Today, May 4, marks three weeks into this trip, one-third of the way. It has been a fast three weeks. Let me share some of the highlights of the trip so far.
We arrived on Monday, April 13, in the evening. After fourteen hours from Atlanta and then three to Tachikawa, we were tired. Nao Fukushima met us at the bus stop and took us and our luggage to the dorm.
However, we had inadvertently picked up the wrong suitcase, so I made a return trip to the airport to return it. Thankfully, there was a bus at the same bus stop going to the airport fifteen minutes after we arrived. The return went smoothly, with me arriving back at the dorm a little over four hours later. This is the first time in all our travels that we have made that mistake. I won’t say it has anything to do with age, but I do think fourteen-hour plane rides do. It just so happened that the suitcase belonged to a U.S. Naval officer who had a dress event the next day. Thankfully, he only missed his suitcase for about five hours. I made several apologies to the Delta worker helping with the return.
The morning of our second day, we went into town to get tickets for our travels to be with the Hachinohe church in Aomori Prefecture and to visit the Story family in Hokkaido. That week is just before “Golden Week,” which has four holidays in a row. Sometimes it is difficult to get tickets, but we were able to secure all 32 we needed. Then that afternoon, we went to Costco to get food items for our stay. Noriko Fukushima drove the forty-five minutes it took to get there. Costco is always crowded, but an interesting place to shop.
The remainder of the first week was filled with study, walking in the sun, setting up our office, housekeeping, and shopping. Wake-up times were 2:30 a.m., 12:30 a.m., etc. Most days, by 6:00 p.m., one of us was ready for bed. Thankfully, it was good weather and sunny.
Potluck fellowship after worship as a going-away time for the Warren family – Francis, Mitsuko, Sakura, and Kiara. Mitsuko is Fukushima’s daughter with their grandchildren.
On our first Sunday, we worshiped with the Tachikawa church. Our commute to worship was just two floors down. My first Japanese sermon went okay, but the text was great. Following worship, we had a time of fellowship to wish the Warren family well as they move to Okinawa. It was a bittersweet time because the children, Sakura and Kiara, are the Fukushima’s grandchildren.
Funeral for Shiro Obata at the Haruna church building where he and his wife, Rumiko, ministered
Monday was an online minister’s meeting. Tuesday, we went with Nao and Noriko to Gunma Prefecture to visit brother Shiro Obata. He was in the last stages of pancreatic cancer. His face lit up when he saw us, but quickly went back to resting. He was in some pain, but was receiving very good care. We sang some hymns for him and had a prayer. It was difficult to say goodbye. He died six days after that on April 27. Another generation passes. On May 1, they had a private neighborhood funeral in the Haruna church building, where he and Rumiko had ministered for twenty-five years following their retirement from the Ochanomizu church. They will have a more public memorial in June or July.
The Tachikawa church’s grave site – the text under the cross reads “The Victory of God’s Love” from Romans 8:37-39
On our return to Tachikawa, we went by the Tachikawa church’s grave site. Most burials and cemeteries are associated with Buddhist Temples, which causes problems for Christians. It has been almost impossible for Christians to be buried in family graves for that reason. On the Tachikawa grave stone are listed the names of twenty-one Christians interred. Reading down the list helped us realize how many we knew. Good people trying to follow Christ in a society totally against them. The church goes twice each year to remember those gone before and to renew their hope found only in a life striving to follow Jesus Christ.
On Saturday, April 25, we left the dorm about 6 a.m., heading to Tokyo Station, an hour from Tachikawa, to catch the Shinkansen (“Bullet Train”) to Hachinohe. The 415 miles were covered in a little less than three hours. We were there in time to have lunch with sister Ishibashi before going to the Saturday session. She took us to a quiet restaurant that served delicious sushi.
That afternoon, we looked at Elijah and his discouragement following his encounter with the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel. He was outnumbered 450 to one, but the Lord prevailed. However, Elijah became fearful once he knew he was being hunted. We all get discouraged and look at things in unrealistic ways, as Elijah did. The Lord confronted and encouraged Elijah to keep going. I hope it was an encouragement to those Christians. We have feelings of defeat or fear, but the Lord’s Spirit is there to help us.
On Sunday, I presented the same lesson that I gave at Tachikawa about the difference between thanksgiving and praise. We are thankful for the things we receive, things done for us. But praise is about the character of a person. Exodus 34:6-7 tells us about the Lord’s character. He is worthy of our praise because of who He is and not just for what he does for us.
Cold day with the Story Family in Ashahikawa, Hokkaido
That afternoon, we headed further north into Hokkaido and then on to Sapporo. From there, we could visit Kyle, Nahoko, and Sophie Story. Kyle and Nahoko met in China and later married. Nahoko is from Chiba Prefecture, very near the Matsudo church’s meeting place. They were involved in ministry with a church in Montana for about eight years. They then moved to Greece to work with refugees for about three years. In 2025, they moved to Hokkaido for a year of rest and spiritual strengthening.
Kyle talked about their ministry with the refugees and the transient nature of the refugees’ circumstances. No one really wanted them. There was discouragement with being taken advantage of and the endless paperwork to get approved. We were glad to be with them and learn a little about where they are in their faith walk with the Lord. Please offer a prayer for them.
Returning home after a week of travel and visiting
Having accomplished what we went to do in Aomori and Hokkaido, we began our journey back to Tachikawa. This time we were on the Shinkansen for four and a half hours. I think we slept a good part of the way. We arrived in Tachikawa on Friday evening after a week’s travel.
Saturday was laundry for Josephine and my preparations for our worship with the Yokota church. Sunday, the commute to Yokota included monorail and train travel, and a lovely mile walk from the train station to the church building. It was a cool and bright morning for a walk. Masa Nonogaki was on the phone when we arrived, encouraging someone to come to worship.
Harding University group ministering to the Yokota church in Tokyo
It was good to be reunited with those we had seen before and with new members. Masa told us that he now has over 200 followers on his website, and those connections were made without any advertisement. Also, the congregation has invited three Harding University students to come to offer English Bible classes. They will be with the congregation from May 15 through June 12. They will be staying in the Tachikawa dorm with us.
One of the Yokota members prepared a flyer to advertise the classes. These have been distributed and posted at different locations. Six have already applied for the classes. Please offer a prayer for this team and for new relationships to be formed.
Mari Nonogaki and Josephine are encouraging and catching up on things
After worship, several of us went out for lunch. That was a good time for fellowship. Josephine also had time to talk with Mari Nonogaki. They have always connected. It was good that just the two of them were able to talk.
Well, that rounds out our first three weeks. One-third of our time for this trip is over. It went by in a blink. Please continue to remember us in prayer as we strive to encourage and help the ministry here.
On Saturday, April 25, we left the dorm about 6 a.m., heading to Tokyo Station, an hour from Tachikawa, to catch the Shinkansen (“Bullet Train”) to Hachinohe. The 415 miles were covered in a little less than three hours. We were there in time to have lunch with sister Ishibashi before going to the Saturday session. She took us to a quiet restaurant that served delicious sushi.
On Sunday, I presented the same lesson that I gave at Tachikawa about the difference between thanksgiving and praise. We are thankful for the things we receive, things done for us. But praise is about the character of a person. Exodus 34:6-7 tells us about the Lord’s character. He is worthy of our praise because of who He is and not just for what he does for us.
