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Twana Whitlock is the site coordinator.  3888 Autumn Ridge Court/Memphis, TN 38115, (901) 748-5070

Greetings fromShizuoka,Japan!  May the Lord’s love and grace be with you all!

Mission Update:

God continued to bless us during the months of March and April.  Our weekly Bible conversations and teaching with our students through our Shizuoka English Bible Classes (SEBC) went well.  Many of our participants are progressing in their knowledge of the Lord.  In addition to our evangelistic efforts utilizing SEBC combined with performing our regular monthly responsibilities, we began preparing for this summer’s Let’s Start Talking (LST) program.

March 11, 2012 marked the one-year anniversary of Japan’s worst major disaster in modern history. The entire country was affected in one way or another; however, the areas most devastated by the great Earthquake and Tsunami were the Kanto and Tohoku regions which are located in northeastern Japan.  Thus March 11, 2012, was a day soberly revered and absorbed by all who were directly or indirectly impacted.  In light of this memorial, I was the keynote speaker for the Nakada congregation.  I entitled my sermon: “Answering the Question of “Why?”  Several of our students attended our Sunday morning assembly service.  In the weeks leading up to and following this one-year anniversary observance, seeing the opportunity we continued to impress upon our students the words of Solomon, that “only those who listen to God, will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” (Prov. 1:33)  Although much has been done towards Japan’s repair, there is still much to be done and there are still many who are suffering from last year’s major disaster.  Please continue to pray for Japan and our collective efforts to reach the lost in Japan.

March/April

Beyond our daily work of missions and ministry, a major portion of which involves our SEBC classes, we began making preparations with the home offices of Let’s Start Talking (LST) in preparation for this summer’s LST mission campaign.  We are being blessed this year once again with the return of an LST team from you, our MacArthur Park Family.   Sisters Karen Loveland and Margaret Hatcher are scheduled to visit and serve in our behalf.  We are excited about the potential of serving with them again this year.  Their three week tenure begins at the end of May and will continue through the major portion of June.  They really did a wonderful job during their first visit with us last year.  Many SEBC/LST participants formed lasting relationships with Karen and Margaret.  They too are thrilled about having them back partnering with the Nakada Church of Christ in support of the cause of Christ.

The months leading up to the arrival of LST team(s) are perhaps the busiest time of the year for us.  Much of our time is spent advertising about the program.  There is much corresponding, planning and organizing that must be done in order to host a team successfully.  We strive hard to encourage as many Japanese participants/readers/prospective converts as possible to study with our arriving LST teams.  A good number of this year’s students are participants who have formerly participated in previous years’ LST programs or who have been a part of our Shizuoka English Bible Classes.

A key factor that impacts our work of ministry each year is the Japanese Fiscal Year which begins March 1.  Because of this incursion the months of March and April are critically important months. For school students, the new school year also begins in March.  In view of these parallels, parents and students are very busy preparing for new classes, school opening ceremonies, buying school materials, parent/teacher conferences, etc.  Additionally, business and industry in Japan also have their impact on the lives of everyone.  Reports must be filed, meetings attended and orders and deadlines met.  Thus it is a hectic time for our SEBC participants, church membership and us.

In view of all the consuming pressures applicable to the new fiscal year, we often have to adjust our schedules to meet the changing needs of our students.  The goal is to match and maximize to the greatest extent possible, our interaction times with our SEBC readers.  It’s hard work; but in a heathen nation that is heavily indoctrinated by pagan rituals, senseless dogmas and obligating customs, we want to have a clear conscience that we are doing everything we possibly can to be the best influence possible as ambassadors for Christ.  Although the fiscal year changeover certainly places demands on everyone’s time, we are pleased to report that our class attendance remains steady.   Some of our potential converts appear to be “turning the corner” in their understanding of their need for salvation through Christ.  I would like to share with you some information about some of our students and ask that you pray for them and us, in our combined journeys for the cause of Christ.

Misao Ikegaya

The first student we would like to introduce to you is Misao Ikegaya.  We have been studying with Misao and her father, Yasushi, for about three years.  In addition to being a good student for both Etsuko and I, she has become a good friend.  Unlike many, Misao has exhibited qualities that would make her a great Christian.  Her willingness to accept the truths contained in Scripture so readily is not only refreshing, but also an encouraging blessing to us.  We believe that it will only be a matter of time before Misao gives her life fully to the Lord.  She has openly confessed her belief in God.  We are currently studying with her about baptism and the commitment required to become a Christian.  Misao and her father have often attended the Nakada congregation’s morning assembly, a practice that is not often common with many of our students.  Misao’s father, Yasushi, is not as close as it appears Misao is to obeying the Gospel, but his interest is growing.  Hopefully if Misao does indeed come to the Lord, Mr. Ikagaya will soon follow.  Please join us in prayer for Misao and her father’s successful conversion.

Yukiko Yamamoto

The next student I would like to introduce is Yukiko Yamamoto.  We have also been studying with Yukiko for about three years. We have seen steady growth in her spiritual understanding.  Every Sunday she comes to participate in Bible class.  Like Misao, she often attends our worship services.  Yukiko is very tender-hearted; she is earnestly seeking to know God better.  God willing we will be able to further cultivate her spiritual growth in the Lord.  Like for all our students, we prayerfully hope that her conversion to the Lord will be soon.  Please join us in praying for Yukiko.

Kiyoshi Kajiwara

The next student is Kiyoshi Kajiwara.  Kiyoshi is a former high school English teacher.   I have been studying with Kiyoshi for some time.  Considering the reluctant tendency of most Japanese his age, Kiyoshi has shown remarkable openness and receptiveness to God’s Word.  In view of his approachability, our conversations about God have proven to be very fruitful. Kiyoshi does not shy away from discussions concerning deep spiritual matters.  He is genuinely seeking.  Hopefully he will take the next step in his spiritual development and one day soon, be added to the Lord.  Please pray for Kiyoshi and our continuing progress with him and others we are trying to reach.

Our Love to each of You and Yours,

Ken and Etsuko and Family

Schedule of Monthly Events

• Preach Twice for the Nakada Church of Christ
• Lead Twenty-Three One-On-One Bible Studies and Three Group Bible Studies Weekly (When there is no LST)
• Friday Night Devotional/Class
• Monthly Shizuoka Area Ministers Meeting
• Monthly Tokyo and Shizuoka (Central Japan Area-wide) Ministers Meeting
• Incremental Development of Nakada Congregation Church Website

March/April Events

• 3/2:    Shizuoka Area Wide Preachers Meeting
• 3/11:  Preached at the Nakada Church of Christ (3/11/11 Anniversary)
• 3/19:  Central Japan Area-wide Ministers Meeting
• 3/26:  Preached at the Nakada Church of Christ
• 4/6:   Shizuoka Area Wide Preachers Meeting (Preached)
• 4/8:   Preached at the Nakada Church of Christ
• 4/16: Central Japan Area-wide Ministers Meeting
• 4/22: Preached at the Nakada Church of Christ
• 4/29: Preached at the Nakada Church of Christ
• 4/29: Mexican Food Fellowship for SEBC Students/Devotional at Nakada Church of Christ

I am sorry we have not written more often. It has been a busy Spring. Now the cherry trees are in full bloom here in Tomobe. Like everywhere in the world, we have had very strange weather. The tulips, daffodils and cherry trees are blooming at the same time. Even the plum trees are still in bloom, a little. Spring came in all at once and everything had to bloom at the same time. But it is beautiful!

We had a team of 3 come very early this year for a Let’s Start Talking program. Laura Valdez and her daughter Maria, missionaries from Argentina and Travis Young, from their sponsoring church in New Mexico. They worked with Tomobe church for 4 weeks and then went to the tsunami devastated area for a week to help. They worked really hard here as they understand mission work. We really appreciate them.

Jean and I spent 4 days during the Spring break working in Ishinomaki. I can’t do too much heavy work, but we worked on Jonathan Straker’s house, helping to replace the floor damaged by the tsunami. We didn’t do much, but it was fun and we got out of Tomobe . The Japanese don’t understand this, but we need to get out once in a while.

The Strakers were missionaries in Sendai before they went to the US to do graduate studies at ACU. They were there when the earthquake and tsunami hit. They felt the great need for someone to be in that area and work. Many Christians go up to work, but only one family from Osaka has moved into that area. Japan has so few Christians. The Strakers put aside their own plans to become the answer to the prayers of many.

I have spent much time on one-day trips to Iwaki area to take water and now we are helping a company to deliver water to kindergartens and other schools. The water is contaminated in that area, so bottled water is the only way to get good water. This company will set up serving machines in these schools and deliver 12 liter tanks of water for the students to drink. The government has not done this yet, and already one child has died of thyroid cancer. Others will get cancer if something is not done soon. This will also put several people to work delivering the water. Work is one of the biggest problems in that area. Many companies were destroyed. This company started as a milk company before the tsunami. The milk in that area is undrinkable, so the company went bankrupt. The water idea came up because of the Christians working up there taking water to different places. They already had 7 trucks to deliver, so we have been helping a little. It is just starting so we don’t know how it will go.

Tomobe now has two young men working on becoming preachers. One, Yasuki Nishimura, already has a masters degree in engineering, but quit his job to become a preacher. He will go to the Japanese School of Evangelism at the Tachikawa church building. It is a very small school with only 4 students now. Two are not going to become full time preachers, but one in Okinawa and the one from Tomobe want to be. The man in Okinawa will study by computer on Skype, so will not come to Tokyo.

The other young man, Toru, will study at Oklahoma Christian University. He just finished high school here and we have been working with him on his English. He has had almost constant English practice with Jared, Cassie and Benjamin. Benjamin is an English teacher living in Tomobe and has been coming to the Tomobe church. He and Toru have become good friends.

And this week, Toru’s father, Shigeyuki Hirosawa was baptized into Christ! His mother was baptized about 10 years ago, but his father was resistant. He has been coming with his wife to Bible classes on and off for several years. Two weeks ago he came to me and said that he was interested in becoming a Christian. We studied several times and he decided to accept Christ as his Savior. Toru didn’t think he could baptize him, but I asked him to take his father’s confession of faith. Three of the family are now Christians. That leaves Toru’s older brother and sister. Keep this family in your prayers, especially Toru as he goes to OCU to become a preacher.

I will be taking the three of them to OCU in June to enroll Toru in an English school at OCU so he can pass the TOFEL English test to enter the university. My schedule will be as follows:

May 14, leave Japan for Dallas. I will drive from there to Houston, TX to see my brother and sister and families. Then, return to the Dallas area on the 25th and go to Memphis until the 31st. I will then go back to the Dallas area and meet Toru and family and go to OCU. We will return to Dallas and send his parents back to Japan. I will stay in Arlington TX until I leave for California on the 18th of June. I will be in California until the 10th of July and return to Japan. I hope to see many of you in those areas. If you want to contact me in the States, use this mail address: tomobe227@gmail.com

We didn’t want to cancel our classes for 2 months, so Jean will go to California to visit family and attend the Pepperdine Lectureship. She will be in California from April 23rd through May 7th. She will return to Japan to teach my classes. The members will take the preaching duties.

Thank you all so much for loving us and praying for us. We continually need your prayers.

Serving Him in Japan,

Marlin and Jean Ray

[Show as slideshow]

Hikari Jan ’12

Hikari Jan '12 Pg1

Hikari Jan '12 Pg2

Hikari Jan '12 Pg3

Hikari Nov-Dec ’11

Hikari Nov-Dec '11 Pg1

Hikari Nov-Dec '11 Pg2

Hikari Nov-Dec '11 Pg3

Hikari Nov-Dec '11 Pg4

Here is a link to a PDF file: Hikari Oct ’11

Hikari Oct '11 Pg1

Hikari Oct '11 Pg2

Hikari Oct '11 Pg3

Hikari Oct '11 Pg4

LAST SUNDAY NIGHT was a kind of closing exclamation point on our February series on Marriage and Family developed and coordinated by Clare Fabrizio and Ashley Tieman, both relative newcomers to Kojima Ekimae Church. I think we made progress in building relationships and breaking down barriers to letting the Word into their daily lives. Last night we had most of the regulars and some first-timers. Regulars Nao and two kids, and Masako and one were there and spoke up a lot. Our Sister Tomomi came and brought two children to dinner. Hitomi’s special needs son who lives in a Christian facility of some kind, came for the first time. Hitomi can not usually come because of work schedules. I am especially delighted that Keiko Yokoyama came for the first time to an actual church thing, plus two kids. She has come to parties, Parenting Group, and even comes to a private Bible class with Brent on most Fridays. And almost finally, late as usual, came Mrs. Miyao, and, for the first time ever, her younger daughter, Sumie. Finally, what has become our usual contingent of foreign workers, Couples Rogers, Fabrizio, and Tieman, and our recent addition, from the Phillipines, Marnie Cardenal, who teaches English for the local school board. 22 total! After the lesson on Family, we went to dinner at Naish Curry, the lcoal American Surf Curry and Pasta restaurant.

NEXT MONTH: Clare will be responsible for a series on the Life of Christ. We want our regulars to continue, even as the topic becomes more ‘churchy’. We want more ladies to come, and we really want some men to come! Please pray with us!

NOT SEEN IN A WHILE: Rumi, soon after asking me to help her become a Christian, developed severe low-energy syndrome and I have not seen her this year! Kyoko has not been seen since one of the earliest caroling practice sessions back in the fall.

BABIES: Of course, we would like to announce a bunch of new baby Christians, but we can not. But there are pregnancies everywhere and a new baby or two. We have to start with our own new granddaughter to be arriving in June. Kojima Mission team couple Tiemans are expecting in September. Sachiko just had a baby a few weeks ago. She usually comes to Monday moms Bible class. Also, I have cousins popping out babies across the nation. Please pray for healthy moms and babies and for all to be drawn to God.

CONTRIBUTIONS: If you have not sent a check lately to Cloverdale for our mission efforts, we hope you will soon. We will need a big infusion for the summer LST efforts. Sandy is no longer working at the elementary school, so our income took a hit since last spring, AND we are still being charged at the higher rate for health insurance, etc… And LOGOS is poor. ….

Speaking of poor, LOGOS NEEDS STUDENTS!!!! For various reasons, recruitment has been WEAK so far this spring season. There is still a lot of uncertainty in how the government is going to get reconstruction money, so taxes are going up, electricity is going up, and subsidies and salaries may be going down. AND we had a pretty heavy year of quitting due to graduation, etc….Speaking of graduation, would you please pray for this year’s high school seniors in general, and my possibly best ever group of seniors girls: Nami, Minami, Miru, Kana, Moe, Hitomi, Haruna. Can you imagine being a college freshman in 2012? They are so not ready!

FRIENDS NEEDING JOBS OR OTHER HELP: Two of our favorite people are applying for jobs, and we REALLY want them to stay in the local area and continue helping with our work. Please pray for Clare and Dylan Fabrizio.

HEALTH: Brent got a good report from the heart valve, synthetic aorta wrap job, and pacemaker inspection yesterday. And the back is much better after great care from Tomomi’s chiropractor husband. So thankful!

Thank you for praying! Please keep us in your prayers!

Brent and Sandy in Kojima, Kurashiki, Japan

Harvesting Haruna Chinese Cabbage for Shichigahama

榛名の白菜を七ヶ浜へ

明日の未明に出発し持っていきます。地産地消活動を行っている武渕さんの畑から一個、２kgもある大玉の白菜を１００個いただいたので、清水さんに教えていただいて、今度は仙台の近くの七ヶ浜の７０戸ほどの集落に持っていきます。ここは松島のちょうど防波堤になった小さな半島。太平洋側は津波でひどくやられ、山側は地盤沈下がひどいところです。また、榛名産の安全な生シイタケも持っていきます。放射能被害で今、向こうはシイタケは食べられないのですね。喜んでいただければと願っています。

Haruna Chinese Cabbage to Shichigahama, Miyagi Japan

Shichigahama, Miyagi Japan

Early in the morning yesterday (Feb 7 ’12) I went out and waited at B-san’s local produce field. From it we harvested 100 round Chinese Cabbages weighing 2 kilograms (2.2 pounds) each. S-san told me about this. This time we are planning on going to Shichigahama, a town of about 70 homes near Sendai. This small peninsula was the breakwater for Matsushima, a group of famous islands also near Sendai. The section of this peninsula toward the Pacific Ocean was terribly destroyed by the tsunami. On the mountain side the land subsidence was also very bad. We will also take some shitake (a type of mushroom) produced in Haruna which is safe. The radioactive fall out has contaminated the shitake from the peninsula and made it unsafe to eat. They will receive these things with great joy.