[handwritten by Louise]
19-5 Migi Iwabuchi Doori
Shirogane Machi, Hachinohe Shi
Aomori Ken, Japan
May 22, 1957
Dear Friends,
Tacked on the wall beside my desk I have this quotation — “What is Omnipotence? Is it not the power of attending to all things undistracted as well as of doing the mightiest things unexhausted? The Almighty—Is He not able to attend to all the wants of all His creatures? No multitude of suppliants can distract Him ‘and no magnitude of their requests exhaust Him.’ So ‘make the Omnipotence of God the measure of your expectation.’” May these words be a blessing to you as they have often been to us.
It often seems to us that our work is going much too slowly yet the Lord does encourage us at times with fruit. PRAISE THE LORD with us for four conversions since the last letter. Two of these you have been praying for.
Mr. Abe (High School Student) believed on Easter Sunday. There were only a few out to service but numbers are not always the most important thing. Mr. Enomoto (Fisherman) stayed home from the morning service in order to destroy one of his family god-shelves. We would liked to have seen him at the service but rejoiced when he told us what he had done. He said he was fearful when he did it but the Lord gave joy afterwards. He still has another altar in his home to which his wife is closely attached. Pray that this one also will be put out.
Mr. Echigo (fisherman) believed during the Home-Visiting campaign. His faith is weak and needs very much our prayers. Pray that he will be able to come to our meetings for fellowship.
Mr. Miyazawa (Chemical Research Engineer) had attended my English Bible Class for some time and about a month ago finally believed. He seems to be going on with the Lord but needs our prayers. He does not find it easy to witness to his fellow workers and Sunday sports seem to be one of his temptations.
Mrs. Ishibashi was prepared through suffering and has recently believed through the Home-visiting. Pray that she might be more free to attend meetings.
The Home Visiting Campaign has ended and the group of workers have gone elsewhere. The Gospel was preached widely in every home, in offices and factories, and on the streets. There have been few conversions but pray that there will yet be fruit from the seed which has been sown.
Every spring we have Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan which give good opportunity for outdoor evangelism. Large crowds gather at resorts under the beautiful cherry trees to picnic. It seems to be a time of legitimate drunkenness as many people come for that purpose only. The wide spread drunkenness is sickening but more disturbing is the almost complete lack of public opinion against it. Moral principles spring from the Word of God and we are often very conscious of the fact that there is yet very little ‘salt’ in the land. Here and in other cities much seed was sown during this years festivals—may it yield much fruit.
We had the use of a Jewellers home for meetings in the down town area for six weeks but this is no longer available so please pray for another place.
Pray much for an evangelist for a summer tent-campaign.
We are again without a language teacher. Louise is writing another language exam this week so there is being some progress made yet we are continually realizing our great need of more fluency in this language.
Thank you for your faithful prayers. May He enable you to continue on in this vital ministry.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Louise Little
19-5 Migi Iwabuchi Doori
Shirogane Machi, Hachinohe Shi
Aomori Ken, Japan
May 22, 1957
Dear Friends,
Tacked on the wall beside my desk I have this quotation — “What is Omnipotence? Is it not the power of attending to all things undistracted as well as of doing the mightiest things unexhausted? The Almighty—Is He not able to attend to all the wants of all His creatures? No multitude of suppliants can distract Him ‘and no magnitude of their requests exhaust Him.’ So ‘make the Omnipotence of God the measure of your expectation.’” May these words be a blessing to you as they have often been to us.
It often seems to us that our work is going much too slowly yet the Lord does encourage us at times with fruit. PRAISE THE LORD with us for four conversions since the last letter. Two of these you have been praying for.
Mr. Abe (High School Student) believed on Easter Sunday. There were only a few out to service but numbers are not always the most important thing. Mr. Enomoto (Fisherman) stayed home from the morning service in order to destroy one of his family god-shelves. We would liked to have seen him at the service but rejoiced when he told us what he had done. He said he was fearful when he did it but the Lord gave joy afterwards. He still has another altar in his home to which his wife is closely attached. Pray that this one also will be put out.
Mr. Echigo (fisherman) believed during the Home-Visiting campaign. His faith is weak and needs very much our prayers. Pray that he will be able to come to our meetings for fellowship.
Mr. Miyazawa (Chemical Research Engineer) had attended my English Bible Class for some time and about a month ago finally believed. He seems to be going on with the Lord but needs our prayers. He does not find it easy to witness to his fellow workers and Sunday sports seem to be one of his temptations.
Mrs. Ishibashi was prepared through suffering and has recently believed through the Home-visiting. Pray that she might be more free to attend meetings.
The Home Visiting Campaign has ended and the group of workers have gone elsewhere. The Gospel was preached widely in every home, in offices and factories, and on the streets. There have been few conversions but pray that there will yet be fruit from the seed which has been sown.
Every spring we have Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan which give good opportunity for outdoor evangelism. Large crowds gather at resorts under the beautiful cherry trees to picnic. It seems to be a time of legitimate drunkenness as many people come for that purpose only. The wide spread drunkenness is sickening but more disturbing is the almost complete lack of public opinion against it. Moral principles spring from the Word of God and we are often very conscious of the fact that there is yet very little ‘salt’ in the land. Here and in other cities much seed was sown during this years festivals—may it yield much fruit.
We had the use of a Jewellers home for meetings in the down town area for six weeks but this is no longer available so please pray for another place.
Pray much for an evangelist for a summer tent-campaign.
We are again without a language teacher. Louise is writing another language exam this week so there is being some progress made yet we are continually realizing our great need of more fluency in this language.
Thank you for your faithful prayers. May He enable you to continue on in this vital ministry.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Louise Little