Dear Beloved in Christ and Partner in the Gospel,
News Flash: We received our visa in the mail last week!! Praise the Lord for His great faithfulness. We have obtained tickets to return to Tokyo on June 15.
When starting out in full time ministry several people told us things like, “As a missionary you’ll have all kinds of tasks that eat up your time and energy, but looking back someday you’ll never regret the time you spent with people.” These words come back to us on the days when we wonder how everything will ‘fit’ into our lives while still carrying out regular team responsibilities, yet by God’s grace things always seem to come together. And when we look back on the past several months we feel the deep joy of personally walking with some dear friends in discipleship and seeing the dots connect from their daily lives to the Gospel.
Shoki & Bella – Summer 2021
(Just before he moved back to Japan)
One of these is our good friend Shoki. These past years we’ve shared a bit with you as he’s begun to count the cost of what it would mean to fully commit his life to Jesus, and yet he hungrily pursues knowledge of God and relationship with Christ. Shoki has been living and working in his hometown near Tokyo and became connected with the Waseda small church. He also continues to visit with John about once a week. During a recent conversation, Shoki shared about his first time to personally experience God through prayer. He has lately considered a teaching opportunity in the U.S. After beginning the process of pursuing this opportunity, Shoki realized that a small but important detail could cause all of his plans to crumble. At first he was anxious about this caveat that might end his plans, but then he chose to pray over it. When Shoki brought the issue to God in prayer, he felt assurance that if he got the job it would be God’s will—and that if he didn’t get the job, it would be because it is not God’s will. As he realized this, he received peace. He expressed his feelings by saying, “It’s not just a solution to the problem but a real-life experience with God.”
Fix-it job with the neighborhood guys
Another exciting way we’ve seen God working has been through small-group discipleship, particularly with the group of teenage boys in our neighborhood who John has been meeting for study times. They have asked so many great questions about things like spiritual warfare and assurance of salvation. One of the unique aspects of doing discipleship in community has been to watch the boys inspire one another to spiritual growth, evidenced through comments like, “Yeah, that’s an area where I’d like to grow too.”
We feel so blessed to witness the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of our loved-ones, and we pray He will continue to provide these kinds of relationships in our next neighborhood community in Tokyo. Thank you so much for lifting us up in every way!
-John, Jo Beth, Brooke, Bonnie & Bella
Return Plans & Prayer Needs
We have received our visa and plan to return to Tokyo on June 15! Praise the Lord!! Thank you so much for your prayers and for walking alongside us through this prolonged season of waiting.
Kidney Donation-Jo Beth and Joanie are scheduled for kidney transplant surgery this Monday, May 2 at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. Please pray for both to stay healthy through these remaining few days, for Joanie’s body to receive the transplant and for both Jo and Joanie to heal swiftly. We have scheduled a 6-week recovery time before departure, as recommended by the doctor.
Please pray for our girls through this coming transition, that God will care gently for their hearts through many goodbyes and stepping into a very different daily life in Tokyo.
Pray for healthy closure as we will have many goodbyes to friends and family.
Pray for God’s provision of housing for our family upon return to Tokyo.
Pray for fruitful times of Bible study and fellowship with our neighbors over these next several weeks. Praise God for how He has worked in their hearts and through their lives!
John continues to meet with both Ken and Shoki for discipleship. Pray for both as they seek God’s will for their lives, that He will continue to grow them and lead them in His paths. Please continue to pray for Shoki’s salvation.
Happy 2nd birthday, Bella!
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