Greetings from Japan!
Summer in Japan is filled with many traditional festivals devoted to local gods. Each town and city has a local shrine dedicated to one of their gods. During the summer, the residents carry a small shrine on their shoulders throughout the city streets. Many children and young people look forward to following behind the shrine dancing and chanting. Most people participate out of tradition and habit without actually believing what the ceremonies represent. It is hard for the Japanese to separate their identity as Japanese from their traditions because so many of them are embedded in their culture. We look for every opportunity to share that God is the God of all people, including the Japanese.
In our weekly English conversation classes, we are able to share Bible stories with the children to help them see God created all people and died for each one of us regardless of our nationality. One boy, S, has been unable to attend school due to social anxiety. His mother still tries to get him to come to our classes because she sees the difference in our teaching and the concern we have for each one of the children. Hiro has been able to take the boy out to eat and spend one-on-one time with him when he has been unable to attend class. Continue to pray with us for S and all of the children that God has brought to our English conversation classes.
Hiro and Hunter sharing a meal and ministering to a friend.
A couple, H and M, have started attending our church recently. Though H didn’t grow up in a Christian family, he did live near a missionary family. The family had after-school activities and English game time, so he would go there to play games and practice English. He got busy with sports in junior high school, so he stopped attending. In high school, H met a Christian boy who invited him to his church. H remembered going when he was younger, so he wasn’t hesitant at all to go. He soon became a Christian and started living for Christ. He prayed for a Christian wife and God answered his prayers. He got married last year. He and his new wife were looking for a church to attend, which is very hard to find in Japan, but God led them to our church through the musical performances of our Pastor’s children. God plants seeds in the hearts of the children even when we don’t see fruit immediately. Continue to pray with us for the children who attend our Sunday School and English classes, that the seeds we are planting will take root and grow.
We are so thankful for your prayers and support. You are touching the lives of the Japanese children and their families through your support. Your partnership is helping to share God’s wonderful news of salvation with the country of Japan that is veiled in darkness. Thank you!!
Family
Justin and his wife welcomed their first child in February. They are doing well and Justin is finishing his Masters in Biblical Studies at Liberty University. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance Administration Ax has started working for a local airport in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is doing well. Hunter is home for summer break. He is working as a camp counselor at several evangelistic camps this summer. Olivia just finished her ballet recital. She was the final dancer of the program. After the recital, many of the families came up afterward and said how Olivia’s joy is expressed in her dance.
Your Missionaries to Japan,
Hiro and Eryn Bamba, and Olivia and Hunter
