Keep on praying...

It's hard to believe we've been back in Japan for only 20 days. We're off to a great start this Fall with the SYME staff and the new students who are here for this term. The staff has been working so hard to learn the Gospel Meta-narrative method of evangelism. We meet for two hours each morning to go over the material and then to practice sharing. For now, the sharing is only with each other. It won't be long before we begin holding the special SYME sessions in other places to reach out evangelistically. Please keep on praying for our staff as we train and prepare. They are so dedicated to doing what it takes to win others to the Lord here in Japan.  Pray also for the churches that will be hosting us once we begin the outreaches.

One of the new students we have this term is not a Christian. We are asking the Lord to open her heart to the Gospel. She is interested in what's being taught, but it is all new to her. She had never read any part of the Bible prior to coming to SYME. In addition to this student and the others studying at SYME this term, there are a few former students living in the area who join us for English conversation and ongoing discipleship. One of these has yet to become a Christian, so please pray for him.

The photo I included with this blog post was taken last Sunday. After our church service, a few of us went out to eat at a kebob restaurant operated by family from Karuizawa who are dear friends of SYME. Their names are Hamid and Erico. We are blessed to have them as friends. We often take the opportunity to connect with them and to eat at their restaurant. Hamid's chicken kebobs and wraps are the best ever (Elliott usually eats three in one sitting, if that's a clue about how good they are). We love building relationships such as these as we seek to share with others about things that are most important to us.

If you would like to read more about our ministry plans for this Fall, please take a look at my blog post of 8/2/2014 entitled, "Ministry Plans for This Fall" found here.

Dale and I are grateful for your interest and prayers.