Spring Events Part 2

June 14, 2013

Here are more events from this spring!

Youth Retreat: Like last year, we had the privilege of leading the youth camp.  It’s one of our favorite events of the year.  We love hanging out with young people and it’s such an honor to love on them, to pray with them, and to encourage them as they walk with Him.  Some of the students that came are not believers but one of them told us that she would like to start praying about being baptized.  Her parents are not believers so there are many obstacles ahead of her, but we pray God will continue to work in her life and she will be able to be baptized in His perfect timing!

Worship service

Worship service

Playing games outside.

Playing games outside.

Luke had fun, too!  He got lots of attention the whole time!

Luke had fun, too! He got lots of attention the whole time!

So thankful for these students who love God!

So thankful for these students who love God!

Looking forward to seeing them again next year!

Looking forward to seeing them again next year!

LIFE: LIFE is our weekly ministry on Sunday night.  We lead the English Bible study and English worship service.  Believers from various churches and non-believers from across the city gather every Sunday night to read the Bible, to learn English, and to worship together.  One of the blessings is that we have a chance to serve with our missionary friends and Japanese believers.  It’s also exciting to see the non-believers trying their best to read the Bible in English and asking many meaningful questions!  We can’t wait to see what God has in store for this ministry!

Michael preaches once a month.

Michael preaches once a month.

Fellowship time after the service.

Fellowship time after the service.

Bowling and Lunch with Youth Group: We took some of our students to go bowling and lunch.   We love to hear their daily life stories and to love on them.  It’s neat to hear them talk about God and how He is guiding them.

Luke had the best time!

Luke had the best time!

Can you tell we were all so full after having a delicious meal?  These students can eat a lot!

These students can eat a lot!

Hope you enjoyed looking at these photos and reading about each event!  We are thankful for your prayers and support as we live and serve in Japan!  We thank God for each opportunity we have to share His message!  Please continue to pray for Japanese people!  It’s evident that God is working in this country!

This was the last photo of our family of three!  Who knew we would be welcoming our baby two days later?

This was the last photo of our family of three! Who knew we would be welcoming our baby two days later?

Categories: Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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Spring Events Part 1

June 13, 2013

We had so many exciting events this spring!  Spring was such a busy season but it was filled with great memories.  God truly blessed us.  This is just a quick summary of these events.

Trip to South Korea:  We went to South Korea to visit our friends who helped us while we were there in 2011 and also to attend our friends’ wedding.  It was so good to see every one of them!  Ever since we left South Korea in 2011, many of them prayed for us and gave us financial help as we worked on the disaster relief.  We wanted to thank them in person and we are thankful God gave us this opportunity to do so!  We just love our South Korean friends and their heart for God!

Can you tell Luke was excited to see them again?

At our friends’ wedding.  Can you tell Luke was excited to see them again?

These friends came to Japan to help us in 2011. They are coming back this summer!

These friends came to Japan to help us in 2011. They are coming back this summer!

We visited Dr. Billy Kim at FEBC (Korean Christian Broadcasting Company).  Dr. Kim donated so much money for the disaster relief work in Japan and we can't thank him enough!

We visited Dr. Billy Kim at FEBC (Korean Christian Broadcasting Company) and shared what God is doing in Japan.  Dr. Kim donated for the disaster relief work in Japan and we can’t thank him enough!

We visited our friend's church and were reunited with the young adults who had prayed for us faithfully.

We spoke at our friend’s church and were reunited with the young adults who prayed for us faithfully.

We had dinner wiith Yu's former assistant at DBU and her mom.

We had dinner with Yu’s former assistant at DBU and her mom.

Luke’s Playgroup at Church: We go to the playgroup that meets at our church every Tuesday morning.  Most of the moms and kids that come are from non-Christian homes and it’s a great way to invite them to the church and to share the gospel.  It’s one of Luke’s favorite times of the week.  Yu has enjoyed getting to know other moms and many of them have come to our house for play dates.

Story time!

Story time!

End of the school year party (the school year ends in March in Japan)

End of the school year party (the school year ends in March in Japan)

Visiting Sakata: Sakata is where our mission church is located and we go there several times a year to help them with their English class, children’s ministry, and worship service.   We had a great time with Pastor Fujii, his family, and all the church members.

Helping their Sunday School class.

Helping their Sunday School class.

They always encourage us when we visit.

They always encourage us when we visit.

Kids English Club: We lead the Kids English Club every Wednesday.  We have about 20 children every week and most of them come from non-Christian homes that live in the community around our church.  We teach English, sing Christian songs, and have a short worship service.  Many of them have told us that their favorite time is the Bible story time.  One of the cool things is that many of their moms stay during our class and worship, and they get to hear the gospel as well.  Many of the children and their moms have showed their interest in knowing more about Him.  We can’t wait to see where He leads us next!

Playing "Simon Says"

Playing “Simon Says”

Love these kids!

Love these kids!

Ministers Retreat: Every spring, all the ministers and their families from the Baptist churches Tohoku (northern Japan) area get together for a retreat.  This year, we went to Iwate prefecture for this retreat and it was so much fun!  Not only it was fun, it was great to hear what God is doing at each church.  Even thought some churches are going through a hard time, all the pastors seemed to be encouraged as we prayed for each other.   Of course, Luke enjoyed playing with the other pastors’ children.

Opening Worship Service

Opening Worship Service

Luke and another pastor's son giving a shoulder massage to the pastor's wife.  Everyone got to enjoy a special massage therapy!

Luke and another pastor’s son giving a shoulder massage to the pastor’s wife. Everyone got to enjoy a special massage therapy!

Please pray for these pastors and their families!

Please pray for these pastors and their families!

Thanks for reading, but we are not done yet!  Please stay tuned for more photos and exciting stories…

Categories: Hope for Japan News, Prayer Needs.

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Logan is Here!

June 11, 2013

“I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28

We are SO happy to announce that our son, Logan Kou (it means “light” in Japanese), is here!  He arrived 5 weeks early but God protected both mommy and baby.  A big thank you to those who prayed for us!  Luke has been such an awesome big brother.  He loves to kiss and hold Logan and it melts our hearts to see him love on his little brother.

Logan was in the NICU for a short period of time and we realized life is a true miracle and blessing from God.  We saw many babies that were fighting to survive and also the doctors and parents that were doing everything they could to help them.  We should never take our lives for granted.  As we thanked God for our baby boy, we prayed for those babies and parents who were going through such a difficult time.  God taught us so many important lessons through this experience.

Recently, the verses for our Sunday School lesson were from Jeremiah 1.  It says:

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew  you,before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.   Jeremiah 1: 4-8

We are so thankful that our almighty God knew Logan before he was formed in the womb and He is with him and will rescue him wherever he goes.  We pray Logan will come to know Him and go wherever He commands him.  We love you, Logan, and we are so blessed to have you as our son!

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Categories: Family.

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