19 OCTOBER 99 - PRAISE & PRAY from the HILLS of JAPAN

Rereading Part 1 I noticed that I meant to say "busy-ness" and wrote
business... for those who didn't catch my intent, my apologies.

PART 2

And NOW a recap of events. There were the regular English classes,
preaching & meetings in Tokyo and Northern Japan. Our annual "Field
Conference" was held near the ocean this year for 4 days was a big
event that took time from the regular in addition to the once a year
preparation need for that kind of meeting. Two national holidays which
brought other special events. Of course, Jeffrey & Cheryl were at
home doing rehab. I went to all of the above and Abigail to most of the
above.

And of course the unplanned events. The writing of this "Praise &
Pray" had to be done in two sittings. I went to the funeral of Mr.
Watanabe. Mr. Watanabe came to the USA with the first Friends
Together Tour. He died unexpectedly this past Saturday night.
Kenichiro Watanabe is his nephew. I went to the funeral with Mr.
Takahashi & Mr. Nonaka. Please pray for this family. I hope to follow
up with Kenichiro. It had been 7 - 8 months since I'd seen him.

Another unexpected event was some very distressing days with
Jeffrey. We seem to be over the hump now, but some extreme
rebellion and war like battles occurred in the past few weeks. He
refused to get up on the horizontal ladder. Those of you who saw the
video saw him doing this independently. Currently he does it with help.

Dynamics of his brain injury and a 12 year old's desire to exert ones
own "control - power" over others are entangled together. Jeffrey has
had to evaluate how much he wants to get better. Being 12 years old
and extremely intelligent we are well past the days when Dad says,
"You do it because I said so." We focus more on "You do it because
you want to get better. We do it because we want to help you." Well
it gets a little more detailed then that at times, but you get the idea.

As a result we have been pushing physical and emotional exhaustion
for a couple of weeks. Yet a certainty of the Holy Spirit's presence
and sustenance has encouraged our hearts. Thank you for your
prayers!!

This coming week:
MONDAY - 18th (yes October):
Office for most of the day. Abigail here with me to do school work.
Ran 5 Ks with Jeffrey (slow time). Mrs. Kodama came to dinner.

TUESDAY - 19th:
Ran 5 Ks with Jeffrey in 33':25". (BTW his best time to date is 32':25"
- he has already surpassed his 6 month goal of 34'. His current stated
goal is 5 Ks in 30' ... we'll see.)

Briefly in the office. To Mr. Watanabe's funeral. To Ikedas to help with
Takashi's rehab program in the afternoon. Children's & Jr. High English
in the evening.

WEDNESDAY - 20th:
Run 5 Ks with Jeffrey. Hopefully, a full day in the office with
bookkeeping, correspondence, etc. etc. Family time in the evening.

THURSDAY - 21st:
Run 5 Ks with Jeffrey. Tea Time in the morning at Midorino Chapel.
High School and Adult English in the evening.

FRIDAY - 22nd:
Run 5 Ks with Jeffrey. Meet with Pastor Okita for prayer and planning.
Date (in house?) with Cheryl.

SATURDAY 23rd:
Run 5 Ks with Jeffrey. Joint Awana Club event with Sekiyado Chapel
about 1 1/2 hour from here. Will leave about 9:30 AM scheduled to
return about 5:30. Victory Prayer Meeting in the evening.

SUNDAY 24th:
Run 5 Ks with Jeffrey. Worship and other events related to activities
at Midorino Chapel.

UPDATE ITEMS: (refreshed on 19 Oct 99)
* ERIKO KOIZUMI *
Pray for her future plans. Her plans to go to the USA have been put
on hold. Father's illness and some needed personal clarification of life
goals brought this on. Pray that she will continue to walk by faith and
that we will all have God's wisdom. Pray also for her father, Mr.
Koizumi. His cancer treatment is ahead of schedule according to the
reports. But due to the treatments he is experiencing a fair bit of
discomfort. He has found joy in witnessing to his fellow patients in the
hospital. Pray for a quick and complete healing for God's glory.

* ERIKA MORIGUCHI *
Praise that she is faithfully pursuing her discipleship relationship with
Nobue Konno. Also, she is participating fully in church life. Pray for
growth of her heart, that she will soon be baptized, and that studies will
go well for her. Pray for us as we miss her "extremely".

* SANAE HOYA *
She is now in Ogden with Nobue and Erika, studying at Weber St.
University. Pray that she will have the courage to make a public
confession of faith in Jesus and that she will respond to Nobue's
spiritual leadership.

* KUMIKO KOBAYASHI *
A friend of Sanae's who went on the Friends Together Tour in '97. She
is pursuing application to WSU currently. Pray for us all as we walk
this road and the details come together.

* MIKKIE MELANSON *
Working as an Assistant Language Teacher, teaching English to High
School students in Northern Japan. Pray for 1)cultural adjustment,
2)adjustment to being away from her beloved parents, 3)for her
teaching skills and their development, 4)for witness among the friends
that she makes, and 5)her participation with the Fukuda Machi Chapel
in Northern Japan.

* AKI TAIDO *
Studying at Eastern Oregon Univ. in LaGrande, OR. Pray for the
Christians of FBC LaGrande ministering to her there.

* ICHIKAWA FAMILY *
Megumi and the family have started home schooling with the blessing
of the school officials.

* NOBUE KONNO *
Nobue is ministering together with Washington Heights Baptist Church
and MTA missionaries Robert & Karen Nakaoka as she studies at
Weber St. University in Ogden, UT. Pray for her as she gives spiritual
leadership to both Erika and Sanae.

* NOZAKI FAMILY *
Pray for fellowship with this family and their salvation.

* RYUNOSUKE NOZAKI *
He is studying at Weber St. University in Ogden, UT. He also attends 2
Bible Studies and other events organized by Robert Nakaoka &
Washington Heights Baptist. Church. Pray that Ryunosuke will choose
Jesus Christ as his special friend.

* KENICHIRO WATANABE *
Pray for his salvation and that we might soon have a time of fellowship
together with he and his family. Pray that, after attending his Uncle's
funeral, the seeds of God's Word planted in his heart will begin to bare
fruit.

* AKIKO & REIKO TOMONARI *
* YURIKA & MEGUMI SOEDA *
Two sets of sisters from Ryugasaki New Town preparing for Baptism.

* CHERYL (the Mama) HILL *
Unless otherwise indicated, Cheryl is always the one running Jeffrey's
program and there is ALWAYS A SPECIAL PRAYER NEED for her.

Thank you for your ever faithful prayers. We praise God for you!

Your Compatriots in Christ's Kingdom,

The Hills: Abigail, Jeffrey, Cheryl & Leon