Hyo's follow-up letter:
Dear Japan prayer-warriors,
Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support towards my short-term missions trip to Japan! My trip from June 20 to July 4, 2005 is very difficult to summarize in only one letter. Nevertheless, I will attempt to give a short description of what my team did in Japan as well as the lessons the Lord has taught me during my two weeks there.
Dear Japan prayer-warriors,
Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support towards my short-term missions trip to Japan! My trip from June 20 to July 4, 2005 is very difficult to summarize in only one letter. Nevertheless, I will attempt to give a short description of what my team did in Japan as well as the lessons the Lord has taught me during my two weeks there.
Our main ministry was focused on connecting non-Christian college students to people at Hamadera Bible Church. We had four meetings with OPU (Osaka Prefecture University), two meetings with MU (Momoyama University), and one meeting with KU (KinkyUniversity). It was very exciting to see the same students from OPU and MU from last year’s trip! Many people on our team were returning and were able to continue relationships with them. We all tried our best to have the unbelievers meet Japanese Christians from the church at the English talk-time meetings, various events at the church, and meetings arranged outside of official activities. Praise God for continued contacts made with these young unbelievers! Church members collected their contact information, so please pray that the unbelievers would continue their friendships with the Christians so that they would continue to hear the gospel, truly understand it, and repent of their sins.
Another chunk of our time was spent with students in the English classes held at the church. Aaron Bitzer, a UCLA and GOC alumni, teaches the adult classes which range from beginner speakers to very advanced speakers. During our participation in class, we were able to talk about Christ and share the gospel with them. Some were not interested in talking about our faith, but others had a genuine interest in Christianity. One girl I had the privilege of talking to is named Ayako. She is a high school sophomore, and her English is excellent! Thus, it was easy to communicate with her. Two staff members from church and I talked to her very thoroughly about the gospel. It is very difficult for her to leave her Buddhist background to follow Christ because in her family, it is assumed that children should follow whatever her parents believe. Please pray for Ayako’s heart – that she would seriously consider the calling to obey God’s Word!
The rest of our ministry was spent doing yardwork and painting the worship center of the church. It was a way for our team to serve Hamadera Bible Church in a very practical way, and I am thankful that our team had this opportunity to make some visible progress in the church building. We also had some time to fellowship with the Grace Community Church missionary family, Daisuke and Marcia Okada with their three sons Nicki, Noah and Nathan. It was such a blessing to spend time with them, especially with Marcia! I observed her obedience to God in being a faithful wife and mother, and was very encouraged by her perseverance even though life is difficult in a foreign country. The Lord blessed me even more through sweet fellowship with Amanda and Christi, two other English teachers at Hamadera. Their focus on exalting God through their relationships with others – whether in the workplace or not – was so humbling and rebuking to me.
The entire time our team was there, the servants of Hamadera Bible Church took care of us with so much love and kindness. They cooked for us, drove us constantly, looked after the sick members, and more. Just like last year, I was so thankful to God for these kind souls! My host mother, Mrs. Takenaka, was so gracious to me and Dorothy for the two weeks. Her faith is so deep and focused on the Word, and I praise God for people like her at Hamadera Bible Church in the midst of a dark, unbelieving country. My heart was very encouraged from worshipping the King with these Christians. My heart was stirred to pray even more fervently for the perseverance of this church and the ministry that God is orchestrating in it. I would ask you to join me in praying for this church, that Hamadera would keep fighting with faith and stay close to the truth. Please pray specifically for the pastors – Kondo-sensei, Okada-sensei, and Doi-sensei, as they continue to faithfully teach and lead the saints at Hamadera from the Bible.
I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support for me and my team during our two weeks in Japan. It is a great testimony of your faithfulness to Christ, and I know that God is honored in it! If you have more questions or would like to pray more specifically for the saints and unbelievers in Japan, please contact me and I’d be happy to share more with you. Again, praise God for all that He has done for this trip, and may He continue to glorify Himself forever and ever, amen!
In Christ,
Hyo Suh.
Another chunk of our time was spent with students in the English classes held at the church. Aaron Bitzer, a UCLA and GOC alumni, teaches the adult classes which range from beginner speakers to very advanced speakers. During our participation in class, we were able to talk about Christ and share the gospel with them. Some were not interested in talking about our faith, but others had a genuine interest in Christianity. One girl I had the privilege of talking to is named Ayako. She is a high school sophomore, and her English is excellent! Thus, it was easy to communicate with her. Two staff members from church and I talked to her very thoroughly about the gospel. It is very difficult for her to leave her Buddhist background to follow Christ because in her family, it is assumed that children should follow whatever her parents believe. Please pray for Ayako’s heart – that she would seriously consider the calling to obey God’s Word!
The rest of our ministry was spent doing yardwork and painting the worship center of the church. It was a way for our team to serve Hamadera Bible Church in a very practical way, and I am thankful that our team had this opportunity to make some visible progress in the church building. We also had some time to fellowship with the Grace Community Church missionary family, Daisuke and Marcia Okada with their three sons Nicki, Noah and Nathan. It was such a blessing to spend time with them, especially with Marcia! I observed her obedience to God in being a faithful wife and mother, and was very encouraged by her perseverance even though life is difficult in a foreign country. The Lord blessed me even more through sweet fellowship with Amanda and Christi, two other English teachers at Hamadera. Their focus on exalting God through their relationships with others – whether in the workplace or not – was so humbling and rebuking to me.
The entire time our team was there, the servants of Hamadera Bible Church took care of us with so much love and kindness. They cooked for us, drove us constantly, looked after the sick members, and more. Just like last year, I was so thankful to God for these kind souls! My host mother, Mrs. Takenaka, was so gracious to me and Dorothy for the two weeks. Her faith is so deep and focused on the Word, and I praise God for people like her at Hamadera Bible Church in the midst of a dark, unbelieving country. My heart was very encouraged from worshipping the King with these Christians. My heart was stirred to pray even more fervently for the perseverance of this church and the ministry that God is orchestrating in it. I would ask you to join me in praying for this church, that Hamadera would keep fighting with faith and stay close to the truth. Please pray specifically for the pastors – Kondo-sensei, Okada-sensei, and Doi-sensei, as they continue to faithfully teach and lead the saints at Hamadera from the Bible.
I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support for me and my team during our two weeks in Japan. It is a great testimony of your faithfulness to Christ, and I know that God is honored in it! If you have more questions or would like to pray more specifically for the saints and unbelievers in Japan, please contact me and I’d be happy to share more with you. Again, praise God for all that He has done for this trip, and may He continue to glorify Himself forever and ever, amen!
In Christ,
Hyo Suh.