Email sent April 5, 2007.        Email index

Getting Ready for Japan

 

Before We Return to Japan

As we told you in our previous letter, the funding model for our mission has changed. That means MBMS International missionaries are required to raise all their support in pledges and funds. In a recent discussion with Lead Team members of our mission, the switch to relational funding model for our family was finalized. That means we need our support fully pledged or funded before we leave for Japan on July 3. We are still in need of additional pledges of about $2,000 per month.

A good number of people and churches have been supporting us for several years already. Over the last several months others have joined our team with pledges of support. Many are contributing monthly. Some are sending money quarterly while others send in a lump sum once a year. Each of these ways is good and very encouraging.

An interesting facet of this year has been that there have been many gifts that appear to be one-time gifts. One-time gifts are great – we need them too – but we have no assurance that those individuals will contribute similarly in the next three years. In fact, about one-fourth of the contributions this year might have been gifts of this nature. We recognize that some people are able to make one-time gifts at a particular time but not every year. But that means we might need more than $2,000 per month.

This brings up an important point. As much as possible we need to know who will be supporting us during the next three years. So we would ask that those who want to support us would indicate that and the amount to us or the mission office (i.e. by phone or email) so that we can have a better idea if our support needs will be met. We need to know who is intending to support us annually for the next three years.

 

Family Stuff

With our planned July 3 departure approaching we have about 3 months in Canada. Our time has been both full and good. It has been especially encouraging to meet many of you during our church visits and to sense how deep your love and concern is for us and our ministry in Japan. Spending time with people in various settings has made us wish we could visit more.

It has been special to be able to get to know some people in the Dalhousie MB Church here in Calgary better. A good number of them have become our friends and blessed us with good memories. Cambria and Trenton have enjoyed making friends in the youth groups.

Brandon plans to work in Calgary this summer and then return to Bethany College in fall. He will live with us for May and June. Then we will say good-bye to him as we return to Japan. He'll stay with Laurence’s sister and family for July and August.

Cambria celebrated her 16th birthday in March. She loves spending time with friends from church and school and is looking forward to a May choir tour. Trenton is carrying a heavy load with school, tutoring, and the neuro-educational developmental program at home. He took a big step forward in December after a church had a day of prayer and fasting for him. Please join us in praying that he will take several major steps ahead yet in the last 3 months.

 

Team Players

God’s plans for Japan continue to unfold and grow and the need for more MBMS International team members in Japan is one of our major prayer concerns. We are looking for people with a team-player mindset who are passionate about loving God and people, godly in character, diligent in service, and willing to spend themselves to see Japanese people come to know and follow Jesus. Do you know any such people who feel led to join the MBMS International team in Japan? We want to talk to them so let us know!

Karis’ term of service with us in Toyota ends this summer, so we are praying that God will provide a suitable person or couple to serve with us. The Japan Mennonite Brethren Conference also needs two other ESL teachers. So, if you or someone you know would be interested in serving in Japan, please let me or our mission know immediately.

 

Church Stuff

The Kurokawa pastoral couple, giving a year of their retirement to serve in our church in Toyota, is doing well. Their stability, humble attitude, and years of experience have made them a good fit for our congregation during our absence. Our church members, along with Karis, have been diligent in serving and planning various events for this year. We look forward to being with our church again for the second half of this year. It will be a time of catching up, joining them in what they have planned, and building a vision for the coming years.

Yuji Kondo, the young man who went into depression and needed counseling has come out of counseling after one and one-half years. We are glad to hear that he has kept the faith. We are sorry to hear that he has decided to work in Tokyo instead of returning to Toyota City. We will miss his ministry in our church, especially as there are so few men. Please pray that he will return to our church soon to help us reach people for Christ in the city where he grew up and knows many people. Also, pray that I will somehow have an opportunity to witness to Yuji’s uncle, the president of Toyota Motor Corporation.

Mr. Yanagisawa came to our church right after our church building was completed. Over the next months he decided to follow Jesus and we prayed for the recovery of his mother. She is now in a wheelchair, waiting to see us when we return! We receive reports that Mr. Y is a great help in our church.

But more recently his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through surgery. Please pray for her recovery and that through this she would come to know Jesus as her Saviour and Lord. She is Buddhist. The only time she has been at church was for her husband’s baptism last June.

Mr. Sakae Kisuna is one of the key people in our church, helping out with leadership and serving as our treasurer. Regrettably his company is transferring him to Thailand for 4 years. We will miss his service incredibly. Because his oldest son is entering university and the youngest one will go in to grade 9 this year, his wife and sons will remain in Japan. It will be a difficult 4 years for both their family and our church. More prayer is needed.

Praise God for:

	The many people who pray for and support us
	Those who in the last few months have begun to give toward our family's ministry needs
	The encouraging times with people during our church visits this year of Ministry In North America (MINA)
	The service of the Kurokawas and Karis back in Toyota City during our MINA
	Protecting us as we traveled to many locations
	Blessing our family with good times together and providing for the educational needs of our children
	Blessing our marriage for the past 24 years (April 2)

 

Please pray that:

	God’s people would respond to the Spirit’s prompting to help us reach full support
	Trenton would make good progress during the remaining time in Canada
	God would lead more families to our church and provide people with gifts for ministry
	Yuji would continue to follow and serve Jesus
	God would heal Mrs. Yanagisawa and draw her to Himself through her illness
	God would protect and bless the Kisuna family
	We will be rejuvenated and encouraged so we can return to Japan with new passion

 

Our address until June 2007:

Laurence and Leona Hiebert C/O Mr. Mark Jantzen 331 Hamptons Mews NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5B2 (Tel. 403-241-0922)

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