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The Stoddards in Iowa!
Left to Right:
John, Rob & Jill Stoddard, Jo Beth & Tigger, Helen (John’s Sister) and Omuk (John’s Mom) |
Dear family & friends,
We’re overjoyed to announce that we have surpassed our support goal in pledges and start-up gifts! It’s not merely God’s faithfulness that we acknowledge, but the overwhelmingly abundant grace that He pours in, around, and through us. Join us in praising Him!
In that same vein, thank you all for your faithfulness to pray!! Yes, we had some administrative duties on our end, but we believe that God has used YOU to lift us up daily, give us courage to share boldly about His work in Japan, and move the Spirit to accomplish His work in this little corner of the globe. Moreover, your prayers have already been bolstering God’s work in Japan and preparing the way of the Lord in people’s hearts across the nation. As you continue to pray, remember Colossians 4:2-6 as you think of us and believers throughout Japan:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
We especially wanted to also share this picture of a visit from our Tokyo team leaders, Rob & Jill Stoddard! They are currently on home assignment in the US, and during a trip from Michigan to Minnesota and Iowa they spent a night with us here in Atlantic. We so enjoyed our time with them, and it has made us all the more ‘ready’ to pack our bags for departure in January. Praise the Lord for such wonderful, caring teammates whose hearts are dedicated to serving God!
And at the same time, we also look eagerly forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus here in Iowa with friends and family before we leave. What a special time of year!
In His Love,
John & Jo Beth