25 years ago today, we arrived in Japan as missionaries.  Many of you have prayed for us and also supported us financially from the very beginning.  Others of you have known us only recently and are not familiar with our story.  As we think back, we want to say thank you for the many ways you’ve stood with us over these years, and give the second installment of the Penner Saga

The Penner Saga, Part Two

In December of 1979, we had told our Deaf friends in Yamagata that IF we decided to come back, it would take at least ten years, by the time Mark finished up at Moody Bible Institute, spent five years working his way through Seminary to get an M.Div, two years of support discovery, and another two of language school. Still, they said they would pray, and they did. Mark was able to get permission for a heavier course load the last semester at Moody, and finish in one semester instead of two.

The week Mark finished Moody, Andrew was born, and Mary Esther’s school nursing job ended as the semester was now over. We had prayed about returning to Japan and decided to head that direction and see what doors God would open. We piled all our belongings into the back of our ancient pickup truck and headed for Western CB Seminary in Portland Oregon. We pulled into town knowing virtually no-one, found an apartment, and started looking for jobs. Some of you remember the 1980 job market. It was bad. Mark memorized the address of every hospital and public office in the entire city for the promise of a job as a taxi driver and still got rejected. Finally he ended up selling Cutco cutlery—the one job that wouldn’t refuse him.  Well, trying to sell Cutco.  He came home one evening having helped a family put together their budget to get out of debt but not selling them a single knife.  Selling on credit to a debt-laden person, no matter how fine the product, just didn’t seem right. He did manage to sell a few, but at the end of the summer, he had made a total of -$135.37 (but we’re still using our demo set 25 years later).

In talking with CBFMS, they agreed that a two-year MA program would be sufficient to meet their entrance requirements, since Mark had been to Moody. Remembering how the Deaf struggled to read their Japanese Bibles, Mark decided to focus his seminary study on Biblical languages, getting all he could of Hebrew and Greek. Mary Esther worked part time as a nursing consultant to the public school district which allowed her to work mostly from home while caring for Andrew.   We got involved with the Jr. High ministry at our church, and while doing taco feeds and Bible studies with reluctant attendees, realized how our hearts ached with the Deaf in Japan. 

Mark was still looking for work when the time came for the first semester to start. With enough for the first quarter Seminary down payment, Mark started in full-time at the school, figuring he would study until our money ran out, at which time we would move on to something else. But strangely, it never happened. Though we didn’t have much, there was always food, clothing, a roof over our heads, and enough to pay the school. About the time we got used to the pattern, though, with one or two quarters to go, the day finally came. There was no way to make the next payment. Not willing to borrow money, Mark went to see the registrar to explain his absence that semester.  What he learned was that his bill had already been paid, in full; he would be attending school.  We still have no idea who God used to do this. 

Aimed again toward Deaf work in Japan, Mark focused on his thesis topic:  The treatment of handicap in the Old Testament.  The first passage Mark came across was Exodus chapter 4 where Moses is caring for sheep but stops to see what is with the burning bush that isn’t burning up.  God speaks to Moses and gives him a task.  Moses, he has excuses, many of them.  His last excuse:  God I can’t, you see, I’ve got this disability, a speech impediment.  And God’s answer (Ex 4:11):  not only do I know all about that Moses, I made your disability and I plan to use you, so now go, because I am with you.

Wow! Mark continued to study and Mary Esther kept typing.  As our schedule got full, we decided to use the upcoming Christmas break to put the final touches on the paper.  Christmas break came and again we turned to study what God said about disability. The day after Christmas Daniel was born prematurely.  Not having insurance we rented bilirubin lights and cared for him at home.  On new years eve, up late to see the new year in, we were playing games with Mark’s younger brothers. At one point, Tom wandered over to the bassinet to marvel at the new baby, but immediately turned and asked “Why is he blue?”  Rushing Daniel to the doctor that night was just the first of many trips we would be making.  At that time we had no clue what it would mean to raise a family with a disabled child.  Yet God, in a way we could not have planned or imagined, had prepared our hearts with a study of His Word and what He had to say about disability, and how He plans to use disabilities, no matter what our excuses.

As Mark graduated from seminary, we were in the final stages of application to what was then CBFMS (Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society, now WorldVenture).  Mark still wasn’t much of a salesman, and there was some concern as to how we would ever find our support team but as June ended, we were appointed to go to Japan to work with the Deaf.  Amazing to everyone, ourselves more than any, one year, one month and one day later, on August 2, 1983, we stepped off the plane in Tokyo, Japan. Our first year we spent studying Japanese in Tokyo, moving after that to Yamagata to continue studying Japanese and also begin learning Japanese Sign Language.  We had said it would take ten years to get back, but they said they would pray. Clearly, this was the place, and these were the people God wanted us ministering with.

Thanks for praying. Last weekend, Pastor Hori did a great job checking a translation for the first time. Pastor Matsumoto joined us Friday afternoon and spent the night too, so we had the evening and some of the next day to go over plans to adapt training material for Deaf people, and translate Ephesians. Sunday seemed like two days, it was so full, but what a blessing to join the worship service in Fukushima and see Pastor Hori in action.

Back in Tokyo, Pastor Minamida recorded a new draft of Jonah on Tuesday, and Thursday, we had our comprehension check. We expected to finish it in one day, but it took quite a bit longer than we expected just to finish chapter one. We have a lot of changes to make. We’ll work on them Tuesday, then hope to finish comprehension checks for the rest of Jonah Wednesday and Thursday. It will be a busy week, and Pastor Minamida is swamped with work preparing for summer camp in Mid-August. Pray for him. Pray for Mark to, as he will be doing pulpit supply on next Sunday to take some pressure off of Pastor Minamida.