Yoko sharing her testimony at the Missionary Alumni Fellowship during Beulah Camp
This month Yoko has written our prayer letter, so without much ado, I’ll hand things over to her. But first, in case you missed it, here’s our latest quarterly newsletter, featuring an important update on our financial partnership needs:
In the latter half of July, Robin and I could settle our summer base at Beulah Camp in New Brunswick. This is my first time in Canada. So Canadian foods, the cool summer, meeting with a lot of people etc., everything is new for me. Though I’m still trying to adjust to these things, I’m also enjoying new these experiences. Anyway, we could begin Partnership Development in Canada. Thank you so much for your continuing prayer.
In July we had some chances to share our testimony and vision at the annual Beulah Camp meeting of the Atlantic District of the Wesleyan Church, and also at some churches. Mainly Robin spoke, but I also greeted and shared my story. I appreciate that many people accepted me warmly and listened to my strong accent English! Through these opportunities, we started to re-connect with partners and meet new people. Thankfully, a number of people showed their interest in our new ministry and shared with us about their receiving challenge based on our story. Praise the Lord!
I would like to mention about my precious experience of joining to the traditional ordination service during the Camp meeting. Seven new pastors were ordinated and three pastors received honour because of their long faithfulness. Each of them were blessed with personal prayers and congratulatory greetings. So I felt that t2his service was not only a ritual but also very warm and celebratory. Also, I was privileged to line up and enter as part of the ministers’ spouses party. It was a really beautiful time!!!
Here’s our schedule for the rest of August. Please pray for us to make new connections, especially at the National Conference.
8/11 – Westchester Wesleyan (Westchester NS)
8/14-15 – National Conference of the Wesleyan Church (near Montreal QC)
As we’re starting Partnership Development, this newsletter contains some important information about our support needs and how you can help. So we’d really appreciate it if you’d read, pray and consider giving!
Thank you for your prayers during this busy season of transition! After a week of meetings in Indiana, Yoko and I have safely arrived at Beulah Camp in New Brunswick, Canada, where we’ll be making our home for about the next year. As we begin Partnership Development together, we’d appreciate your continuing prayers for safe travel, effective ministry and new supporters.
Here’s our schedule for July and August:
7/5-12 – Beulah Camp (Brown’s Flat NB)
7/14 – Digby Wesleyan (Digby NS)
7/21 – First Wesleyan (Saint John NB)
8/4 – Woodstock Wesleyan (Woodstock NB)
8/11 – Westchester Wesleyan (Westchester NS)
8/14-15 – National Conference of the Wesleyan Church (near Montreal, QC)
I hope you are doing well, and that summer has found you wherever you are!
Yoko and I are currently in Thailand, where we have just spent the past few days with a number of other missionaries for the GP Asia-Pacific Area Conference. It has been a great time of worship, learning, praying and fellowship, and a great opportunity for Yoko to meet some of the GP tribe she’s joining me in. We’re truly thankful to have had the opportunity to be here this week; it’s been a much-needed time of refreshing and renewal during this busy time of transition.
Since our wedding at the end of April, Yoko and I have been spending a lot of time preparing to head to North America for Partnership Development. And as we’ve had time, we’ve been trying to spend time with friends in Nagoya before we leave. It’s been encouraging to hear the reactions of some non-Christian friends who either attended our wedding in person or watched the ceremony online. For some it was their first Christian wedding, and they were impressed by how joyful and meaningful it was. We’re thankful that our wedding was an opportunity to witness to our unsaved friends, and pray that our marriage itself will continue to show people Jesus’ love.
On June 21, Yoko and I are scheduled to fly to the US for a few days of meetings and training. Following that, on the 29th, we head to Canada to begin Partnership Development. We’re looking forward to connecting with many of you in person over the next several months, and would really appreciate your prayers as we continue through this transition period.
Thank you for your prayers and support for us as part of GP’s ministry in Japan!
Yoko and I are happy to announce that on April 30, we became husband and wife. We are so thankful for those who were able to celebrate with us; for our friends’ and families’ encouragement and prayers; and for God’s blessing on our wedding day. Despite the rain, it was a beautiful day.
Looking ahead, Yoko and I would appreciate your prayers for us as we go through this period of transition, especially for our preparations to return to Canada this summer, when Yoko will be joining me for Partnership Development, a time of re-connecting with ministry supporters in North America. Specifically, please pray for Yoko’s visa situation. As a Japanese citizen she is eligible to visit Canada for up to six months without a visa, but it is very likely we will need to stay longer this time. There are options, but we are still figuring out what’s best and how to proceed.
Thank you as always for your prayers and support! Yoko and I are looking forward to connecting with many of you in person this summer and fall.
Meanwhile, in case you missed it, here’s a link to the Spring newsletter I sent out last month:
I hope you’re doing well. This month’s update is in the form of a PDF newsletter, and includes some big updates on my schedule in the coming months, as well as the official introduction of our manga ministry, Drawbridge Creations.
