February Newsletter

Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, Philippians 1:4

Each month we send out these reports of the Lord’s ministry here in Teshio. We are so thankful for each of you who read and pray over these and other missionaries’ prayer letters. There are a few people who go an extra step with our prayer letters which is a blessing to us and I’m sure would be a special blessing to other missionaries. They send us an email or text response, letting us know that they have read the prayer letter and are praying for specific people or requests. They encourage us by saying that the intro or a part of the prayer letter was a blessing or challenge to them for their walk with Christ. Some even share prayer requests with us that we might participate in intercessory prayer. Several others do a prayer rotation of missionaries in their family devotions and let us know when they have prayed for us. These few dear souls are such an encouragement. We praise God and thank them for this extra blessing. So we challenge you to choose a missionary to be a blessing this way. Just drop them a note letting them you’re praying for a specific person or need in their ministry and let them know how you are doing. You won’t be sorry you did!Vicki has had the chance to be with several women this month through various means that normally aren’t in play.

One woman, Mrs. A is fighting cancer but in between chemotherapy treatments has had some good days and appreciates a visitor. What a joy for Vicki to be able to minister to her and Mrs. A really appreciated that Vicki would ask to pray with and for her. We pray this will open a further door for witnessing to her. She has read all of the materials we have given her so far. We know the Lord will work. Ken tried to see Mayor Asada again as well but he is not doing well. We continue to pray for him. Another opportunity was having a sudden visitor from a lady who worked two years in Teshio and then was transferred. She really loved being here and made friends with several. Now she is being transferred again clear down south to Osaka on Honshu Island! She made a special trip to Teshio to see a couple of her friends. We were so glad she called to ask if she could come over. We spent about two hours with her talking, sharing the Gospel in various ways and sent her on her way with several more pieces of reading material as well as John/Romans. She, too, was very glad that we took time to pray for her. Now we pray she will make a friend with a Christian down in Osaka area to continue the work that has been started!

Thank you for praying for Miss Motoba. “Tenkin” (ten keen) is a job transfer that takes play for some, every two years; for others 4-6 years. It is a required move within a job and rarely for promotion. That is one reason why any church work, ours included, can have ups and downs. It is challenging to married couples and families as well because eventually the wife and children can’t move on because they are on a specified course of schooling which means they shouldn’t hop from school to school. So we pray each year at this time that God will bring in new opportunities with the new people that transfer into Teshio and keep working in people’s hearts for those that move out!

1. Mrs. Sonoda, Mrs. Kawabata and salvation for their husbands; 3 secret believers

2. Transfer jobs in to Teshio to bring new folks to personally study the Bible

3. Mayor Asada: more witnessing opportunities, salvation and comfort through this time; healing for Mrs. A and salvation as well

4. For new leadership that will take place beginning in April both in Teshio and as the emperor of Japan advocates and his son takes the position.