Please pray for Tim as he wraps things up in Japan before the beginning of our furlough. He will return on Tuesday, April 4. We always request prayer for an uneventful trip. We also request prayer for stamina. We usually are able to make the trip in 18-20 hours. Due to airlines pulling flights to North America from Nagoya, we now have to fly through Tokyo Haneda. That adds a lot of hours to the travel time. It will now be a 28-30 hour flight. We aren’t getting any younger, so it will make for a very long trip. Thank you for your prayers! We look forward to seeing you as we report to you, our faithful supporters.

Click here to read and download our latest prayer letter.

There have been many things going on both in the ministry and our lives for which we would like to update you. We appreciate your continued prayer.

—Kim was asked to write an article for Frontline Magazine and it was published in the November/December 2023 issue. The title of the article is “Perseverance in Prayer.”

—Please pray for strength for Kim and her family as they help with her dad. He is under hospice care now.

—Mr. A, the young man saved and baptized earlier this year, has moved to Vietnam which is where his wife is from. Please pray for his continued spiritual growth and that he will be able to find a body of believers to fellowship with. Please pray with him for the salvation of his wife and 3-year-old daughter as soon as she can understand the Gospel.

—We have had several in our church with medical needs (surgeries, etc.), so would appreciate your prayers for them, especially for the wife of our volunteer coworker.  Her biopsy results came back positive for cancer. She started chemotherapy on January 4. The doctor seems optimistic.  The plan is to do chemotherapy for 4-6 months then surgery. We are praying for the best results and would appreciate your prayers as well. They have three young children. Pray for them as they watch their mom go through this trial.

—Tim’s dad just celebrated his 88th birthday and almost 60 years of ministry in Japan as a missionary. He is doing well and goes out several times a week to distribute tracts.  On 12/31 he was going out on the deck to cut some vines. He fell through some rotten boards.  Tim’s mom called the ambulance and got him to the hospital where his brother was able to meet them.  Tim’s dad fractured his left knee and left wrist. They put a cast on his knee and wrist and said he would have to stay in the hospital for at least 3 weeks. It has been three weeks and his wrist is not healing properly so he had surgery on Tuesday. The surgery lasted longer than expected, but he is doing well.

—We are scheduled to start furlough in April, but there is much to do before then.

—We had membership Sunday on January 22nd and four people gave their testimony and joined the church.

We have much going on with Tim in Japan and Kim in the states. One of Kim’s favorite hymns is Day by Day. The words are encouraging during times like this. We have to take life one day at a time and God provides strength and grace.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

~Karolina W. Sandell-Berg

PC: photo taken at the park near our home

Before I (Kim) had to return to the states to help with the care of my dad, I had invited my sister-in-law Debbie to come and speak for a ladies’ Christmas party.
Plans were carried out even though I couldn’t be there. The ladies that were able to come had a wonderful time!  I’m so thankful for everyone’s effort that made it a success!

On November 27, we had a bilingual service with a special guest speaker. Tim translated for Pastor Masuda from Grace Kobe Baptist Church. He taught adult Sunday school and preached for the morning service. Afterward, Tim heard from some of the people that they thought the message was directed specifically at them. Pastor Masuda’s messages met a need through the Holy Spirit’s conviction.  After the service, we had a potluck with a great time of fellowship.

It is our goal is to have a national pastor speak at least three or four times a year. Please continue to pray that the Lord will provide a national pastor for the ministry here in Nagoya.

Kim started a CaringBridge site for her dad to make updates easier.  You can view it here. Thank you so much for praying. God has been giving grace upon grace during this time.

We have posted a new prayer letter. You can see it here. Thank you so much for your prayers!

A few weeks back I posted that I would be making an emergency trip back to the states as my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to his bones. I so appreciate your prayers and I want to share what God has done.

My dad seems to go through a cycle where his pain increases, he lands in the hospital, they get his pain under control and then we take him home weaker than he was before. After the last cycle, my brother and I were aware that we could not give him the care he needed at home much longer. The Lord provided a way for my dad to get the care he needed and he is very happy with his arrangements. We hit a few snags along the way, but as I told my dad God has moved mountains for us!

My dad has opted to try chemo. His first treatment is Tuesday. We are unsure how this will go, but it is his decision. I am still near him staying in his house and visiting my kids occasionally.

I told a friend recently that I don’t know how to pray about this. I do pray for wisdom and that God would show us what we need to do for today. He has answered that prayer every.single.day. He has also given us the strength and the courage to do what needs to be done. I give Him all the glory. We know what the outcome will be, we just don’t know when. I know God will give us the strength and courage to go through that valley as well. Thank you to all those who are praying. God is answering and He is so good!!!

We had a potluck after our service last week.  It was well attended with people staying for the fellowship who normally leave before the meal. A good time was had by all. It’s great to be back into our normal schedule after all the changes of the last few years.
Some of you have asked for an update on Kim’s dad. Thank you for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated. A lot has happened in the last few weeks. We know there will be ups and downs.  He has had two hospital stays in the last few weeks due to pain. They seem to have that under control right now. He is getting weaker but seems to be in good spirits for which we are grateful. Please pray for wisdom with all the appointments that are coming up as Kim and her brother seek to help their father. God is good all the time, even in the midst of trials like this one.