Please click here to get a comprehensive video update about what is going on (6 mins) -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDpP3ppYnmI
In this issue:
- Golden Week – time to deepen friendships
- Coffee Time update
- Church hosted Japanese-language class a school
- New visitors at Kids Club on Mother’s Day
- Rosie connecting with more moms leading to more opportunities to reach out
- James learning how to minister through funerals
- Upcoming Furlough
Praises:
- New local connections through Japanese as a second language class
- New family and family friend came to kids outreach
- People continuing to step in and help at the church
Prayer Requests:
- Continuing preparations for furlough
- Salvation of unbelievers who continue attending
Yours for Japan,
James Miyashita
Please click here for a printable version of our prayer letter.
Details discussed in this video:
We’ve had a full and encouraging month since the last update. Golden Week gave us extra time to deepen friendships, and—even though I nearly pulled the plug on our monthly Saturday coffee time—God surprised us again. Mr. Toshikawa, whom we hadn’t seen since December 2023, walked in on his day off just to say hello and tell us he has continued to watch our YouTube videos. The very next day our church hosted its Japanese-language class: a lady from church cooked lunch for all the volunteers. We reviewed lesson plans together, and (thanks to the organizer’s invitation) a school social worker and a community leader observed, swapping business cards with us and opening doors we never expected.
On Mother’s day, we had Kids Club’s at the church and a family from our neighborhood came for the first time as well as a new family. Rosie has also connected with more moms at Amos’s kindergarten; those chats have already led to a July family barbecue that should bring dads into the mix too. Meanwhile I (James) spent a day in Osaka learning how churches can minister through funerals as the industry shifts from Buddhist temples to funeral homes. I am planning on obtaining certification in end-of-life counseling when we return to Japan from furlough. Speaking of furlough, it looks like we will have quite a busy few months in the states. Please be praying for us as we continue to prepare for a brief few months back in the States!