a blessing to know that more people have heard the Gospel for the first time.
Something To Talk About
We continue to steadily progress in Japanese and are excited to be able to both speak and understand more and more of what is being said. I am preparing to preach through the book of Mark, as the Lord allows, all in Japanese. Please pray for clarity of thought and patience on the part of those listening!!
Shellee was quite excited to be able to give her testimony to one of her language helpers, Mrs. Matsuda, all in Japanese. The Lord helped and in the end, Mrs. Matsuda said that she understood. Mrs. Smith came in on the tail end of it and then gave her testimony, using the same passages of Scripture that Shellee had just used. Both described growing up in religious families, but not accepting Christ until they had gotten older. Mrs. Matsuda listened intently, asked questions, but refused a request to do a Bible study with her. She, like many here, believe that all religion has some good points, and by doing enough good, you can earn a place in Heaven. We certainly appreciate your prayer for the Matsuda family!
Somewhere To Be The church held a special weekend set of meetings with a Japanese Pastor from Asahikawa and his wife. On April 17th, there was a mother/daughter meeting with Mrs. Honbo speaking. There were over a dozen lost ladies who heard Mrs. Honbo’s personal testimony and then some practical Bible teaching on being a wife and mother. There was even an impromptu lesson on child training requested by some of the mothers. Shellee reported that it was a great time with the ladies and there were positive reports all the way around.
Pastor Honbo then preached the next day, and again there were a good number of visitors. It is always great for the Japanese to be able to hear the testimony of another Japanese person. It certainly encourages the fellow believers, and helps the lost to realize that being a Christian is not something only for Americans.
Something To Think About I was recently contacted by a friend from Bible College who asked me to translate a tract into Japanese. The tract was an explanation of John 3:16 and was entitled “God Loves You”. He asked that nothing be added to it, but only that the tract be translated the way it was. The idea was to just have the Bible speak for itself. The task was really more than I could handle and so Brother Smith agreed to translate it. After it was passed on to a Japanese believer for proofing, I e-mailed it back to my friend.
I later talked to him by phone, and he was thankful that it was done. He said he was going to have it printed and then send me a bunch for use here in Japan. I had to tell him that it would be of little value here in Japan and probably little value to any Japanese person that had no background in the Gospel. He, of course, was perplexed, and so I explained. I had just finished preaching through John 3:16 at the church. It took eight messages (it probably should have been more) to explain the terminology of the verse and what it all meant. To say, “God loves you” (kamisama wa anata o aisuru) to a Buddhist or Shintoist who knows nothing about the Bible, will conjure up a completely different mental image for him than it does for you. He might think “I wonder which god he means? Mount Fuji? My dead grandfather? One of the seven lucky gods?” When told that “Jesus died for his sins.” (tsumi – literally “crime”), he might think, “I obey the laws of Japan, I am no criminal (tsumibito – the same word for sinner).” With no explanation of Whose law he has broken or even what those laws are, there is little hope of actually communicating the Gospel. We could say the words, but in the end – to the lost Japanese – they are empty words.
Most American tracts are great for people who have some basic knowledge of Christianity. Most are not suitable for translating into a foreign culture as is – especially a culture that does not have a Christian Heritage. Sadly, many tracts I have seen do not even do an adequate job in America, as each generation knows less and less about the basics of the Bible. John 3:16 is a great verse with sixty six books to back it up. An index card sized tract with “pray this prayer” at the end, won’t lead anyone to Christ in Japan by itself.
My friend asked me what I would recommend then. I told him about our DVD project. We have 5000 DVDs being made that present the Gospel beginning with Creation. They should be completed soon. We are still praying for the cheapest way to get them to Japan and the finances to do so. While everyone in Japan does not have a DVD player – most do. After much prayer – we believe that this will be an effective tool to reach this culture with the Gospel. We appreciate your prayers for us and this effort!
Something To Marvel At When we came to Japan, we came with only the luggage that was allowed to us with our plane tickets (23 suitcase sized totes at 50 lbs a piece plus carry-ons). Most of what we owned was sold, stored, donated, or discarded. We simply did not have the finances to ship a container. The Lord was gracious and had many appliances and pieces of furniture waiting for us when we arrived (mainly donations by church members and other missionaries). Our beloved instruments were stored away, and we have missed them greatly. Unbeknownst to me, Shellee had been cunningly planning to have my hammered dulcimer shipped over. Folks at our home church as well as a ladies group from a supporting church were gathering funds to have it delivered to my door step.
I ruined the surprise one day though when I received a phone call from friends and fellow missionaries the Bill Lyons family. After completing their deputation, they were finally making their way over to Japan. They had contracted to have a container shipped to Japan and had extra room in the container. He asked if there was anything I wanted shipped in it. BOY DID I EVER!! Our instruments were the first thing on my mind! We had to weeks to figure out how to get them from Indiana to Missiouri. Then Brother Lyons said there was enough room for about fifteen big totes worth plus the instruments! I excitedly told Shellee and was puzzled by the look on her face. She had to tell me the story.
Our pastor and his wife went through with Shellee (via Skype and a webcam) our stored belongings. Then with the help of some church members packed it all up (along with an order from Wal-Mart J ) and drove it down to Springfield. After paying for the totes, packing material, Walmart order, and gas to get it there, the money given was just enough to cover all of the expenses with about eight dollars to spare. What a blessing to us. What a great God to concern Himself with such insignificant things in the light of eternity. He is so good to us.
Thank you again for your prayers and support for us!! May the Lord bless you as you faithfully serv Him!!
By His Grace Alone,
Duane, Shellee, and the boys. |
