Email sent April 29, 2006.        Email index

Dear praying friend,

New Workers.

Pastor and Mrs. Kurokawa spent about 5 days with us and our church people last week to familiarize themselves with our church people. They will serve during our MINA (Ministry In North America), which begins in July 2006. I think our people got a good impression of them and I feel we have taken a big step in preparing for this transition. They just retired in March after serving in MB churches in Osaka for nearly 40 years. They will live in our house during our absence. Thank God for providing them. Pray for our church and them during the next year. We plan to return to Toyota City after our one year MINA/Study Leave.

 

New Opportunity.

Next week (late afternoon on your Monday) I will be speaking to a junior high school class at a Buddhist private school in our city. A friend of mine who teaches there was the contact person for this opportunity. I have been restricted in what I am able to say. So please pray that I will be able to relate well to the students and that God's Spirit will cause them to think deeply about the major questions in life and whether their education and worldview actually provide adequate answers to those questions. I will speak about learning and also share about the role the Bible and church have had in my understanding of life.

 

New Input.

Next week from May 3-6, the MBMS International missionaries serving in Japan will meet for a time of enrichment and fellowship. Jim and Irene London from Ontario will be our quests and will share with us on the topic of intimacy with God. Pray for safe travel and for a refreshing and encouraging time together.

 

New Twist.

Thank you for praying for the situation involving the elementary school girl at our children's international school. It turns out that she actually ran away from home. Her parents woke up in the night to find the front door open, their daughter gone, and someone taking off near the house which led them to believe that she had been taken. When the girl was found in a park in the neighbouring town, she told the police that she had been take by men. Several days later, she came out with the truth. It seems she and her mother had an argument the day before. Thanks for praying.

 

New Residence.

Thanks for praying for a house for us during our upcoming MINA. God has provided a wonderful house in the best location we could ask for. We will live less than a 5 minute drive from Laurence's sister in the Hamptons in northwest Calgary. Our next major need is a vehicle. We'd prefer a mini van with all wheel drive. (Yes, you guessed right. We are no longer accustomed to driving in Canadian winter conditions.)

 

We are really counting on your prayers for the next two months. Thanks so much!

Laurence and Leona Hiebert
Toyota City, Japan

The code to support our family's ministry is COO21.
MBMS International
http://mbmsi.org/