Ministry Updates and News from the Mehns
Last week someone inquired where we had moved from. We often simply say “not from around here.” When they really probe, then we tell them of our previous 35 years in Tokyo, Japan. They often nod and say, “yeah, that is certainly not from around here.” On April 9th we celebrated three years since moving back from Japan. We were forewarned that our cultural adjustment back to living in the US would take about 3…
FOCUS ON PRAYER FOCUS ON GIVING Thank you all for your encouragements, enthusiasm, prayers and financial support for my expanded ministry in Asia. So far, my financial support has been strong. From May 1 we will operate with a new budget with some increases. Travel expenses have been higher than anticipated due to inflation. We have also added a new budget line item for our AIT team “shared expenses” of $200 per month. We hope…
Returning from Asia last month I went to attend our adult Bible school class at church. Someone asked about my recent trip, and I said it was “exceptionally successful.” Perceptively they asked how do you define success? After I explained some of the stories and details, my classmates agreed the trip was successful. Having returned last week from my February trip I feel this trip was even more “exceedingly successful” than last months. First…
Some things you do plan, and others they just happen with God’s oversight. I arrived back in the US last Monday after two weeks gone and next Tuesday I am off again to Asia for another two weeks. Actually when I arrived, I went from 90-degree temperatures to – 5-degree with lots of snow. Lots of adjusting these days. Someone asked us at our new home church “How was the trip?” I replied that it…
Life is full of great combinations! Peanut butter and jelly, a smile and a laugh, a warm fire and a good book. This year will bring the wonderful combination of more open travel after Covid and John’s expanding role in this new Asia Impact Team position. John may possibly be on 6 trips to Asia this year. This is after 0 international trips in 2020, 1 in 2021, and 2 in 2022. This month John…
FOCUS ON PRAYER
It was a bit weird. Last month John and Elaine had the privilege to visit Japan since we relocated to the US in 2020. The visit was marvelous, and it had not seemed so long since we had left. Clearly we were not used to the crowds and the pace of life in Tokyo. We did not return “home” but were visitors this time. We started off with meeting our supper club friends in Machida…
John left for Bangladesh via Singapore to take part in the Global Church Planting Network Global Facilitators meeting. This was full of key connections with leaders in Asia and great insight into the challenges of reaching Unreached People Groups throughout Asia. Many new opportunities we will share with you in the future. John was able to meet with the key leaders of our East Asia region leaders from Mongolia and South Korea. We are planning…