Dear Friends,
It has been over a year since Japan, along with the rest of the world, began fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 31st, Japan has had a total of 477,053 cases and 9166 deaths. Vaccinations of front line medical workers began in March and vaccinations for senior citizens will begin the middle of April. Plans are moving ahead to host the Olympic Games (which had to be postponed last year) from July 23rd-August 8th in Tokyo.
A concerning side effect of the virus has been an increase in suicide cases. Suicides increased in Japan last year for the first time in 11 years. The increase was particularly noticeable among working women who were dealing with loss of jobs, the burdens of child rearing, and in some cases domestic violence. According to one survey, 70% of suicide victims visited medical institutions or counseling centers at least once, but it was not enough to stop them from taking their lives.
The value of life and the need to protect it in all situations can’t really be appreciated apart from knowing one’s creator God and understanding that He loves you and wants what is best for you. We arrived in Japan 50 years ago (this August) to share this message with as many people in Japan as we can.
Recently I have had several opportunities to share this message of hope and God’s love and concern. One of these was at the Kagoshima prison on February 26th at my first Bible class at the prison for 2021. I focused on introducing the Bible, since most of the inmates in attendance were new to the class. I emphasized that the Bible is God’s reliable word to us about His love for us and what He has done to save us. At the end of the class one of the inmates asked me, “Can anyone be baptized?” This gave me the opportunity to explain more fully that God’s salvation is for all people who accept Jesus as their personal saviour. I was encouraged by this question because it indicated that they were closely listening to what I was saying and considering how it applied to them.
Another opportunity to share about God and His love and care came the first of March. At the end of February, I received a phone call from a lady asking if I could conduct a memorial service for her father-in-law, who had passed away one year ago at the age of 80. She told me he had been a minister of a small church on the island of Yakushima (80 miles south of Kagoshima). She was not a Christian but wanted to have a one-year Christian memorial service for him. I told her I would be glad to do that. We initially planned to have it at her home but ended up holding it at the Yoshino church on March 3rd.
She came to the Yoshino church that afternoon with her two children (a junior high son and 6th grade daughter), along with two bouquets of flowers and a picture of her father-in-law. In the brief service, I shared a message (based on Luke 16:19-30) of the hope we can have in Christ for life after death—that death is not the end and that her father-in-law, like Lazarus, is in a place of comfort and peace. I stressed that what he would want most of all for her and her family is for them to prepare now for life after death by accepting God’s love and gift of salvation. She does not live far from the Yoshino church, so we are praying that this will lead to further contacts with her.
A third opportunity to speak about God’s love and what He has done for us was at the funeral of Brother Kiwato Miyake (a long-time member of the Kokubu church) on Sunday, March 14th. Brother Miyake (age 79), whom I had baptized 47 years ago, was found dead at his home by a fellow church member. He had passed away in his sleep. Fortunately, he had left with me a written document spelling out his funeral and interment wishes. He lived alone and had no relatives living in Kagoshima prefecture, so I worked with the local authorities to arrange his cremation, which was followed by his funeral at the Yoshino church.
Mr. Miyake’s Funeral Service—March 14th
The funeral service, including my message about God being the true source of comfort when we face death, was recorded, put on a DVD, and sent, along with pictures of the service, to Brother Miyake’s niece and sister in Nagasaki. Neither of them are Christians. His niece later called and thanked me for the DVD and pictures. I believe the funeral was an opportunity for Brother Miyake to witness to his family one last time. According to his wishes, we interred the urn with his ashes in his family grave in Kokubu on Sunday, March 21st.
Interment at Mr. Miyake’s Family Grave
We were saddened by the sudden passing of Brother Miyake and will miss him in our Sunday services at the Kokubu church. We are grateful for his faithful walk as a Christian for 47 years and look forward to our promised reunion in heaven.
New Kanoya Church of Christ
Let me close by letting you know that the new Kanoya church building was completed at the end of 2020, and their first service was held in it on December 30th. The new church was built on property (facing a major road) provided by the Kyushu Christian Mission, of which I currently serve as head trustee. This property (1½ hours from Kagoshima City, on the opposite peninsula) was purchased over 70 years ago by my parents, M/M Mark G. Maxey, for their mission home and base of mission work for close to 60 years. We are very pleased that this property will continue to be used to spread the gospel in Kagoshima prefecture.
We thank all of you for your prayers and support. God bless you.
In Him,
Walter & Mary
Addendum of recent photos:
Yoshino Church Ladies’ Meeting—very special fellowship
Neighborhood Cherry Blossoms—with Mt. Sakurajima erupting in the background