January 2024
Dear Praying Friends,
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek
for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: Romans 2:7
The Christian life of service in thanksgiving to our Saviour who gave Himself for our salvation, is not a quick and easy task. We are to continue in doing good works that we were created to do as Christ’s brethren and God’s children. That continuation of good works needs to have the patience which comes from not experiencing immediate positive results. Faith says that we will do them anyway because the Bible tells us we should. Faith assures us that there is a sure reward in the future if we are faithful now, despite opposition or misunderstanding. We seek a higher reward than that of men’s praise or respect in this life. Our reward is sure in heaven!
August, even with a break from school English teaching responsibilities, flew by quite quickly. With the arrival of September our weather will quickly cool down and all too soon it will be winter. So we will enjoy the break from extra warmth and be thankful for the warmth we have in our hearts from Christ and the warmth we have around us in the building where we live. We both started in July walking and riding bicycle from 4-6 days a week to help us keep strong and healthy. We are thankful for a wonderful place to safely do this and to enjoy the outdoors while we do. This has opened several occasions to get to know some new folks during rides or walks. Ken especially has had the opportunities with a couple different people and we will continue to use these while the weather cooperates.
With vacation allowing some more time to fit in extra activities, Ken was asked by a neighbor to help by finishing the insides of the neighbor’s metal garage. This project, as well, has opened the door more with the Sakuma family and due to a recent visit by his parents who live about 15 minutes out of town, Ken got to know them as well. We trust to be able to follow up on these new contacts in any way we can find. The project on the garage has gone safely and is almost complete.
This month also gave us time to be with the Urayama family in their home in Asahikawa. Dr. Urayama is the man that Ken has a Bible study with on Monday nights in Horonobe, the town next to us. The family lives in the larger city inland, but Dr. Urayama has been in Horonobe for years as their only main doctor and travels home on weekends. Ken continues to be reassured that he definitely is saved and has been leading him through discipleship studies. Slowly, growth is taking place and we are thankful for his willingness to keep studying. We trust in time to have more of this type of study with his wife as well. She also claims to be saved but does not attend church in Asahikawa.
Miss Tsuzuki was gone most of the month of August due to school summer vacation. She had extra nurses’ studies to accomplish while she went home during that time. We are thankful she has come back since returning to school. Please continue to pray for her salvation. Mrs. Sonoda, many weekends right now, has to travel to Asahikawa to be with her aging mother and father. Her mother has been in the hospital for several weeks now due to ill-health including diabetes and heart trouble. She was lead to the Lord by Mrs. Sonoda years ago now so when they are together in the hospital room she spends much time in prayer and singing hymns together with her. Mrs. Sonoda’s father is usually there too so she feels God is using this to continue to open her father’s heart to the Gospel. We trust her prayers will be answered soon for him to see his true need of Christ. These needed visits back and forth almost every week, as well as keeping the business side of the plumbing business going with her husband, wears greatly on Mrs. Sonoda so we know she would appreciate your prayers for her health. She always struggles but this extra traveling and the needs thereof cause extra difficulties. In spite of how she feels at times, she will come to church on Sundays when she is here. Her mother also needs to be put in a long care facility so we are praying for that need to be answered.
We said “Until next time” to the Cross family in August. What a blessing to have them with us for the last couple of years. God has moved them back to central Hokkaido to be near her parents and her mother’s brother’s farm. To make a long story short—Mrs. Cross’s mother had two brothers right there farming in various ways. One died of cancer in July and the second took his own life shortly after due to depression. When the Crosses were approached to see if they would come back to the farm area to help their nephew run the rice/wheat/beef cattle farm, they decided especially to help reach this family for Christ, it best to move back. We are glad we can keep in touch and that God allowed them to be a part of the outreach we had in this area and know the Word sown in Kotanbetsu where they lived, through their lives and our two outreaches will not return void! May God bless their work in both physical and spiritual ways!
Serving Christ Together, Ken & Vicki Mansell Just A Prayer At Night – Your evening is our daytime!
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