Here is a picture of our students on September 4 at NBF's 3pm afternoon service. Kohichi had them up front and interviewed them in a Q&A format since it is a rare Sunday that we get to see all three of them together (lots of school clubs on Saturday and Sunday afternoon). It was a blessing to hear about their time in the US with their host families and at JEMS Warm Beach camp. Apparently it was very cold for them, something they did not expect, I guess, although I did tell them to bring a fleece jacket just in case. They all spoke fondly of their time with their host families and how much everyone gathered at night just to talk. They enjoyed camp, especially Kaoru, and visiting Lighthouse church, seeing past and present VBS members, meeting new people and making new friends, eating American food, and just seeing the great American outdoors. They were amazed by how many cars there were, how big everything was and how "free" it felt to be there. We have asked each of them to prepare a more formal presentation and will schedule each for a time to share on Sunday when they are able to attend service again.
We had lots of visitors this day, because Larry and Alma Oline, our former TEAM missionaries, were in town visiting. We always have lots of people when they are in town!
We asked Larry if he could share a short message with us after the kids shared. He talked briefly about Proverbs 3:5-6, and Matthew 11:28-29, two timeless passages that all of us go back to again and again for encouragement, guidance and comfort.
We ended with a pretty grand tea and snack time as many visiting ladies brought sandwiches, fruit, pizza! and other more substantial snacks for a wonderful time of fellowship. We are thankful we have the chance to see the Oline's at least once every year in Japan. They are already in Kobe now serving as relief missionaries for 2.5 months as the assigned missionary family there takes a short furlough to the USA. We praise God for all his faithful and willing servants and pray that the Oline's time in Kobe would be fruitful, too! Amen.
dear Shirley,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update! It's good to see that Saya, Kaoru & Yuko had a chance to share during service! :) Our summer here was mild this year with the warmer weather coming after they left. Praying God's work & blessings in their lives and those at Nokendai continue to be done as they take steps of faith like this.
As the kids return to school here, we think of the students and families there with prayers that they would continue to grow and seek God.
Blessings in Christ,
sharon & family