Of Interns and Youth!

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 3:15

Both of us were raised in a Christian home where the Bible was read and honored as God’s Holy Word. What a privilege to have such a heritage! Yet each of us had to personally come to the point of understanding that we were sinners. That we needed God’s salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. After salvation, we too needed to make decision after decision to choose to walk in the way of the Lord as defined by the Bible. We still must live by faith which the Lord imparts to those who open their minds and hearts to the Holy Spirit as we read and study God’s Word. Let us all continue and abound in leading our families diligently in the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ.

The cold month of June has come and gone! We and the interns are on a regular schedule except for adjustments here and there as schools change their schedules for when Ken will be in the classroom. They have been exposed to various situations and people in classrooms in the schools and in our church work. They are learning the Japanese language just as though they were going to stay here in the country and have worked hard at reading and writing the first two of the three alphabets. They can now introduce themselves, ask someone to read a pamphlet they are giving them, and quote a couple Bible verses. We are blessed by having special music in our services each week through trumpet solos and/or piano duets. As the rain subsides here and there, Ken and the interns continue to put John/Romans in mailboxes by going house to house (allowed here in Japan) in the town of Horonobe next to Teshio.

We made a trip to Asahikawa for Ken to have his regular 6 month checkup for his kidney stones which he carries around. No change there for which we are thankful. Vicki also had 3 different tests including a look at her stomach and esophagus via a camera feed, to find out if she had any other problems beings she had been having stomach problems and also found it hard to get some foods down without drinking a lot of water. Thankfully, the doctors said that they felt the problem was due to the extreme amount of coughing she did while having 2 months of high level asthma symptoms and upper respiratory infection while in the States. Now that her body has quieted back down again and not having the constant asthma and coughing, these extra symptoms have also gone away. We are thankful for the overall good health we have and pray that God allows us to continue to serve Him here for many years to come.

We had scheduled a 2 night, 3 day youth camping retreat time for all the missionary young people to be together for fun, fellowship and preaching. Due to continued inclement weather conditions—who wants to sleep in a tent when it’s raining all the time or not much space for indoor activities as they were all outside ones planned—we changed it to one day and gathered in Nayoro where they could be at a park in the morning and the Lord allowed the rain to not get serious until around lunch time. They all met at Missionary Randy Smith’s home for the rest of the day for games, testimonies, singing, and a message from Missionary Alan Minks as well. Needless to say this was a blessing to all as they don’t get together very often.

Our daughter Alicia has a printing business now from home and we were so glad to have her make these tshirts for us this summer!
If you need any shirts, leggings, hats and more done just as you want with what you need on them, just let me know and I will get you her contact information!
She can print on about anything and it is high heat pressed so will last. She has even done bulk orders for camps, etc.

In July all our families, if possible, gather together for our summer get together so the young people are already looking forward to one more chance, especially as our interns will head back to the States at the end of July and in August two more of the young people will be heading to the States for further studies in Bible School. The 1st of July is Isaac Royalty’s 18th birthday so we were able to surprise him at the gathering with a cake and happy birthday banner and song. Beings it was Mrs. Minks’ birthday as well that very day, we could do it for her and that made him even more surprised when we just turned around and sang again to include Isaac.