-
UPR 23 1983A Report by Mark and Pauline Maxey
uNKLerret^TO THE FRIENDS OF THC KVUSHU CHHISTiAN MIttlON
KANOVA, KAGOSHtMA t9], JAFAN - tOX 417. NORTH VCRNON. INO
47na
LINKLETTER #260 MARCH 1983
Dear Christian friends,
Whatever else it does, the Zodiac turns. This yearthe Oriental
zodiac has turned to the boar, the wild boar tobe exact. In spite
of that, I don't expect this to be a ''boring"year, as I have never
had a year like that.
Take a look at the No. 260 above. But the last LINK-LETTER was
numbered 256. How's come? In the period 1973-1977, I didn't use any
numbers. When I started again, I missed the count ^Last summer,
Makoto Yoshii, spent long hours getting all the letters in order
again. So now we have a complete, correct 33 yearindex of the
LINKLETTER. You can have a free copy of it by writingto our North
Vernon address. Also Florence Pethtel of Copley, OHis working on a
making a few books of all LINKLETTERS by copymachine. That should
make a real, chunky volume.
It is a pleasure to introduce Alfred and Rhonda Juveto you. Both
grew up in the great state of Nebraska. Both havereceived superior
marks in education and have had wide experiencein ei;nployment,
teaching and in Christian work. Rhonda graduatedfrom Nebraska
Christian College & works as ass't registrar there.Alfred will
graduate there this May. Alfred is preaching at theChurch of Christ
in Madison, Nebraska. He has had training inlinguistics and
Japanese. Alfred is 26, Rhonda is 23.
They are presently raising their support and plan to *arrive in
Japan this summer and begin language school in Sept. jWe hope you
will want to send them a special offering, even re- Igular support.
If you live in their area, why not invite them to |speak? You can
address them: %KYUSHU EVANGELISM, Linda Pippit, tForwarding Agent,
Box 223, Papillion, NE 68046, They were thinking of coming to Japan
as interns. Now they are coming to makeJapan evangelism their life
work. To me, that's the only way to go."
Christmas was the best of times and the worst of times. [The
best of times because of the joy it brings in sharing, fellow-
fship, singing and preaching. The worst of times because there is
jnot enough time to get everywhere and do everything.We delayed
Iour family Christmas till the 27th and then I was down sick for
?awhile. ,
-Coming to Japan This Summer-ALFRED and RHONDA JUVE
sm,
10,000 TO OSAKA BIBLE SEMINARY
li
NEW BABY FOR MASUYAMAS-KUSHIRA
PAULINE TALKS ON "LIGHT OF THE
-
Preaching at the leper church at Christmas time is a special
joy, not because of their physical condition but because of their
spiritual condition. There is joy in their anticipation and
participation in this greatevent. Afterward, Pauline and I went
calling in one of the wards.
Mr. Tabira had gotten out his best clothes and gone shopping in
anticipation. But the preparation exhausted him. We looked in at
him but he could not raise his head to greet us. Down the hall,we
visited Mr.Saka-gami. He has been ailing since his wife's death two
years ago. Now he had had a stroke. He.could not speak. Alsohe had
a tube through his nose and another through his mouth. We held his
hand and cried together. Then we readthe scripture and prayed and
all of us in the room sang a hymn. As we visited he pointed to a
wooden board atthe foot of the bed. It was brought. Since he
couldn't speak he pointed to the letters of the Japanese
alphabetpainted on the board and spelled out his message;
"A-ri-ga-to",(Thank you).After he thought a minute he asked forit
again. He pointed to "san" and "ki" and "yu." "Sankiyu".If you say
it fast enough it comes out almost like theEnglish,"Thank-You."
Then he laughed and laughed and we did,too.Yes, it was the best of
times and the worst oftimes.
Our Christian Center Book Store was closed for New Year
holidays. On one of those days a knock came atmy office door. It
was a woman with two small daughters, 6 and 8. She had come by bus
from a village about anhour away. Since she had made the special
trip, could I let her come in anyway? Gladly! All she was
interestedin was Bibles. Finally, after she had looked at all sizes
and shapes she picked out a large, hard-covered Bibleweighing two
and a half pounds, costing $13.50 and measuring 9x6 inches. She
bought not one but three of theseBibles. One each for herself and
her little girls. I put them in a plastic shopping so she could
carry them moreeasily. I will never forget them walking away with
little sister holding the hand of big sister and big sisterholding
the hand of her mother and the mother holding in her other hand $40
worth of Bibles weighing seven anda half pounds. The mother told me
they were going to read those Bibles together every day. This
mother had boughther children a present more precious than "gold,
frankincense and myrrh."
Several"1rrmes-a-year-the women^of-the Kanoya
chttrch-ask-PattT^ine-to-s^ak-trtthefr-monthTy meetings. For their
first meeting of the New Year she spoke on being, "The Light of the
World." She brought along her ownlights of various kinds to
illustrate her talk. It was my pleasure to be present and
participate. I never failto delight in what she has to say and to
be inspired by it. I know of one young women whose life was
changedby thai message. Beca-jse of bad relations at home she had
decided to leave and find employment in a distant city.Instead, she
went home and became reconciled with her parents and determined to
live as a Christian with them andfind employment nearby. Shortly
afterward she did find regular employment in Kanoya.
After the meeting the ladies invited me to join them in the noon
meal at the parsonage home of Bro.and Sister Yoshii. I was the only
man among 38 women but the fellowship was great and the food
fantastic.
Osaka Bible Seminary is still in its campaign to raise enough
money to build a new dormitory. In ourarea each church has a large
poster on the wall marked with 5000 yen squares. When that amount
of money is sent inthe square is colored red. At the end of three
years the white board will become a red. board. Each church is
giving 10,000 each month (about $43) and some of them more. We need
your help on this project also. If you need moreinformation, please
write Osaka Bible Seminary, Box 696, San Jose, CA 95106
Kushira church has been blessed with a new baby boy born to the
Masuyama family. He is everybody'sbaby. Also the Kushira church has
made a parking lot out of one half of their property - a sign of
the times. The"My Car" boom as the Japanese call it is about to put
the bus and railroad out of business. And changing the faceof our
town as well as old buildings are leveled to make parking lots.
Every January, at the coldest time of the year, we have our
annual leadership training course. We askour preachers from various
areas of Japan to come and share their Bible studies with us. This
year it was Bro.Namio Kamada, minister of the Okinawa Christian
Church. We worked him hard. He spoke for two sessions of theyouth
rally held at Nishinomote church on the island of Tanegashima, Bro.
Ikeda minister. Also lectured two nightson Luke at the same church.
Spoke for our preacher's meeting in Kagoshima; lectured four nights
at Kagoshimachurch, Bro. Homori, minister; twice at Kushikino
church, Bro. Tanijiri, minister; then four nights, two hourseach
night at the Christian Center in Kanoya with Bro. Yoshii and the
Kanoya church actively participating; andfinally an afternosn and
evening session at-5ueyoshi church-to bring the series to a
c^ose.-Thank yoiu, Bro^Kamada for the wonderful fellowship and
teaching you brought to us.
Thank you all, always, for your caring and sharing. IN HIS
SERVICE,
UHKUFTTEBPublication of
KyoattJ_CHRisriflN missionRnx 417North Vernon, Indiana
47265Address Return Requested ^
LUifUHf hUHijLUNbBOXM^uxviLLt In 37vox
Non-Profit OrganizationU. S. POSTAGE
PAIDLouisville, Kentucky
Pennit No. S37
-
JUN 3 1983 AX//A Report by Mark and Pauline Maxey
UmLETrERAdministration BuildingKyung-Nam Jr. College
ofTechnolosv. Busan, Korea
im imHfii""""Ar Friends of the Kyushu Christian
Mission^^j^^Kanoya, Kagoshima 893 Japan-Box 417 N.Vernon IN 47265^
LINKLETTER #261 MAY 1983
Dear Christian friends,May it is but it seems like it should be
January. This may turn out to be
the fastest year of my life. What about you?The fiscal year and
the school year ends in March. So this is a time of
change and graduation ceremonies. Each Thursday a.m.I visit all
five classes of theKanoya church's kindergarten and teach the
children simple English. To close the yeareach class gave me a
hand-made gift on which each student had written their names.One
class made a large poster of my face by pasting small pieces of
paper on cardboard. They gave me black hair, brown eyes and a very
Japanese face. It pleases mevery much. It is nice to be loved by
these children.
Resurrection Day, April 3, began at 8.30 a.m with the leper
Christians.To hear these people sing "Alleluia" with heart and
voice and soul is to know something of what the Resurrection hope
is all abcut. Next to Kushira church. It isgrowing slowly. We now
have three Christian men attending. The church has recentlyelected
officers and is getting their property registration in order.
April 4 found me on the way to Taiwan. At Fukuoka,Howard Harris
andMr. and Mrs. Nishikori of the Shime church took care of me
overnight. I got necessary paper work done there at the American
Consulate. Then to Taipei, a two hourride. Miss Jenny Chen of the
Formosa Christian Mission saw that I got to the southern city of
Taichung by bus from the airport. I spent the night wi'th the
CharlesJohnston family there. Chuck then spent a day with me in
Taipei assisting me. I amtrying to get a 216 page English-Japanese
Harmony of the Life of Christ printed.Also Chinese and Korean
editions of my "24 Week Course for English Bible Classes."Prices in
Taiwan are favorable for that.
During my stay I enjoyed the hospitality and fellowship of all
our missionaries there: Steve and Carolyn Taylor, Greg and Beth
Johnson, Rick and May Merrell,Anna Fletcher and Ted and Beverly
Skiles. To see the energy, faith, vision and language skills of
these young missionaries, is to wish to be young again oneself.
Ialso went to see my dentist. Dr.Ekval1,at the Adventist Hospital.
He gave me bad news.The roots anchoring my upper bridge will no
longer do the job. He glued it back intemporarily so I would be
able to speak properly in Korea. Later in the year I mustfind two
full weeks of time to get my mouth reworked. Dental work in Taiwan
can bedone in days what takes months in Japan and enough cheaper to
make the trip worth it.
Leaving for Seoul, Korea on Friday, the lady at the Cathay
Pacific countersaid, "Every seat in the plane is full. Would you
like to ride in First Class?" Not amurmur of objection from me. The
rest of n\y journey was first class all the way. AtSeoul, my
luggage came down the shute first. I went through customs and
irranigrationin a matter of minutes in a country knowi for exacting
airport examinations. Gordenand Sharon Patten took me to their home
on the campus of Korea Bible Seminary. Wehad ample time to visit
with them and missionaries David and Loretta Warner andNeville
Miur, who works with the deaf.
Mr. and Mrs. S.M.Chang took care of me Saturday afternoon and
evening. Wehave had a close fellowship for 25 years. He is now
serving in the National Assemblywhere he is making his Christian
influence felt. It was his invitation to hold thespring revival at
the college he founded in Busan that brought me to Korea.
(from left) Pres.Chung;S, M. Chang, Founder ofcollege; Ho Kyu
KIM,College Chaplain and myinterpreter & Prof. Kim
M/M Yoon Kwon CHAE with leadersof South Seoul Christian
Church
Sharon and Gorden Patten, longtime missionaries in
Seoul,Korea
iM/M C.Y. KI
-M -1AJFACULTY MEMBERS
d
-
by Mork Maxey
ONE MAN'S OPINIONA column that discusses missionary
issues,principles and practices. Published each monthin Hcrizons
magazine. Informative reading forevery missionary and every
mission-mindedperson.
S8.00 Per YeofPO Bo* 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901
HORIZONS t:-
Saturday night I was the guest of M/M Yoon Kwon CHAE at Geon
Children'shome out in the country. I preached for them early Sunday
at at South Seoul Christianchurch later. Bro. Chang and I took the
afternoon train for Taejon, a two hour ride south.M/M C.Y. Kim gave
us a royal welcome, southern hospitality and Christian fellowship.
Bro. Kim translated for me as I preached that night at the First
Christianchurch of Taejon. They will soon dedicate a building that
will seat 1000. Mondaymorning we visited the college campus,and had
a good visit with some of the profes- P"sors. Since it was a
holiday the students and faculty were not on campus. Bro. eveKim
put me on the afternoon express for the four hour ride south to
Busan, the end perof the line. This was Monday night.
Pres. Kwun Sup CHUNG of the Kyung-Nam Junior College of
Technology and members of his staff met me at the station. From
then on I had the finest of hospitality, -fellowship and
assistance. Also a rigorous schedule. Since the college has 4000
students but the auditorium only holds 1000, we had four identical
80 minute chapel sessions each day - at 9:10, 11:10, 2 p.m. and
6:20 p.m. Our theme was, "Faith, Hope andLove." Bro. Kim, college
chaplain, did a masterful job of translating.As we established
rapport with the students they began to respond to the gospel
invitation - 178 inall. It was a glorious meeting. The Lord gave me
full strength when I was preaching.Lots of Ginseng tea served
between sessions helped,too. I can not thank Pres. Chungand College
Founder, S.M. Chang,enough for their kindness to me.
Friday morning, before returning to Japan, and through Bro.
Chang's goodoffices. Mayor Choi, of Busan City {population: 3?^
million) received me and presentedme with a medallion of the city.
We talked together in Japanese. It was a very special
-moment-and-ervery-specta-l giftTwo-airp-Tane rides and -an hour
and-a half-by carbrought me home in time for my regular Friday
night classes.
April 30 and May 1, I assisted Walter in holding his 20th EBC
camp. We hadten young people from Kanoya. It rained throughout the
camp (as it has rained almostevery day for a month) but it was a
fine camp anyhow. Lonnie Mings of Osaka broughtus two signifigant
messages on learning how to love self in order to love others,
butknowing God's love is a prerequisite to both
Pauline gets my vote for "Mother of the Year", this year and
every year. Icould not do my work without her prayerful and loving
assistance. She maintains ourhome as a place of rest and
recovery.She also keeps the door open to all who come -and they are
many. Recent guests have been Harvey and Helen Beard returning to
Calif,after a year of teaching in Aparri Bible Seminary in northern
Philliphines; Joy Collinstaking a brief break in Oregon from her
loving care of orphans in the same city; Lowelland Helen Applebury,
teaching in Kagoshima church with Bro. Homori for one month, andon
the way to Aparri for a year's teachirgas well as many Japanese
guests from pastyears and present ones. Pauline knows, and I know
from her, that no good deed is everlost and no good word spoken for
Jesus is ever wasted. IN HIS SERVICE,
M/M HARVEY BEARD & JOY COLLINS MEETWITH ENGLISH BIBLE CLASS
IN KANOYA
UIHKUETTEBPublication of
KYUSHU CHRISriAN MISSION417
North Vernon, Indiana 47265Address Return Requested
GAME TIME: 20th E.B.C. CAMP
EDITOR, H0RI70MSBOX 2427KNOXVILLE TN 37901
A 'THANK YOU' POSTER"IN MY OWN IMAGE"
PAULINE: MY SELECTIONFOR'MOTHER OF THE YEAR'
KQSHIRA CHURCH GROUP
Non-Pront OrganizationU. S. POSTAGE
PAIDLouisville, Kentucky
Permit No. S37
-
fr>ftve
SEP 22 1S83A Report by Mark and Pauline Maxey
/UNKLerreR/To the Friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima 893 Japan-Box 417 N.Vernon IN 47265
LINKLETTER #262 SEPT. 1983
Dear Christian friends.
Summer is gone and I only got to go swimming once. I'd like to
have goneonce a week. Space is limited this time so I will let the
pictures speak for themselves and keep the comments brief.
From Korea, Chaplain Kim of Kyung-Nam College writes that of 178
whocame forward during the April meeting, 130 attended his training
class and of thatnumber 29 were baptized into Christ. Everybody is
called but not all will follow.
Bro.Hideo Yoshii conducted the annual memorial service at the
Christianmausoleum in June. Afterwards, Mrs. Tamake placed fresh
flowers there. The ashesof her husband were put in the mausoleum
just one year ago. We have two infantsons there.
At the invitation of the Taiwan missionaries, Pauline and I
spoke threetimes each for them and led discussion groups. Ted
Skiles arranged the programand everybody cooperated 100% to make it
an outstanding convention. Except forthe evening session all
sessions were held outside and meals served picnic
style.Delicious!
Taiwan is a two hour flight or 795 miles southwest of us. At
this endyou arrive an hour ahead of time and at that end you spend
two hours getting outof immigration and customs so there is nothing
exotic about flying. Beats swimmingthough.
The longevity of the Japanese people has almost doubled since WW
II. Asa result Kanoya City has 35 Senior Citizens (Rojin) Clubs
with 80-100 members each.A four day seminar for representatives
from each club was held at the Rojin Center.The director asked me
if I would not talk to them from the viewpoint of a
Christianteacher. I was glad to do so. Pauline went with me each
day . I gave the same talkfor four days to a different group each
time. I felt we were well received. At arecent minister's meeting,
each one reported on some specific invitation to speakor serve in
their community based on the fact that they were Christian
ministers.These are signs that the Christian faith is being viewed
more favorably.
In the past, the conventions were held during the spring break.
Now theyare held in the summer because housing for a large group is
easier to find then..This year the church convention was held in
the port city of Kobe. Walter and fam-
"f-
r
/^/7
MRS.TAMAKI PUTS FLOWERS
CHRISTIAHMJ^SOLEUM
CHRISTIAN CENTER BOOKTABLE AT CONVENTION
*1^
SPEAKING TO TAIWAN MISSY'S-JUNE 27-30 SPEAKING TO KANOYA ROJIN
CLUB MEMBERS JULl^^^S
32nd CONV.-JAPAN CHURCHES OF CHRIST-JULY 22-24 M/M LONNIE MINGS
HOST 1983 MISS'Y CONV,
-
ily,Pauline & I went together on the same car ferry. Walter
was on the program..Our car was riding low with a few hundred
pounds of books on top. Katsuo Shimodawas in charge of the
Christian Center book display at the convention. It was
wellreceived. 500 Japanese Christians from over 50 churches all
over the country attended. It was a truly fine gathering. One
church( Ono Church of Christ) arrangedthe entire event.
That convention ended Sunday noon. The annual missionary
convention beganthat night at Nara, about 50 miles away. Lonnie and
Coral Mings and the Osaka missionaries hosted a truly fine
convention in the Nara Youth Hostel. Some of usweren't that young
in body - but in spirit, yes. Sherman Nichols and wife fromColorado
Springs came to be our convention speaker. The devotienals on the
spiritual weapons Paul talks about in Ephesians and the Bible
studies on 2 Corinthianswere especially beneficial I thought.
Walter gave two lectures on "Japanese Culture and Christianity".
Pauline talked on "The Shield of Faith" and I gave theconcluding
Bible study on 2 Corinthians 6. Also on Monday night, with Carolyn
Bar-riclow playing all the keys on the piano at the right moment, I
led the singing of29 of my favorite hymns. We sang non-stop for 35
minutes ending with, "Guide me,0 Thou Great Jehovah, Pilgrim thro'
this barren land. I am weak, but thou aremighty. Hold me with The
powerful hand." Those sentiments speak to my condition.
Motoyuki Nomura, Christian brother, minister and historian took
me toTokyo with him. He guided me to three different cemeteries
there where the gravesof our pioneer missionaries are located. We
cleaned several of the graves with ourown hands. This is the 100th
year since our people began missionary work in Japan.
Back in Kanoya in time for our 32nd annual camp session, August
7-13. Jr.Intermediate and Youth sessions are held in succession the
same,week. I was Deanof the Junior week. Attendance was small.
August is the only free month of the yearand school and special
studies are taking even this free time away from the students. We
are not despairing, however. We had a good camp and I enjoyed
preparingfor and teaching my students about the Great Characters of
the Old Testament.
Well, visitors have blessed our home. Kristy Korver, cycling
around Kyu-shui Kwong Bim Lam, earnest Christian from Hong Kong;
Howard Harris and grandaurghter, Belinda of Portland, 0re.;Bob and
Helen Sims of Cincinnati, Ohio; Ed Wilkof San Antonio,Dick
Philbrook of Paradise CA and Ray and Elena Coates of AlamedaCA. The
last men were taking old airplanes from the Japanese Naval Base
here backto the US for parts. An interesting operation. At any
rate^w^^n assure xou thatwe have never yet been lonely in Kanoya.
IN HIS SERVICE,
PAULINE SPEAKING AT MISSIONARY CONV,
4
by Mork Maxey24 WEEK COURSE
for English Bible ClassesA lext for introducing the Bible and
the basicsofthe faith to the Japanese in your commuruty.Every line
of English text has the meaningwritten in Japanese beneath. (Other
textsavailable. Write for complete list.)
S500Ave Colo. Son CieTtenie CA 92672
GO YE BOOKS
HOW TO ORDER A JAPANESEBIBLE OR NEW TESTAMENT
WRITE: American BibleSociety, PO Box 5656Grand Central
Station
New York, New York 10165ORDER
#67680 - Jpn. Bible $6.25#66960 - English-Japanese
New Testament - $5.00(Prices include postage)
OSAKA BIBLE SEMINARY NEEDS$40,000
Before it can start building a much-needed dormitory.
YOUR GIFT NOWCan help get it started.
Airmail me your check madeout to: Osaka ChristianMission. I will
see that
it gets to the right placeimmediately. Your gift will
be tax deductible.
PERFORMED WEDDING FOR KEIKOHANADA S TETSURO OHASHI-JUNE 19
UNKUCTTCRPublication of
KYUSHU^CMlISriAN MISSIONBc 417North Vemon, Indiana 47265Address
Return Requested
JR.CAMPERS S LEADERS,AUG.7-9 iTEACHING JRS. O.T.CHARACTERS
EOITOk, HORIZONSBOX
J
-
IGOV BLESS VOU AT CHl^JSmSAWP SEWP FROM ABOl/E
THE JOy Of HJS PRESENCETHE WARMTH OF HIS LOl/E
THE HOPE Of HIS MERC/AMV COMfORTING WA/S
ANV THE PROMISE Of PEACETO ENRICH ALL /OUR PA/S:
MoAfe and PauLcm Maxeij
AReport by Mark and Pauline Maxey v/y^/V
/uMKLerrefi/To the Friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima 893 Japan-Box A17 N.Vernon IN 47265
LINKLETTER #263 DECEMBER, 1983
s BS4
Dear Christian friends,
"Joy to the World!" How we wish it could be. But the earth is
filledwith mini-wars and rumors of bigger ones. Famine stalks many
lands. Mass murderin the sky, in Burma and in Lebanon chills the
joy we want to feel. In our heartswe know there is little joy for
much of suffering humanity today. Let us cherishthe joy Jesus has
given us by His Coming and pass it on to those near us and nextto
us.
It's been three months, very busy months, since you heard from
us. Hereare the highlights: We welcomed A1 and Rhonda Juve to
Kanoya, August 20. We feltan inmediate kinship with these two young
people who have chosen Japan as theirnew home. They made tne rounds
with us, were welcomed by the preachers and theirfamilies with a
sukiyaki supper and decided that they would work with the
Sueyoshichurch when their language study is finished. The Sueyoshi
church is rejoicingfor that decision. While they were with us, a
church in America informed them thatthey were pledging the
additional support they needed each month. God is good!
Pauline and I went to Taiwan August 29 using China Air Lines
super-saver non-refundable, non-cancellable fare. Over a two week
period, Dr. Ekvallof the Adventist hospital spent late hours at
night getting my teeth ready andthen installing a two-piece bridge
of nine teeth anchored on four teeth. It wasan endurance test for
both dentist and patient. Personally, I hope the bridge remains
open for traffic a long time. Both of us also got thorough physical
examinations but we feel a lot better than the exam reports say we
should.
I kept busy in the daylight hours pounding away on the IBM
typewriterthat Greg Johnston had rented for me. I was working on a
short biography of Charles E. Garst, our first missionary in Japan.
Also on a book of lessons about theBible. Most of our missionaries
came to see us also during this period so we hada chance to eat
together and share. Also on Sunday, a fine service and meal withthe
Chinese church. My temporary teeth kept falling out so I didn't
enjoy eatingtoo much.
Before going to Hongkong on Friday, September 6, I asked Dr.
Ekvall toglue them in again. He said,"I'IT use a glue called
'Final'." I said, "Good! Justso it is not terminal." The teeth held
firm for a very fine weekend. We were royally welcomed at the
airport. Had a potluck supper and two-hour sharing time withthe
missionaries on Saturday night and spent all day with the Mei Foo
church onSunday. It meets in the home of Wayfull and Helen Jew,
whom we admire so much.Theyhave trained their young people to lead
and take responsibility. It was a joy tobe with them. We felt, too,
that they were our sons and daughters. Pauline taughtthe young
women and I taught the young men in the morning. I preached for
theservices in the morning and at night. This was a great service.
32 were present.3 made decisions. One of them was a young firemen
who was sent, unexpectedly, onan errand to Mei Foo. He asked for
and received permission to attend the churchservice before
returning. He has since been baptized -a joyous result of a
God-arranged coincidence.
We got back to Kagoshima late Thursday, September 15, attended
theminister's meeting the next day and got back to Kanoya that
night, ready to resumeour work again. Norman Brown was a welcome
house guest for a few days as he met thepeople here who had been so
kind to his daughter, Fiona, when she was an exchangestudent last
year.
Each year, September 23-24, Bro. Yoshii holds an "Ashram". The
emphasisis on prayer. He asked Pauline to give the opening message
on that subject.Then weall divided into "families" of seven or
eight people. We had ample time to learn ofeach others needs, to
pray together and to agree to pray for each other, every dayfor one
year. It was a time of spiritual refreshing.
Writing has consumed a lot of time, too much time, this fall. In
connectionwith our 100th anniversary, all of our missionaries are
putting together a magazine.Each family will have one page. In
addition there will be a condensed history of ourmissions for 100
years. I have been trying to write that. The first writing had
14pages. Four revisions later, it has grown to 22 pages and
information is still coming in. I will see that each supporting
church and individual will get a copy
-
of this magazine when finished.One cooperative effort that is
finished is a devotional book writen
by thirty-one of us here. It is called, Gleam of Dawn..Light of
Day > published by Mission Services. Cost is $5.50 including
postage. If you wish,order from Go Ye Books, address on this page.
You will like it.
Tuesday, November 1, I flew to Hiroshima and spent a couple of
hourswith Lee Jones before going on to Hayashino in Okayama by
train and bus. OnWednesday, I was guest speaker for DayniseHolloway
at the annual seminar ofher English Bible Class students, most of
them teachers. I talked about theChurch. They were eager
note-takers, question-askers and conversationalists.Daynise has
taught them well
Audrey West gave me a lift in her car to the annual fall rally
ofOsaka Bible Seminary, November 2-3. Good meeting. Excellent
program. Attendedthe college board meeting next day. President
Martin Clark announced thatconstruction of the new dormitory would
begin in November and be finishednext April. Your gift is still
needed to help it be finished debt free.
That night I went with Harold Sims by the Bullet Train to Tokyo
andhis home in Mejirodai. On Saturday, the Juves came down from
Karuizawa, LeroyGarrett from Denton ,Texas and Motoyuki Nomura from
Hachimanyama in Tokyo. Wehad a long discussion together, lingering
over Lois Sims' delicious meal.
Sunday evening, November 6, about 60 Christians,ministers and
missionaries gathered at the grave of Charles E. Garst in Aoyana
Cemetery for amemorial service. The rain made a mess of my inked
notes and the evening shadows made them hard to read, but everyone
listened attentively to my paper,Charles E. Garst, Our Man in
Japan, 1893-1898 . You will be able to readIt under more favorable
circumstances in the pages of the Christian Standardsometime in
1984. We closed by singing, "Faith is the Victory," Garst's
fav-orite hymn.
The anniversary gathering continued on Sunday night and all
dayMonday at Ochanomizu Church of Christ, with lectures,
reminiscences & messagesby Leroy Garrett on the unity movement
of our fathers. His recent, massivevolume, The Stone-Campbell
Movement, has become a best seller.
Home again in time for the two night revival, November 8-9 at
Kushi-ra church. Bro. Hideo Yoshii of Kanoya was our preacher. The
Kushira churchhad prepared well, the church was full both nights,
and the sermons fitted theneeds of the people. We all felt revived
and have new people attending and manynew contacts as a result of
the meeting.
The Kushira church had also agreedto host the annual convention
ofthe Kagoshima churches on November 23.They rented the tiTwn hall
made carefulpreparation, received perfect weather and had a good
attendance - 73, which isgreat for us. Many traveled several hours
to get there. Bro. Floyd Clark, longtime Dean of Johnson Bible
College, Knoxville, Tennessee, gave us scripturaland inspirational
messages in the morning & afternoon. For the last six monthshe
has been teaching and preaching around the world. We were glad that
he finally got to "the center of Japan". Our welcome sign called
him "missionaryplenipotentiary." He said, he'd have to look that up
to see whether it was aninsult or a compliment.
The convention program was planned by Bro. Yoshii, Bro. limure
andmyself. Each of us had a part of the program. One feature was
the ordinationof Bro. Obara to be elder at the Kushikino church. I
felt it was an importantand impressive part of the program. Not
being able to find a suitable service,I wrote one for myself. Bro.
Tanijiri, Kushikino minister, Bro. limure, longtime minister in
this area and myself participated in prayer and laying on
ofhands.
This story will be continued in the New Year. May it^have a^
good beginning for each of you who read this letter. IN HIS
SERVICE,
UHKLCTTrRPublication of
KYUSHU^CHRISriAN MISSIONto 417North Vemon, Indiana 47265Address
Return Requested
EDITOR, HURIZ0N3BOX 2427knoxville TN 37901
by Mork Maxey
WAY DOWN HEREThe joys and sorrows of preaching the gospel"way
down here" in southern Japan as lived byMark and Pauline Maxey
since 1950.A must foryour home and church library. 495 pages
SHOO\A1 Ave Coto Son Clernente, CA 92672
GO YE BOOKS
bro. OBARk ORDAINED AS ELDER
H 1 S
KANOYAh
JOURNEY'S END-AL RHONDA JUVE
FLOYD CLARK SPEAKS AT AREA CONV.(Walter Maxey Translates)
644
Non-ProfitOrganizationU. S. POSTAGE
PAIDLouisville, Kentucky
Permit No. 537