Dear Beloved in Christ and Partner in the Gospel,
This morning we woke to the words, “Wake up—it’s SNOWING!!” Yes, we are truly back in Iowa! While snow can grow cumbersome after a while, it is still fresh and new to little Brooke and Bonnie, and we love seeing it through their eyes.
We arrived in Iowa on October 6th, after a whirlwind month of packing and moving out of our beloved apartment in Tokyo. Some exciting news prompted that move…we are expecting our third child next Spring! We plan for this baby to be born in the States, then we will need to search for a larger apartment when we return to Tokyo shortly after.
A temporary “goodbye” to our church family!
Saying goodbyes and unexpectedly packing up our home before traveling back for home assignment was grueling—both physically and emotionally. Since returning to Iowa, we’ve also had a packed travel schedule, with little time to settle in to our temporary place in Atlantic. We’ve slept in 11 different places in the last four weeks! That includes living out of an Airbnb while moving out of our apartment and travels through Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri to visit dear partners, friends and churches. Things are finally slowing down enough to give us a chance to catch our breath and rediscover a sense of healthy rhythms for our family.
Lots of fun with the Kids and staff at SHINE in Storm Lake!
Though these transitions can be hard, we’re already experiencing God’s many blessings in this new phase in our lives. We’ve been so blessed by your prayers and many loving notes—thank you! We are also looking forward to reconnecting with you while we are back! We’re still in the process of finalizing travel plans through the Spring, but please take a look at our travel schedule below and let us know if you’d like to get together when we’re in your area! Please feel free to contact us anytime! In His love,
John, Jo Beth, Brooke & Bonnie
Travel Schedule
| 11/3 | Concord EFC, Concord, NE |
| Sat, 11/9 | Bethany EFC, Brayton, IA |
| 11/10 | Atlantic EFC, Atlantic, IA |
| 11/17 | Crossroad, Earlham, IA |
| 11/24 | Clear Lake Christian Church, Clear Lake, IA |
| 1/12 | International Community Church, Columbia, MO |
| 1/19 | Amazing Grace Church, Cuba, MO |
| 1/26 | Living Hope, Jefferson City, MO |
| 2/2 | Grace Community Bible Church, Kirksville, MO |
| 2/9 | Liberty EFC, Pella, IA |
| 2/16 | Elim Mission Church, Cokato, MN |
| Wed, 2/19 | Lakewood EFC, Baxter, MN |
| 2/23 | Mound EFC, Mound, MN |
| 3/1 | Cumming EFC, Cumming, IA |
| 4/4 | Baby Lee’s Due Date! |
| Pending | All Nations Church, Ames, IA |
| Christ Community Church, Sioux Center, IA | |
| Crossroads Community Church, Sheldon, IA | |
| Faith Fellowship, Osceola, IA | |
| Rock Chapel, Lawrence, KS |
Recent Events & Prayer Requests
Thank you for your faithful prayer for the people of Tokyo, our team, the church and for our family!
- We’re now back in the Midwest on Home Assignment! This is meant to be a time of reconnecting with ministry partners and family, as well as rest. Please pray that we would have wisdom to set boundaries to find the best balance among each of these areas. Please pray that we might serve the body of Christ well—to provide some mutual encouragement to strengthen those we visit and they, us.
- Please pray for the Small Church now being cared for by Michiyo and Shige, our teammates. Pray that they would grow in love for the Lord and the lost souls God has placed in their lives.
- Please pray for our team as we navigate an extended season of transition. Four of us, including our family, are on Home Assignment while the remaining three are continuing our work in Tokyo. We ask for God’s grace in good communication and unity amidst being scattered across Japan and the US.
- Our family has been walking through major transitions since moving out of our apartment in mid-September and it has left us feeling physically and emotionally worn. Please pray for discipline in seeking Spiritual renewal, faith to trust God amidst all of the unknowns, grace toward one another and an enduring desire to abide with the Lord as we walk this winding road together.
- On a related note, Brooke and Bonnie are resilient little girls but the long road trips, sleeping in new beds every week and meeting so many new people seems to take a toll on them. Still, the Lord has cared for them by placing loving friends and family in their lives just when they needed them—even when we never thought of asking for it. We’re learning to trust the Lord as we continue to be stretched while also learning how our girls are communicating their limits. Please ask the Lord for wisdom to know when to endure by faith and when the Lord is leading us to slow down.
- We’re expecting our third child in April! Please pray for continuing health and wisdom with regards to planning our schedule in the Spring.
- When we return to Tokyo next year, we are facing increases in our rent, health insurance and needs for a growing family. In addition, some loss of support and an unfavorable exchange rate leaves us with a significant increase in needed support. We pray that the Lord would provide $2600 in monthly support by May 2020.
Celebrating team birthdays and saying goodbye
Much needed help from our brother and sister in the Lord to help us pack!
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