·         Mary Esther on radio interview tomorrow and next week

·         Over 1,000 hits on YouTube JSL Bible video

·         Finishing up Matthew 1-10

Boy--do I hear you loud and clear on that prayer request!  There are so many things where we pray "God we want to know, just show us what it is you desire of us" and then we wait. But God is putting things together in ways we have no idea, long before we can even start to plan what will actually happen. I have to tell you something that really blessed me about making plans.  

All the way back in February, Wycliffe and ViBi began talking about 3 weeks of meetings in Dallas in October/November 2009. Mark put it in his calendar to be in Dallas during that time, and to visit some supporting churches.

Two days before Mark was to leave on the trip, I got the phone call. My mom was not doing well, and if I wanted to see her, I needed to get to KC soon.  I was able to book the same flight as Mark, and we flew as far as LA together.

After the first week in Dallas, Mark flew up to KC for the weekend as planned, and got to be with my mom before she passed. The second week-end he was able to come for the funeral. He was still in Dallas while I cared for various things in Kansas City the third week.   I finished up my last appointment there on Friday afternoon  and met him in Chicago on Saturday (arriving 30 minutes before he did.)  He spoke in a church in Chicago on Sunday, and Monday we flew back to Japan together!  

Can you imagine that kind of timing!  Our God was so gracious in allowing Mark to be there (plane tickets paid for by Wycliffe) and available to fly over with me, help on the weekends and fly back with me!  I am so grateful!

Augusta "Gussie" Marie (Thiessen) Baum, 81, passed away peacefully with her children by her bedside at the Kansas City Hospice House on October 28, 2009, in Kansas City  Mo. She was born in Buhler, Kansas, on December 3, 1927. While she worked as a pediatric nurse at Children's Mercy Hospital she attended Kansas City Bible College. She graduated in 1952 and went to the Philippines as a pediatric nurse with the International Christian Leprosy Mission. She was married in 1955 and joined her husband, Wilhelm, "Bill", serving in Japan and Germany until 1980 with SEND International. She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by a daughter, Mary Esther and her husband Mark of Japan; a son, Timothy and his wife Denise of Pennsylvania; six grandchildren; a brother she adored, Abe Thiessen of Inman, Kansas, and a sister-in-law, Charlotte Frank of Overland Park, Kansas. The memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 1, at 3 p.m. at Woods Chapel Bible Fellowship*, 701 NW Woods Chapel Rd.  Blue Springs, Mo.,  Visitation begins at 1:45 p.m.

*Tel. 816-228-1411   Directions: http://www.woodschapelonline.org/Contact/Contact%20Us.htm

·         Scripture Engagement Conference brings new info and vision to Deaf Pastor Matsumoto

·         Mary Esther's mom's health is failing.  Mary Esther leaves for KC this week.  

·         14 More Wheelchairs to clean and send

Mary Esther’s mother underwent orthopedic surgery this week involving “a metal plate, a bunch of screws and wire.”  Her aging body is dealing with the results of 10 years of kidney dialysis. 

·         New funding for a new full-time translator for the Japanese Sign Language Bible!

·         Preparation for an Asia Comprehensive Sign Language Bible translation Plan meeting September 10-12.

·         Pastor Minamida’s arm/shoulder/neck condition improving.

·         Check it out!  Wheelchair cleaning lessons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvWx_6AInlU

We are now both back in Japan. Mark returned August 7 and left on the 8th for a wheelchair event and other activities in Northern Japan. Mary Esther returned on Monday the 17th.  She stayed on in Kansas City after her father's funeral for a while to care for things there.[MP]  People who knew dad from Germany, Japan and the US joined us for dad's service and we are grateful.  To all who sent cards and messages,  thank you. We learned so much about dad, and are humbled to have had such a father.

Mary Esther's father, Wilhelm Baum, is now with his Lord and Savior and we rejoice.  

His prayers and ours were granted in that he died in his sleep and didn't seem to experience any distress or discomfort.

Before going to bed he asked for graham crackers for his night-time snack and sat in bed munching away enjoying his treats.  We are thankful he was spared the move to the Long Term Care facility.  He has now moved to his real home!  Rejoice with us.

For those in the Kansas City area, there will be a memorial service on Sunday afternoon August 2 at Blue Ridge Bible Church.

ViBi/Japanese Bible Sign Language Translation (Mark)

·         Pastors Matsumoto  and Minamida are consulting on a SL translation project in the big country west of us. Pray for them and those they work with.

·         Pastor Minamida completed a first draft of Matthew 1-10, 2^nd draft of 1-6. Keep praying for arm pain.

·         Two requests for funding will be decided very soon. PRAY!!

·         Translation helper doing great work. Keep praying.

 Wheelchairs of Hope (Mary Esther)

·         Last minute negotiations got three chairs to Mongolia. We thought it might be zero.

·         Pray for an import permit to be granted

Personal

·         Mary Esther’s dad (age 94) has stabilized, but is still struggling. Pray for decisions regarding his future care.

As for her dad, his condition has stabilized and he is now in a re-hab unit near his apartment.  Pray for us and those working with him there to assess well what his future care should be.

·         Praise God for a wonderful conference with  fellow missionaries this last weekend

·         Today a potential translation worker is coming to ViBi. Pray for wisdom and good timing in talking with her.

·         ViBi just sent a request for funding to a major donor interested in Sign Language Bible translation. Pray for good results.

·         Tomorrow we leave for the Northeast. Pray for:

o   Wheelchair outreach meeting

o   Training Pastor Hori for exegetical checking on our translation

·         Mrs. S came through surgery and is recovering well.

·         We finished recording Genesis 43-50 on Friday!

1.     Pray for smooth post-production work.

2.    Pray for wisdom in our next steps

3.    Pray for Ms. Kuwahara’s health

·         The Wheelchairs of Hope Annual meeting is this week. Pray for preparation and a good meeting

·         A newspaper reporter comes to interview Wheelchairs of Hope on Tuesday