Greetings from Sendai.
1. Much is happening including fixing up the hoped to be staff and volunteer house next door with God-sent help like Peter Pindic one of the Romanian Baptist volunteer carpenters serving at Nozomi Center on OPC team 1 in April. Peter had a free day after personal travel in Japan and with Elder Kazuo and Jinko Sasaki of Sendai Church helped clean and put in a vanity with overhead cupboard on Thursday just when Tsuruko and I needed help most.
2. In a land where Christian youth are few, we are thankful for fellowship with the Miyazaki siblings from a Christian family in Sapporo Tsuruko has known from before she became a Christian in the 1970's. Yuya, a mission school college junior, and his younger sister Shion (Zion), have helped Tsuruko and me with plumbing and insulation and cleaning of the staff house in exchange for honoraria.
3. We thank God for the 2 OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries teams of carpenters painting the roof and repairing siding at Nozomi Center this April. Some of the men were able to fly to southern Japan to help with repairs of Kumamoto Chapel rocked by sizable tremor after tremor for a week.
4. We just returned from the installation service of fellow OPC missionary Kaz Yaegashi as pastor of Yamagata Reformed Church which voted to leave the RCJ last November over the issue of women elders and ministers. About 50 were present including reps from the RCJ evidencing the fruit of 60 plus years of fellowship between the OPC and RCJ. We pray for our beloved RCJ brethren as they celebrate their 70th anniversary in Sendai on May 3 with a thousand attending from nationwide. We pray the Lord grant a return to a love of scripture no matter if it may seem out of fashion.
5. We thank the Lord for leading our tiny Sendai Megumi (Grace) Chapel to a new facility 2 minutes up the street by car after meeting in our home for 19 years. We make the final inspection tomorrow and sign the contract on Wednesday. We plan to hold the first service, May 22, the dedication, May 29. We pray for volunteers, funds to repay loans, tables, chairs, heaters, a unit bath, help with projects, and a good relationship with neighbors.
Exterior of the new Megumi Chapel building in Sendai.
OPC Japan missionaries checking out the new facility.
His peace,
Murray