Saturday, July 27th

Dear Friends, Brothers & Sisters - It is Saturday night and we've had a very full day.  We started with a prayer meeting led by Kawano-sensei.  I with I could understand Japanese so I could more fully receive his message to us.  What I was able to catch from the translation touched my heart and reminded me of his wonderful messages from the past.  He started by having us read Joshus 6:1-7.  The story tells us how the LORD had Joshua march the Israelite soldiers around the walled city of Jericho once a day for six days.  On the seventh day, the soldiers marched seven times around the city, trumpets sounded, and the soldiers gave a great shout.  The walls tumbled down and the people of Jericho were captured by the soldiers.  Kawano-sensei told us that the city of Chino is in ways similar to Jericho.  It has been protected by miles and miles of land, not walls from the influence of outside influences, unlike other cities in Japan closer to the coast.  This protection has perhaps prevented the influence of Christianity to take hold in Chino, which has a lower percentage than places closer to the coast - less than 1% of the Japanese people are Christians.  Kawano-sensei noted that this is the seventh year we are serving in Chino - and we are like the Israelites trying to break through to reach the people of Jericho.  We are at the second stage of the story of Joshua, where the soldiers shouted out at the walled city.  We are here to shout out to the people of Chino, break down there walls, and capture their hearts with the message of Jesus Christ.  The instructions God gave the Israelites did not make sense and seemed unable to help them reach the people of Jericho.  With so many millions of people in Japan who have never heard the message of Jesus Christ, what can ten people from the L.A. area do to make a difference.  Perhaps that is not for us to understand or even see in our lifetime.  But we trust that we are doing His will by being here these eleven days.
     In the afternoon, we had a program "Having Fun with English" where we presented English lessons through singing with children preschool and elementary school aged.  We then offered English conversation classes to adults and craft activities to their children.  It was a great time of interacting with these people and I believe there are some who said they would come to the worship service tomorrow.  This is the reason we are here in Chino - to share the love of Christ with the people and to invite them to learn more of about Him at Chino Christ Church.  After dinner, many of us went to the public baths again - which I incorrectly called the onsen yesterday.  It is a sentou.  It is great to sit in a giant tub with a bunch of naked people you've never seen before - relaxed and very at peace.  No, the tubs are not coed.  That would remove any hope for being relaxed and at peace.  It is now 10:30PM and most of the team is in bed.  We want to give great thanks to everyone who has been supporting us with your prayers.  There will be many stories for you to hear when we return.  Good night and God bless you all.