The Wednesday Evening Bible Class, using "Our Daily Bread" in English and Japanese, had three regular members for most of this year, Mr. T., Mrs. Y., and Miss A. But Miss A. got married in September and has chosen to spend her evenings with her new husband. While we miss the good discussions we used to have, we have encouraged her to take care of her man. He is a member of another church, so we are delighted to witness the beginning of a new Christian home. Please pray for the young couple as they decide which church they should attend together. She is interested in developing a Young Adult's Bible Study which he could be helpful with. That budding class is having a Christmas gathering on the 17th of this month.
Mrs. Y. joined a tennis club with her husband and for several months had night matches, so she wasn't able to come. Those nights the conversation with Mr. T. became more personal. Mr. T. had been attending weekly morning worship services off and on for about 30 years, but almost every Sunday for the past three years. He loves to read the Bible, and spends several hours every day studying it. He is interested in English, so he comes on Wednesdays also. He finds Jesus Christ "very attractive", but still feels he cannot abandon being Japanese to follow Him. I assured him it is God who made him Japanese and will help him be a better Japanese if he surrenders his heart to Christ.
The English conversation classes offer many opportunities to share the Gospel. I introduced one man to a friend in the U.S. who had been a missionary to Taiwan until he had a stroke several years ago. They became "pen pals", with Charlie continuing his missionary endeavors with Mr. O. One day Mr. O. laughed and said, "God, God, God! All Charlie talks about (in the e-mails) is God!" I was rather taken aback and wondered if the correspondence was going to end. But as Mr. O. was leaving, he paused and said, almost to himself, "Charlie is my best friend."
A little girl I teach, who had lived in Texas for six years, said she has no Christian friends. We have a girl in our church who is also 10, so I suggested they come over and make more Christmas cookies. They had a wonderful, silly and yummy time. Maybe we will do this again and "Katie's Cookie Club" will continue. Please pray that these girls will find the support and closeness that only Christian friendship can provide. How often I have thanked God for the wonderful girlfriends I have had since my childhood.
However, we can't make cookies until I get a new oven! The one I've had for 22 years refused to turn on last Saturday, and no amount of cajoling will get it to start again. It won't be easy to find one with the safety features I've had to do without all these years, so please pray for that too!
Thank you for your prayerful support
Kaz & Katie Yaegashi
From Yamagata, Japan
Katie & her student, Momoka