JGPNetwork

Praying Friends:

From mid-August, the beautiful green rice fields turn pale yellow, almost white, as the full heads of grain cause the heavy heads to bend low in the sun. We watch with fascination as the machines move through the paddies harvesting the rice. Even more, we stand in awe and thanksgiving another harvest this week. The harvest of souls.

We praised God on Thursday when we received a call from E telling us that Mrs. Yo had led Mrs. Yasu to the Lord. The church and Mrs.Yo had been praying for this lady for several months. The very next day, Mrs. Yo met with Mrs. Yasu to follow up, modeling what it means to be Christ’s disciple. Pray that Mrs. Yasu will follow the Lord in baptism and become a multiplying disciple, also.

Thursday morning Tak left early to go with Mrs. Ima , her son, Ko and several folks from the group home in Togane to go to Dr. S’s clinic for Bible study. They waited and waited as people came and went. Finally around two o’clock, they began a time of Bible study together around examining tables that had been pushed together and covered with a board and a sheet. After the study, about 4 p.m., Tak was able to present the gospel to Dr. S who listened politely but did not pray to accept Christ. He left the Abundant Life presentation with him and we continued to pray for him.

Today, Mrs. Ima call to say that Dr. S had called her and said that he now wanted to follow the Lord in baptism. Praise the Lord that Dr. S has decided to follow Jesus! He has already been gathering non-Christians at his clinic to study the Bible. Pray for this doctor to be a bold witness, become a multiplying disciple and start a reproducing church. Pray for us as we disciple Mrs. Ima and her son, Ko, and pray for them as they disciple Dr. S.

Pray for Mr. Miku as we travel to Okinawa in September for a time of training and discipleship. We want to meet his family and have worship with them. Tak also hopes to have time to model the principles that he has been sharing via skype. Pray that God will work through him and his family to evangelize the lost and start many churches across Okinawa.

Pray for us as we travel to Kikai Island to mentor Al and Au. Pray we can meet the relatives of Mrs. Mo from the church in Togane who live on the island. Join her and us in praying that the Holy Spirit will open their spiritual eyes and give them a desire to know God. What a miracle that God led a young couple to this tiny island where we have a church member with relatives. Pray for fruit, a church, from Al’s and Au’s witness during their stay on the island.

Pray that we will be a blessing to those we meet as we travel to Misawa, Okinawa, Kikai Island, Fukuoka, and Hiroshima these next couple of weeks. Also, ask God to give us vision and wisdom as we train and disciple Japanese nationals, tentmakers, and our own personnel.

Claiming His Promises, for His Glory.
Lana and Tak

Praying Friends:

Today the expressways crossing Tokyo were jammed as thousands of holiday travelers sat in their cars for hours to get out of Tokyo to go to their home towns across Japan. Others joined the exodus by train and plane. The streets of Tokyo were great. You could go anywhere in less than half the time it usually takes. It is a definitely a good time to be in the Big City.

The pace across Japan slows down this week as families make their annual journey to their home towns to celebrate the obon festival–the return of the dead spirits to the home. People will dance in the streets, shoot off fireworks, drink with their friends, and just enjoy lazing around. They will make a perfunctory visit to the grave of their ancestors and place flowers and an offering there, and then focus on having a good time together.

The Christians are off during this time also. They are taking advantage of this time to visit many with whom they have been wanting to share the gospel. Every day this week they have been out witnessing and have plans to do so next week too. Pray for them as they share the gospel. Today E and Mrs. Shi went to visit two young ladies. Pray for Asa and Isu to be able to comprehend God’s love and free gift of salvation. Also pray that they will have the desire to follow Christ and be his disciple.

A young mother has just learned that she has cancer. She is in stage four. They cannot operate so they started chemo this week. She was saved a two years ago but did not follow through on her decision by following the Lord in baptism. Pray she will return to Christ and totally yield her life to Him. Please pray for the husband to recommit his life to Christ so he can be a witness and support to his wife and children. Pray for a miracle in the life of this family.

Christian young people (JETs) have scattered across Japan and are seeing to adjust to a new life, many in cities, towns and villages where there is no church or Christians. Pray they will be lights in the darkness and will stay attached to the true vine, because apart from Him the can do nothing. John 15:5.

Claiming his promises for His Glory,
Tak and Lana Oue