Thank you for your prayers as we continue to learn and work here in Japan. During April, Rosie officially started language school. We were able to meet her teachers and she is off to a great start. Part of her homework the first week was to learn how to say and write the name of the school in Japanese. Rosie is a quick learner and is doing very well. Meanwhile, Silas is doing his own learning and has started to pull up and cruise alongside furniture.
One of the ladies who has been helping Rosie with her Japanese (Yuko) continues to attend services fairly regularly. We are glad that she still attends, but she still has not trusted Christ. We asked for you to pray for her in our last prayer letter and would like to ask that you continue to pray for Yuko to trust Christ.
Bro Hill continues to allow me to preach the Sunday evening services at Hope Baptist as well as lead the music. This has been a great opportunity to continue to build up experience.
During April, we also celebrated Easter at Hope Baptist church. We had several first-time visitors that came and heard the Gospel! One man named Mr. Suzuki also attended as well. Mr. Suzuki had previously come to a service and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with him. At that point, he understood but chose not to trust Christ. When he said he wasn’t ready, I asked if he knew what that meant, and from his answer, he clearly understood.
It is very easy to think that if someone understands then they will believe, but this is not the case. Comprehension does not equal conversion. Even as Rosie spoke with Yuko about Christ on a recent Sunday Yuko told her “I understand with my head but I do not yet believe with my heart.”
However, we were delighted when Mr. Suzuki came to the Easter service. After Bro Hill preached on the reality of the resurrection, a couple of hands went up during the invitation. Mr. Suzuki’s was one of them. After the service, Mr. Suzuki placed his faith in Jesus. Since then, he has started asking questions about things he has been reading in his Bible. We are praising the Lord for how He is working.
Yours for Japan,
James, Rosie, and Silas
Click here for a printable version of this prayer letter.