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!

Newsletter

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,  love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: I Peter 3:8

 To be of "one mind", one has to be of the mind of Christ.  When we truly let Christ's mind be ours, we will see each other as Christ sees us and respond accordingly.  That one mind will be first, one of compassion.  Having a desire to feel what the other person is feeling and not judge out of hand.  It will cause us to look for ways to actively show love for our brethren in Christ instead of looking for ways others can show love toward us.  We can then be pitiful toward those who are suffering in various ways.  Not in looking down on their trouble but in having true emotional feelings with them.  And finally, we are to be courteous to the brethren.  Not taking them for granted or running over their feelings just to prove a point that we are right.  We are thankful for the examples you, our prayer and financial supporters, have shown these qualities toward us here in Japan over the years.  Please continue and abound in the good work of praying for and supporting mission work throughout the world.   Your part does make a difference and God will reward.

Where do we start for June—it was a packed wonderful month.  We had our usual daily schedule but also added a few extras.  This included a Pastor’s and Wives’ Fellowship held in Asahikawa (center of our island) and our schedule allowed attendance for this preaching and fellowship time.  It was a great blessing.  We continued to work with Virgil in getting him acclimated to Japan, our schedule, started in language learning, and being involved where he can.  

We have kept our summer intern, Virgil, very busy the last couple weeks helping us as we stamped tracts, while Ken has been printing envelopes with a message, invitation and a map to our church in Teshio. We have been putting 3 different pamphlets and an invitation card for a correspondence/online Bible study into these printed envelopes.  We would appreciate your prayers as these will be distributed throughout the city of Haboro (pop. About 8000) an hour south of here on Friday, July 6th.  If the Word of God works in even one soul as a result, it is well worth the effort.  This distribution will use the combined efforts of three different missionary families as well as two summer interns. 

 

 

Ken interpreting for the preaching

 A special addition to our summer events was the visit of a supporting Pastor and his wife from Bible Baptist Church, Sidney, MT.  We can’t begin to tell of the joy it was for this is such a rare occurrence as well as our special friendship with our pastors.  Because of their visit, there were more opportunities to give a testimony, hand out tracts, and talk to people in and about town. We had a special service that Ken interpreted the message for Pastor Backhaus.  Several invitations were given to people to come and one young man who Ken and Virgil had seen the week before they arrived and invited, came and has come back two weeks in a row since!!  Mr. Moriyama (age 30) used to come to SS as a child here for about 3 years!  We also enjoyed sightseeing to show the Backhauses the area they have heard so much about over the last almost 29 years.  Our doors are always open so feel free anyone to come and see the work you have been praying for and supporting!

 a.m. service

 a.m. group

 fellowship lunch afterwards

English Bible study in the afternoon

A special addition to our summer events was the visit of a supporting Pastor and his wife from Bible Baptist Church, Sidney, MT.  We can’t begin to tell of the joy it was for this is such a rare occurrence as well as our special friendship with our pastors.  Because of their visit, there were more opportunities to give a testimony, hand out tracts, and talk to people in and about town. We had a special service that Ken interpreted the message for Pastor Backhaus.  Several invitations were given to people to come and one young man who Ken and Virgil had seen the week before they arrived and invited, came and has come back two weeks in a row since!!  Mr. Moriyama (age 30) used to come to SS as a child here for about 3 years!  We also enjoyed sightseeing to show the Backhauses the area they have heard so much about over the last almost 29 years.  Our doors are always open so feel free anyone to come and see the work you have been praying for and supporting!

We both had follow-up checkups and praise God do not have to see that doctor until the first part of October.  Ken’s stones had not changed nor moved, so as long as they are stable there is no further need of treatment at this time. Vicki did decide to see a respiratory doctor at the hospital due to her asthma continuing to trouble her and because it had been advised by several that she be checked for sleep apnea syndrome.  The doctor at the hospital felt it would be best for her to see a doctor who runs an actual respiratory clinic, also in Asahikawa where the hospital is, so that was accomplished.  Vicki now has new medications to help her asthma and is doing better.  She also has an appointment to return to the clinic on the 24th of July for the overnight SAS testing. 

While in Asahikawa, we included a visit to a Japanese family we have known for about 27 years.  Ken pays a visit to the doctor husband about once a month just for conversation and witnessing opportunity.  This last visit revealed that the grandmother (in her 80’s) has lung cancer.  One of the daughters (a concert pianist on tour in Europe) had returned for 2 weeks so we were able to see all 3 ladies that afternoon.  Rie, the daughter, accepted a New Testament to take back with her and promised to read it.  We were able to have prayer with the grandmother and she seemed to really appreciate it. We just pray that the Word of God may work in all 3 of their hearts and Dr. Urayama as well.


Prayer Requests:

1. Salvation of unsaved family members of our believers
2. Open witness amongst families of secret Christians
3. Miss Tsuzuki’s and Mr. Motoyama’s salvation-he told us he can’t come for 3 weeks then will be back!
4. Urayama family’s salvation especially for the grandmother before she enters eternity
5. Praise for safety in traveling about 800 miles in one week’s time and witnessing opportunities and fellowship with Pastor Mike and June Backhaus
6. More to come to Sunday services after personal invitations 
7. Praise-- Ken’s checkup revealing no new difficulties and no need to be seen again until October
8. Haboro Evangelism on July 6th (beginning at 9 p.m. EST Thursday-5th)
9. Business to pick up for Mrs. Sonoda’s husband in his job as local plumber.  For her to be encouraged even when the bills are not getting paid. For her health as she fights a severe ‘metal’ allergy
10. Vicki’s Sleep Apnea testing on 24th of July
11. Virgil’s return to States on 26th of July


Serving Christ Together,

Ken and Vicki Mansell

Just A Prayer At Night – your evening is our daytime