Fri., Dec. 16, 2016
Hello, Mission and Friends,
Warm greetings from a crisp Sendai eve around 2 degrees C. Thank you for your prayers and warm support this year and in the past. Seeing others sending out reports reminded me of my lack of doing so in a formal fashion. My sincere apologies. I was hoping to update my Sept. report to the PoD. But I must make do by simply sending it to you now as my belated 1st to 3rd quarter report.
We are so thankful for the new used facility the Lord has granted our tiny OPC outpost in Asia. But that has meant tons of work that continues installing kerosene heaters and copper tubing and tank, illuminated signs, false floor over unused entrance way, rafter insulation, etc. We are thankful for WEC missionary Matt Cummings' and family's help. Please be praying as Matt will be leading at our chapel the first ever Evangelism Explosion training class in the Tohoku for 13 weeks straight, 1/7 to 4/1. I am sure it is not perfect. But if you know of anything better and in Japanese, please let us know as helping equip Japanese believers to be able to share their faith in a formal culture is a sine qua non in my view for establishing the church here.
We just had such a bang up and blessed evangelistic concert, 12/14, with 17 sent from Lee Univ. in Cleveland, TN who have been touring Japan now for about 6 years maybe, every two years. We were blessed with a total audience of 38, 6 neighbors for whom it was the first time to our church and possibly to any church. We pray for their salvation and thank God for the prayers and help of so many including the many churches that supported their youth to be able to help the churches in the land of the risen Son.
We are also thankful for 9 Trans World Radio volunteers from the US (Phila, AZ, KS, etc.), Japan, Singapore plus Matt who helped "donkey tracting" as it is called, post 1500 packets of tracts in mailboxes, 11/18.
Please be praying as we (the OPC, that is) look for a new marriage partner after our painful and prolonged but adult-like and cordial divorce proceedings with the RCJ. After I addressed the PCJ GA as fraternal delegate, 2 ministers who knew Dad and OP missionaries from long ago joked to hurry up and propose.
Please be praying MAs Todd and Melissa have a blessed short time with family and saints in Raleigh, NC this year end.
Finally, we thank God that, today, we were able to begin early the first repayment of of church building purchase loans to friends and family. Please be praying for tons of donations before we all enter the nursing home. :)
The Lord be with you all.
His blessings and peace,
Murray
The Lee University concert at Megumi Chapel.