Newsletter, Volume 41 No 3
Winter-Spring 2010-2011


Dear Friends,

The entire world has by now seen many images of the very powerful, magnitude 9.0 earthquake which hit Japan on the afternoon of March 11th. It was one of the biggest earthquakes ever recorded and the biggest to ever hit Japan. Multiple tsunamis caused by this earthquake struck the northeastern coast with enormous force, wreaking massive destruction, wiping out entire communities, and taking thousands of lives. The loss of life is expected to exceed 20,000. We have been stunned and deeply saddened by this unbelievable natural disaster.

We are grateful to see that the U.S., along with many other countries, is sending equipment, supplies, and manpower to assist in the search and rescue operations. Here, in the southern part of Japan, we have not been affected directly by the earthquake, but people even here are obviously moved and sombre. Though trivial in comparison, people in Kagoshima and neighboring Miyazaki prefecture have been concerned since the January 27th eruption of Mt. Shinmoe (located about 37 miles from us). This volcano had been quiet for over fifty-two years. Volcanic ash and rocks have covered nearby vegetable fields, resulting in extensive financial losses for farmers. Fortunately, there have been no injuries or loss of life due to this new volcanic activity, but everyone is on high alert.

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Ash cloud visible from our house

The new year began for us with some very encouraging news, however. A twenty-eight-year-old young man from the Yoshino church, Keishi Yoshimura, has decided to enter the ministry. Keishi has been thinking about this for over a year, and we are very pleased that he has made this decision. He will be entering Osaka Bible Seminary in April (the new school year begins in April in Japan) to begin his studies. Please keep Keishi in your prayers.

Let’s back up for a brief review of our activities here for the past few months. December 4th, the annual Christmas program was held for the inmates at the Kagoshima prison. One hundred and twelve inmates attended this program planned by two other Christian chaplains and myself. The program was filled with choral and handbell music, along with a Christmas message. A number of the ladies from the Yoshino church went with me to assist with the music part of the program.

December 11th, the Yoshino church held its annual Christmas program for the children in our area. We were disappointed that it was not as well attended as last year’s program but were encouraged by the knowledge that those who did attend were hearing about the true meaning of Christmas for the first time.

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Area Children’s Christmas Program

Sunday, December 12th, Mary and I shared in an early Christmas worship service with the members of the Tarumizu Church of Christ (across the bay from Kagoshima). This church does not have a full-time minister, so I preach for them on the 2nd Sunday of each month and any 5th Sundays. They are small in number, but they are very earnest Christians who conduct their own services when I am not there.

Sunday, December 19th, I preached for Christmas worship services at Kokubu and Yoshino. Our service at Yoshino was followed by a large potluck dinner and a Christmas program in which everyone took part. Even the men got up the courage to present some impromptu special music with handbells. It was a great day of fellowship.

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Part of our Church Potluck Dinner

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Men’s Handbell Performance

December 20th, the last day of classes at Kagoshima University before Christmas, I took English-Japanese New Testaments to my three classes. As I do each year, at the end of class I give my students a simple quiz about Christmas, which gives me an opportunity to share the basics of the Christmas story with them. I then encourage them to take a New Testament home with them and read about the first Christmas for themselves. The majority of students in each class picked up a New Testament as they left.

December 23rd, I spent the morning visiting church members confined to their homes or hospital beds and left some of Mary’s homemade cookies. That evening, Mary & I joined members of the Yoshino church for an hour of caroling in the Yoshino area.

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Warm Refreshments following Caroling

Our Christmas activities at the Yoshino church concluded with our Christmas Eve candlelight service. We had to cancel our New Year’s Eve prayer service due to a snow storm (very rare for us in southern Japan). It was too unsafe for members to get out.

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Our Big Snow

January 10th, I was the guest speaker for the annual interdenominational seminar on personal evangelism in Kagoshima. Eighty-four Christians from sixteen churches gathered for this all-day program. I spoke twice, dealing with the biblical basis for evangelism in my first message and the need to boldly share the gospel in my second message. It was encouraging to hear later that attenders had been helped by the messages.

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Personal Evangelism Seminar

February 11th, Mary & I were in Yunogo, Okayama (8 hours north by car) to attend a memorial service for one of our veteran missionaries, Audrey West, who passed away at the age of 102. I brought a brief message for the memorial service, which was held in the Christian Center which Audrey had established for her work. The center was packed, with standing room only. It was a visible testimony to the many lives Audrey had touched in her long ministry in this small rural community.

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Audrey West’s Memorial Service

February 21st-22nd, I attended the annual meeting of Christian prison chaplains in southern Japan, which was held in the city of Fukuoka. This is a time for those of us serving as chaplains to share information, ideas, and experiences, and to encourage one another.

March 4th, I flew to Osaka to attend the first 2011 trustee meeting at Osaka Bible Seminary. Under the leadership of its new president, Daiki Kishimoto, OBS is trying to do more to help local churches train their leadership by holding classes and seminars in the churches.

We would like to thank all those who sent messages of concern following the earthquake. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Please pray for Japan as it begins to deal with the aftermath of this catastrophic natural disaster. We pray that people will be drawn to the Lord.
Thank you always for your prayers and support.

In Him,
Walter & Mary