Interesting facts and information about Japan and ministry in Japan.
We are Back in the US. Thanks for your prayers for us as we made the transition from one home in Japan to another home in the US. It is good to be back. We were greeted by friends, family, and the flu on arrival. We are settling in, got reliable transportation, and set up our respective offices. Of course, the highlight was being with all our extended family for Christmas. All four generations were…
Just before Christmas Yas Yoneda and John and Elaine Mehn went to Tohoku to visit families who have received Converge Worldwide help since the earthquake and tsunami. Here are the highlights from each of the team members. Yas – The trip to the Ishinomaki city with John and Elaine to visit some 20 families stricken by the tsunami was a rewarding experience. We prepared to bring these dear friends a grand Christmas greeting with Elaine’s…
The CPI National Conference in Nov was larger than the last one in 2009. God really worked and so many people were encouraged, equipped, and re-envisioned for evangelism and church planting in Japan. Many were able to share their stories about the 3.11 triple disasters and also their current ministries. Many left with more refined plans for their ministry future. Thanks for praying. John probably gave his best CPI message ever. Elaine and John’s training…
Every year Elaine invites all the women from her various cooking, needlepoint and Bible classes to our home to celebrate Christmas. They sing Christmas Carols (note the video) and share a Christmas message from an invited guest. Today, December 5th, 24 women came and heard Chiho Nakano, our pastor’s wife, share the meaning of Christmas with them at the Tea. The house is packed with women who really have a great time. They all went…
The 1,000 year tsunami occurred over 8 months ago but the struggle continues for victims. Since May Converge Worldwide has sent 8 disaster response teams focusing mainly the in Shintate and Urayashiki neighborhoods of Ishinomaki, one of the cities the tsunami hit the hardest. Over 60 volunteers from 11 different churches have worked over 5,390 man hours (1) distributing relief supplies and goods to 874 individuals totaling over $2,800 dollars and (2) removing the mud…
After the 3.11 quake we almost cancelled the CPI National Conference. I am glad we didn’t. This biennial conference was bigger than in 2009! On November 9-11, nearly 340 missionaries, pastors, and laypeople gathered (along with over 100 children). The theme was “together” church planting in the wake of the quake. Many of those in attendance were from the Tohoku disaster areas or had worked there in ministry this past year. “We were struggling hard,…
Please pray for John and Elaine Mehn this November! 1. Disaster Response Team Nebraska (team #8) leaves Nov 3 until the 12th. Yas Yoneda will again be leading the group; pray that God would use them to minister in word and deed with disaster survivors. This will be Tim’s last team trip before he leaves Nov 19th. Pray as we plan for more teams to come help. 2. CPI National Conference Nov 9-11. This conference,…
The next volunteer team “The Michigan Team” will leave on the 17th and return the 28th. Our new Disaster Team Coordinator, Yas Yoneda, will be leading this team. Fortunately they are a small team with only one who is not a veteran and cannot speak Japanese. They will continue ministry in Shintate and Urayashiki neighborhoods of Ishinomiya. The team will also be involved in some outreach events. Tim Mehn will again join this team. Please…
John I was so happy to be a part of Converge Worldwide mission team. We all made such a great team together. Like you said we could of never picked this team from all over the place, coming together as one time and not knowing each other. . I was happy to see these people’s faces when we were done. I never wanted these two weeks to end it came so fast like it did.…
On Friday our Mars Hill team finished “mudding out” Ms. D’s house. On Tuesday we will be power washing it and bleaching it. Then we will let it dry before it is rebuilt. But even though we are done there is even more help coming. The day it was completed the Samaritan’s Purse construction manager came and inspected the house and gave approval for it to be in their rebuilding plan. So they will pay…