Ministry Update from the Odates

Thank you so much for your prayer and support for us!

Ministry Update

I went to the U.S. from the end of February through the beginning of March for two weeks. The purpose of the trip was to attend a few missions conferences and meet my friends as much as possible. However, I decided to travel alone because my schedule was so busy and Japan still had many restrictions for Corona.

I traveled from Mississippi (Tunica, Jackson) to Alabama (Birmingham), Alabama to Mississippi, Mississippi to Virginia, and Virginia to Maryland. Because I wanted to meet as much as I could, and I ate almost all my meals with someone updating our life in Japan, reporting on our ministry, and having fellowship.

I attended Sunday morning service at Redeemer Church Jackson and had an opportunity to share my current church planting with the congregation. I also played worship music with the Redeemer band. In Birmingham, I was given thirty minutes to share my ministry with the people in Briarwood Presbyterian Church at their mission conference. 

After I quickly visited my friends in that area, I returned to Jackson, MS, to attend another missions conference at the First Presbyterian Church. Unfortunately, I could not stay at the conference longer because of my schedule. But I could meet my dear friends and ministers there and say thank you. While I was in Jackson about one week, my professor, Dr. Baugus allowed me to stay his house. That was so helpful and we could talk about many things every night.

I flew to Washington D.C., and my friend and teammate, Matt Chase, picked me up at the airport. He introduced me to his church members at his house, and I could share my ministry with them.

I could spend a few hours with his family, and on the following day, we left for Virginia Beach. On Sunday, the next day, I had a fantastic opportunity to preach at Redeemer Church in Virginia Beach, and Matt and I talked about our ministry in Japan at their Sunday school.

After lunch with Matt’s friend, we went to Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Norfolk. I had another opportunity to preach there.

On the next day, we drove to Maryland to visit my friend/mentor/one-up, Bob Drews. A crew of Trinity Church (his son is one of the elders of that church) interviewed me and filmed it. Rachel Koh, who is coming to Japan this year to work with us as an intern, came to visit us and joined the interview. I could share about our church planting in Japan with the church.

I could not take pictures of all people I met, but I could meet so many people and talk about myself, Japan, my ministry, etc. That was a tough two weeks trip, but it was so fruitful. I am so thankful for God that I could meet people I love in person, and I was protected from coronavirus. Unfortunately, I could not visit some churches I should visit because of my crazy schedule. I will visit them next time.

Family Update

We finally moved to the city center of Chiba. After returning to Japan and finishing my one-week quarantine, I started taking our staff little by little every day. I asked my friends to help with the big things a few times. It took about two weeks total to empty our old house. Now we are unpacking and cleaning up our new house. Our routine has to be changed because the school and kindergarten of our kids are not close anymore (they are still going to the same school). More than anything, we had a good relationship with our neighbor (one of the missionary families of MTW), but we are no longer living next to each other. We miss not only that family but also many friends and church members in that area, even though it is only 30 minutes drive from here.

The new house is big enough to have house worship. It probably has a capacity for 20-30 people. Also, it is very close to Chiba station, which is the biggest train station in Chiba.

Please pray for our new life and adjustment to the transition.

Asami is trying to manage our morning routine to send our kids to their school and kindergarten on time. She joins some Bible studies at our home church and meets her friends regularly. That should be good for her, and I think it is necessary. She is attending Parakaleo, the group for the wives of pastors and church planters. I think that is so helpful for her, and she enjoys it.

Hatsuho became the fourth-grader this month. She loves K-Pop and dance. She dances with watching YouTube every day. She keeps her English and is excited to talk to Niji in English because he is going to the same school this year.

Niji just finished his enrolment ceremony this weekend. He is officially in the first grade now. Because his school is small, he is the only first grader this year. Therefore, he needs to study many classes with older students by English-speaking teachers. It is challenging, but he will be a fluent English speaker once he gets used to it.

Torah started his new grade with new friends and a new teacher at his kindergarten. Niji is not in the same facility anymore. He needs to get used to it until Seika comes next year. We think he is very athletic. We might find some sports for him.

Seika became two last month. She started speaking though it was not an understandable language. She imitates our prayer sometimes. She sings a lot and dances a lot. It is so much fun for us to watch her.  

In Christ,

O-Chan, Asami, Hatsuho, Niji, Torah, Seika  

https://mtw.org/missionaries/details/jp-chiba-church-planting-odate