10 MAY 2000 - PRAISE & PRAY from the HILLS of JAPAN We have a wonderful friend. Her name is Tomoko Otake. She is the only believer in her family. She faithfully participates in the ministry of the church, including cell group, worship ministry team, Sunday Lunch ministry, etc. and general encourager. She is a favorite with our kids and children in general. This past few years she has observed Short Term Missionaries who have come from the USA to help us and made friends with these young people. A beautiful Christian with a tender heart. Recently she approached Cheryl with the following information. During her fellowship - devotion time with her Lord Jesus Christ she believed that God was calling her to be willing to assist us during our Home Assignment year in the USA. She prayed it over for several weeks and then spoke to Cheryl, telling Cheryl that she was lead to talk to us, but was not certain of what was God's will. This idea was not totally new to us. We had many times thought that we'd love to have some of our Japanese Christian friends visit churches with us. But it always seemed something beyond our grasp. It did not take Cheryl & I long to realize that if we were to do something like this, Tomoko would have been at the top of our list as one qualified to share our Home Assignment ministry with us. Please be in prayer for Tomoko. She has many things to do as preparation before next February. She plans to pay her own way for the year, and we are discussing a variety of ways she will participate in ministry. Her non-Christian parents have approved of the plan, yet there will be some family adjustments too. Pray for God's special blessing upon her! This coming week: THURSDAY - 11th: Office in AM. Highschool & Adult English Classes in the evening. FRIDAY - 12th: Office morning... Jeffrey's Baptismal preparation class with Pastor Okita in the afternoon. Our first time together with the Soedas for prayer & encouragement. Pray that: #1) this will be a time of encouragement for Mr. & Mrs. Soeda. #2) it will become a regular event. #3) a vision for spreading this to other couples will grow in the Soeda's hearts. SATURDAY - 13th: Discipleship training with Yoshiya and Nao in AM. Awana Club in the afternoon. Victory Prayer Meeting with Jeffrey in Evening. SUNDAY 14th: Fellowship and worship with the family of God at Midorino Chapel. My turn to do the simultaneous translation this Sunday. MONDAY 15th - WEDNESDAY 17th: I will travel with Pastor Okita and others to northern Japan for the "Team Workers Annual Meeting" PLEASE, pray for Cheryl and the kids while I'm away. THURSDAY - 18th: Returning from northern Japan in the evening. PLEASE, pray for good reunion with Cheryl & the kids. UPDATE ITEMS: (refreshed on 10 MAY 00) * SOEDAS & FUTURE COUPLES GROUP* Pray that: #1) this will be a time of encouragement for Mr. & Mrs. Soeda. #2) it will become a regular event. #3) a vision for spreading this to other couples will grow in the Soeda's hearts. * ERIKO KOIZUMI * Eriko meets with Pastor Okita weekly for discipleship. Pray for her continued spiritual growth. She also baby-sits for us. Her English ability is on the increase. Praise The Lord! * ERIKA MORIGUCHI * Pray that she will give witness of her faith and for her continued growth in her personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for her mother's & brothers' salvation who are here in Japan. Pray for continued success in her studies. Pray for us as we miss her "extremely". * NOBUE KONNO * Nobue is ministering together with Washington Heights Baptist Church and MTA missionaries Robert & Karen Nakaoka. * 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. Pray also for you "boy friend", his name is Ryo. Ryo has recently started a homestay in a Christian home, members of Washington Heights Baptist. Church. * AKI TAIDO * Pray that she will continue to move towards Christ and His family of love. And also, that we will be able to meet with her again soon. * NOZAKI FAMILY * Pray for fellowship with this family and their salvation & comfort in time of stress. * RYUNOSUKE NOZAKI * Pray that Ryunosuke will choose Jesus Christ as his special friend. Pray for him in his new life in Aiken, South Carolina. He has made contact with Rev. Frank & Betty Noell! * 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