Prayer News from Aaron in Japan - No. 28 – Summer 2002

John 16: 33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Dear Praying Friends

Crystal and I both want to thank you so much for your faithful prayers for both of us as we begin this new chapter in our lives together.
Wedding Preparations
Well, the invitations are out and we have had many people comment on how well they look (thanks to the hard work by Crystal’s younger sister, Carmen, who has done a great job in designing, printing and sending them all!!)

Carmen has also helped us with so many other practical things, for which we are extremely grateful.

Please excuse us if we fail to get another prayer letter out before September, but as you can imagine, we’ll be pretty busy from the time we arrive in Canada, which will be around the 27th July, God willing, until we arrive back in Japan around the end of August.

We still have many things to get done, and a lot of the ‘smaller’ details will be worked out when we get there.

My mum, two sisters, Caroline and Sonia, my nephew and niece, Andrew and Christine, are planning to come over for the wedding, as well as my brother, Rodney, who lives in Sydney. We are very much looking forward to having them all there, and it promises to be a grand reunion.

Crystal and I would both value your prayers for the many unsaved relatives and friends who will attend, that they might see the Lord Jesus in our lives and in the lives of the other Christians there, as well as hear us testify to our dependence upon Him for everything.

We pray that He will have the glory and honour on our wedding day, and not us.

We have already shared the passages with the pastor that we would like him to preach on, and trust that God will use them mightily.

From September
Although Crystal will still be working in the kindergarten until the end of January 2003, we will probably be living here at the mission in Ikoma (this hasn’t been finalised, but looks like the most likely option at present – thanks for your prayers).

That means that she will be commuting each day, taking a total of 4 trains each way, plus a 20 min. walk. We would value your prayers for strength, as teaching young children is already a demanding job, even without a 3-hour journey each day added on!

What Next?
We are praying about what we should be doing after Crystal finishes at the kindergarten next January, and would value your prayers as we look to Him for guidance. We know that His plans for us as a couple are perfect, and we look forward to serving Him together in our marriage.

Hiromi
Is a contact that Crystal and I met through a believer connected with the assembly in Ashiya.

He introduced us to her and asked us to help her with her English. As it turned out, however, the Lord was already at work in her heart for she openly accepted several invitations to attend church with us and also came to the English Bible class at Ashiya, which meant a train journey of over an hour for her!

Hiromi left Japan on the 5th June to spend a year in Canada where she will study English. Initially she will stay with a family in Toronto, and then in the winter she will move over to Vancouver for the rest of her stay.

The last day she came to church with us was a memorable one for her, as everyone wished her well and the pastor prayed for her publicly, and she was deeply moved.

Do pray for her that she will attend church while in Canada (she promised she would) and that she would continue to read the Bible, and that God would save her in His time.

Kayo

It was good to see Kayo recently and to know that she is still going on well with the Lord. I was a little concerned for her the last time I wrote as she had been to Hong Kong and was still talking about a boyfriend she had there.

However, it seems that the Lord has shown her the need to break off that relationship for her own spiritual good.

She hopes to go to the U.S.A. for two years to study English from September.

Masahiro
I have heard from him several times since he went to Belgium. He was telling me that he might only be there for a year due to company ‘restructuring’.

Do continue to remember him in prayer, and that the Lord might prompt him to read the Bible when he’s in Belgium.

Kiyo
Is Crystal’s ex-Japanese teacher, and she is now in New Zealand for a year to study English and work.

We spent a little time with her before she left and Crystal has had some opportunities to share the Gospel with her and we gave her a N.T.

The Mission
Japan Mission is currently looking for one or possibly two additional ‘Joy Club’ English teachers from September. Do pray that the Lord will lead the right person/people of His choice, to apply.

Ashiya
Numbers are down considerably at Ashiya, due in the main to several members being away for the year, and one other family relocating. However, the believers are encouraged in the Lord and we trust that this year would be one of real growth, spiritually, and that the Lord would add to the numbers in His time.*

Ronnie seems to be getting on well back in N.I. for the year, and true to form, he seems busier than ever, taking missionary report meetings here and there.

He tells me that he is glad to be home with family, although he misses Japan a lot.

Ashiya English classes

We praise the Lord that although numbers had been down a bit recently, the Lord brought two of the adults back, and one also brought a friend.

Hajime, who also helps with the teaching and translation, was able to have a good conversation about the meetings with one of the students, a retired man called Ryo.

The last class before the summer will be on the 6th July, and the first one after the summer will be the 7th September.

Sam McGeown

Thanks for your prayers for Sam & Yoriko. They now have a baby girl in their family. Her name is Megumi and she was born in May.

Do continue to pray for them as Sam studies at Bible College and as they look to the Lord for guidance and His provision.

Mr. Odaki
Had his official engagement ceremony on the 8th June. He will get married later in the year to a lady from the assembly in Nagano (where the Winter Olympics of 1998 were held).

Naoko
Still hasn’t been back to the meeting recently. Please pray for her as the Lord leads you.

Tanaka san
Thanks so much for your prayers for Mrs. Tanaka. I know that she is very grateful for your prayers. She was out again at the meeting recently, and seems to be doing better. She is talking about possibly coming to the English class with her two-year old daughter sometime soon.

World Cup

I went to the England vs. Nigeria match, which was held locally, to give out some tracts. Thanks for those who prayed.

I stayed from around 1 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. giving out tracts and seeking to have conversations.

The Lord really blessed the time and most of the English fans that I gave tracts to, took them willingly, and I was even able to give a few out to some of the Nigerian supporters.

I was also able to chat to a guy from Glasgow (Alexander) and a freelance reporter called James, who was working for the Observer newspaper in London.

Thanks again for your prayers and interest.

Aaron & Crystal

*Some late news. On the 16th June, a lady from the neighbourhood came to the 11.15 a.m Bible study. It seems that she may already be a Christian and has just moved into the area and saw our sign on the window. Praise the Lord.