Support Letter

May 2013

From July 19th to August 3rd 2013, we will be going on a short term mission trip to Otawara, Japan. We will again have the pleasure to serve alongside Tomio and Pat Ohashi in the Otawara Christian Church’s outreach to the children in the local community. There is currently still a low number of children attending the church’s Sunday English classes, and God has put the burden in our hearts to reach out to the Japanese people through these children.

This year, we will again provide an American cultural experience through English lessons, activities, snacks, and music. The Otawara church has gathered a team internally to provide the Bible lessons in Japanese, prepare the meals, and facilitate the interactions that will take place with the children and parents. Furthermore, the Harvest team will in participate in a local church held high school and college student activity night, and an International Worship Day after the Sunday service.

Praise God! As of May 2013, God has already worked powerfully in the Otawara Chistian Church through the seeds planted during last year’s very first mission trip. Even though there is only an estimated 1% Christian population in a country with over 122 million people, our Lord has provided 39 children grades K-5th through word of mouth alone. We are now looking to serve up to 50 children over the course of the 7-day program. The harvest is plenty, but the workers are still few. Here are our individual reasons for going:

Catherine: Like many people my age, I still have no idea what God has called me to do. As of recent, I returned to a thought that has been percolating in the back of my mind since high school: missions. My hope is that we will be able to impact the Japanese children that we are serving so that they may hear of Christ's love, and that we may also live as good examples in light of the Gospel. This trip will be instrumental in helping me develop a genuine love for God’s people, as well as leading me towards finding my calling to bring glory His kingdom.

Jonny: My strong reason for going this year is that this trip would serve as a reminder to myself of the Lord Jesus’s command for his disciples to make disciples of all nations. This means that it is a call to love as Jesus has loved, to live as Jesus has lived, and to share the saving knowledge of Jesus as Jesus Himself has shared, not only to the people I see each day in my own community but to all the end of the earth.

Karen: My biggest impression last year was learning that many Japanese children grow up without hearing the name of Jesus. I was moved by God’s calling for the Otawara Christian Church to help plant seeds within the children’s hearts so they may at least be exposed to the true gospel and God’s love for them. The hope is that one day, they may spread this truth wherever they go in life. It is an honor to serve once again and experience the miracles and spiritual growth that will occur over the course of the preparation and the trip itself.

Megan: I believe God has called me as a follower of Christ to share the good news of grace, love, and forgiveness found only in salvation through Christ.  My hope in going to Japan is to experience the joy of obeying God's great commission abroad, to grow in Christ-like love as I serve the children in Otawara, and to join in the work that God is doing in Japan.  This year, God has blessed me with the opportunity to work with youth through an after school program in Oakland, and I am excited to steward my love for working with children in Japan.  This will be my first mission trip and only my second time traveling outside of the United States.

Will: God opened my eyes to many things I had not seen or done during last  year’s missions trip. Working with the kids and seeing the faith of the Japanese church has really encouraged me in my daily walk and in seeing God's active hand working in us. I believe that I'm called to serve and be a part of this ministry and mission. Last year our big prayer was that God would provide kids for the program and that it would be fruitful. This year we have an overabundance of kids. God has truly shown His love and made this hope a reality. Please pray that we will have the courage and strength to do all that He calls us to in Japan.

Xinxin: One of the things I habitually struggle with is feeling like I am too broken to do God’s work. As my relationship with my lord and savior, Jesus Christ, deepens, I realized that it is exactly through our weakness that God is able to glorify Himself. I want to go on the mission trip because I want to see how God can use me to love and serve others. We are all called to spread the good news and I pray that we will be a testimony of God’s redeeming power. This will also be my first mission trip!

We know that it is only by the Holy Spirit that this trip bears fruit, and we pray He will bear fruit in us, in the Otawara children’s ministry, and in the souls of the Japanese families even after we are gone.  We also know that we cannot go without the support of the body of Christ and would treasure your prayers as well as your financial support.  Please let us know if you can support us by praying for the following items:

Otawara Church’s Prayer Requests:

• The new college school year will be starting next month. We hope that new students will come into the church and a college group will grow inside the college.
• For many children to attend the summer program, and for the program to act as a cornerstone for the children to start attending Sunday School
• That the church will become a part of and be a light to the community, and that the Lord will show us how to reach out to the community
• That the church will faithfully serve the Lord
• That the Lord will lead all aspects concerning the summer evangelism, especially in leading people to the various programs

Also, if you are led to support us financially, that would be greatly appreciated. The total cost will be around $13,550 for the six of us and will be used in purchasing travel to and from Japan, as well as general living expenses and supplies for the American Homestay program with the church.  An accounting and detailed use of the funds is available upon request.

                                                  Thank you,

                                                           Catherine, Jonny, Karen, Megan, Will, and Xinxin