Happy New Year to you.  We have started the New Year off running.  It is cold here with ice on the car every morning.  Our Honda would not start yesterday, so I had to jump it.  I don’t know about tomorrow morning.  I used to like to go skiing and other winter things, but I just don’t like the cold everyday.  We haven’t had any snow this year.  Even at camp, there was none.

We had many activities at the end of the year.  Besides the many parties, we baked cookies and took them to two nursing homes.  We baked and decorated over 400.  It is fun, but the workers are few.  We also had our traditional New Year’s eve prayer meeting.  Only eight came, but we had a good prayer time.

Putting in New Windows

Camp had good and clear weather.  About 20 spent the night, with more coming during the day.  It was cold, but not too bad.  The water heater in the kitchen froze one night, but no pipes broke.  We replaced the windows in one cabin.  The old windows were just corrugated plastic roofing on a frame.  Bugs and small animals (such as snakes) could enter.  We installed aluminum framed windows and screens and sealed them with silicone.  All the women’s cabins should be OK, now.  Next we must do the men’s cabins.  We had some good Bible study and fellowship, too.

I went to the Sendai area with a group from Mito church to pass out food and other things.  We also visited the houses of some of the victims.  Some are living in the second floor of homes damaged by the tsunami or in their garages.  It was getting quite cold there, as it is further north than Ibaraki.  Visiting them in their homes was very enlightening.  Seeing the conditions in which they live was good for me.  You can see some of the pictures and other reports at the web page of the Park Avenue church in Memphis.

Jean and I went to the Iwaki area and helped to make mochi (rice cakes), a traditional Japanese New Year’s food.  We cooked some special rice and then pounded it with a big wooden hammer until it was like a ball of glue.  There were all kinds of toppings and everyone ate and enjoyed.  The only one we could not eat was one with fermented beans on top.  It is like boiled okra and taste…?  Many Japanese like it and also a few Americans.

We had a good time talking with the victims.  Most are living in government housing now.  They can live there for about 2 years.  After that they will have to find other places to live.  The housing is free to them.  Some people can’t rebuild their houses as the land has been declared unusable for houses, because it is in a low area or too near the nuclear power plant.  And most don’t have jobs.  Some have lost most if not all of their families.  What to do is the question.  Some are also old and have no desire to rebuild.  These are some of the reasons for an increase in suicides in that area.  Please keep this in your prayers.  [Editor's note: Here is a recent article about the suicide rate in Japan form the Japan Times.]

While I was in this area, I talked to many people about needs.  I was asked for hot water bottles to put into the bed at night to keep them warm.  I bought 200 and will take them up on Thursday this week.  I have also been asked for some futons (Japanese style beds on the floor).  I will also get them to take.  The Christian Relief Fund has sent me some money to do this.  Thank you very much.

Jean and I spent a couple of days with a friend in the Tokyo area during the New Year’s holiday.  We were also given tickets to an “American” Football game (meaning not soccer) on January 2^nd.  We went and had a good time.  It was called the Rice Bowl.  The top college team and the top club team of a company played.  One of our students at the Tomobe School of Life gave us the tickets.  Her husband is one of the players.  After the game, we went home with Yumiko Hara and her husband.  It was their first time to see an American football game.  I think they enjoyed it.  It was a good visit with them.  She was the first person I baptized in Japan 36 years ago.  She attends the Tachikawa church the Tokyo area.

Thank you so much for all your support through these 35 years.  Many people have heard the gospel and a few have responded.  We keep working and letting God be praised.  This year’s theme verse at Tomobe is the last part of Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  God has been with us and I know He will continue to be with us until this life is over.  Again, thank you.

Serving Him in Japan,

Marlin and Jean Ray

[Editor's note: Photos are courteous of Junosuke Suzuki via Face Book]

[Show as slideshow]

Haruna Christmas Concert

[Editor: this information is via an email from the minister of the Haruna church of Christ.] キリストの教会東日本大震災支援会、はるなチームは1月24日(火)、午前１０時～午後4時の間に石巻市開成第１０団地　集会室においてヴァイオリン・コンサートを計画しています。出演はカメラータ・ジオン主宰者の小田原由美先生。毎年、はるなのクリスマス・コンサートにご奉仕くださっていますが、今回、ぜひ石巻で被災者の皆さんに音楽をプレゼントしたいとお申し出があり、喜んで上記の日時で開催致すことになりました。出演料はゼロ。交通費、食費と前夜の宿泊料を負担します。

私たちの詳細はまだ決めていませんが、お茶か、簡単な昼食を差し上げて、その前後にコンサートをと考えています。そのほか、町の方から子ども用の冬の手袋を２００足、他をいただけますので、それも会場にならべて、差し上げようと思っています。よろしく。はるな　小幡史朗

[Editor: here is a rough translation] On January 24 (Tue) the Haruna team of the East Japan Disaster Relief Committee is planning to host a violin concert from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ishinomaki No. 10 Relief Housing meeting hall. The performance will be by the president of the Camerata Jion, Ms. Odawara.  Each year she has performed for the Haruna Christmas Concert.  This time she said she would like very much to give the disaster survivors a present of music.  We are happy to offer it at the time above.  There is no cost for the performance. We will take care of the expenses for transportation, food, and lodging.

We hope to coordinate this with the efforts from the Disaster Relief Committee.  We could serve oshiruko (sweet red beans and omochi, rice cake) before the performance. Also we will give them 200 pairs of children’s gloves, many new pots and pans, many 2012 calendars, some furniture, books, and heavy duty clothes which people in the city donated. We will also give a key-board for their meeting room there which one of our members gave.

Haruna – Shiro Obata

Giving Candy and Pine Cone Trees

東日本大震災支援：松ぼっくりツリーと菓子袋を持って、石巻の仮設住宅開成１０団地は１２日午後で３０軒。南境７団地は１３日の午前に５０軒。富田さんご一家も一緒に回り、感謝！

[Editor: rough translation] Support for the East Japan Disaster: We brought bags of candy with hand decorated pine cone trees and passed them out out to 30 apartments in the number 10 Ishinomaki temporary housing development in the afternoon, December 12. On December 13 in the afternoon we passed them out to 50 apartments in the number 7 development on the southern border.  The Toda-san family went around with me. Thankful! Shiro Obata, Haruna church of Christ

The Park Ave. family had the privilege of providing snacks to students spending late hours at the Harding School of Theology as they prepared for semester exams.  The snacks were well received!

OkkiriKomi: "Delicious, Mom!"

[Editor - here is a report from Shiro Obata, minister for the Haruna church of Christ, concerning recent work he and his congregation have done.  This is via his weekly church bulletin.]

２日は全員で下準備。３日、清水孝倫さんご夫妻が石巻の仮設住宅の皆さんの目の前で榛名の野菜がふんだんにはいった上州名物「手打ちのおっ切り込み」の暖かいおもてなしを１５０人に。道具一式は小倉さんと清水さん。野菜は清水さん、小倉さん、ご近所の皆さん。小麦粉、手造り味噌は清水さん。業務用ガス・コンロ２台、寸胴鍋、テントは大福寺さんがお貸し下さる。デザートは五十嵐さんが甘柿を２０ｋｇ。一人が急に行けなくなり、安達大輔兄に応援を。雨でしたが大集会所の中で全部出来ました。富田さんご一家も共働。ご恩寵とご奉仕に感謝。小幡兄同行。

[Rough translation]  On December 2 we made preliminary preparations.  On December 3 Mr. and Mrs. S prepared a warm meal for 150 of those living in temporary housing of a special produce from their area, “Teuchi no Okkirikomi” [Editor: homemade wide udon noodles seasoned with miso, a traditional dish from Gunma Prefecture].  The equipment necessary to prepare the meal was donated by Mr. K and Mr. S.  The vegetables were given by Mr. S, Mr. K., and neighbors.  The flour and homemade miso were given by Mr. S.  Mr. O. loaned us the gas cookers, pots, and tent.  Dessert of 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of sweet persimmons was give by Mr. G.  One person suddenly could not go so brother A took his place.  It was raining but we were able to do it all in a large meeting place.  The T family was also able to help.  We are very thankful for the grace and service.  Brother Obata and those who helped.

みなさんから寄せられた男女の冬セーター、コート類　４５点、遠野の「まごころネット」へ。高橋姉からの少年用自転車（５段変速）１台、中里見さんからの自家製梅干　５０ｐｃ、五十嵐さんからの甘柿２０ｋｇは石巻の仮設住宅へお届けいたしました

[Rough translation]  Everyone brought various boys and girls coats, 45 in all, through the “Magokoro Network” (Heartfelt Network).  Sister T gave a five speed youth bicycle.  Mr. N gave some homemade umeboshi (pickled Japanese apricot/plum).  Mr. G gave 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of dried persimmons.  All of this went to those in temporary housing in Ishinomaki.

Link to PDF file Hikari Aug-Sep 2011

It is getting colder here.  We had our first frost this week and I am wearing sweaters sometimes.  Winter is a good time here because we have little rain and there is no grass to cut!!  The autumn leaves are looking good.  The Icho or Ginko trees have beautiful yellow leaves, shaped like small fans.

I went to Sendai with a group of six from the Park Avenue church in Memphis from November 6-11.  We had a good time and helped many people.  If you look at the homepage of Park Avenue, you can see some pictures and learn a little about what we did (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4).  I will attach a few pictures at the end of this report.

We worked on houses, cleaned up yards, and had a cookout for about 150, mostly elderly people.  The destruction is still visible.  Houses are still, here and there, lying on their sides, cars still up in trees, and many businesses unable to open.  Winter is quickly approaching (they have already had snow).  I wonder if they are prepared enough.  The land near the ocean has sunk more than 3 feet.  When the tide is high, it comes back to cover the land.

I will go up again Sunday, the 27^th until Wednesday the 30^th.  Jean and Jared Scism, our new co-worker, are teaching my classes so I can go.  I will be driving the truck.  We need to take things up and prepare the church building for winter.  We will also be passing out winter clothes and things they need for winter, as well as food.  We will not go back up until after the new year.  We need to rethink what needs to be done now and how we can best help.  Some stores are beginning to open up and most roads are passable.  But many still have no way to support themselves or repair their homes.

Winter work camp is coming up December 26-28.  We will be putting aluminum sash windows in one cabin.  The theme for this camp is “Sowing Generously,” from II Cor. 9:6-7.

This is a time for prayer for Japan.  We have been doing what we could in the earthquake/tsunami area.  I believe there is still much that we can do.  One of the most needed things is missionaries to come and live in that area.  They need to start churches.  I don’t know if the seed we have sown will grow or not, but I believe that we cannot handle the situation from 4 or 5 hours away by car.  We also have churches here that need our attention.  The one church in Sendai can do little.  There is no preacher and little leadership.  We need people who will give their lives to Christ, not for a few years, but to spend their lives working in that area.  There are some who are thinking about it, but it will take a lot of missionaries.  Of course, this is true of all of Japan.  I still believe that Japan will be a leader in the world and it needs Christians.  Very few churches are evangelizing.  Most are just “pasturing.”  Of course, evangelism is very difficult. but it is the only way the church will grow.  It takes work, hard work, and a love for God.  It also takes determination, and a strong commitment to God and to the church.

In the Tomobe church, we have two young men who want to be preachers.  Yasuki Nishimura is in his thirties, married to a Christian lady, and is thinking about going to the preachers’ school here.  Tooru Hirosawa is graduating from high school in March.  He hopes to go to Oklahoma Christian in June to study English more and then become a student in September.  If there is anyone who can help these young men by supporting them while in school, it would be greatly appreciated.  Please contact me and I will give more information.  Both are dedicated Christians and have been faithful since they were young.  Both have Christian mothers.  Neither of their fathers are Christians.  Please pray for them as they will have a hard way to go.

Jean and I appreciate your help to us over the past 36 years.  We plan to stay as long as God wants us here.  We also need your help as the financial situation is not getting better.  When we stepped off the ship 36 years ago, we got 301 yen per dollar.  It is now down to 76 yen per dollar.  We hesitate to ask for more help because we know that many are struggling in the U.S., too.  God will always provide.

Serving Him in Japan,

Marlin and Jean Ray

These are pictures of Ishinomaki taken November 6, 2011.

[Show as slideshow]