July Focus

Can you believe that 2014 is already more than half over? How time flies... 

So... I didn't get to work on my Bible units / coursework at all during June. :( Maybe in September..? Ach... Please pray that we'll be able to find some way for me to be able to complete all of my responsibilities at home and with ministry while somehow finding the extra time and energy to complete my coursework. 

Please pray for the usual Friday afternoon Kids Brown classes. My 4:30 class has expanded again and I now have 1st-4th grade girls. Together with my 5:30 class, I think I have about 25 students praying, learning English, and listening to Bible stories at church every week. Of the 25, only 3 are from Christian families. At the end of July, we have a special combined summer class at Koyo Chapel so please pray that everything will go smoothly. It'll be Jess's last class before she goes on Home Assignment and Peter takes over her classes.

Pray for Peter's Friday morning Japanese classes and his private English lessons too. His student calls their times together "happy time". :)

Please pray for our new team members that arrived earlier this month and another new team member arriving later this month! The family that arrived is an experienced missionary family, the wife is from Hiroshima, and they have three boys! Sungjae was the only boy of all of the Pioneers Japan MKs, but now there are three more! Yay! The other team member arriving this month is Korean-New Zealand and will be taking over Jess’s ladies’ English classes for six months. Hopefully she’ll stay for longer!

July 18^th is this term’s last Smile Club and 4 of my mommy friends and babies/toddlers said that they would be coming for the first time. That’s awesome! And the way that God made it happen was awesome too! Hopefully it’ll be their first of many visits to Asaminami Chapel. I’ll be teaching English that day. :)

Juhee has a ballet performance on the 26^th. Juhee’s really excited and I’m really stressed! There’s a lot of prep (including sewing!!!) and lots of extra rehearsals that we need to fit in. Yet another mom is thinking of having her daughter quit because it’s so much work for the mom! Juhee LOVES ballet so I don’t think that that’s an option for us, but please pray for me as I juggle extra responsibilities this month. I’m also teaching English at Juhee’s elementary school for a couple of hours on Saturday, 12^th so a few of the moms and I have been busy preparing for that too. Juhee also has a calligraphy competition at the end of July so she has an extra calligraphy lesson too! Juhee will be going to her first ever overnight church kids’ camp this month so I have a lot to prepare for that too. Juhee’s a very busy girl. ^^;

On Wednesday, July 23^rd, I’ll be visiting a Korean class that it taught by a Korean missionary, a 5 minute walk from our place. He’s getting married in September, and there’s a slight chance that I might be substituting for him during that month. The church that the missionary supports is all the way downtown and they don’t have women’s ministry events so it’s hard for him to invite them to events at his church. Pray that I’ll be able to quickly connect with the ladies there and that I’ll be able to invite them to events at our churches. The missionary currently teaching these classes would love to see this happen too.

Please continue to pray for our next term. We met with the Japanese pastors and received some good advice and insight from them. As much as it saddens us to think of leaving Hiroshima, we are leaning more and more to believing that God is leading us down to Itoshima City in Kyushu. We communicate often with the missionary couple down there who is due to retire in a couple of months. There's a big gap between the time they retire and when we would be able to go down, and there are a whole bunch of other logistics that need to be thought through that naturally comes with a big move. We will be going down to talk more with the local Japanese pastor at a neighboring church and to find out more about the area next month. Please pray that we will be able to have more clarity as to God's will for us during our next term during that time and that we will have a lot of good, encouraging conversations with the leaders down there.

Thank you so much for your constant prayers and encouragement. :)

Our Monthly Support is now around 95%!!! I have to check, but we’ve had a couple of our supporters increase their amounts and have also had a few one-time gifts given over the past few months. Thank you! The support from approximately 50 individuals/families giving regularly + 16 churches + one-time gifts currently make up our ongoing Monthly Support. THANK YOU!!! :)

June Focus

June.. had the potential to be a not so super crazy month. ;)

A continued BIG prayer request for this month too is for me to able to finish the coursework for at least one of my Bible units. LOTS of prayers for this one please!!! It didn't happen last month. :( Pray that I'll be able to complete it in a timely way, but also do well and that I'll be able to really learn while writing my coursework. Pray also for protection for us... Pray that I don't take out my stress on the family and that we all work together to try and make this really happen!!!

Thank you so much for your prayers for a Korean newsletter to be sent out! It happened!!! Thank you for praying for all of the various events at the kids' schools last month too. They all went as well as they could have or better! Praise the Lord! :)

There's the usual Friday afternoon Kids Brown classes that you can be praying for. My 4:30 class is now just 1st grade girls and my 5:30 class is now a mix of pre-K to 5th grade boys and girls. :)

Pray for Peter's Friday morning Japanese classes and his private English lesson too.

We'll be meeting with the Japanese pastors on Monday, June 9th to discuss our 2nd term in Japan. Please pray for wisdom, clear communication, and good understanding during the meeting.

We also have our first ever picnic with the Japanese pastors and their wives on Monday, 16th. It's during monsoon season, so not sure if we'll be able to have a picnic BBQ, but hopefully we will! Pray that it'll be a good time of fellowship. We don't usually get to just hang out and have lunch with them! :)

Please pray for Peter as he attends his first ever Church Planting Institute (CPI) Seminar in Osaka, June 11th-13th. Pray for me, too, while he's away!

We're spending time with a few different friends this month and Juhee & Sungjae are having fun making friends with kids in the neighborhood. Please pray for all of the new and continued relationships that God is bringing into our lives.

Jenny also has the opportunity to invite friends to talks at Koyo Chapel and Kabe Chapel this month too. A few friends have already expressed interest in going - yay! Juhee and Sungjae will also be inviting their friends to Asaminami Chapel's Ice Cream Party on the first Saturday of July. Praise God for opportunities to invite friends to church events and for friends to invite! Pray for all of the various outreaches happening at all three chapels during the next month.

Thank you so much for your constant prayers and encouragement. :)

Our Monthly Support is now at 85%! The support from approximately 50 individuals/families giving regularly + 16 churches currently make up our ongoing Monthly Support. THANK YOU!!! :)

Prayer points...

Pray for Japan!  Pray for revival in Japan.

Almost every night, I pray with the kids before they fall asleep (I don't always put them to bed, hence the "almost").  Ever time I pray with them, we pray for unsaved members of our family and for our friends in Hiroshima, practically all of whom are not Christians.  It's heartbreaking and sometimes discouraging that despite our prayers and so many having attended church events and various services, that none of them have yet to show more interest in getting to know about the Gospel.  We know that it usually takes yea~~~rs from when one person hears the Gospel to when they profess faith, but still...  We love our friends so much and we would so love for them to come to faith while we're still here!!!

Here's an article I found today which I think is very informative: Engaging Japan with the Gospel.  It's an interview with Michael Oh, a fellow Korean-American missionary here in Japan.  He's a little bit more famous than we are. ;)  (Big time understatement!)

Pray for me today as I'll be chatting with a couple over Skype re issues that they're having in their marriage (I think).  They're my friends from High School in Germany that I've written about a few times.  The wife has been suffering from depression for over 10 years now.  I'm very under-qualified and feel completely inadequate to be talking with them about marriage issues with them, but they don't seem to have anyone else they both feel comfortable opening up to.  So please pray for me and for them as we chat tonight, after our kids have gone to bed.  Oh, Holy Spirit, guide me big time please!  Pray that instead of stressing and panicking about what to say and how to say it, that I'll be open to His guiding.  I really care about both of them and their two children and would hate to say their marriage fall apart.  

I think Peter and I are both feeling that the decision regarding our next term is imminent.  We're still  not 100% sure but we've been receiving input from those that know the situation in both possible locations better than us.  We will also be meeting with the Japanese pastors at some point in June to speak to them about both.  Please pray for us and the pastors as we prepare for the meeting.  Pray for wisdom, clear communication, grace, and understanding as we discuss our next steps together.  It's exciting and daunting, all at the same time!

2014년 봄 소식지

안녕하세요!
정말로 오래만에 한글 소식지 보냈습니다. 일년씩이나 걸려 죄송합니다... ㅠㅠ
받지 못하신 분은 여기를 클릭하시면 보실 수 있습니다.
늘 기도해주심에 감사드립니다.  꾸벅~~~ ^^

Quick May Update

Hey! :)

A few changes and additional prayer requests for May...

I've made a start on one of my Bible unit coursework so praise God for that!  I haven't been able to do anything since, but at least I've made a start, right? :)

Also, super super exciting news - I'm going to LoveSonata!!!  For those of you that don't know, Onnuri organizes LoveSonata concerts in Japan (and a few other countries in Asia I think) and I've been wanting to go one for a lo~ng time.  We weren't here when they did it in Hiroshima and they won't be coming back here for a while.  However, they are having a concert in Shimonoseki which isn't close, but isn't too far either.  So I'll be going with another pastor and his wife TOMORROW!!!  I'm super excited!!!  One of the main guests is Jaechul Bae who I first met in Cardiff, Wales back when I was in college (or just started working?) about 10 years ago.  He wasn't famous back then like he is now.  It'll be nice to see him again.  It'll be awesome being able to take part in this amazing outreach!  Please pray for all of those who are working hard to make this happen.  A couple hundred people are coming over from Korea and there are probably about one hundred Japanese volunteers working on it too in Shimonoseki.  Pray for those that will be attending the concert, that they will have open hearts and minds and just really soak in the love and message of grace and mercy that will be spoken to them throughout the evening concert. Here's a video in Japanese with Korean subtitles with more info.  Sorry there isn't any info available that I could find in English... :(

I wrote that I won't be teaching English at Smile Club this month, but I am now.  Pray for Smile Club on the morning of the 16th please.  We've had a couple of new visitors during the past couple of gatherings so praise God for that!  It's the day after LoveSonata and I'll be coming home probably around midnight, so pray that I'll sleep well and have lots of energy to teach in the morning and my regular classes in the afternoon (and prep dinner before I go to teach).

The Korean gospel choir Ongijangi (옹기장이) is coming again to Hiroshima!  They're coming next week and I will see them perform twice.  On the 23rd, they will be coming to Sungjae's preschool.  The preschool is using this as an opportunity for moms to attend the weekly worship service.  After the choir performs during the worship service with the kids, the kids will return to their classrooms while the moms stay for more awesome music and probably a testimony too.  Pray that the hearts of these moms will be touched too.  I have a scheduling conflict so will attend for the first part with the kids and then go to Asaminami Chapel for a parenting seminar. :/  I'll be going to their full concert on Saturday at a nearby church (not one of the ones we work with) and am looking forward to it!  Going to concerts like these are the only times when I can praise God freely...

Peter will be meeting up with his private lesson student at the end of the month so pray for them too.

The first Korean e-newsletter in over a year is almost done - phew!  Hopefully I'll be able to send it out this week.

This one may seem silly, but Sungjae's turning four this month and we really want him completely out of diapers!  He stopped wearing them during the day about a year ago, but he still wears them at night.  Pray that it will happen quickly and without too many accidents! :/

Juhee's had two violin lessons so far and is loving it! :)

And to finish off, here's a couple of random photos of the kids for you... (Click to enlarge.)

Thanks so much for your prayers... :)

Helpful Ministry Links

This is a copy and paste from a blog posting from the RJC (Reaching Japanese for Christ) blog.  To see the original posting, click here.  For those of you that are in North America and are interested in finding out more about conferences, ministry resources, etc on how to reach out to the 500,000 Japanese in the US and Canada, and of course, the Japanese here in Japan, this is a great group to be affiliated with.

Our short term teams that came last year took part in RJC's short-term missions preparation course as well as our teams two years ago.  They also have other online courses available like Japan 101, which I am still hoping to be able to take part in someday.

RJC's "Operation Japan" is a GREAT source and probably the BEST source for those who are serious about learning more about the Christian climate in Japan and wanting to commit to praying about Japan every day.  There's a daily 365-day prayer guide, lots of stats, and resources available on the CD & book set.  I think the book is available in e-book format now too.

I am so grateful for all of the hard work and dedication that Don Wright has put since starting RJC all those years ago after "retiring" from decades of missionary work in Japan.  A lot of networking, encouraging, and information sharing happens through RJC within our fairly small yet widespread community.  It's really amazing what Don has achieved during his "retirement". :)

Here's the blog posting...

Sites that you can introduce to those who are interested in Christianity: 1. Bible Broadcast Network. BBN broadcasts over the internet 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in nine different languages. The Japanese broadcast will help seekers and Christians alike. There now is a chat service also.
2. Japan for Christ has specific pages in Japanese for those who are suffering from depression and other difficulties.

Here are a few among many organizations that are cooperating with RJC:
1. Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA)
2. Japan Evangelical Association (JEA)
3. Japanese Christian Fellowship network (JCFN)
4. Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS)
5. Japan Christian Link
6. The Christian Arts Network for Japan (CAN) 
7. Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN) 
8. Say Yes To Japan

Here are some good resource links for ministering to Japanese:
1. Japan Ministry Toolbox 
2. Resources for Japanese Language Learning
3. Resources for English Language Learning
4. HGF (Hallelujah Gospel Family)
6. Indigitech has several good links for audio and visual resources in Japanese.
7. Best site for finding Japanese Bibles and other literature: Multilanguage Media
8. Project Japan. This site contains much of the information from Dr. Samuel Lee's book,Understanding Japan Through The Eyes Of The Christian Faith.
9. Gospel Japan (Japanese)
10.Let's Love Japan is a non-profit ministry that shares the Gospel of Jesus with Japan using entertainment media. It is currently working on an innovative project that uses mobile phones and animation as witnessing tools. Let's Love Japan.
11. BBN now has a Japanese Bible Institute for on-line study!.
12. Reaching Internationals
Includes "Dos and Don'ts for Japanese," "Unique Qualities of Major People Groups: Japanese," "How to share the Love of God with Japanese," and "Japanese Fast Facts."

Where are Japanese churches?

1. JEMS list for USA Churches

2. The United Church of Canada Ethnic Congregations These include non-Japanese churches.

3. Japanese Churches Outside of Japan List (Japanese)

4. Church Information Service (Japanese)

For many more links please see Organizations.

May Focus

May is another super busy month!

One BIG prayer request for this month is for me to able to finish the coursework for at least one of my Bible units. LOTS of prayers for this one please!!! Pray that I'll be able to complete it in a timely way, but also do well and that I'll be able to really learn while writing my coursework. Pray also for protection for us... Pray that I don't take out my stress on the family and that we all work together to try and make this really happen!!!

Pray that I'll be able to get out a Korean e-newsletter this month too please... I really really want to get one out!!!

Please pray for all of the things that are happening at the kids' schools: As of today (7th), I've already been on Sungjae's "parent-child joint field trip" and Juhee's second "parent participation / observation + explanation day". Tomorrow morning is one of the "PTA meeting / club explanation days" for Sungjae's preschool, 14th I have a "school lunch experiencing day" at Juhee's school for parents of 1st graders, and on the 31st (Saturday) is Juhee's elementary school's "Sports Festival" - a big deal, all day event! Each school gathering always takes me a lot of time and energy to prepare for and wind down from. I always have a lot of information to go through before and after too so pray that I'll be able to stay on top of all of the paperwork this month. Sungjae's isn't so bad as I pretty much know what to expect for him, but with Juhee... There's so much and it's so new! Lots of prayers that I don't drop too many balls, especially any big ones with Juhee's school.

There's the usual Friday afternoon Kids Brown classes that you can be praying for. I have another new student that just started, so that's a total of two that started in April! :)

Pray for Peter's Friday morning Japanese classes too.

Please pray for the Love Sonata that is taking place in Shimonoseki on the 15th. I really really wanted to go, but with May looking so crazy, I don't think I can. :( Our Pioneers team in Shimonoseki is very actively involved. Pray that God will use it mightily to really fan flames and to ignite fires!

Thank you so much for your constant prayers and encouragement. :)

Our Monthly Support is now at 85%! The support from approximately 50 individuals/families giving regularly + 16 churches currently make up our ongoing Monthly Support. THANK YOU!!! :)

* During a recent conversation with Peter, he said that because of the exchange rate doing better and a couple of miraculous new donors, we are probably closer to 90% than to 85% - yay! 

** At the end of April, we paid $160.65 in credit card fees. When supporters pick the credit card option, we are charged a 3% fee. If giving online is the best option for you, please consider using the e-check option is possible. It's been a while since we've mentioned this to our supporters... Maybe it's a good time for a reminder? We don't usually like mentioning financial matters in our newsletters...

THANK YOU!!! Thank you for your encouragement and your prayers. :)

Feb-Apr '14 Newsletter

Yay! Our Feb-Apr has just been sent out. If you didn't get it in your inbox, click here to view it and sign up using our e-form in the right hand column to be added to our distribution list. Thank you for journeying with us and for your prayers! :)

2013년 사역 보고서

한국에 있는 저희 협력교회 중 하나를 위해 2013년말에 준비한 사역 보고서입니다. 쓰다 보니 2013년에는 거의 매달 새로운 경험, 사역을 시작했더군요. 왠지 엄청 바쁘고 정신 없는 한해였습니다. ^^; 작년에 한글 소식지는 초기에 한번만 보내드리고 블로그도 늘 영어로 업데이트 했는데 이번에는 한글로... ^^ 아래글은 업데이트된 버젼입니다. 

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2013년 한 해도 주님의 은혜 가운데 새로운 사역들을 시작하고 많은 친구들이 교회행사들에 참석하는 한 해였습니다. 

2012년 12월 중순쯤에 가족이 다 같이 한국으로 갔습니다. 온 가족이 함께 간 것은 3년만에 처음이었습니다. 주희의 5번째 생일을 외할머니, 외할아버지, 그리고 제니 사모의 친척들과 함께 보내고, 크리스마스, 설도 오래만에 한국에서 보냈습니다. 

2013년 1월에는 제니 사모가 친정어머니께서 졸업하신 합동신학대학원의 동계강좌에 참석해, 고린도전서 강해를 들었습니다. 선교단체에서 지정한 성경공부 과목 중 하나이기 때문에 아주 좋은 기회였습니다.  그리고 수요예배, 그리고 어느 주일에는 교회를 3군데를 다니며 선교보고도 틈틈히 하러 다녔습니다. 이번에 처음으로 대전에 있는 교회에서 오선교사가 설교를 하고 대전에 있는 극동방송에서 인터뷰도 하게 되었습니다. 일본 동북지역에서 사역을 하고 계신 일본인 목사님 두 분께서 후원금 모금차 오셔서 서울 극동방송, 기독교 신문사들, CGNTV등을 연락해서 인터뷰를 계획하게 되었습니다. 주희는 매일 동네에 있는 영어유치원을 한달간 재미있게 다니며 한국말이 많이 늘었습니다. 성제는 모든 사람들에게 주로 일본말로 이야기했습니다.

2월에는 파이오니어즈 선교단체에서 2년에 한번 아시아 전지역 선교사들을 위한 retreat에 참석했습니다. 2년전 retreat는 참석을 안했는데 이번에는 참석을 하게 되었습니다. 서울을 떠난 날 부터 태국에서의 첫주는 주희와 성제가 아프고 두번째 주는 오선교사가 아팠지만, 그 가운데서도 쉼을 얻을 수 있었습니다. 히로시마를 갑자기 떠나 태국으로 발령 받게된 친한 선교사 가정과 함께 좋은 시간도 가졌습니다. 서울로 돌아가 며칠 후 히로시마로 돌아와 2개월 동안 비워뒀던 집을 다시 정리하고 다시 정상적인 일상생활을 시작했습니다. 어느새 히로시마에 있는 오래되고 허름한 집이 "우리 집"이 되었다는 것, 그리고 동네 분들, 유치원 친구들, 교인들이 보고 싶었다는 것을 새삼 느끼며 하나님께 감사를 드렸습니다.

3월에 제니 사모가 그 동안 코요 채플과 카베 채플에서 한달에 한번씩 가르쳤던 Kids’ English Club을 마치고 7월 부터 코요 채플, 카베 채플, 그리고 (2012년에 개척된) 아사미나미 채플에서 Kids Brown을 매주 가르치게 되었습니다. 선교단체 팀원이 코요 채플과 카베 채플의 수업들을 맡게 되었고 제니 사모가 아사미나미 채플에서의 2개의 수업을 맡게 되었습니다. 주님의 은혜로 저희가 기도했던 2배 이상인 50명의 아이들로 프로그램을 시작하게 되었고 그 아이들 중 반 이상이 딸 주희의 (미신자 가정)친구들이었습니다. 광고지를 보고 온 엄마들과 아이들도 있어, 교회와 전혀 상관이 없던 아이들도 교회에 매주 오게 된 것을 감사하게 생각합니다. 이 아이들이 7월에 있었던 아사미나미 채플의 아이스크림 전도행사에도, 12월에 있었던 아사미나미 채플의 아이들 크리스마스 파티 전도행사에도 참석했고, Kids Brown의 크리스마스 발표회를 통해 아이들과 엄마들이 크리스마스의 참 의미를 깨닫게 되는 의미 있는 시간을 가졌습니다.

4월에는 아이들이 새 학년을 시작하게 되었고 하나님께서 너무나도 좋은 거처를 마련해 주셔서 더 저렴하면서도, 더 좋고, 더 크고, 아이들 유치원에서 더 가까운 곳으로 갑작스럽게 이사하게 되었습니다. 마침 동생의 남편이 일주일간 히로시마에 단기선교차 와있어서 이사하는데 큰 도움이 되었습니다. 이 집을 통해서 아이들이 친구들과 더 자주 놀 수 있게 되었고 그 친구들의 부모님들과 더 많은 교제의 시간을 가질 수 있게 된 것을 하나님께 감사드립니다. 

5월 부터는 아사미나미 채플에서 제니 사모가 한달에 한번씩 0-3세 유아들을 위한 영어를 가르치기 시작했습니다. Smile Club이라는 이름으로 시작된 이 프로그램은 한달에 2번 있는 모임이고 현지 교인들이 인도하고 계획하는 모임에 제니 사모가 한달에 한번 영어를 20분간 가르칩니다. 제니 사모가 영어를 가르치는 날들에 엄마들과 아이들이 더 많이 모여 교회 측에서도, 저희 측에서도, 영어의 끌림을 다시 한번 깨달았고 영어를 가르칠 수 있도록 예비해 주신 하나님께 감사를 드렸습니다. 성제가 만3살이 되었습니다. 

6월에는 제니 사모가 코요 채플에서 인도한 Korean Fair을 통하여 친구들을 여선교회 전도행사에 초대하고 또 많은 교인들이 특별한 행사에 친구들을 초대할 수 있는 기회가 되었습니다. 주님의 은혜로 한글, 한복, 태극기, 한국 문화등을 잘 소개하고 그리고 부족한 아내로써의 간증도 일어로 나누었습니다. 오선교사가 그 동안 머레이 선교사님을 대신하여 가르쳤던 Ladies' English Classes의 마지막 수업으로 저희 집에서 두 반이 함께 점심식사를 했습니다.

7월과 8월은 단기선교팀들로 바빴습니다. 한국과 미국에서 3개의 팀이 와서 다양한 사역들을 잘 감당하고 갔습니다. 단기선교팀들이 오지 않았으면 못 했을 일들, 계획하지 않았을 일들을 통해 더 많은 사람들을 교회의 여러 가지 전도행사들에 초대할 수 있었습니다. 단기선교팀원들의 간증과 찬양, 연극등을 통해 행사에 참석한 아이들과 부모들은 물론, 교인들도 은혜와 격려를 받는 시간이 되었습니다. 2014년 여름에는 단기선교팀들을 모시지 않게 될 것 같습니다. 저희가 협력하고 있는 일본교회들이 아직 단기선교팀들과 함께 동역할 준비가 되어 있지 않은 것 같습니다. 7월에는 1년반 동안 자리를 갑자기 비우게 되었던 저희 팀리더이신 머레이 선교사님 가정이 히로시마로 돌아왔고 8월에는 제니 사모의 친할아버지께서 갑자기 돌아가셔서 다시 한국에 잠깐 들어가게 되었습니다.

9월에는 피터 선교사가 홍콩에서 열린 전아시아 복음자유교회(Evangelical Free Church福音自由教会) 모임에서 파이오니아즈 히로시마팀과 히로시마 복음자유교회의 협력에 관한 내용으로 많은 목사님들과 선교사님들 앞에서 발표했습니다. 우연히 대학생활때 옛 친구도 그 conference에서 만나게 되었고 홍콩에서 선교사로 오래동안 섬긴 신학대학원 친구도 만났습니다.

10월에는 코요채플의 운동회 & 바베큐, 카베채플의 가족 캠프, 아사미나미 채플의 첫 야외예배 & 바베큐에 참석해 현지 교인들과 재미있는 교제의 시간을 통해 관계가 더 깊어지는 기회를 갖게 되었습니다. 10월말에는 파이오니어즈 선교단체와 또 하나의 선교단체가 합하여 일본에서 섬기고 있는 두 선교단체 선교사들이 모여 retreat를 가졌습니다. 베테랑 선교사님들, guest speaker로 오신 부부, 오래만에 본 동역자 선교사님들과 함께 많은 것을 듣고 배우고, 함께 기도하고 찬양하고 웃으며, 저희도, 저희 아이들도 몸과 마음이 쉼을 얻는 2박3일이 되었습니다.

11월에 영일 2개국어 예배가 시작되었습니다. 매주 토요일 오후 4시에 예배를 드리고 장소는 아사미나미 채플이지만, 이 모임을 또 하나의 개척교회로 여겨 "아사미나미 바이린구아르 채플"(Asaminami Bilingual Chapel 또는 간단하게ABC)로 이름을 지었습니다. 피터 선교사는 ABC에서 매주 찬양인도를 하고 있으며 선교단체 팀리더이신 머레이 선교사님께서 계시지 않으실때는 설교를 맡게 됩니다. 부목사 역할로 보시면 될 것 같습니다. 설교는 영어로 하며 일어로 통역됩니다. 일본인 중 영어에 관심이 있거나 해외에서 살아본 경험이 있는 자, 외국인들을 위해 세워진 교회입니다. 해외에서 주님을 영접하고 일본으로 돌아온 일본인의 80% 정도가 돌아온 후 일본교회에 적응을 못하고 함께 교제할 크리스챤들을 찾지 못해 헤매다 결국은 신앙을 포기하게 된다는 통계도 있습니다. 주희의 발레 친구들과 가정들을 초대해 저희 집에서 식사를 함께하게 되었습니다. 엄마들은 매주 만나지만 아빠들이 한자리에 모인 것은 처음이라 처음에는 좀 서먹서먹 했지만 아이들이 신나게 놀아 분위기가 곧 풀렸습니다. 피터 선교사가 아빠들과 함께 여러 가지 이야기를 나눌 수 있는 좋은 기회였고 식사전에 식기도를 함으로써 신앙도 조금 더 나눌 수 있는 좋은 기회였습니다. 11월과 12월 사이에 약 15개의 크리스마스 행사들이 있었습니다. 코요 채플, 카베 채플, 아사미나미 채플, 아사미나미 바이린구아르 채플, 4개의 교회의 크리스마스 행사들을 계획하거나 참석했습니다. 주님의 은혜로 많은 일본인들이 크리스마스의 참 의미를 처음 깨닫게 되는 시기가 되었습니다. 저희 미신자 친구들도 여러 가지 행사에 참석했고 "고요한 밤 거룩한 밤"등을 부르며 멜로디는 알았는데 가사는 몰랐고 참 의미는 생각해 본적 없었다는 친구도 있었고 Kids Brown영어 수업의 크리스마스 발표회때 제가 크리스마스의 참 의미, 크리스마스 트리에 있는 별, candy cane등, 그리고 가장 큰 선물을 예수님이었다는 것 등을 설명했을 때 애들은 물론 많은 엄마들도 이 나이가 되도록 크리스마스의 참 의미를 몰랐다는 엄마들이 있었습니다.

12월에는 5인 가족이 단기선교를 와서 가장 바빴던 한주 동안 많은 도움이 되었습니다. 주희가 생일파티를 기대하고 있었지만 크리스마스 며칠전이 생일이어서 교회 행사들로 스케쥴이 꽉차 파티를 해주지 못했습니다. 하지만 주희 생일날에 주희의 발레 친구들과의 파티가 계획 되어져 있었는데 그 날이 주희의 생일이라는 것을 알게 되고 케잌을 준비해 크리스마스 파티겸 주희 생일파티가 되어 주희가 친구들에게 생일 축하를 받게 되었습니다. 그리고 저녁 먹기 전에 주최한 가정에서 제니 사모에게 식기도를 부탁해서 미신자들의 모임에서, 미신자의 집에서 예수님의 이름으로 기도하고 식사를 하는 작은 기적이 이루어졌습니다.

April Focus - extended version

Happy new academic & fiscal year. :)

April is the month of new beginnings - flowers blooming, new schools, new jobs, new friends, new homes... We have a few beginnings of our own too this month! Pray for the many people in Japan who are transitioning from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from their safety zones to new territory.

Peter's private tutoring classes - His student has a busy schedule this month so can only make one lesson, but we're grateful for every one! Pray that they continue to have a great time chatting in English. His last email to Peter ended with "I am looking forward to your lesson and happy time." :)

Peter's Friday Japanese lessons - He'll be resuming classes next week after Spring Break. Pray for the relationships that he's developing there too. Last month, a few days after class, his teacher called him to give us a discount coupon to a cave that he'd mentioned during class that we might visit during our Vision Trip. She drove to our area to give it to him. During their next class sometime this month, Peter can thank her and show her pictures that we took in the cave. Maybe through the pictures of the shrine and alters inside the cave, some spiritual conversation might be able to take place. Pray for Peter to be open to the HS's leading and that more opportunities will arise.

Kids Brown - Our new class started last week!  It was a great beginning and the kids are excited about coming back.  I'll be supporting her again this week and then she'll be running the classes on her own.  Praise God for an additional teacher and eager-to-learn kids & parents!

Smile Club - The first class of this new academic year will be on Friday, April 18th. I've been asked to teach English as the attendance is always higher when I teach and they want a strong start to the new year. Pray that we will have a strong start, and that mommies & babies will continue to come. At one of the last gatherings, one of my friends who lives 40-50 minutes away, told Pastor Yamada at the end that she really appreciates the talk bit at the end that Pastor Yamada leads and that it makes it worth the drive for her. Hurrah!

Kids - Juhee will be having her elementary school entrance ceremony on the 9th. I still have a lot to prepare before she starts! I think she's excited but also a bit nervous too. Pray that we'll be able to prepare her well and that I'll be able to have everything ready by Wednesday too. Sungjae's loving being a "big kid" and can't wait to turn 4 just like most of his friends!

Vision Trip - We had a GREAT time during our Vision Trip. It was wonderful to visit with friends, get to know them better, and pick their brains too, as many of them have been missionaries in Japan for at least 10-20 years longer than us. We were treated to picnics on beautiful Spring days and meals on China plates with placemats too! It was great for us to be able to go and see the places of ministry that we've been invited to and to meet the pastors/missionaries there. We still have a lot of processing and praying to do. Please pray with us!!!

Pray that we'll be able to get our English e-newsletter out soon and a Korean one too... We still haven't got one out... :(

As always, thank you for your prayers and for your love. :)