September Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friends,                                                                                

 

Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
God gave us this verse as a mission call to Japan.  Today as we write this, October 7th, 2013, by the grace of God, marks the end of the first 30 years of fulfilling that call here in northern Hokkaido, Japan.  I recall on that day as we boarded the airplane out of Los Angles and we watched the lights of the Pacific coast of the United States fade away in the darkness, I silently sang the national anthem and thanked God for His calling.  In the years that have passed, many things in the United States have changed:  Economic, politics and morals have declined greatly.  There is a great need for those biblical Christians in the United States to abound in taking a stand for the Lord in the grace of God.  We are thankful for each of you that do this so that we and many other missionaries throughout the world can continue to give the gospel to the people God has called us to.  You too have a calling of God.  It is the same one we have; only the location is different.  May God bless your witness this day for the Lord.

Memories abound of God’s goodness not only here in Japan but also in His training period through the years since we got married in 1974.  Little did we know that each step we took in obedience and all along the way were part of His boot camp training time.  Helping us learn to trust in each other, walk along with each other and know that God was leading and helping us making decisions (first 3 years); leading Ken back into some schooling to finish one degree (1 yr) and at the end of that moving us to Minnesota where we were quite content in the assistant pastorate work we were involved in (2 ½ years) when God moved on our own hearts to go into full time church planting on a foreign field.  That led Ken to go back to Bible school one more time (2 yrs) to get some more training specifically in missions. While there we were involved in AWANA and jr. church, all the while seeking where God would want us to go.  It’s not an easy decision when the entire world needs the Gospel!!  Here is what Vicki wrote about our call to Japan on our 20^th anniversary—

During his senior year at that time, a senior missionary from northern Japan, specifically the island of Hokkaido, came to visit on campus and tell the student body of his desire of reaching the northern rural area of Hokkaido, Japan with new missionaries where he had been ministering for quite a few years.  So many missionaries called to Japan stay in the southern larger populated areas.  His desire was to see more come north. And not only north to Japan but by a special program of new missionaries working with a veteran missionary for two years to lead them patiently through the ropes of everyday living, learning the language, and dealing with people in the difficult country of Japan. We praise God for that patient guarded teaching.

 Ken was on campus that day hearing the missionary speaker in chapel.  The campus chapel time was always broadcast on the local Christian radio station so I listened while at home.  When Ken walked through the door of our home that afternoon I don't remember which of us started talking first, but it was both of the same thing—what do you think about northern Japan?

We prayed, discussed the program, met with the missionary several times as well as several pastors that were working with him, got the counsel of our pastor and my Dad. What a blessing it was to meet and pray with him and when we asked him what he thought this was Dad's reply, "Your mother and I have been praying for several years now that God would send someone to help in this needy area.  Never did we dream our own daughter and son-in-law would answer that prayer." -----

After Ken graduated in 1981 we began our year and half of full time deputation with much fear and trembling but also joy that God had shown us his will.  God blessed and there is no way we can share all that He has done in these last 30 yrs. But this one thing we know: We fail, but God picks us up; We try and God works through us; We plant, water and pray that the seed will grow into true salvation and that the seed will not be plucked out.  That’s the way it was when we first started and that’s the way it continues. Japan is still a hard field to reach with the Gospel but we will patiently keep on planting and watering and waiting for the increase.  May we always be faithful for our God is Always Faithful and His mercies are new every morning.

 

Serving Christ Together,    

Ken & Vicki Mansell           Just A Prayer At Night – Your evening is our daytime!

January Newsletter

We are often asked by Japanese, "Why did you come to Japan?”  We are very happy to tell them about the Lord Jesus Christ.  As Biblical Christians, it is good remember that there are three reasons, we all should be telling people in our sphere of influence about their need of salvation in Jesus Christ.
1) It is a Command to obey: Mt 28:19,20a "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:"

    2) It is a Debt to be paid: Romans 1:14-15a "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel"
    3) It is an Honor to embrace: 2Corinthians 5:20 "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 

Therefore, whether we abound or abase, we remain here serving the Lord as He has asked.  Beings we now have our permanent Visa status, this seems to help the Japanese understand that we intend to just keep on living here and being a part of this community.  May this year be another year that someone in this area comes to know Christ.

  Miss Tsuzuki was gone this month due to winter vacation until this past Sunday.  We rejoice at being able to continue our Bible study with her and pray that the last of the walls she has put up in her heart would be torn down so that she freely accepts the gift of salvation she understands so much about now.  We also rejoice in that she chose to ask to continue another year here in Teshio. She had completed her first 4 years so had to make a decision. The Lord is not done with her yet!

  Mrs. Sonoda has faced several trials recently with sudden things that have happened. Doctors discovered her father had cancer in his stomach. Praise God they were able to take about one third of the stomach out and feel at this time that they were able to get all the cancer. He is yet unsaved so she is even more concerned about his need spiritually. Her husband has also had some difficulties and is unsaved. So far they believe it is not cancer but won’t know exactly until test results come back.  

  Moriyama-san has not been able to come since the New Year due to all the snow fall which is a record high this year.  He is on road crew in the summer and snow removal crew in the winter.  Maybe come February they can catch up a little and he might be able to come.

  Two adults study the Bible after English class on Monday nights in Horonobe. They have both been studying for many years in this way.  Mr. Kato (kaw toe) seems to be softening more and more.  He is 70 and is such a sweet man—wouldn’t it be wonderful if that was deepened because he came to understand there is only one God and that God loves him so much that He died for him!!

  Vicki is taking a ‘birthday’ trip to the USA for the month of February. She will begin at Richard & Angela’s with Abigail s birthday, go to Alicia and Joshua’s for her birthday and Jacob’s. Michael and Lauren will also fly there for part of the week so they can see Vicki and the family, too.  Finally, Vicki will fly to Wisconsin and get to be with her mom for her birthday and also see her brother and wife. We appreciate your prayers for traveling mercy for her and blessings on her fellowship with family and friends.

  Miss Tsuzuki will join Mrs. Sonoda for Ken to teach them in the morning while Vicki is gone.  The hardest part is that our pianist won’t be here to help us sing but we are glad that we can ‘make a joyful noise’!!  

  Both of us were pleased with our last check up results on kidney stones and Vicki’s eye.  Ken is still fighting a slight infection that is hard to clear up. They are trying a new antibiotic.  But otherwise, the 3 stones left have not changed. His next check up will be in April.

Prayer Requests:

1.      Families of believers to be saved and baptism of believers

2.      Health of Mrs. Sonoda-she never knows if she is going to have a hard day or calm day—dizziness; discomfort

3.      Bible study with Hitomi Tsuzuki-her salvation; rehab and healing of her knee

4.      New inroads to be found into people’s lives and hearts; Mr. Moriyama, Miss Emi, Filipino ladies (who we have not been able to help get here; Town folk

5.      Yen/dollar values

Serving Christ Together,    

Ken & Vicki Mansell  

         

 Just A Prayer At Night – Your evening is our daytime!

Merry Christmas -- Christmas Program 2011

Thank you so much for praying for this ministry today.  God answered in several ways.  Humanly we would think maybe today wasn't much of a special day. Why, because only 12 came to the program. Maybe the least we have had in a few years, BUT we know that EXACTLY who the Lord wanted here today were here.  That included the mayor of Teshio, the past mayor and  his wife,  Mr. & Mrs. Sato (substitute grandparents for our children who haven't been to a program in years), one grade school student with her mom who is a teacher, one jr. high boy who came on his own!, the new ALT from Enbetsu (where Christopher taught last year), Mrs. Kuwata who has attended almost every program we have ever had, the past vice-mayor's wife, and Miss Tsuzuki who comes on Sunday evenings for English Bible study.  Vicki, Mrs. Sonoda and myself made up the last 3.  Miss Tsuzuki came about 10:30 so she could help us with various preparation which was such a help.  Mrs. Sonoda has faithfully added the extra time of practice to her busy schedule and did a wonderful job of reading the Scriptures throughout the program.  The 9 journeys of Christmas were clearly presented in narration (Ken), song (the 3 of us in various ways), and Scripture reading (Mrs. Sonoda).  It began with the journey of the angel to visit Mary and ended with the journey each and every person on this earth will ever make: the choice of heaven via the cross or punishment in hell.  We know that the Word of God will continue to work in these people's hearts and in His time fruit shall come forth.  For that we daily labor and continue in love for these dear people.  We will have follow-up with Miss Tsuzuki specifically this coming Sunday evening so pray that she might make this SO important choice to follow Christ. Several others of our believers wanted to be here and sent items to be used during the tea time, but they had to work.
And the final praise is that He answered your prayers to hold back the blizzard!! The storm started about 2 hours after everyone had gone home!! God is so good to us!!
We know we also asked you to pray for our trip to Asahikawa for the next check-up on Ken's stone 'friends'!  Praise the Lord for safety in traveling on slick winter roads and for the opportunity to hand out some Christmas tracts as well as some cookie goodies.  The stones that they broke up to be discharged in this last surgery are still being discharged but there is one larger piece that jumped back into a 'hiding' space during the surgery.  It was too far away to be able to be reached by the surgical instruments.  So for this next month (until January 19th), Ken will be drinking even more water and trying his best to get all the loose pieces out and see if the larger piece can move on it's own to a place they can possibly do the out-patient shock wave treatment.  The Dr. will be looking into that possibility if the circumstances are right when we go back.  So the adventure of the traveling stones continues.  We continue to trust the Lord for His timing in getting all this repaired.  We are thankful, though, that seemed to be no new stones so that is a blessing.
We pray that your Christmas time of travels and with family is also a blessing and that the gift of Jesus Christ is truly the main reason for your gatherings and fellowship together!  We so appreciate each and every one of you!!
Merry Christmas and God's blessing to you in the coming year of 2012--even so come Lord Jesus!!

Picture posted below--

Serving Christ together,

Ken & Vicki Mansell

 Package preparation for our guests

 Miss Tsuzuki wanted to come early and help

Then we needed to cut and fix plates of the 4 kinds of 

chiffon cakes for tea time that Vicki made

 Each of the 9 journeys had a large plackard like this one!

the backlighting of the poster really added to the reality feel of it.

Mrs. Sonoda did the Bible reading passages from the seat behind her

and Ken's was to the left of where he was standing.

 Playing the taishogoto with a CD harmony added

Ken's mini-sermons at each journey

Tea Time after the program

(Past mayor and present mayor next to Ken)

Miss Tsuzuki is such a joy to teach and work with.

We pray for her salvation soon.

Precious Fruit

 

How much would you be willing to pay for a piece of fruit? 

  A prized piece of Japanese fruit, the Densuke Watermelon, fetched nearly $4,000 at an auction in Sapporo earlier this month.  And apparently, that’s a bargain.

  This year’s highest-selling fruit, sold to the Isetan department store for $3,743, is actually a steep fall from the Densuke watermelon’s peak season several years ago, when the top pricey fruit sold for $6,100, according to the Wall Street Journal.

  Densuke watermelons are grown exclusively on Hokkaido, in northern Japan, and are prized for their solidly black, smooth-as-a-bowling-ball gourd, crispy texture, and extra sweet juices. Given the rarity of the fruit- there are only about 100 of the stripeless watermelons available on the first day it goes on sale each year- it’s not a surprise that prices reach such astronomical levels.

  What is shocking, however, is that the Densuke isn’t the most prized of Japan’s watermelons. That coveted award goes to Sapporo market’s most expensive fruit, the Yubari melon, (also grown in the center of Hokkaido) which at one point in time has sold for as much as $26,000 (2.5 million yen).

  Christians have a fruit far more precious than the Densuke watermelon or Yubari Cantelope. It's called the fruit of the Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal. 5:22,23)  Each fruit is a different aspect of Christ-likeness. In the gospels, we see how Christ exemplified these virtues.  Now He wants to produce them in our hearts--in what we say, how we think, and how we respond to life (John 15:1-4)

  A rare and delicious fruit may bring a premium price in the marketplace, but Christlike character is of far greater worth.  As we confess all known sin and yield to God's indwelling Spirit, our lives will be transformed to the likeness of Christ (I John 1:9; Eph. 5:18)  This spiritual fruit will fill our lives with joy, bless those around us, and last into eternity.  (adapted from a Daily Bread intro from several years ago--originally by Dennis Fisher)

  May our fellowship with Christ today 

bring about fruit of the Spirit that glorifies Christ.