Greetings from Japan!
We were greeted early New Year’s Day with the beating of drums from the local neighborhood shrine. People were lined up waiting their turn to ring the bell and ask for blessings for the coming year. It is heartbreaking to see so many lost Japanese, not knowing there is a God who loves them and desires a personal relationship with each one of them. We are so thankful to have you working with us to help bring the Good News of the Gospel to the Japanese people who would otherwise be left without any hope. Words are not enough to express our gratitude for each one of you! Your prayers and support are touching the lives of so many Japanese people. We wouldn’t be here without you!
Christmas Group Cooking Class.
We held a Christmas, cooking class for the kids in our English conversation classes. Around 50 kids attended. We split the kids into four classes to fit everyone in our house and have room to bake their creations in our small, Japanese, toaster ovens. The kids made star-shaped, Christmas tree cookies and decorated them with royal icing. We were able to talk to them about the true meaning of Christmas and why it is celebrated worldwide by various cultures and countries. The children took their creations home and proudly showed them to their parents while retelling them about the true reason for Christmas.
We had a lady baptized at our church! The lady, N, had attended our church off and on for various outreach events, but then she started attending our women’s Bible study more regularly and learned that Christianity is a personal relationship with God, the creator of the universe. Her family life is challenging, as her husband and none of her three children are Christian, and all are struggling with school and relationships. She felt the love of God and the support of the church family and decided to dedicate her life to Christ! Continue to pray with us for N, and her family, as she grows in her faith and shares the Gospel with her family.
April is the beginning of the new school year in Japan. As the children graduate and move up in grades, they often become too busy with school to attend our English classes. Please pray with us for God to send more children and families to our English conversation school. We are reading through the Bible with the children each week. For most of them, it is the first time to hear about God and His love for them. Many of the children go home and tell the stories they heard to their parents and most of their parents have never heard about the love of God either. Pray with us that these seeds planted in their hearts will grow and spread throughout Japan!
Family
Olivia is studying ninth grade and preparing for a ballet recital in May. Hunter is continuing to thrive at Liberty University studying Psychology. Ax finished his first year working at an airport in Lynchburg, Virginia. In December, Justin graduated from graduate school with a Masters in Biblical Studies. He will start working at Liberty University this year. Our grandson, Akio, turned one year old on February 1! We were sorry we weren’t there, but we are so thankful for the videos and pictures Justin and Rachel sent to us.
Thank you so much for your faithful and continuous prayers and support, and your love for the Japanese people!
Your Missionaries to Japan,
Hiro and Eryn Bamba,
Olivia, Hunter, Ax, and Justin (Rachel & Akio)
