Ed and Nan write:
Dear Pray-ers,
Yesterday, Olive and Friends met. It was our last time in this
particular borrowed room. I asked them what Bible stories they liked
best.
Shige: I like Jesus on the cross. He suffered so much for me. Of
course, there are all those other good ones.
Toyoshima: Well, all I can think about today is my surgery. You know I
have to have a hip replacement in October. It's going to be really
hard and I won't be able to come here for a while. I will miss our
time together but I want to come back.
Kohno: It's really important to remember that Jesus is the only one
who can take away our sin. Only He can forgive our sin and make us
clean. (She says she can't believe on Jesus because her entire family
is Buddhist yet, she longs to have Jesus forgive her sins.)
Wysteria: You have told us so many stories. I thought the ones about
Jesus were all good. However, it wasn't until I went to Israel last
year and actually walked those streets in Jerusalem that it all became
real to me. I walked the Via Dolorosa and we prayed at each picture
along the way. I saw how MUCH Jesus suffered for me. I had to believe
on Him then!
Olive: I like Jesus on the cross--and of course, His resurrection and
the Holy Spirit coming. Paul--that's a really important story. Here is
this man who hated Christians and then turned completely around. I
like the story of those three men in that furnace when God came and
took them out. God is really powerful!!
When I said, "This is the last time we will meet in this room
together. It makes me sad to leave." They all said, "We are glad those
people let us use their room for free, but we will all continue to
meet together in a different place."
Prayer Requests:
Kohno -- that she will put her faith in Jesus Christ
Wysteria -- Her husband's brother died last week. She said, "He is the
only living relative now. We are all caught up in doing all the
Buddhist ceremonies and my husband hates it." Pray that his eyes will
be opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Olive -- Is preparing food for the Buddhist altar in their home. "We
don't do the candles and Buddhist prayers every day since I was
baptized two years ago. However, my husband asked me to prepare the
food for the ancestor's spirits when they come back Aug 13-18. I have
to do food in seven colors for breakfast, lunch and dinner during this
time. I told him I would." Please pray that God will take this time
and somehow use it for His glory.
Thank you for continuing to remember the Deaf of Japan.
Love,
Nan & Ed
