Email sent August 27, 2007. Email index
Prayer Menu update from Hieberts in Japan
Dear praying friend,
Action Team
The Action team of 6 adults (Dave and Melanie Berg, Matt and Ruth Braun, Michelle Loewen, Noelle Noyes) and 3 children did a wonderful job. They really had a desire to serve and to see people experience God’s love and salvation. We wondered how the two families would do with all the children under three and two more on the way! But Melanie and Ruth were great troopers. We really admired their courage and fortitude. Dave and Matt also pulled their share and really added a lot of humor and fun and good leadership. Michelle and Noel each contributed in their areas of giftedness and really rounded out the team well. The other thing is this team seemed to really love Japan and the Japanese people. Like they did a lot of shopping for food and loved so much of it!
Join us in praying that God will guide them in their future plans as most if not all are open to fulltime ministry. We would love for them to come back and join us on a long-term church planting team! Also thank the Lord for sending them to serve with us and 3 other MB churches in our area.
SKC
Thanks for praying for our Summer Kids` Club (Day Camps). We just had an evaluation meeting the other day and sensed that though there had been some hesitancy to hold this summer program, everyone was just amazed at how God blessed the event with a really positive time, great service by the team and also overwhelming service by our church people. Almost all the people were involved in someway. Many people felt like it was run more by our church than other years. Others talked about how well organized and well run it was. Others talked about how doing it more simply this year made it easier and also more effective, so they could focus more on the kids.
So we thank you for praying. Many of the kids who have come other years wanted to come, but the dates this year meant they were heading off on vacation. Hopefully they will come next year. Although one mother whose child came for the first time said she wasn’t going to tell anyone about the event. “I don’t want it to be spoiled by everyone coming next time!” Continue to pray for the salvation of the kids and their families as we seek to connect them with Jesus and our church.
ESL Teacher: Sean Amstutz
We are so thankful that the Lord has provided Sean to be our ESL teacher. He has come to replace Karis Peters, who finished her term here at the end of June. Our church people are really excited to have him here, although they are nervous about trying to talk to him, as he doesn’t speak much Japanese yet. Please pray for a quick adjustment and an effective ministry. Also, pray that God will send us a good number of new students as some are not returning this fall.
And, pray for him as he follows after Karis who served diligently during the last 2.5 years. He will have a tough time at first as people talk about her and compare him to her. Several women have been working hard at getting his apartment ready and helping with the class schedule and advertisement for classes that begin on September 2. We are pleased to see people desire to get involved so that the ESL program is effective in reaching others for Jesus.
Fall programs
Our planning meetings this month have gone well. No, we didn’t get everything arranged, but there has been good insights shared, commitments made to serve and a renewed desire to see people come to know Jesus. We ask that you pray for those who will serve in the various programs that they would serve in the power of the Spirit and that their lives would portray the glory and grace of God to all.
For the King and His Kingdom in Japan,
Laurence and Leona Hiebert
3-1-11 Izumi-cho
Toyota City 471-0803
Japan
TEL (011-81) 565-88-3126Mission Office
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