Open Doors
Hello from Yokohama! We've settled into our new home these past few months. We are really enjoying the more spacious home, proximity to our teammates and the kids' school, and the new neighborhood. Ever since we moved to Japan, a longstanding prayer has been for new relationships and friendships with Japanese people. This has proved quite difficult for us, though, as we still study the language and as the Japanese emerge from the pandemic mindset. However, since our move, we've seen God open numerous doors to building relationships with locals in unexpected ways. This has been a signal to us of God's blessing for our family, and we're excited to see how God uses us to make Himself known in our neighborhood and sphere of influence!
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Thank you so much to all of our partners in ministry. Your prayer and financial support is always an encouragement to us. Last month we made a special request for more financial support. Praise God for those who have made one-time contributions, increased their ongoing support, or started a new commitment! Our monthly shortfall had been $1500/month, but now is just $920/month. One-time donations of about $2000 have also mostly covered the cost of our All-Asia Gathering in Indonesia. Praise the Lord! We are still praying for one-time contributions to cover our moving-related expenses.
If you are a prayer partner, please prayerfully consider if God might be calling you to give financially to support our ministry here in Japan. If you already give financially, thank you! Please prayerfully consider if God might be calling you to increase your regular commitment, or to give a one-time gift on top of your commitment to help cover our one-time expenses. Thank you! One-time gifts and ongoing commitments can be received online through WorldVenture's Giving Portal. If you have any questions or thoughts, please reach out to us at jm.walker (at) worldventure (dot) com.
Updates & Praise:
Praise God for last month's weeklong trip to Indonesia for WorldVenture’s All-Asia Gathering and First Term Debrief, which 160 adults and 70 kids/teens attended from all over Asia. It was an amazing time of fellowship, being able to meet fellow missionaries from across the continent and reconnect with those from our training back in Colorado years ago. It was also a blessed time of worship of Jesus our Lord, and to reignite why we are serving in Asia. Mason and Kaili especially enjoyed connecting with fellow missionary kids from across Asia.
Malia will begin teaching English once a week at Mason and Kaili's school early next year. Praise God for the opportunity to serve the Japanese kids in this way! She also continues to help serve in the children's ministry at church.
Jeff has begun recording the Azamino Chapel messages, editing them, and putting them on YouTube (thanks to Danny for showing him the ropes!). This is a new ministry area for him, but one he is thankful for God to use him to bless the community of believers. He also continues to look for ways to connect with Japanese men and dads.
We celebrated Elijah's first birthday! We cannot believe he's this old already! What a wonderful little boy he is. We also remember Jeff's mom who passed away shortly before Elijah was born. We look forward to Jeff's dad visiting Japan next month!
Prayer:
Please pray for our upcoming Christmas events at Saiwaicho Christ Church (December 2nd in Ibaraki) and Denen Grace Church's Azamino Chapel (December 16th) aimed at children and young adults, not only for the preparation, but for those we invite to choose to attend and be receptive to the Christmas story. Japanese are more open to the Gospel this time of year.
Though generous supporters have helped narrow the gap, we are still short of our monthly budget by $920/month. We also have one-time moving expenses to cover. Please prayerfully consider if you feel called to start or increase an ongoing commitment, or make a one-time donation.
Please pray for the people God has brought into our life in recent months since our move to Yokohama: Outreach opportunities to the M family, S family, O family, Ms. A, and Mr. L, as well as fellowship with Japanese believers like Mrs. S. We give thanks for these open doors and pray for more conversations and opportunities!
Please pray for our ongoing language learning, that we would be able to apply what we learn in our budding ministry contexts.
Japan team picture from cultural outfit night at the All-Asia Gathering
Saying farewell to our friends and teammates Danny and Ray
Our kiddos on the beach in Indonesia
Celebrating Elijah's 1st birthday! // Mason playing the drums and Kaili dancing at a school event
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