Harumi Community Christmas Party

About 50 people from our various programs and classes attended our community Christmas party on December 17th. Many of those who came were families with young children. Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the crafts . . .

Food . . .

A puppet show . . . "What's Christmas all about anyway?"

A great message "What's Christmas all about anyway?"

And a lot of fun! Pray that these contacts will continue to attend and seek a deeper understanding of who God is and how He can have a part in their lives.

English Class Christmas Party

Last Wednesday, we hosted a Christmas party for my three adult English classes. About 25 attended and we had a great time. Every year I'm amazed at how well chirashi zushi (a type of sushi) goes with turkey, dressing and gravy. What a great meal! I have some wonderful cooks and bakers in my classes and when we get together they enjoy going all out.


After lunch Doug lead some Christmas carols with his guitar. I looked around and marveled at all of these Japanese (mostly women) obviously enjoying singing Christmas hymns about the birth of the Saviour that I'm so desperate to tell them about. Many have commented on what a great experience that was. For my Harumi class women, it was probably the first time they'd ever sung Christmas carols. However, several from my Sayama and Kotesashi classes have experienced this several times and look forward to the party each year because it will give them the chance to sing them again.



Don Love told a great story about an early Christmas experience that made him realize the joy of giving and of God's ultimate gift to us in Jesus Christ. Everyone seemed to enjoy hearing a little about Canadian Christmas and what the season means to him.Please pray that this explanation of the true meaning of Christmas will create an opening in hearts that will allow the gospel message to take root over the next few months.

Fall Barbeque

Thanks so much for praying for our fall barbeque. We had over 40 attend including several families from our Moms and tots time and returnees from our Hawaiian party in July. We decided to do a "Canadian style" barbeque with hotdogs, hamburgers and baked beans. Everything was a hit!

The activity: road hockey of course. It was the first time for most and everyone enjoyed it, especially the kids.








The barbeque offered the perfect opportunity to visit casually with those that we usually only see during class times. It also opened the doors to future outreach event.





Our Christmas outreach program will be next Sunday, December 16th. We'd appreciate your continued prayer support. Thanks so much!

Another Community Opportunity

Last Saturday Megan and I enjoyed a couple of hours of traditional Japan dancing as we watched the Aouodori on the terrace near our apartment building. It was a fun way to see and meet neighbours, while enjoying a beautiful, warm day. Several of the moms from my moms and tots class were out with their children. It was really fun to connect in a place other than the classroom at the community centre, and for people to realize that we are part of the community and interested in what they are interested in. This gives us a broader base of common interests to talk about together and to build a relationships on.

We are really enjoying this arrangement of living in the community where our ministry is. For over 2 years we commuted to this neighbourhood while we were in the mission leadership role. Since moving here, I've been able to enjoy having coffee with women and getting to know them better. Hopefully I'll earn the right that comes through relationship of sharing Christ with them in a meaningful way.

One of my new friends has become my walking partner. She has expressed an interest in studying the Bible so that she can better understand the stories portrayed on the stain glass windows of cathedrals she likes to visit in Europe. She attended a Catholic School for both her Elementary and High School education so many of the stories are familiar to her and have left her with a good impression of the Bible and of Christians. Please pray that Yuko would be open as I talk with her about my relationship with Christ as we walk together.

Another new friend, Kumiko, spent many of her Elementary School years in Germany and is much more open to different religions and worldviews than her counterparts who were raised exclusively in Japan. She has attended Bible study a couple of times and also seems open to the gospel.

I'm amazed at how God prepares the hearts of those he wants to touch so that they are open to Him. It's exciting to be used by God in this way. I'm looking forward to see who He will lead my way next!

Special Olympics 2007

Thanks to some very special friends who gave up their air miles for me, I was able to travel to Shanghai, China to see my niece Emily Boycott compete in Rhythmic Gymnastics in the Special Olympics!

There were so many highlights, but I'll name only a few. The Opening Ceremonies was a 3 hour long extravaganza attended by 80,000 people from all over the world. Also in attendance was Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor Colin Farrell, pianist Lang Lang, NBA star Yao Ming, actor Jackie Chang, singer Vanessa Williams, music legends Quincy Jones, and Yo- Yo Ma and actress Zhang Ziyi. It was thrilling!

During the 5 days that I was there I was also able to see Emily's flawless preliminary performance and spend time with my brother Dave, niece Amy, nephew Matt and his girlfriend Courtney. Emily and her coach mom Debbie, were staying in another hotel with other athletes and we were able to see them only at the venue.

I am a very proud aunt and so thankful for the opportunity to take in a little of the Olympics, to meet family members and friends of the other Team Canada gymnastics's team members and many wonderful people from around the world who came to support their favourite athletes.

Our Summer

Hi! It's been a while since you've heard from us. We had a great summer. It's been great to explore our neighbourhood and get to know some of our neighbours together. We are really enjoying our new home and ministry in the Harumi area.

In an effort to get to know people and to enjoy being a part of the community, we attended the local matsuri, or summer festival. Heather really got excited about learning some Japanese dances from Kimiyo Otani and others. The next night she was able to join in again and help Laura and Megan to get involved. They'd missed out the evening before. We enjoyed tradional matsuri food and entertainment, greeted several neighbourhood people we'd already met and just soaked in the atmosphere.

In August we enjoyed a couple of great weeks at our cabin near the ocean north of Tokyo. We missed record high temperatures in Tokyo, enjoyed great weather at the beach and had lots of wonderful family time together. We were pleased to find the cabin almost bug free this year, thanks to the fact that a number of trees have been cut down around the cabin letting in some much-needed light. It was fun to have friends there as well. The Kindervaters were in a cabin just a couple away from ours for a short 4 days. We enjoyed Joel and Pauline Black and kids for several days, and our friends the DeLaCours were there the whole time we were this year. What a gift to be able to spend relaxed time with friends and family. Many of these friends we only see on the run.

We came home just in time to attend the Harumi Camp in Chiba. About 30 Harumi people, friends and family spent the weekend at one believer's home near the beach in Chiba. We had a great time together relaxing, playing games, studying God's Word, singing, going to the beach and of course, eating!

September 7th Heather headed to Pakistan to work with TEAM until May of next year. Check out her blog. She's excited about all the new things she's experiencing, but at the same time overwhelmed by it all. I know she'd appreciate your prayers. We really miss her, but we're so excited that she's finally in Pakistan doing what she feels so called to do.

Virtual Prayer Walk

In front of Urban Tower apt. complex (Our house!) Please pray for those living in this apt. building and the one to the left as you walk out (Urban Plaza). Pray that we’d be able to have contact with people living in each building and that they in turn would be able to affect their friends and neighbours for Christ.

Pray for the activities and events that we hold at the Kuminkan (community centre) across from the 3rd floor entrance to Urban Tower. Every Friday we have a mom’s and tot’s time, a women’s English class and an English class for Kindergarten age children.

Pray for wisdom as we prepare for Bible Studies and discussion groups that we will start in the fall. Some have indicated an interest in studying the Bible in Japanese and several are interested in English discussion groups concerning family issues. We want to use the Bible as a text for these discussion times. Pray that God would go before us, leading people with open hearts to attend our programs and preparing their hearts in advance.

Walk over the bridge to the playground near View Tower
Pray that God would protect the kids as they play here. Pray that He would protect children from the bullying of others. Pray that this would be a place where Moms would talk about what they’d learned in discussion times, English class and Bible studies so that others would want to attend. Pray for the residents of the apartments that surround the park ~ View Tower, View Tower 2, View Plaza, Garden Court, and Garden Plaza. Pray for wisdom so that we’d be able to minister to whole families in the area.

Walk to the park behind View Tower
Pray for the 2 Bible studies taking place in View Towers and for the strengthening of the Christians there. Pray for seekers who have studied in the past, but who have dropped out. Pray that the seeds planted would take root and they would desire to study again.

There have been about 5 suicides in this building in less than 10 years. 31,000 people in Japan commit suicide annually, the majority of them being young people. Pray that Japanese people would discover the hope that only Christ can bring. Many living in the building are still haunted by the suicides that have occurred here. Pray for the peace that Jesus can bring as they learn more about Him.

In front of the Yochien, Elementary and Middle Schools
Pray that the children of the area would have hearts that would seek after God. Pray that the children of the Christians in the area would have courage as they live Christian lives before their peers. Keep them strong as they hear opposing opinions regarding creation, afterlife, etc. from extended family members, teachers, and friends.

Pray for teachers and school staff to someday come to know Christ. Pray that Christian teachers (we know of at least one) would have strength, opportunity and courage to share their faith in Christ, despite a sometimes hostile response from fellow workers.

Pray for parents and PTA members. Pray that Mrs. Otani, a Christian member of the PTA, would be able to be a peace maker in the group. Pray for wisdom as she presents her ideas from a Christian point of view. Thank God for her position and for the respect that she has in the community.

On the bridge to Toyosu
Look at all the cranes and other evidence of building going on the area. We’re thankful that God is bringing so many people into the area. Pray for opportunities to share Christ. Thank God that Mrs. Fujii, a strong Christian woman, will be moving to the area. Please give us wisdom as we consider what programs to start there to attract people in order to teach them about Christ.


Triton Office Tower
Pray that God would give us wisdom to know how to reach men in the area for Him. Men are generally working until 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening, so it’s difficult to reach them in traditional ways. Pray for inroads that would help us make contact with them. Open their hearts and minds to the gospel. Pray that God would help us to reach whole families for Him.


Triton Terrace
Pray for the families who live in the area. They often gather here to spend time together, especially moms and young children. Pray that this would be a place where what is learned in Bible studies and discussion groups would be repeated to friends. Pray that here, friends would hear about different programs and events and decide to attend. Pray that God would protect the children as they play here.

Thank you for praying with us for the Harumi community!

Two Friends

Wednesday, I spent the day with a friend that I've taught English and Bible to on and off for a number of years. She, at times, seems interested in the Bible and once when I pressed her, said that yes, she believes in Jesus. She also has a strong belief in Buddhism and often takes part in the Buddhist services that her father holds in his home next door to hers. Obviously, her belief in God is not exclusive or life-changing.

We had a great time together, but there was not much depth in the conversation. She always seems happy to get together, but avoids topics related to Christianity for the most part.

Thursday, I had another friend over. We've known Masumi almost since we first arrived in Japan. She began attending the church we were attending on Sundays about the same time we did. She had been attending English classes and Bible studies there before that, but her unsaved husband hadn't wanted her taking part in Sunday services until that time. For many years he didn't want her to get baptized, but finally a couple of years ago, gave his permission and she was baptized.

We were able to have a wonderful time of fellowship together. She rejoiced with me in God's work in Harumi and I listened while she talked about the wonderful things that have been happening in her church and a recent Evangelistic Meeting she'd been to called Love Sonata.

After she left I reflected on these two good friends. One needs the Lord, but doesn't realize it and the other has found Jesus and is constanting rejoicing in her faith. Please pray that Rie will find Jesus so that her life can be filled with the same joy as Masumi's. Pray that I'll have God's wisdom and love as I talk with Rie and other yet unsaved friends about my faith and what God has been doing in my life.

Welcome to Kashiwazaki

Hi, this is Laura. I wanted to tell you about my trip
to Niigata:


In the recent 6.8 earthquake in Niigata prefecture, Kashiwazaki was the city that sustained the most damage. 3000 people still remain in the evacuation shelters almost 2 weeks after the earthquake. I left for Niigata to work with a Christian organization called CRASH along with the short term team from Hawaii. It was a pleasant surprise that several of my classmates and their families were also helping in the clean up.


Over the next three days we worked on three main projects. The campground where we stayed was attached to the Niigata Bible Institute, and many of the cabins were damaged so that the summer camps usually held there could not continue. So a Japanese group of builders, carpenters and engineers were reinforcing the cabins so that eventually they could be used again. Another group was demolishing a church that had collapsed and were separating the cement, wood and metal to be taken to the dump. A third group was helping out a missionary family whose house had been severly damaged.

The day I arrived I helped by mixing cement for some off the cabins, I hoped to help in the same way the next day but was sent to the Mort's house, missionaries in Kashiwazaki. The earthquake damaged the Mort's home so that it was red tagged and dangerous to live in. Thier English school was green tagged and safe. It was our job to make the school more livable. We cleaned it from top to bottom and played with their children; 2 girls and a boy with cereberal palsy. It was good to see the family become less stressed and laugh, a sign that life in the city is slowly reaturning to normal.


Before leaving I helped clear the church grounds, in the picture you can see part of the building that still needs to be cleared. What is visible is the second floor crashed onto the first. We moved cement roof tiles from one part of the yard into another, then into a truck to be taken to the dump.



Please pray for the people still in Evacuation centers who have lost their homes, and their things, pray for CRASH and the volunteers who come from Tokyo and elsewhere as they clean up the community. Lastly pray that people whos lives have been changed forver would consider a loving God in control of the universe.

Hawaiian Luau

Thanks for praying for Saturday's Hawaiian Luau. We started off the day with a prayer walk, dividing into small groups and walking around the neighbourhood to several sights like the neighbourhood playground, elementary and middle schools, community centre where are classes are held, office building, shopping centre and terrace, where many area families gather in the evening to enjoy the open space and cooler air.

Meanwhile, a team of 4 people were working in our tiny kitchen to produce a fantastic meal of Rice, Kalua Pork w/ cabbage, Chicken Long Rice, Lomi Salmon, Tossed Salad w/ Papaya Seed dressing, Pineapple upside down cake and Coconut cake. What a feast!

The event started at 2:00 with a special event for Junior High kids. This is a group that we've been wanting to start a program for. Seven giggly girls arrived and thoroughly enjoyed the games, Hawaiian dance and music performed by the team. All said that they'd be interested in coming to a program designed for them. The next part of the program was to be a "community party" for all of our contacts involved in kids programs and English classes. God seemed to have something different in mind however, as those who came were mostly new contacts who came as a result of flyers handed out in the morning while we were prayer walking - and I didn't think that worked very well. Sure made me rethink that method!

There were a couple of women who attended with their children who hadn't been to my classes for some time. It was nice to reconnect with them. One woman didn't even know about the event, but had had a fight with her husband so stormed off to the grocery store with her little girl. When she came back, she found she was locked out of the house. One of the woman from our group noticed her in the hallway and offered to put her perishable grocery items into her own refrigerator and invited her to the event. God had a really unusual way of reconnecting us after not having any contact for a while. A questionairre was filled out at the end of the evening and 3 people indicated that they'd like to study the Bible in Japanese. Along with my other contacts who filled out the questionairre earlier, we now have 7 people interested. Several others stated that they'd like to join a discussion group concerning "Family Life".

So, our fall programs of course will include a Japanese Bible study and an English discussion group on Family Life, as well as a program for Junior High kids and probably English classes for elementary and kindergarten children and for adults. Please pray with us that we'll have wisdom as we prepare our materials and set up our teaching schedules.

We're happy to be working with the Loves who will arrive back from Home assignment August 13th. That's less than a month away now and they're still looking for housing. Please pray that something will become available soon so that they can be settled in by the start of the school year Aug. 27th.

The short term team who worked so hard on our Luau will be doing the same in other churches and then will be heading to Niigata to the site of the July 16 earthquake to help with clean up. Please pray for endurance (it's quite hot here now) and for safety as they clean up rubble, carry out a kid's program so that parent's can do clean up and provide some meal preparation for the relief teams. Our daughter, Laura, will be joining them.

Disney Sea

On Wednesday, we spent a great family day at Disney Sea! Heather, Laura and Megan are veteran Disney Sea visitors so they "took" us this time. I started out trying organize our day so that we'd see all of the attractions and shows we wanted to, but the girls made it clear that this was their day to lead the way and they did a great job! We had a lot of fun and Disney Sea was very impressive.

We arrived just after opening time and started the day off with Journey to the Centre of the Earth and closed out the park with another visit to Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Of course there were lots of great events in between.

Check out the picture - our three "World Christians".

New Opportunities - Great Potential

It's been a month since we moved from Higashi Tokorozawa and the position of leadership couple of the Japan Alliance Field to Harumi, downtown Tokyo. What a difference! Higashi Tokorozawa is almost rural compared to the dense population of both people and buildings that we see from our balcony in Harumi.

We had been working for over 2 years, long-distance, with the people in Harumi. We'd been involved in leading a Sunday Praise time, along with co-workers Don and Carol Love and others who put countless hours in commuting and preparing worship times and Bible studies. More recently we've been involved in a Mom's and Tot's class, a women's English class and a kindergarten age children's English program along with some of the Christians living in Harumi. As we made contact with families here we recognized the potential of sharing Christ more if only we could live and work in the area, making ourselves available, not for more programming, necessarily, but for more availability.

That opportunity came and we began searching for housing in the area, only to be told that the area was becoming so popular that there was no housing available then or anytime in the forseeable future. The realtor suggested that we begin phoning each day once we were within our target date for moving, but we were never able to do that because before we could she called us with an apt. to look at. It was perfect for our needs and we consider it a gift from God.

Welcome!

We've just sent out a "Made In Japan" with word of our blog listed on it, and since it's just a click away, we'd sure better have something on this blog, so here it is!

We'd like to keep you up to date on things like the Luau this Saturday and how it went, and other items like that. Stay tuned...

Doug

Great Potential in Harumi

Every Friday between 10 and 30 1~3 year olds and their moms meet in our community center for a Mom's and tots English class. This past Friday was our last meeting of the season so I distributed a questionaire that encouraged the moms to consider program opportunities for the fall. Ten moms attended and 4 out of 10 indicated that they'd be interested in being a part of a Japanese Bible study. Almost all said that they'd like to join an English discussion group concerned with family life. Please pray with us as we consider what Bible study material to use and as we research family issues such as parenting and marital relationships in preparation for meaningful discussion groups.