A DAY AT TAMA HILLSIDE CHURCH AND SOME RAMBUNCTIOUS PRE-SCHOOLERS

Dear Beloved,
We are blessed with being here in Japan.  Your prayers have led the way in all that we do here and our cups overflow with joy and thanksgiving.  Thank you for being with us in spirit and in truth.

It was Sunday yesterday and we spent the entire day at Tama Hillside Church.  Last year was our first visit to Minegishi Sensei and her small and faithful congregation, and much has changed.

TAMA HILLSIDE CHURCH (LIGHTED AREA)
AND THE MANSION.  (PICTURE TAKEN AS WE
WERE LEAVING IN THE EVENING)

Earlier this year, they moved to this new location which is about 10 minutes from the former church site and in close proximity to a local university.  It is connected to a huge condominium complex which the Japanese call a "mansion", and there are multiple mansions in the area around the church.  Many young families live in these mansions and the church is connecting with their children through events like our Christmas party.

WORSHIP SERVICE
OUR TEAM OUTNUMBERED THE MEMBERS

The congregation is small.  Well, very small with less than 10 members attending the worship service yesterday.  But Pastor Minegishi's vision is big, just like her God.  She plans to penetrate these mansions and the university with the love of Jesus.  Her sermon reflected that same attitude that all things are possible when done under the wings of the Holy Spirit.  It was good to see our three churches (Evergreen, South Bay and Crossway) involved with this church and Pastor Minegishi solicits your prayers for them.  Thank you.

There were 23 children and their moms who attended the event.  It is very similar to the beginnings at Chino Christ Church and we are encouraged that the results will also be positive.  More pictures follow below.

Earlier today (Mon), we visited the Wakakusa Pre-School and were met with 2 classes of 60 rambunctious children..  So much energy and enthusiasm, and so much fun.  Joy has been ministering here for over 5 years and we pray that the seeds that have been planted in these little hearts will one day blossom to the Kingdom and glory.  One of the classes put on a presentation especially for us and it was quite moving.  Please pray for Joy and the Wakakusa children.

"YES, TEACHER, DIANE"

FUTURE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

VERY SPECIAL PRESENTATION

LUNCH AND A VERY SPECIAL 'STEEL" CHAIR

This afternoon, Diane and Yuriko met with 10 JOY Club mothers while their kids were with Joy.  They spent the time making a special Christmas craft and getting to know one another.  We're mindful that God will touch the heart of each Mom, as He did with Michiru Nakazawa.

                                     

So ends another few days in Japan and it is such a joy to be here.  We're thankful for our home churches and all the support we've received from you.  We ask that you pray without ceasing for the people of Japan and for the missionaries who patiently serve here.  It is a good work and the Lord will be praised.  Domo arigato gozaimasu.

And we will praise Him.

Your Machida Team

More pictures from the Tama Hillside Christmas Party.

               

  

JOY CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY AND ANOTHER STORY

Dear Beloved,

Grace and peace to you from God, our Father.

Earlier today (Sat), we celebrated Jesus' Birthday with over 110 JOY Club kids and their parents.  The volunteers from Evergreen Chapel did a great job in serving their guests.  It was good to see many fathers participating with their families in this joyous event.  The pictures below will speak to fun and fellowship which was had by all.  At the end of the day, the workers were spent having poured themselves out in witnessng to these unchurched families with the love and saving Grace of our Father.  We were reminded of why we come to Machida with this story of a mother who was first introduced to Jesus through JOY Club and our Crossway teams.

HIROMI, STAN, MICHIRU, DIANE

Her name is Michiru Nakazawa.  She brought her daughter to JOY Club over 8 years ago.  During that time, she was influenced by Joy's ministry to the JOY Club kids and moms.  It was 4 years ago that she met Stan through an informal "karaoke" English class which was extended a few  hours due to the great fun had by all. Michiru has always presented herself with a beautiful smile and a friendly disposition - until tonight.  Hours after the party, Pastor Uchimura, Hiromi Matsushima and Joy ministered to Michiru who was overcome with tears due to health and marital issues.  Before she left, Stan and Diane were able to able to pray with her and assured her that she would be covered with prayer from all of you at Crossway.  Michiru is still seeking God, and she will find him.  Please pary for Michiru; that she will be consumed by the great love that Jesus has for her; a love that will take her through the hardships of life; and friends at Evergreen and Crossway who will be there for her.  Thank you.

This is what this Machida ministry is all about.  This is what our mission endeavors to Japan, Thailand, Mexico and our neighborhood are all about.  It's all about Jesus.  

After the party, we all gathered together and ate the remaining dessert which was very delicious.  We then went out for some excellent ramen and returned to the church to pack up for tomorrow's Christmas party at Tama Hillside.  We're tired, but energized with all that happened today. Thank you for your prayers

Beloved, the Lord bless and keep you.  The Lord make His face to shine on you.  The Lord lift up His countenance to you, and give you peace both now and forevermore.

And we will praise Him, 

Your Machida Team

YURIKO GETTING CRAFT AREA READY

STAN BUILDING A MINI GOLF HOLE

TSUGURU AND DIANE SETTING UP PRIZE TABLES.
TSUGURU TOOK A BREAK FROM SCHOOL TO HELP
HIS MOM AND US.

BELOVED VOLUNTEERS

LAYING HANDS ON MIMI YAMASHIRO, YOUTH
PASTOR, FROM TOKYO ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH

OUR GUESTS GIVING ATTENTION TO THE SPEAKER

CROSSWAY TEAM BEING INTRODUCED

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!  HIT TRACY WITH A
MARSHMALLOW.  THAT'S MIKE ENCOURAGING
THE SHOOTERS

SATO-SAN HELPING AN UPCOMING GOLFER

YURIKO CRAFTING WITH HER FRIEND

I HAVE YOU IN MY SIGHTS!!

THAT'S A LOT OF PING PONG BALLS

YUMMY DESSERTS.  THANK YOU.

SURPRISE VISIT WITH THE MATSUDA'S.
THEY ARE BOTH MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS.
MR. MATSUDA IS WORLD RENOWN..

THANKS FOR COMING!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND DRIVING INTERNATIONALLY

Dear Beloved,

It's Thanksgiving Day in Japan and we want to extend our good wishes to all of you and your families.  Happy Thanksgiving!  

FLOODED PARK 

The weather in Machida has been quite mild (50's), but overcast with rain.   In the evening, the temps drop into the high 30's.  Wish you were all here.

Tonight, we spent Thanksgiving with Pastor Uchimura and his family: wife - Miho, daughters - Megu and Hana, and sister-in-law - Mizuki.  The team (well, the ladies since Stan was taking a power nap) prepared all of the food - "Chicken" with all the fixin's.  A turkey is just too big to bake in a Japanese mini-oven.  Your team, led by Joy, did well in that we packed everything needed for the dinner and brought the dirty dishes home with us.  It was a blessed time, which brings us to today's story.

Miho has been suffering over the recent years with a debilitating illness that attacks her nervous system (similar to Lou Gehrig's Disease).  It has slowly taken its toll on her.  She is wheel chair bound and Sensei is there to take care of her needs.  For those of you who know Sensei, it is convicting to see this tough and very independent man care for his wife.  And he does so knowing that this may be their last Christmas together.  But as we prayed with them this evening, we were reminded that Miho is God's child and there is nothing more important than this.  We give thanks to God for her life in Christ in whom she places all her trust and hope.  Thank you for your prayers for Miho. (Sorry, we forgot our phones, so no pictures).

Tomorrow (Fri) will be spent making final preparations for the JOY Club Christmas party on Saturday.  This is the primary reason we're here in Machida.  Please pray for the party - that the hearts of the children and parents who attend will be open to the Gospel message; that the love of Christ demonstrated in the love extended by each volunteer will plant seeds of salvation.  

YOU CAN TELL THAT IT WAS A GOOD STUDY

Yesterday, we opened the day with a devotion led by Diane in which she encouraged us to take hold of the power of the Holy Spitit and be bold in sharing the Good News to all.  Thank you for the financial gifts given by all of you for Crossway's short term missions.  As a result of your generousity, we were able to bring many new prizes for the JOY Club party.  Domo Arigato Gozaimasu.

DO THEY LOOK SCARED?  NO WAY! THEY JUST
ENJOY MESSING WITH THE DRIVER. NOTICE JOY
JUST HANGING ON IN THE DEATH SEAT.

Later in the day, the team did some running around for supplies for the Thanksgiving dinner and the JOY Club Christmas party.  Due to the inclement weather, Stan's inexpensive, over the counter, international driver's license, issued by AAA was put into action.  In the course of traveling a relatively short distance to the store, he learned again the phrase many use concerning "back seat" drivers.  His cup overflowed with 3 of them, and they actually were in the back seat of the van.  Well, I guess you couldn't blame them since Stan couldn't find the steering wheel when he first entered the car. 

HEY, THE STEERING WHEEL
IS ON THE WRONG SIDE!!

So ends another day in Machida.  We'll sleep well tonight.  As ever, we thank you, again, for your prayers and support in all that we do here.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

And we will praise Him,  (Philippians 1:3-6)

Your Machida Team

(Diane, Yuriko, Tracy, Stan - Michael will be joining us on Sat).

MIZUKI SET US UP WITH A LOT OF SNACKS.
HUMBLY, WE ARE ENJOYING THEM.

ARRIVED SAFELY AND CELEBRATING

Beloved Crossway Family,

We greet you in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in whom we give thanks for our safe arrival at 5:30am this morning at Haneda International.  The flight was bumpy most of the way to Japan, but it didn't stop the team from getting some shut eye once they got into rythum with the bouncing around. We really appreciate Tracy sharing her seat with fairly good size man throughout the 12 hours of the flight.

TRACY AND PRAYER PARTNERS

Thank you all for coming to the the prayer meeting for our team on Sunday.  It was a sweet time and your prayers are ever with us.   We are reminded that "The Lord, our God is with us wherever we go" (Joshua 1:9).

And thank you, Pastor Roland, for sending us off at LAX with a prayer of great anticipation for His good work through our team as we minister in Japan.

We were very thankful to Hiromi Matsushima and Mizuki Saito for coming out to the airport to pick us up.  We were initially planning to take the bus to Machida.  We could not have fit another piece of luggage or boxes into her Japanese sized mini van.  Thank you, Lord, for your on going provision for all of our needs and for the graciousness shown to us by Hiromi and Mizuki.    

Our arrival at Everygreen Chapel was greeted by a joyous Joy Tani.  Her name fits her well.  The morning was spent unpacking and setting up the prizes for the JOY Club Christmas Party scheduled for this Saturday.  Later in the morning, Yumiko Sakamoto, bearing gifts, paid us a visit.  This is the first story of our trip.

JOY, DIANE, YUMIKO, TRACY

HIROMI AND YUMIKO

Yumiko Sakamoto was first introduced to Christianity when her daughter, Sarasa, started attending JOY Club 8 years ago.  Joy Tani credited the Crossway teams that came to support JOY Club with helping to minister to Yumiko and Sarasa.  Over the past 4 years, Yumiko suffered tremendous health challenges in dealing with tumors in her brain.  And it was the faithful prayers and friendship of the church that allowed Hiromi to share the Gospel with Yumiko and bring her to a saving relationship with Jesus.  Yumiko is still suffering from side affects and it was a joy to lay hands on her with prayer. Amen!

It is stories like this that make every trip to Machida worth while.  It makes every dollar given to missions well spent.  It makes every prayer lifted up for the loss effective and encouraging.  Thank you, again, for your prayers.

We ended the rest of the day with a Birthday lunch for Hiromi; some power naps in the afternoon for the team (Stan's nap may have been more than just a power nap); some talk time with Pastor Uchimura; and a wonderful dinner prepared by Michiko Sato, one of the Evergreen members.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HIROMI
(STAN WAS THE ONLY MALE IN THE RESTAURANT)

So we're off to a good start.  Thank you for your prayers, again and again.  Please know that with every prayer, you are here ministering with us in Machida.

May the Lord bless and keep each of you, dear family.  Domo Arigato Gozaimasu,

Your Machida Team      

PASTOR UCHIMURA AND YURIKO

                                                  

DIANE AND STAN WITH MICHIKO SATO