We’re here! After years of preparation God has finally brought us to serve Him in Japan. We could never have gotten here without you, and as we launch into a totally new phase of ministry, your role in sending us and praying for us is even more vital than before. We’ll never be able to thank you enough, but we look forward to sharing with you the things that God does here in Japan, and trust that He will reward you greatly for your obedience in helping to reach the lost with the hope of salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We’re been in Japan for one week now, and we have been incredibly busy during that week. Your prayers have certainly been felt, as we have been amazed at how smoothly everything has gone, and how much has been accomplished. The day we arrived in Morioka we signed (or more accurately stamped, in Japan everyone has a personal stamp that is their official signature) papers to rent an apartment. One great thing about the place we’re living is that it’s right above another young missionary family that is working with Pastor Kondo’s church, and we’re looking forward to working with them and being able to encourage each other. In Japan apartments typically come totally unfurnished, without even a stove oven or heater, much less a washing machine, refrigerator or microwave. Also, unlike Tokyo, you really need a car to get around Morioka. However, thanks to the help of my brother and his wife, Pastor Kondo and his family, our new neighbors and others, we were able to get our place about half way set up by last weekend, and officially began living in our apartment Easter Sunday.
It was a real blessing being able to make here in time for Easter, and we had the great joy of seeing four people baptized following the service. After the baptism each of the people who were baptized were presented with flowers, given to them by the four people who were baptized at the last baptism. It was such a touching way to welcome them into the church and into the family of God, and so encouraging to see that the four who were baptized previously remained faithful and steadfast in the church. Pray that this cycle happens again and again!
Titus has been adjusting really well, and seems to like Japanese food much better than American food. Also, him being a total extrovert doesn’t hurt. He hates to be stuck at home, but has absolutely loved getting out and driving all over Morioka shopping with us, and meeting all sorts of new people.
Also this past week: Tomo and I got a job teaching English to pre-school kids twice a month, pray that God will use us in that role. It is a Christian pre-school, but many of the children and their parents are not Christians, so pray that we can be a good witness to them and develop good relationships.
I start language school this coming Monday, and have a very formal entrance ceremony this coming Friday. Good thing I brought a suit! We have to arrive an hour before the ceremony to practice, and I’ll have to introduce myself in Japanese. I wasn’t able to get as far as I’d hoped in learning Japanese prior to arriving, so I’ll likely be starting out one on one with a tutor, and hopefully be able to join a group class later on. Pray that I can stay focused and make lots of progress in learning Japanese.
We need to find a car. Buying a car is a lot different here, and it’s hard for us to know what a good car is, how long one would be able to reasonably expect a good car to last (The Japanese equivalent of a Smog check is very strict and very expensive, which is why there are very few older cars on the road in Japan). Pray that we’re able to find a good car soon, and also that we’re safe on these insanely narrow roads, crowded with bicycles and pedestrians, where everyone drives on the left instead of the right.
Pray for good relationships to be formed with our church, Morioka Bible Baptist Church, other missionaries in the area, neighbors, classmates, students, and anyone else God would put in our path.
Pray for us that we’d make time to spend in God’s word, even with all the pressure to get our house set up before language school starts next Monday.