Mark’s office moved yesterday.  The location is better, price cheaper and office space easier to use. We continue to search and pray for a full time signer and a grant for their support.

 

Tomorrow Mark leaves for a month in the Philippines to learn/practice more Sign Language Bible translation with Wycliffe.  Please pray for his health.  He’s still fighting what’s left of a slight cold.  The temperatures here range from 30-50, with 16% humidity. In Manila they will be at 75-85 with 65 % humidity.

There’s rejoicing at church.  Mrs. Hatadaya made a public confession of faith.  Mr. Kubota has told the pastor he believes and we pray his public confession will be soon.  This coming Sunday three hearing children (two elementary and one high schooler)  of Deaf families will be baptized at church.   We continue to pray for complete healing for Pastor Minamida’s arms, shoulder and neck.

It’s official!  At yesterday’s visit to the Bureau of Legal Affairs Office I heard the words “It is finished.”  With that, Wheelchairs of Hope learned that the application/registration process was completed.  We now have official NPO status here in Japan.  Please continue to pray for Japanese leadership for the project.

Thanks for praying for the pastor's prayer meeting. Mary Esther writes:

That Tuesday I needed to leave the house by 6AM, a good hour earlier than I ever do.  We have this space-saving parking spot, a metal monstrosity that accommodates 22 cars (3 high, 8 wide, and 2 empty spots) by rotating them both vertically and horizontally to allow you to access your car, The previous night had been quite cold, though, with snow the day before, and when I went to get the car, all I got was an error message on the key pad. Frozen, apparently. My first thought was "thank you God! This is my excuse not to have to show up and talk in Japanese to the hearing pastors!" But I wasn't quick enough. Another tenant arrived and woke up the resident care taker who fixed the problem, and by 6:20 we were back on schedule. 

Thanks for praying about the new office. One of our board members, the one in charge of finances, has agreed to serve as guarantor. Not only does it speak to his graciousness, but also to his level of comfort with our fiscal policy. We are very thankful.

 

We'll be busy the next few weeks with the move.

 

Oh, and keep praying for pastor Minamida. He's improved quite a bit, and is allowed to preach once a month now. The new office is a much shorter commute for him, but his shoulders and arms still need to recover enough to be signing regularly under stressful conditions again.

 

Mary Esther just found out about a new opportunity—presenting the wheelchair ministry to a citywide pastors meeting. “20 minutes in front of Japanese hearing pastors!? You’ve got to be kidding!”was her response. But she is doing it this Tuesday, so pray. Please.

ViBi has been trying to move their office and studio. Ms. Kuwahara and Mr. Ogata have done a lot of searching over the past months, and finally found the perfect place, good price, high ceiling, unfinished, first floor. The real estate company gladly received our application, but we’ve now run into a snag on the guarantor. Please pray. And while you’re at it, pray for Pastor Minamida, that he will be restored to health and able to sign Gen 36-42 (all checked and ready to go) and then finish the rest of Genesis. And don’t forget to pray for the $3 million that will enable us to move this from a 40 year project to a 10-13 year project.