8 DECEMBER 99 - PRAISE & PRAY from the HILLS of JAPAN

Where has the time gone to??? Christmas & New Years around the
corner and Y2K coming on like a steam engine.

Thanks to the many of you who have sent encouraging words recently.
Your prayers for Shun Oike have been especially appreciated.
Continue to pray please. We have seen much progress. As is
frequently the case, this wounded heart is extremely sensitive and a
sponge for love. He listens intently to the stories. That is, if I "kind
of
hold" him on my lap. Its more like providing a corral that he can move
and wiggle in. If I take care of that he gives his attention (as he
gyrates quietly) to the Bible lesson.

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!!!
A recital for Abigail, a Joint Thanksgiving Fellowship for the three
Greater Tokyo Keisen Chapels, Tea Times, etc. etc. But the two
highlights are:

#1 An extremely excellent time of fellowship with Rev. Hank & Lois
Green who were visiting here. The three couples (Greens, Okitas, &
Hills) were able to share a lunch together during which our bond of
fellowship continued to deepen. Future partnering possibilities in
ministry were discussed. Some possibilities even into 2001. As always
we trust and wait on the Lord to give us the final details.

One of the things we discussed is:
#2 Sending a Short Termer from here to assist the ministry with
Japanese Students there!
Masayoshi Konno is the elder brother of Nobue Konno whom I've
mentioned frequently. Masayoshi will be traveling to Ogden on the 21st
of this month. He will study English while he is there, but our main
focus is ministry as a Short Term Missionary. He will assist Bob
Nakaoka for the January - March period. Please be in prayer for him.
We want to pray that 2 or 3 will confess Jesus as Lord through their
ministry during this visit, as God leads and blesses.

This coming week:
WEDNESDAY - 8th:
Office & grocery shopping, etc. in the AM. Prayer & Prep...

THURSDAY - 9th:
Tea Time in AM at Midorino Chapel. Cheryl will attend with Mrs.
Kondo. Pray that this dear friend, Mrs. Kondo will make a decision
even this season after so many years of listening. Pray for me as I run
Jeffrey's rehab program at home.

High school and Adult English in the evening.

FRIDAY - 10th:
Meet with Pastor Okita for our prayer and planning meeting.

Out with Cheryl to some quiet place for a date.

SATURDAY - 11th:
Work around the house in AM. Awana Club in the afternoon. Victory
Prayer Meeting in the evening.

SUNDAY 12th:
Worship together at Midorino Chapel. My turn to do simultaneous
translation. Children's Christmas Party in the afternoon. Jr. - Sr. High
Christmas Party in the evening. PRAY that my Jr. & Sr. High English
students will attend.

MONDAY - 13th:
Recuperation Day...

TUESDAY - 14th:
Office in AM. To Ikedas to help with Takashi's rehab program in the
afternoon. Children's & Jr. High English in the evening.

TO YOU THAT HAVE READ THIS FAR, a note of VICTORY! Jeffrey is
independently using the overhead ladder (technically known as the
"bracheation ladder"). Pray that he will now put the same
determination into every aspect of his program. Though he had early
successes with his running, he has gotten lax.

UPDATE ITEMS: (refreshed on 8 Dec 99)
* ERIKO KOIZUMI *
Eriko has started to meet with Pastor Okita weekly for discipleship.
Pray for her continued spiritual growth. Pray also for her father, Mr.
Koizumi. The surgery went extremely well and they believe that they
got all the cancer. Pray for a quick and complete healing for God's
glory. Thank you for your faithful prayers. Eriko has started to think
about plans again to return to the USA to study at a private high
school there.

* 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 for discipline in
her studies. Pray for her mother's salvation who is here in Japan.
Pray for us as we miss her "extremely".

* SANAE HOYA *
In Ogden with Nobue and Erika, studying at Weber St. Univ. 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.

* AKI TAIDO *
Studying at Eastern Oregon Univ. Pray for Aki's salvation while in the
USA. She plans to return to Japan January 14th.

* NOBUE KONNO *
Nobue is ministering together with Washington Heights Baptist Church
and MTA missionaries Robert & Karen Nakaoka. 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 will graduate from Weber St. University in Ogden, UT this
December. He desires to work in the USA if possible using his
excellent language skills with his engineering background. DO YOU
KNOW OF ANY JAPANESE COMPANIES near you he might apply too?
We are praying that he will be near Christian friends of ours. 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.

* 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