Happy New Year
Happy New Year from Kanagawa, Japan! Here are some thoughts from our family as we look forward to what God has in store for us in 2024 in Japan.
What are you looking forward to in 2024?
Jeff: As we near 2 years on the field, I'm excited to transition more into ministry this year, especially in regards to connecting more with local men/dads and seeing what ministries we can develop.
Malia: Last year was a lot of change and new beginnings. This year, I'm looking forward to stabilizing and investing more in the people around us.
Mason: I'm looking forward to getting to know my friends from school better. I'm also excited that my first cousin will be born soon (later this month)!
Kaili: I can't wait for Grandma and Grandpa to visit us in Japan! I am also looking forward to going back to Ibaraki this summer with Lighthouse's missions team.
Elijah: (I love buttons! Now that I'm walking, I look forward to exploring and discovering new things to push!)
Updates & Praise:
Azamino Chapel has started meeting one additional time per month, now with 2 services and 1 Bible study.
ALL of our one-time financial costs related to moving were completely covered by year's end! Thank you and praise God!
Malia has begun getting more involved at Mason and Kaili's school, helping out once a week.
Jeff is working with teammate Justin to find new ways to connect with local men and dads in the new year.
Mason and Kaili are having a good time at school, and invited some friends to play at our house recently. Elijah is walking and talking up a storm!
Prayer:
Please pray for those affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake that hit Ishikawa Prefecture in western Japan on New Year's Day. It was a 7.6-magnitude quake, killing over 200 people, with many more injured and homes destroyed. We felt it out here in Kanagawa in eastern Japan, but only barely (no damage). While not as devastating as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, it was the worst to hit Japan since then. We don't know anyone personally who was affected, but we pray for the recovery efforts and for God to draw the Japanese close to Himself during this time of physical and spiritual need, that this tragedy would be used for good.
Please pray for upcoming ministry events:
Ladies' Valentine's Day outreach event (on 2/15)
Launch of regular outreach event for men/dads in the coming months
Easter service and egg hunt at Azamino Chapel (on 3/23)
Easter outreach event in Ibaraki (on 4/5)
Please pray for continued in-roads and conversations with the Japanese around us. We've been able to connect more with some local families, and one of our goals for the new year is to invite them over to our house.
As a Christmas gift, our family went to Tokyo Disney for the first time
Traditional Japanese New Year's "osechi" meal
Family fun in the snow! It's a bit cold, though
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, and Elijah