Good Soil
Hello again from Japan! We have now been in Japan for about a month and a half, which is still hard to believe! We continue to adjust and settle in as best we can. As we continue to look for permanent housing, we are currently in our 4th accommodation since moving to Japan--a monthly apartment rental called a "monthly mansion." We are also looking at options for Mason and Kaili's school. While Japanese public school is still an option (which requires us to have a permanent address), we are now exploring a private Japanese Christian school. This has the added benefit of being able to have the kids start school while we are still looking for our home. We are also looking at starting Japanese language school for ourselves beginning in June.
We just came back from a mission-wide retreat near Mount Fuji last week. It was a great time to meet others in our mission family, rest and recharge (though we haven't been here long yet!), and see some of the beauty in God's creation around Mount Fuji. We do miss our friends and family back in the States (for which we're thankful for Zoom!), but we are so thankful to have the community in Japan with which God has blessed us!
JVENTURE mission-wide photo from the retreat near Mount Fuji
Back in Kawasaki, we met another Westerner living in Japan as we were looking to get some furnishings for our yet-to-be-found home. He is moving back to Canada after living in Japan for several years. When he found out why we had moved to Japan, he shared that he felt that Japanese are "ready to hear about Christianity." Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to really delve into that comment, but I was greatly encouraged by his assessment. We pray that the seeds of the Gospel would fall on good soil here in Japan, just as Jesus talked about in his parable of the sower:
"But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." ~Matthew 13:23
Indeed, we believe God is readying Japan for a great harvest! May we be faithful in the small part God has for us, and may all the glory go to Him.
Praise:
Praise God for a great mission-wide retreat near Mount Fuji last week!
Praise God that while we continue to look for a home in Japan, He has continued to provide a place for us to live temporarily.
Praise God that everything worked out with renting out our house back in the States!
Prayer:
Please pray for our continued housing search, that God would provide the best place for our family and neighborhood for ministry, and that we would find it quickly. We long to be able to unpack our suitcases.
Please pray for Jeff and Malia's language school choices and for schooling options for Mason and Kaili.
Cross Project team photo from the retreat // Celebrating Malia's birthday with mochi donuts!
"Blindfolded" Easter egg hunt // Attending the JVENTURE retreat & sharing our story
Family photo with Mount Fuji and by the canal in Musashi-Kosugi
We would love to hear from you, whether it be to share your prayer requests or to simply catch up. Please know that we think of you and pray for you often.
Thanks and blessings,
The Walkers
Jeff, Malia, Mason & Kaili