Far East Apostolic Mission

2012-02-06T03:22:00.000-08:00

This last Sunday was Vision Sunday at Nara Lifesong Church.
About sixteen gathered for the morning service and Caleb preached the vision of the church to take the city for the Lord. We aren't starting from scratch, we're picking up the vision for the city from those that have pioneered it before, but we are the only ones to carry it forward now. If we don't carry it forward, no one will.
There are a few moments in my life where I've been stirred so during a message(mostly when my dad is preaching) that I want to stand up and shout Hallelujah! This last Sunday was one of those times. It's undeniable that the city of Tenri is a dark city. But the darkness only causes the light of this church to shine brighter. There is no place I would rather be today than in this city, with this family, holding this vision to reach the city for Jesus.

2012-01-29T18:50:00.000-08:00

Cathcart family then

Cathcart family now

This blog finds me soaking up the last American moments left in this precious time back in the States. My brother John and I are awaiting our next flight at the Salt Lake City airport, on our way to return to Japan. I tell you, I'm thankful the Lord still sends them out two by two!
This last month and a half has given me a new perspective on the Body of Christ. I don't recall a time ever feeling the tightness of His body all around the world as I do now! Beloved believers in Texas and Montana as well as all over America have embraced the youth and the vision of Lifesong Church and they cheer us on as we try to carry His banner high. I have been stirred, encouraged and challenged over and over again this last month and I truly say I am returning to beloved Japan with a full cup! Thank you thank you thank you for your kindness and love for the nations.
God has done something in my family that I barely dared to dream about over the years. My entire family is returning to Japan as missionaries, spread out through Japan each in different venues of ministry, but ALL in JAPAN! What a hallelujah praise report this is! This past week, my father turned our home church, Last Chance Chapel, over to Nick Lancette, and he and my mother are going back out to full time missions. Though it is a burning and dying process to part from church family in Montana, the realization that we are all in this together as a team continuously gives me a fresh perspective on His church and all of our places in it. Whoever you are reading this, you are cherished!

2012-01-09T17:31:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,
It's been a little over three weeks ago that I returned to Montana. The time has seemed to fly by! It was an honor to participate in my little brother's wedding and witness his and Whitney's vows to each other. God bless and keep this newly made family!
God has blessed me with several opportunities to share in church services and even on our local community television station about the good work He is doing in Tenri through Nara Lifesong Church. This next week I will be going to Destiny Church to represent Lifesong, then I'll return the following week for Last Chance Chapel's mission summit before heading back to Japan on January 29th.
This is the year of fresh starts and new beginnings! Caleb and Akira (another brother in the church) just moved into the chapel yesterday and will be there at all times from now on. Good reports are constantly coming back from Lifesong Church about services and outreaches. Truly God is doing a wonderful work in our midst.
The Lord met a huge need just here recently through another brother in the church buying a new sound system for the building. Praise the Lord!! The sacrifice and heart of this team is overwhelming. Please pray for this church as they focus on a strong start in the year of 2012. All for the King, all for His Kingdom!

2011-12-12T04:14:00.000-08:00

The past week has been a whirlwind of final meetings with friends and neighbors, church activities and last minute preparations as I prepare to return to Montana for my little brother's wedding. My return trip home from Nikaido to Haibara on Sunday evenings have become my greatest time of reflection throughout the week. Last night as I stood in the crowd of people in the train, then walked briskly in the bitter chill down the narrow road to my home, I found myself dealing with new emotions that I've never experienced before. I remember before I moved to Japan, my dad half seriously, half jokingly told me, "you'll never be happy anywhere else again". At the time, I couldn't quite grasp what he mean in that slightly morbid statement, but last night on my return home, my heart felt a bit ripped as I prepare to be gone for a month and a half from this beloved land and family and return to my other beloved land and family. As I walked, all the faces of people I've been privileged to make a relationship with flashed before my eyes, and the love in my heart for my friends pulls it in two as I leave. How deep is the Father's love for us? How vast beyond all measure? How is it possible to love so many so deeply? All I know is the more I know my Father and do His work, the dearer people become to me. People are the reason He came to this earth and a relationship with people is the reason He died on the cross. God loves people more than anything. This Christmas season I want to give thanks to Jesus for the many relationships He has allowed me to make here in Japan, and for letting those relationships become a venue for the Word of God to enter in and shed light.

Lifesong family passing out Christmas flyers

House of prayer

Lifesong church family

Our Christmas concert invite!

2011-12-08T17:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Yui, Kyoko and I held a Christmas party at the church for my two year old class. It turned out to be a great time to strengthen friendships and make new relationships with the neighbors. All together about 19 people were there, including the kids. Kyoko and Yui told the Christmas story together towards the end of the party and we exchanged Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. It was a great experience for everyone! After the party one of the mom's was talking to me and related the church to a community center where people can come and meet each other. This is a wonderful breakthrough for this building to be considered a community center in the neighborhood! Most people are very wary to even enter a church in Japan, so we praise God for breaking down the barriers.

2011-12-04T19:56:00.000-08:00

Dear friends -
here is a clip of the church God is doing in Tenri, Japan through your support! He will build His church!

2011-11-27T05:52:00.000-08:00

On the twenty five minute walk home from the train station tonight, I could stop myself from smiling continuously. God has been so good to us! Today at Lifesong we had three services- our regular morning service, the youth service and the monthly English service. I love this church! Caleb shared the vision of the church with the English service, and after the message the pastors and believers in the service layed their hands on us and imparted their blessing to go forward in the name of the Lord to reach Tenri for Jesus!
Today in the youth meeting one young girl raised her hand to accept Jesus into her heart. Praise Jesus! Please pray this seed of faith will grow and be protected as her relationship with Jesus begins. Also please pray for those that have accepted Jesus this past year in our church. For those whose families are not Christian, it is a continual uphill climb and struggle with the parents to continue to come to church.
God is moving! Thank you endlessly!

2011-11-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

the vision
We got massively blessed this week and were joined by some awesome friends from New Zealand! Their encouragement and prayer blessed my socks off!
Joy~Joy~Joy

After service and fellowship this last Sunday, with the core members of our group we had a strategic meeting about the future of this family. Caleb did some serious vision casting, we grouped together and committed in prayer to Jesus, and... we decided on a new name to represent this new work. 奈良ライフソングチャーチ... written in the alphabet that's - Nara Lifesong Church. I can't explain it very well with words, but oh the joy of becoming Christ's family with each other! His love overcomes the barriers and makes us one!

2011-11-07T03:21:00.000-08:00

takoyaki party... I guess that would be "octopus dumplings party"
Caleb, Taka, Paul
The group this Sunday
God has done amazing things in the city of Tenri this year! Yesterday was the first time we joined together with Caleb and his group of guys from Shiga for the morning service. Young people gathered and stayed throughout the day for the two services and fellowship lunch. Of the eighteen people that came to Kaminoai yesterday, three were not Christian, one having never been to a church service at all. God is working, and I am loving watching Him do this work! Caleb shared really simply and clearly about his personal testimony and the love of God in these services. To watch people hear a message about Jesus for the first time, and to share it with someone... this is joy! Also in my English classes, my students interest for the Bible is beginning to take up more of their time outside of class. One student in particular has committed to reading the Bible from the beginning to the end. God's Word will go forth and will not return void!

2011-10-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Just want to share a quick update on the work here in Tenri.
We found out yesterday that the only other church in Tenri has closed its doors and the members are planning to spread out through Japan to each do missionary work in their own way. So from what I know, our church is now the only church in the city of Tenri. This city holds the headquarters of the Tenrikyo religious cult that boasts 1.75 million followers throughout the world. Tenri's estimated population is about 69,000 people.
Praise Jesus for letting us be His light in Tenri!
Our services are continuing every Sunday and have been growing little by little. Yesterday in Caleb's youth meeting we had two university students from the Tenrikyo university come. We had a great time building relationships, hearing from the Word and worshiping Jesus. Please continue to pray this light will grow brighter and brighter and consume the darkness of Tenri city.
Last week I had the privilege of sharing a message from the Word in a charity concert held in Tenri city. The concert was centered around a beautiful piano from Hiroshima. The piano was in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb hit during World War II and the owner has used this piano as a symbol of peace throughout the world, and at one time took it to New York and held a concert with it there. It was an honor to speak about the greatest peace that can be found even in times of war and tragedy - Jesus' peace that passes all understanding. I had to share in Japanese and while it came out rather unpolished, it was a great feeling to be able communicate in the heart language of the people around me.

2011-10-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a great joy to take Christi around to all of my English classes and with my students hear about China and the orphanage that her parents are running in Xuzhou. One of my English students was particularly touched by her talk and asked in turn if he could take us to many of the famous shrines and temples in the Nara area. It's actually quite expensive to take the grand tour of these many historical Buddhist and Shinto temples and he paid for it all. It was very interesting to see this side of Japan and get a glimpse of the religious culture a bit more. At the end of the day I asked my student, "do you believe in these gods?" He immediately said, "no". He replied that most do not, but they continue to go to these temples as a ritual, keeping up with the ancient tradition of Japan. Later on he said, "we have the worst fate of everyone, we believe nothing!"
This was a sad picture, and a sharp contrast with the joy and life we experienced with the young people worshiping the Lord the previous day at Kaminoai. These temples and shrines are visited by the masses, yet the masses don't believe. A new generation is rising up that has discovered the true and living God, and the result is becoming a transformation and birth of faith in this land.

2011-10-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Nursing home ministry
Enjoying my friend Christi while she's in Japan!
Part of our Sunday morning group yesterday

I woke up early this morning to see my brother off as he goes to Miyagi prefecture to help with the relief efforts in Tohoku. He's going in a team of three, including Shuzo Ito, pastor of the Hari church, and Takashi, our former English student that got saved last year. I hear that hearts are open to the Lord even now in this area, please pray this trip will bring souls to Christ.
Back at Kaminoai, things have been continuing and growing amazingly. Two weeks ago we had three services on Sunday, and each service was full of life and joy... the last service attended by about 35 people! Children, teenagers and adults all milled around and had fellowship for several hours after the service. I left feeling like I had spent the evening with family. This past Sunday we had another great day at the church, and had two young ladies from Kyoto join our group. So thankful for the family of God around the globe and for the many people all over sacrificing and believing for God's kingdom to come in Japan. Thank you!

2011-09-20T06:44:00.001-07:00

This Monday evening we officially pulled off our first international party. We had about twenty people come all together and had a great time connecting with each other. The purpose of the party was to make relationships with Japanese youth so that we can eventually see them make the ultimate connection with Jesus. Caleb and Joseph both shared with the group solid truth from the Word. Together the youth of Kaminoai worked as a team to pull off this party... so thankful especially for Joseph and Christi who did so much to make it happen. We have a great idea of what will work for evangelism outreaches for the future. I'm believing for the Lord to look on these attempts with grace and draw the masses to Himself.

2011-09-18T05:43:00.000-07:00

So happy to have my friend Christi Sayre visiting us! She's a blessing wherever she goes!
Tenri street ministry

In between my English classes on Thursday I got a phone call from our long time neighbor in Fukuzumi, asking if we could come and help them bring in their rice harvest before the typhoon came in. What a joy it was to reap the harvest fields of Japan again! Working alongside my brothers in the rice fields we grew up in was an awesome feeling. The Lord has given us many privileges. This past Saturday night eight youth gathered in Tenri to do street ministry together. It was a huge step especially for the girls in Kaminoai, because we were in an area where many of their friends pass on a daily basis. As their friends passed they just let their light shine bright and told them to come to church!

2011-09-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

The girls have been stepping out and leading worship on Sunday mornings!

So many wonderful things have been happening since we've returned from camp, it is difficult to keep up with it all. After the youth camp the Benedict brothers put on, Caleb Benedict created a internet network in which everyone could stay in contact with each other for friendship and future evangelism purposes. Our next regathering after camp was at the Kaminoai church, with young people coming from many different cities to come. Several more regatherings are planned for the future and more and more this network of young people on fire for the Lord is becoming a moving force in God's Kingdom in Japan. My dear missionary friend, Christi Sayre, is visiting from China as well as my little brother from Montana. In their time here we're planning several outreaches including an international party to reach the young people in the city of Tenri. Also, together with the youth of Kaminoai we are repainting the church! It is a great blessing to have them here. Seeing young people come in and out of this building all the time, hearing brand new testimonies around the altar and seeing this place become a home for the light to dwell is almost more than this 'ol heart can bear! Jesus Christ is alive and proving Himself as our Savior at every moment.

2011-08-25T02:40:00.001-07:00

Some young soccer kids came in and participated as we praised the Lord!
So proud of the girls as they led in worship to Jesus for the first time!
We praise You Jesus!
YEC YOUTH!
Glory to God for an awesome youth camp! The Youth Encourage Camp we went to in Hyogo Prefecture (organized by the Benedict brothers) was an awesome time of encountering Jesus.
I went with three girls from our church in Kaminoai, and it was a life changing experience for them all. Before they left the girls prayed, "Lord, I want to be changed at this camp".
The Lord answered this tender prayer and did a great work in our hearts. I've come to the point where I am just sitting back in amazement as I watch God work. When we got back, I got a text from one of our girls and she wrote, camp "camp was amazing. Our God is real". The Lord's Presence left so many in tears as they realized how special they were and how much God loved them. We connected with young Christians from all over Japan. Praise Jesus for His everlasting love and raising up a generation of young people in Japan to praise His Name.

2011-08-17T05:43:00.001-07:00

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel God's pleasure" - Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire.

Today was a very busy day... and it felt like I was running the whole day! I met with three different groups of people today, the largest being a group of about 25, and then a one person English class after it all. Each meeting gave an opportunity to share the truth of Jesus and His Word. Each moment seemed to count for eternity. My personality is such that I tend to push or hurry through life too quickly... I seem to constantly need to be reminded to stop and "smell the roses"! But what a thrill it is to run for the Lord! There have been some incredibly busy days this month, but when every moment counts for eternity... I feel His pleasure! When I run I feel His pleasure!This is Nishimine san, the man who organized and planned the concert we played in last month.
We just heard the concert has been put on the Haibara television station!!
Please pray the songs we sang would touch the hearts of the listeners to know Jesus.

2011-08-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

Would just like to share that three of the teenage girls that have been coming to Kaminoai on Sunday mornings for the past three and a half months have each made the choice to live for the Lord. Praise God for building His church!

2011-08-05T04:38:00.000-07:00

Before my parents returned to the States sixteen years ago, they built one last church building at the foot of what was their property in Fukuzumi. Just a few weeks after we had returned to the States, a mountain of dirt came crashing into the building from the backside, leaving it unusable and dangerous. This building has stayed like that for the past sixteen years and has become somewhat of a "ghost house" to the kids in the neighborhood. Upon returning to Japan, my parents discovered that this portion of land was still in their name and for a small monthly fee can easily take over it again. The building, while still in terrible condition, has the potential to be fixed and used for God's purposes. Right beside this building is a peach tree my parents planted years ago, and it's nearly in full bloom! How wonderful if this chapel was transformed from a ghost house to a place people could come and learn about the Lord.
The possibilities are endless when we see through God's eyes. Please pray that every venue will be utilized to bring souls to the Lord. Thank you for ever lifting up Japan to our Father.
I have a sad report about my watermelon harvest. While they looked large and beautiful on the outside, on the inside they were white and not very sweet! The neighbors were right again.

2011-08-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

The cross does not seem to get lighter as the years pass. Every time I have to say goodbye to my parents it hurts, but this time it felt like my heart was being pulled out of me. The liquid joy of being all together as a family is as strong as the bitter loneliness of being torn apart once again.
What is this cross my Lord asks me to bear? What exactly are we doing traveling all across the world, leaving each other, leaving our church family and planting ourselves in isolation, away from each other and into a culture which isn't our own? In the midnight hours I always hear His answer. We're called... not only to love our family and meet eachother's needs... we are called to carry Jesus into a lost and dying world. This life is a constant cycle of letting go and clinging to Jesus. He giveth and giveth and giveth again, and then He asks that we give it back again to Him, and He fills the void with Himself. At this moment my parents are in the air, leaving their four children in Japan while they return to our home church Last Chance Chapel and return to pick up the cry of lost souls in regions all over the world. David's words prick my heart, "Is there not a cause?"

The young people in Kaminoai are gearing up for a three day youth camp in Hyogo Prefecture. At this camp we're meeting with youth all over Japan. This will be a great time of fellowship and seeking the Lord together... we can do more together than we can alone! Please pray for the outpouring of the Lord's Spirit upon this camp.

The Kaminoai girls~ together we're discovering God's purposes and plans for our lives~

2011-07-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I returned from Sapporo back to Nara. My time in Hokkaido was such a gift of refreshment and encouragement from the Lord. The classes at the ISM school were so wonderful and encouraged me greatly. The entire week our precious brother from Kamchatka, Nikolai Poliakov, taught on church planting, along with teachings from several other missionaries and native ministers and my dear Daddy. I soaked up every word like a dry sponge, knowing that it was from the Lord, teaching us in the way we should go with the starting of this church in Kaminoai.
One of the reasons I went to Hokkaido was to find the best place to invest a large portion of money given by a church in Kuwait. At this school I met three young refugee families who have fled from the nuclear power plant disaster in Iwaki city, Fukushima, Japan. A few of them had come to the school at first for a place to find shelter, but as they were there they felt the Lord calling them to enter into this school and begin a new life dedicated to Him. One of the young couples has seen a great move of God in their extended families' lives after the earthquake. Over the phone this couple was able to lead their extended family of five people to the Lord. Another young man was one of the key people in alerting and organizing people to climb a mountain while the tsunami was coming in shortly after the earthquake. It was captivating to hear these stories and to see these young couples' lives as they begin again and dedicate their lives to seeing Christ's Kingdom come in Japan. These couples have lost their jobs, have homes that they can't go home to and desperately needed the funds that this offering provided. With great joy and thankfulness they received the generous offering as though it were manna from heaven. We are believing this offering is an investment into the lives of those that will be greatly influential in the Kingdom of God in Japan.

2011-07-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

It's a great feeling to wake up in Japan every morning and remember my family is waking up at the same time in this same nation! (although there is still an ocean separating us)
Today was the second day of classes for the Hokkaido International School of Missions and it sounds like a wonderful place to be! So much so that I also am going up for almost a week to reconnect with missionaries from around the world, make new connections with Christians in Hokkaido, and spend precious time with family. God is doing great things all over Japan and I'm greatly anticipating connecting with the Christian family in Hokkaido.
The devastation of the Tohoku disaster continues to pull at our hearts, and this Sunday I've been invited to share in guitar and song at a charity concert put on to support the need in Japan. So thankful for the opportunity to sing of the hope we have in Christ in the midst of every disaster.
Our small Sunday morning group is beginning to grow slowly as we hone in on the purpose for which God created our lives. Up to now, with the Benedict brothers we have been holding services for young people about once every three weeks. A strong core group is being formed and we're beginning to focus more outward to the need around us. Thank you for your prayers!
Just a short update on the garden - the cucumbers, green peppers and tomatoes are oh so tasty! What an priceless education from these farmers~

2011-07-03T23:28:00.000-07:00

For the first time in sixteen years, my entire family reunited in Japan! My family came over from Montana to start a 7 week missions training school in Hokkaido, Japan. (http://cfnjism.wordpress.com/) On their way to start this incredible outreach, they were able to stop by and stay with us for a week and be a part of the ministry here in Tenri. Words really can't describe the joy of working with family again for the Lord! The past week they plunged themselves into our schedules despite the terrible jet lag and ministered everywhere they went. We finished our last day together with three services on Sunday at the old Kaminoai. It was surreal to be there all together as a family again and to reunite with many faces from the past and meet many new ones. It's undeniable that God is doing a great thing in Japan today! We saw them all off this morning as they make their way to Hokkaido. The Parsons and my brother Joseph are going by plane while my parents are going by car, traveling through the many disaster areas along the way and assessing the needs. Please pray for safe travels for all and for God's blessing and anointing to be upon this new school.

2011-06-13T04:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had our first young people's gathering at the Kaminoai church. Teenagers came from all over Japan to meet each other again for the first time in about ten years. The Benedict brothers led the service and Caleb Benedict gave a real powerful testimony about committing your ways and your life to the Lord and the blessing that follows from it. After the service, everyone stayed and talked for several hours, looking through old pictures and catching up on each others lives. It was great to relive old memories and to see each other again, but even greater than this is the possibility of coming together as a team to reach this generation of youth in Tenri. The Word says the Lord will bless and establish the seed of the righteous when they choose His ways. Claiming those promises today.

2011-06-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

The past few Sundays I have been going through the book "A Purpose Driven Life" with several teenage girls that come to the church. I read this book when I was fifteen years old and I remember the impact it had on my life back then. Going through this book in Japanese with these girls and talking together about what we read has been a great blessing. Every generation struggles with the age old question - what is the purpose of my life? As we read this book and the answers found in the Bible, light and joy take the place of darkness and fear. These young girls prayed together to receive Jesus as their Lord on Sunday. Thank you Lord, we are made for a glorious purpose!
This Sunday we are having our first outreach service for young people in Tenri. Please keep us in your prayers as we reach out first to all the young people that used to attend Kaminoai, and then to all the young people in the city of Tenri.

2011-05-24T05:22:00.000-07:00

We got the wonderful privilege of starting a garden in a plot of ground owned by a neighbor in Fukuzumi, the small village where I grew up. Today we planted corn, tomatoes, green peppers, pumpkin, cucumbers, and even watermelon! This is my first time to grow anything and the neighbors are graciously teaching us how to do it every step of the way. I feel a little intrusive as I step as a foreigner into their beautiful world of rice planting and garden growing. It is an honor to learn firsthand the age old ways that make this land so beautiful.

So far in Tenri, there are about four classes set up in the church along with a couple outside outreaches. Our first outreach service to the kids that grew up in Kaminoai and other young people is set for June 12th in the afternoon. Our morning services in Nikaido are turning into more like a discipleship time for the people coming, while the afternoon services will be geared more towards an evangelistic focus for youth. Thank you for your prayers!

2011-05-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

Kaminoai when it was first built, about 24 years ago.

Hey everyone,
It's been a beautiful day in Japan. This is a shot of the sun going down this evening in Tenri, Japan. The other is a shot of a pig's head I came across at I was going through the walking mall today! Things have been moving ahead as we continue meeting with several girls in service on Sunday and planning out the long term vision of restarting Kaminoai. There is about three outreach English classes started so far here in Nikaido, and John has taken the full burden of continuing last year's English classes. Because of our different focuses in ministry, he spends most his days in Haibara, while I spend most my days in Tenri. This next month we're planning a regathering of all the youth that attended Kaminoai as kids. Caleb Benedict and his brothers, who also grew up at Kaminoai, have agreed to team up with us to hold services at Kaminoai as an outreach to this generation. Please pray for us as we go forward!

2011-05-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

Every time I come back to Japan my perspective always seems to change to an eternal one, and this time is no different. The past several weeks many people in my life and in my close friends' lives have passed away. Again our short time time here on this earth stirs in my heart the sound of eternity. And it's for His eternal Name's sake that we are working in the city of Tenri to reach the young people of Japan. In the restarting of Kaminoai, we have had so many roads laid before us. Through prayer and much time at the altar, the Lord's guidance has become sure and steady and bit by bit His plan seems to be unfolding for the restarting of this church. We've started services several weeks ago with two young girls whose parents used to come to Kaminoai many years ago. Though their parents are active in another church, the girls have not continued to go on their own. It's a great joy to be able to meet together with them on Sundays. We have a dream of seeing the young people whose families used to attend this church in the past, regather together and come to the Lord Jesus on their own accord. Among those youth that grew up in this church, a team is being formed to reach out to our generation not with religion but a relationship with Jesus! John and I and our Hari church pastor and his wife checked out a young people's church in Osaka this past Sunday. There are so many unique strategies that are working powerfully among the youth in Japan today and I have heard many times since our arrival that this is harvest time in Japan and people are being saved on a daily basis! We are ready to see that harvest in the Nara Prefecture! Thank you for continuing to pray on this behalf. I have another prayer request in concern for the pastor in Iwaki who has done such an incredible work of being an aide to the need in Iwaki city. He awoke this past week to find that his baby girl had died during the night. Iwaki is one of the places that they are seeing people come to Jesus on a daily basis, and this man is one of the key figures in all the good that is happening there. Please pray for this family in the midst of this heart wrenching trial. We know the Lord is in control and will bring glory to His Name despite the worst circumstances.

2011-05-04T17:03:00.001-07:00

John and I safely arrived in Osaka, Japan on Saturday, April 30^th. The following Sunday we held our first service in the Kaminoai in Tenri city. Several ladies who used to attend the old Kaminoai came with their daughters and we had a precious time of praise and worship and sharing of our testimonies with eachother. While the mothers cannot continue to come, the daughters who are in their teen years are interested in continuing to come, which is a great blessing because the girls are not going to church at this time. My dream is to see this building full of young people who are hungry for the truth of the gospel.

John is getting settled into a new routine as he is taking over all the English and Bible classes that I taught last year. It's my desire to start new classes in Tenri and explore and experiment with new ways of evangelism with the youth such as international parties, band concerts, etc...

The city we are focusing on restarting this church in has a population of about 70,000 people and is the only city in Japan whose name is based on its religion. The Tenrikyo religion is a mixture of Buddhism, Shintoism and even a little bit of Christianity. This religion believes that Tenri is one of the "energy centers" of the world and it has about 1.75 million followers in Japan and about 2 million worldwide. We are truly coming to battle against the strongholds of darkness in Japan, and we covet your prayers and we labour to see Christ's light pierce this darkness.

2011-04-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
The past three weeks at home have been filled with so many wonderful precious moments straight from the Lord. Shearing sheep with my father, holding my niece as she told me she would never let me go, having a passover meal with my family, climbing all my favorite mountains and drinking endless cups of coffee with my family has made up many precious moments that I am holding close to my heart.
In one week my brother and I are returning to Japan. Our vision and purpose in this returning trip is to restart the church my parents pioneered in Tenri, Japan. Our first service will be on May first.
Though it was only for a few days, my time in Iwaki, Fukushima has stayed with me and I continue to follow through a friend what is happening there through the church. The glorious news is that this church is seeing souls be saved every day in Iwaki. At the evacuation camps, disaster areas and every where they go, people are calling on the Name of the Lord for salvation. What glory! Thank you for your ceaseless prayer for Japan.

2011-03-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Global Mission Chapel

Dear friends,
Your faithful love and support has allowed so much help to flow through the Fukushima area. The church in Iwaki is continuing to act as a pipe between the afflicted and the aide in Iwaki. The thousands of evacuees in Iwaki have not been able to take a bath in two weeks due to the lack of water. Someone donated two tons of firewood and another 6 portable bath tubs that will be coming in next week! Meanwhile, to relieve the stress of everyone, they are having a foot washing for all of the evacuees! A 700 liter water tank, 5 metal barrels, wood splitters, fire starters, water boilers and of course foot washers were all part of what it took to accomplish the foot washing. Praise God for the church of Iwaki! The threat of radiation has continued to keep away aide, volunteers and reconstruction, but this has caused the church in Iwaki to stand in the gap and be the moving force of help to the afflicted. You are playing a huge part in that through your support and prayer, and I thank you! I am being updated by Ariel Blumenthal, a good friend of the pastor and a one that came all the way from Jerusalem to help this church. You can also follow his blog at http://reviveisrael.org/japanblog/ . He has regular updates on this glorious work of the church in Iwaki city.
My brother John and I are returning today to the States for one month. This is a keeping of a promise I made to my parents last year to return to the States for one month and reassess our work in Japan. All that we do here is as part of a family, and a huge purpose of our return home is to hash over our future as a family concerning God's work in Japan. It has been an incredible year and with all my heart I thank you for your commitment to God's Kingdom and support for His work in Japan.

2011-03-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

Preparing a hot meal for an evacuation camp.
Working together for Jesus!
After serving a hot meal we sang songs of praise to Jesus with the evacuees.

2011-03-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
I just made a short video rapping a little bit about the Fukushima trip... but it doesn't seem to want to upload on to the blog so here is a link to watch it. If you have time, please check it out. God bless you!

http://vimeo.com/21492831

2011-03-24T04:38:00.000-07:00

Shuzo Sensei's brother was a huge help as he and another brother drove the truck to Fukushima
Non stop work in the kitchen!
Preparing a meal for an evacuee camp
Blessed time talking with these girls who fled from their homes and now live here... they received a Bible with so much joy!
Some of the damage in Minami Soma
Praying without ceasing
An evacuee camp of about 300 people, this is one of the 70 camps in Iwaki right now.

Unloading the truck of supplies Kitani Sensei's church waving us off

Dear precious family,
I arrived back in Haibara at about 12 this afternoon. It was a long exhausting return trip home, with each of us taking a turn driving the 525 kilometers from Fukushima to Shiga. The trip was an incredible success. The Lord's church is strong and alive in Iwaki city and is meeting the needs of many evacuee camps on a daily basis. The government relief efforts in this city has not been very strong because of the nuclear scare, while strong efforts are being done in the Miyagi and Iwate prefectures. There is still no water or gas in most of the houses in Iwaki, but there is cold water at this church. People come and fill up tanks of water and return home just so they can flush their toilets and wash their hair. The lack of government efforts in this city has caused the Global Mission Chapel to rise up and respond to the need all around them. Churches from prefectures all over Japan are beginning to bring in relief supplies to this church. This church receives the aide, separates and sorts it and immediately sends it by truck to the areas of greatest need. The pastors of this church have a direct line with the city authorities and are beginning to be used by the city to bring in aide to the afflicted. When the evacuees ask where this help has come from, they're told that the churches of Japan and also the world have gathered together to bring this to them. What an awesome work! This week I sat down with members from churches of many denominations who came just to help in this need. This is truly a unifying work of the churches of Japan.
Every morning a team of about 15-20 men meet and set out the plans for the day. Who will go to Minami Soma? Who will go here, who will go there? And the battle plan is laid out. At the end of the day, they return to the church and hear each others' feedback and present the new needs. The beginning and the end of the day is full of worship. As these men lifted their voices high and worship Jesus, it felt as though we were living in the days of Acts. This is the church of Christ in action. This is revival and Pentecost. This is bread to my soul. It was a sweet and sad time to leave these precious laborers as they are daily giving up their lives to be Jesus' hands and feet to their people.
With all my heart, thank you for your mighty prayers lifted to our Father on this behalf and for our health. We spent the week sorting supplies, delivering to evacuee camps, assessing the needs, and cooking and cleaning. Our team is tired, but our souls are so alive.

2011-03-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

Pastor Shuzo Ito, Pastor Kitani, Pastor Murayama

Thanks to the fruit of so many people's efforts that have been immersed in the mercy and grace of God, a team of six has been formed to go into the Fukushima prefecture and deliver aide and try to be a help in anyway possible. This effort has truly been a team effort between the churches of America and the churches in the Nara prefecture. I counted at least eight churches in the Nara prefecture that have brought some sort of assistance to this need. Praise God! Though these churches are not in direct fellowship with each other, we have all worked together to fill this truck and deliver this aide to Iwaki, Fukushima. We are departing tomorrow night at about 9 pm. For the next few days I will be in the Fukushima prefecture with our team. I don't think I'll have access to the internet. I'll be in contact with my brother by cell phone, and he will be posting updates along the way. Unfortunately John cannot go because his foot is still on the mend. Thank you for keeping the healing of his foot in your prayers! Also, please pray for us as we go into this area that has so quickly running out of gasoline, kerosene, food, water and so many other necessities. It is an incredible gift from the Lord and from my parents to go into this stricken area. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to hover over our every step and for the love of Christ to conquer over all. I am overwhelmed by the prayer and support of so many people that love Japan. We love because He first loved us!

2011-03-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Today I talked to different pastors in the Nara area and a team is being formed to go into the Fukushima prefecture. We are renting and filling a 4 ton truck with food, water, medicine and such supplies and are planning to leave Sunday evening to go into this prefecture. So far we've connected with five pastors and missionaries in this area to meet this need. Over the next two days we'll be working to fill up this truck and prepare to go in. Please keep us in your prayers. We've confirmed with a local police station that we can get special permission to use the highways to enter into Fukushima if we go in as an organization. Praise God for making a way. Thank you for lifting Japan to the Father.

2011-03-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
This evening about 9:30 I talked again with this pastor in the Fukushima prefecture. He said their greatest need is for food. He has spent today going to hospitals and shelters and elderly homes. He said in one hospital of 500 people, each person was only allowed to have one rice ball because of the scarcity of food. They went to an elderly home of 100 people and were met with tears as they saw him bring in the food. He was told that he was the first to come. Their needs are endless- they need food, water, toilet paper, diapers for senior citizens, their mental hospital needs medicine... specifically he said they don't need money... they need food and supplies and people to help. So far it is an unmet need.
His desire is that we will come in to their city with several vans full of such supplies and a team of people ready to pass out the food and pray with the people. He said if we go to our local police station and say we want to send a car of supplies in, we will get permission to use the highway. Their area is close to the nuclear power plants (40 kilometers away). Iwaki is about 528 kilometers away from our area. We're working on forming a team and vans to enter into the terrible needy area. Though he is close to danger, he has not chosen to evacuate or even to stay in his home safe from the radiation. When I asked him about it he said, "my life is hid with God in Christ... and you cannot kill a dead man!" Shamba! We have an opportunity to meet a real need here. Let's work together to show people the love of Jesus!

2011-03-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and family,

Last week's earthquake and tsunami have left a huge devastation in Japan. Reports of this tragedy grow worse by the day. The death toll rising, the millions without food and water, and the issues of radiation leakage in the nuclear power plants are just a few of the issues that the government is trying to handle. Our prefecture is far from where all of this is taking place, but we have people on the ground in those needy areas. One contact is the pastor of Global Mission Chapel in Fukushima Prefecture, whose location is only 40 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant and its issues. This pastor and his church are willing to be a bridge through which aide can go to the afflicted. He has promised to send us a detailed list of specific needs within the next day. I hope to post these needs as soon as they are received. We have heavy hearts, but are so thankful for a venue through which we can be a help. Any donations you send towards relief for this crisis will go through this venue.
We praise God that He takes the worst of situations and uses them for His glory and His Kingdom. As Samson said, "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." That which was sent to destroy can be the very salvation hoped for. May all these things bring Japan to the knowledge of salvation found only in Jesus Christ.

2011-03-07T01:19:00.000-08:00

Saturday during a intense game of tag with our Koryama students, my brother John had a bad accident and had to be taken to the hospital. During the game, he started climbing an old rock wall surrounding the yard and an old rock weighing about 55 pounds gave way and landed straight on his foot. He's doing alright, but has to have surgery to put his toes back in place. Would appreciate your prayers for a quick recovery on John's behalf!
So thankful for all of our Japanese friends and family for their phone calls, concern and help.

2011-02-20T05:32:00.001-08:00

“I have seen, at different times, the smoke of a thousand villages-villages whose people are without Christ, without God, and without hope in this world.”
- Robert Moffat

2011-02-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

Twice a month we go to an elderly home beside our house and sing the gospel by song in Japanese.

Japanese and Chinese friends
Our Japanese class in Kashihara
A fellow classmate from Egypt
Weekly private class with Miyabe Sensei

We've received an opportunity to teach another group (7-10 people) English and a weekly Bible story. It's so exciting to build a new group of relationships and to share the Word with a new group of people. Several people have asked me what our daily schedule looks like and while it's different every day, here is a basic Wednesday. The following pictures show the singing and sharing at an elderly home we go to twice a month on Wednesdays, our private Japanese class and our group Japanese class. Also today we were able to meet with the above mentioned group of people interested in learning English and following that I had a private English and Bible time with an acquaintance in Kashihara. These are exciting days in Japan! Every day the Word of God goes forth is a day well spent.

2011-02-08T17:38:00.000-08:00

Hari kids class

The missionary family from Korea and our Japanese teacher, sharing a delicious Korean meal.
This past couple of weeks, it's been a real blessing to learn the Japanese language from Bill Cook, who has lived in Japan since 1958. He has studied the Japanese language and compressed and simplified it in such a way that he explains the basics of it on one large sheet of paper. Through his explanation, the pieces of this complicated puzzle have starting to piece together in my mind. (so she says)
I met a Korean missionary's wife at my Japanese class last year and two weeks ago John and I went over to have lunch with them in their little apartment. With the Japanese we both have gleaned we were able to have great fellowship. This sweet little family is sent out from a 2,000 member church in South Korea. The church has the "Back to Jerusalem" goal and is planning to send 100 missionaries on the road from South Korea to Jerusalem, planting churches along the way. However this couple chose to go the opposite direction and reach Japan with the gospel. I asked them why and they said they want to "bring Japan back to Jerusalem."
It's beautiful- the Lord never forgets Japan.
Our classes for this year are beginning to wind down and the stories are climaxing to the Lord's death on the cross and His resurrection. Please pray for our students that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened and they would know the hope there is in Jesus.

2011-01-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

Thursday afternoon I was surprised to look outside of our window and see a K-truck parked up on the narrow hill beside our house. Thinking it was the landlord coming to check on us, I walked to the door and found our visitor had already let himself in to our foyer. It took me a few seconds realize the man in cowboy hat and boots was not a Japanese, and then with a shout I realized it was the same Bill Cook that helped my father build many churches all throughout the Nara area and reconstructed the very house we're living in. First time to see him in fifteen years! The next twenty four hours John, Bill and I had great fellowship, celebrating what God is doing all over the world. Bill is now living in Thailand, spreading the gospel and smuggling Bibles into countries that are not open to the gospel. His fellowship was like water to a thirsty soul, especially as we think of the missions conferences that are taking place in the States this month. It's so encouraging to hear what God is doing all over the world. These fiery reports of God's work around the world fill my soul with the longing to see the same revival fires break out in Japan. We claim it in Jesus Name!

2011-01-19T05:49:00.000-08:00

The first part of January was kind of a slow and relaxing time for John and I. Now our schedules have resumed and it's back to fast paced life! Every other week we walk down to a elderly home near our house and have a time of singing gospel songs, a few old Japanese songs and a short time of talking about the Word. Today we did so again and after we sang I went to greet the lovely ladies who graciously listen to us. The first lady I came to immediately grabbed my hands and looked pleadingly into my eyes, pointed her hands to heaven, then back down to herself and stared pleadingly into my eyes, searching me for the answer. All I could do was look back at her and hold her hands. A thousand unspoken words passed between us in those few moments, and the whole room full of people just paused and stared at us. Because there was a line of ladies waiting to be greeted, I continued down the row, smiling and shaking hands, but I knew there was unfinished business with the lady on the first row. I didn't get another opportunity to talk to her and I'm praying the Lord will give me another chance. Please pray that we might have an opportunity to lead her to the Lord. I have never had such a pleading look pierce my soul for so long as she did today.
New opportunities meet us every day. Yesterday I walked down to the post office to mail some letters and met a lady who has seen us before and wanted to talk but could not... she introduced herself, wrote down all her contact information and urged me to come visit her in her house sometime. Every new relationship is an opportunity for an individual to experience God and His great love. Thank you for praying for Japan.

2010-12-26T06:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight marks the end of a month long Christmas celebration in Japan. Most of the celebration was built around evangelistic outreaches including many candle light services, nursing home singing sessions and just singing Christmas carols with our guitar on the streets. After awhile it was rather exhausting, but the aftermath leaves such a glow in my heart. Today in the Hari church, our pastor Shuzo Itto invited every person to say a few words of thankfulness in retrospect of this past year. As I paused and reflected over this year and heard the thankfulness flowing out of each member of the church, my tiredness slipped away and the overflowing joy of the Lord came in its place. I had to fight back tears as I pondered how good God has been to us. This year we have watched as four of our English students chose to believe in Jesus and verbally pray and commit their lives to Him. We've seen the Lord begin to grow seeds that have been scattered by previous laborers in this field. We've become part of a wonderful family of believers in the city of Hari, who are behind us in our dream to plant a church in an unreached area next year. And by God's grace we have learned a portion of the language to be able to somewhat communicate to the people around us... and claiming bucket loads of grace for our future endeavors to fully learn the language! And tonight in our English service, my brother John Israel Cathcart gave a wonderful word about living under the shadow of God. It's such a privilege to work alongside my brother for God's kingdom!
And lastly, none of this could be done without you, the body of Christ who have supported us, prayed for us and encouraged us to see God's kingdom come in Japan. Yes, there is so much to be thankful for! And the ever resounding cry remains - the best is yet to come!!

p.s. attached are a few pictures of the Hari Christmas outreach... it was quite a success with an attendance of 59 people!From us to you - a very Merry Christmas!

2010-12-16T18:38:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week. Tuesday we had a candlelight service in Sakurai, Wednesday we attended a candlelight service in Kashiba, went to two Japanese classes and held one English/Bible class in Kashihara, Thursday was another Japanese class in Kashihara and one English/Bible class in Haibara. Today I have English/Bible classes in Hari while John has gone to Osaka with our student Takashi, to have fellowship with a church in Osaka. It is wonderful to watch God move in unique ways in each of these cities. I believe His cry is that every city in Japan would have a light! So many more cities are untouched and waiting for someone to come and share the good news.
One of my students in Sakurai is a 64-yr old man who has not made any response to the gospel message up to this point. This past Tuesday following the Bible story and during a silent moment in our candlelight service in Sakurai, he lifted up his candle high and said loudly, "Yesu Sama, Arigatogozaimasu!" (Thank You Jesus!) Needless to say, it rather surprised John and I! Please pray for him and all our students, that these outbursts of gratefulness and understanding would continue as we encounter all Jesus has done for us!

2010-12-12T04:24:00.000-08:00

Tonight we had a Christmas service in a coffee shop where we usually have our weekly English classes. About nineteen people showed altogether. It was a wonderful time of singing carols around the piano, gift exchanging, and listening to the gospel message. As I looked around at all the people that had come, the thrill of sharing the gospel with people that have never heard it hit me all over again and once again I felt like the richest woman in the world to be able to take part in such a wonderful life. One of my Japanese teachers came from Kashihara just to be there tonight, and during the gospel message, he listened so intently as though hanging on every word. The coffee shop's owner had printed out the first eighteen verses of the gospel of John and gave each person a copy to go home with. It is such an amazing thing to experience seeing someone encounter the Living Word of God for the first time in their lives. Please pray the Word that was planted tonight would take deep root in the hearts of the hearers! God bless you.

2010-12-06T03:15:00.001-08:00

Today John and I went with another local pastor to a nursing home to speak about the Lord and sing some carols. It seems that those without the Lord feel such a loneliness during the Christmas season and as we sang people began to cry. Afterward one lady said that before we came, she never knew what Christmas was about. Another lady said that as a child she went to a school run by a Christian mission, and so many memories came back to her. Looking into their eyes I saw such a hunger and acceptance of every morsel of message we were singing out. It amazes me that every day we get the opportunity to share the gospel message with someone who has never heard it before.
My brother has never really wanted to be a preacher, but today as he took the microphone, he started speaking straight to the crowd and sharing exactly what the Lord can do in their lives if they just accept Him. As what he said was being interpreted, one lady began to beam and nod her head up and down and I was almost sure I heard and "amen" come out of her.
The message of Christmas is Emmanuel- God is with us. God came to us because He wants to be with us! Many of the people we sang around today had broken bodies and broken lives, but God wants to be with them personally, and that's why He came. Please pray that the words they hear in this little moment near the end of their life would bring about a real relationship with the One that longs to be with them.

2010-12-01T03:39:00.000-08:00

I just got home from an eight day visit with my family in Montana. It was an unexpected blessing to be able to go home for that short time and enjoy the bliss of family, the church and the mountains. I was reminded again how many people are lifting up the land of Japan to Jesus, and realized once more we're not alone! My brother John received a three year visa for Japan about a month ago, and together we returned today to Haibara. It is such a different feeling going out as a team instead of going out alone. I'm claiming the verse, "one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight"! May those ten thousand come running to Jesus!
This month is busier than most months because of the Christmas season. Christmas time is a great time in Japan to do evangelism. Besides the usual schedule, there are many more activities and outreaches planned this month as we celebrate the Savior of the world coming to us.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for my brother to be able to return!

2010-11-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

Franklin Graham conference... so many went to the altar to accept Jesus
Megumi and her family and friends
Haibara's Shrine festival

Two weeks ago another Haibara student, Megumi, walked down the aisle with me at a Franklin Graham conference to give her life to Jesus. I was also saved at a Franklin Graham conference fifteen years ago. What a feeling to hear that same beautiful gospel message, then hear my English student answer, yes, she wanted to accept Jesus... it is too beautiful! If we wrote the story of our lives ourselves, we could not possibly come close to capturing the beauty, adventure destiny and thrill as Jesus does when we hand over the pen to Him!
Today, upon invitation, I went to a shrine festival in Megumi's neighborhood. It was a new experience for me and it seemed strange to be there, but later on in the day, it opened the door to a long conversation with an older man and his wife who have been studying the Bible the past two years. This couple has had great input into their lives from previous missionaries who lived in Haibara. They had never accepted the Christian faith, but their son, who played with the missionary couple's son, had grown up and had his own salvation experience with the Lord. Once the festivities were over, I sat across from them in their house and they began to pour out their thoughts and questions about the Bible. They talked about the emptiness they see in Shintoism and Buddhism and the difference they see in Christianity. They said most Japanese have rituals and traditions that they feel they must continue, but no real faith. This man said that the faith he sees in Christianity seems to be the real faith. Then he asked if any one could come to my church, or if it was only people that were fully Christian. What a joy to say yes of course, anyone can come at any time! I had to return to the family that originally invited me to their house, so our time was cut short, but before leaving he asked me to return and teach the Bible to them. They have plans to come to my Japanese pastor's church in Hari and hear the message of the Word.

Hallelujah!

2010-10-10T01:24:00.000-07:00

My parents' two week stay in Japan is going by all too fast for me, and I'm hoping the moments will slow down so their departure date doesn't come so soon. This has already been a very busy week with my parents. They have met a good portion of my students in English classes and together we had a dinner party for my students and friends at the house. My father preached an excellent message in Japanese this morning in the Hari church and it was a great joy for me to realize I understood about half to three fourths of it! One special experience we got to have in the middle of this busy week is doing pottery in a pottery sensei's house in a country part of town. Watching my parents' hands knead and work the clay has made me think of the years and years of ministry they have invested into the souls of men for Jesus the King. I think the hearts of my English students and friends have really softened upon meeting my parents. It is amazing that the Lord always seems to work not through individuals as much as He works through families.

2010-10-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Oh if everyone had a blog spot. Then we could all record to each other what God is doing all over the world in every situation and in every life! I just finished reading the blogs of Steve and Tracie Olson's family (http://lightonthehillministries.wordpress.com) as they have begun their life serving the Lord in Botswana. And the testimonies are endless, as they are all over the world!

My students are continuing read their Bibles on a weekly basis. Every week they read the Bible story before hand, then we go over it together in class. Every week I share a story I try to paint a picture of the sovereignty of God, the issue of sin and the need for a Savior. We are just now approaching the climax point, and Isaiah 53 is taking us in to the introduction of Jesus. This is the glory of it all, and I'm thrilled to finally be introducing Jesus to them. The stories leading up to this have laid a foundation and I am praying and hoping it makes a difference in how they receive the message of the Savior. Please pray for them.

Such wonderful news came from home! My father was asked to do a church dedication for Pastor Hiroyasu Kaneshiro. The long and short of the matter is that my both of my parents are coming (thank you Woody and Shelley!) for a two week visit here in Japan. I have to admit, I cried like a baby when I found out! All of my students are so excited to meet my parents, and we're having another American meal "party" at the house for them to meet each other. May the Lord use it to bring about the full salvation of every student.

Lastly, in my English class today, one lady who has not accepted the Lord yet, but told me she wants to believe Jesus, today asked if we could pray together at the end of the English class. She did not make a big deal of it, but after I prayed, she prayed herself. She has heard the gospel message several times and was one of my parents' students years ago. It seems she is finally taking steps toward Jesus.

God bless you!

2010-09-14T03:22:00.000-07:00

This season is rice harvesting time in Japan. I got to experience something wonderful today. My English student invited me to come and help reap the rice in her and her husband's tanbo (rice field). As we were driving there it turned out it was the very fields next to our house where me and my family lived in Fukuzumi. It was really a special feeling to get out there and reap the harvest of rice in the same field I played in as a kid. My English student and her husband remembered us playing around there as kids many times, and her husband mentioned how he always saw my parents going for a walk in the evening time as he worked in his field. What a feeling to look up and see golden fields of rice, fully ready to be harvested. What a feeling to reap a harvest in the fields I grew up playing in! In the same way the fields of the souls of Japan are white unto harvest. I'm believing that even as we were physically reaping the rice, it was representing the reaping of souls the Lord is going to bring in Japan. May every grain of rice represent a soul to know Jesus. Thank you for thinking of Japan and lifting up Japan in prayer to the King. We serve a mighty God.

2010-08-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

2010-08-30T01:25:00.000-07:00

My student Takashi followed the Lord in water baptism yesterday!

2010-08-12T00:29:00.000-07:00

Every week I continue to meet with my English students, and they are all beginning to read the Bible stories on their own with their personal brand new Bibles, thanks to your support. Several of my students have begun to come with me to my church consistently on Sundays. One young man in particular has not missed a Sunday for the past month and a half. Just tonight in our English class meeting, he completely decided to give his life over to Jesus. Every week he is beginning to be discipled by a pastor in Sakurai and every Sunday the pastor in the Hari church takes time to pour into him. This young man was especially affected by my brother John during his time here, and continues to keep contact with John through email. Praise the Name of Jesus!
At this time I spend almost every night in the home and church of my pastor and his wife (many pastor's families live inside of their church building). There are three children in this family, all under the age of nine, and they are my constant companions and teachers while I am there. This has been the opportunity of a lifetime to learn the culture and language in the heart of a real Japanese home. My awkwardness in this culture has never seemed so apparent as it does now, but the Lord's grace is abundant and always there to cover my blunders. Thank you Jesus!
If you get a chance to read this, it would be so awesome if you could take a moment to pray for the salvation of my English students.
Thank you for remembering Japan!
Bethany

2010-07-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the aftermath of a wonderful evening...
I made an American meal tonight for my English students from all the cities that I teach in. Fifteen people came, and out of the fifteen, thirteen are not Christian. It was a great time of food and fellowship, and the greatest part of it all was that my pastor, Shuzo Sensei came and shared his heart with the people. It was definitely plowing ground to do so, considering the majority of the people had never even gone to a church. A million feelings swirl around in my soul in the aftermath of it all. But the greatest confidence that I have is that there is power in the Word of God, it goes forth like a sword and pierces in the secret places of the heart. Believing the Word of God has done that today!
One of the pastors of the churches I teach at told me yesterday that it was really a miraculous thing that people are coming to his church every week and taking classes and hearing the Bible story from me with open hearts. There are just a couple of people that attend his services on Sunday, and he said for him it is super natural that non Christians are coming and hearing the truth in his own church with open hearts. That was an encouraging word.

2010-07-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

25 Bibles - THANK YOU!

Signs of Hunger

2010-07-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

What a good week it has been here in Japan! On Sunday, two of my English students and one of my friends met me at a local grocery store to be picked up for church. It was the first time for those two English students to ever go to a church, and three weeks ago was the first time for the other girl to go a church. This week I sat beside two non Christian friends as they bowed their heads and prayed with tears to Christ... neither have fully accepted the Lord at this point but the tears streaming down their faces showed deep signs of hunger. What a wonderful thing it is to have hunger! When someone is hungry for the truth, they can surely find it!
Thanks to your support I was able to purchase 25 Japanese Bibles for my English students and other non Christian friends I have made along the way. I am sharing God's story of redemption by starting at the very beginning with the book of Genesis. Every week I share a new story and emphasize on the characteristics of God, the issue of sin and separation from God, and the need and promise of a Savior. I'm so excited to be able to give Bibles for the students to study along with. Please pray that these Bibles will be received favorably and would soon become the most cherished part of their life.
Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up with all the Lord is doing! The harvest is plentiful! The harvest is ripe! The best is yet to come!

2010-07-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday: "I want to believe Jesus"- one student in Nikkaido.
Sunday: "I have to confess, I'm starting to believe"- a new friend I have made in Haibara... these words spoken after attending church on Sunday for the first time (three services in one day!)
Thursday: A young man in the Haibara class followed in prayer to receive Jesus Christ.

The light of Christ is piercing through the night and the power of darkness is crumbling! Praise the Name of Jesus!

2010-07-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

It was a rather sad day yesterday as I had to say goodbye to my older brother who had to return to America. His visa could not be extended, so he was forced to go back to the States. I am so thankful he was able to stay for three months and help me get started in Japan.
I am teaching English and Bible classes now in five different cities in Japan. These weekly meetings have been wonderful not only for planting the gospel, but also for building relationships with my students. Every Thursday at my house I have a ladies' Bible study in English with a few of the English speaking Japanese ladies I have met. Most of the ladies that are coming are not Christian, but are genuinely curious about the Lord. We are doing a study in the book of I John. The last Sunday of every month I've started an English service in the church my father built 23 years ago, the old Kami No Ai building. Each service an English speaking pastor or missionary will come and share their heart with us. This service is just an opportunity for English speaking people to fellowship in the Lord, but it also has become drawing card for many non Christians who want to try out their English to come to church.
When the news came to my brother and I that his visa could not be extended, it was a cold splash of reality how short our time is here. Every day is a precious gift and could mean eternity for someone. I want to make the most of each day and use this time to know the people, learn the language and build relationships. Please pray for these hearts to be softened as they encounter the living Word of God.
Thank you for your prayer, support and many
words of encouragement! I cherish the Body of Christ!

Yours for His harvest,

Bethany Joy Cathcart

2010-06-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

We are continuing our English class outreach in four cities, and more and more the classes are beginning to grow. Today's schedule was rather busy. I started a women's Bible study every Thursday and we had our first today. Those that came are not Christian, and that makes it all the more exciting. We are studying the book of 1st John. God is light and in Him there is no darkness!
One of the most precious moments for me this week was our time singing at a nearby home for the elderly. We sang songs in Japanese and in English, and their response was tender. John saw people wipe tears away during "Amazing Grace" and one lady even blew me a kiss after a song. As we left they reached out their hands for us to touch them. We are anxious to learn much more Japanese so that we can really begin to build relationships in this home.
It was so much fun to be able to see some of our church family on Skype today!
We love you,
Bethany and John

2010-05-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Two kids from my English class - Takumi and Sasuke

2010-05-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

"And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them." (Genesis 26:18)

Something about the roots of my childhood ever draw me back to Fukuzumi, the small village where I grew up. So it happens, if there is ever much free time, I find myself in the area of Fukuzumi. One day I was walking around in this area and playing on my harmonica, when an old man began to drive down the narrow road towards me and the rice fields. A little worried about trespassing, I bowed politely and began walking back to my car. I noticed he had stopped about a hundred feet past where he passed me. I hesitated, then went to his car to try to explain and redeem myself. As I fumbled in broken Japanese, I noticed he had a peculiar look on his face and he immediately assured me he didn't stop because I was in the way. So I began to try to explain what I was doing there. I told him long ago I used to live up in that house on top of the mountain, and I come back to this place because Fukuzumi is very "natsukashi", or reminiscent, for me. At least that's what I tried to say in very limited Japanese. He was smiling from the beginning, but his smile grew and grew as I talked. He asked question after question and I answered what I could. Finally I realized he might remember us and so I asked and sure enough he did! He remembered us as little children, remembered Daddy, he just remembered it all. And he kept staring at me with a huge grin, almost in awe it seemed. We talked until my poor Japanese limit was soon discovered and he graciously continued on down the road. The smile never left his face. I got back in the car and began to drive back home. As I drove I cried.
How amazing and strange to meet an old man in the middle of a rice field in a country village in Japan and immediately warm his heart just by being there. He remembered me from my childhood. I looked at that smile and remembered the verse, "the fields are white unto harvest". The seeds my parents planted are still here. I hope to reap where I have not sown. Besides the Christians that are here, there are so many non Christians my brother and I have been able to establish contact with and be received favorably because of the labor my parents have poured into this field. Many did not accept the Lord immediately, but the seeds are still here. And this field is indeed white unto harvest.
We are meeting with 16 Japanese people on a weekly basis, most of which are not Christian. In each class we have a Bible story time. It is exciting to see people hear the Word of God for the first time. Our days have been full of preparing for English classes, painting the house, passing out English bills, meeting with old and new acquaintances, singing at a nursing home, and lots and lots of Japanese language study.
I want to say thank you again for all of your prayers and support, it is so encouraging.

2010-05-12T07:26:00.001-07:00

Classes have been going very well and tomorrow we have our first English class in Haibara. We have several kids classes and it has been a struggle to keep these classes in order without being able to speak very much Japanese. However, as soon as the Bible story starts, the kids immediately settle down and listen to the story with rapt attention. Really, this is amazing! Thirty years ago, before my parents left for Japan, they bought the Bible displayed in flannel graph and used it to tell the story to children wherever they went. Just recently we found this same flannel graph in the attic of the church my father built 24 years ago. So we pulled it out and have been using it again to tell the story! In this age of technology, where kids have cell phones, video games, television and all kinds of gadgets vying for their attention, it is really amazing to see such an awed interest in some flannel graph telling the story found in the God's Word. We have started from Genesis and are taking one book at a time as we tell the Gospel message from the beginning. Though it is not as readily accepted with the adults, they also seem to be taking curiosity in the story as it is being told. Please pray for this seed to find good ground in their hearts.

2010-04-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

This week we had our first adult English classes in Sakurai. They turned out very well, and I think it was an enjoyable time for everyone. Most of the people that came already had a pretty extensive English vocabulary, but struggle to put their words into a conversation. It was great to be able to ask a lot of questions and take the opportunity to get to know the people we are teaching! Afterwords, we had a time of talking about the uniqueness of the Bible among all books ever written. One lady was especially interested and showed desire to have her own Bible.

Also this week we had our first "English singing time" at the nursing home walking distance from our house. I'm sure the people around us didn't understand the hymns we were singing, but it was so good to just be in a public place proclaiming God's praise. The people received us with so much grace and thankfulness. As we learn more Japanese songs, we want to sing them at this nursing home so that the people will hear the gospel message at least by song. It is such a blessing from God to be able to have a foothold in that area.

Today John and I traveled to Ikoma Bible College where the yearly Coote memorial service was held. (Leonard Coote was our great grandfather and the founder of this college) This college was also celebrating its 81st anniversary as a Bible College. What a reminder of the impact one life can have when invested into eternity! It was exciting to see a fresh crop of young people passionate for Jesus and shouting out revival! I've attached an entry from Leonard Coote's diary about this particular Bible College, written over 60 years ago.

Tomorrow is another full day of classes and meetings. We love you!

2010-04-22T05:09:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,
My brother John took me outside this evening to show me the bulb he planted has started to grow. For me it was like the first glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. It has been a hard last two days in the absence of my mom who returned to the States. She acclimated us to the culture, language, food, train system, trash days and just about everything you can think of. It has been quite a "lost" feeling since she left! Persistently John and I pray together and pull out the guitar and sing worship songs to keep our eyes on the Lord. Yet nothing can change the feeling of the death process taking place.
Looking at that tiny sprout in the ground showed the beginnings of life and the beginnings of fruit for that seed. We took it as a promise that life is beginning to spring up out of this death process.
Almost directly after this, we went to meet the lady who wants us to use her coffee shop, called "Natural", for English classes. Natural is in a very strategic place, being right beside the train station, and the quaint little shop is picturesque for teaching English in a laid back setting. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and soon we settled on a day and time to have the classes. It is settled that our fourth weekly English class will be here in Haibara. Not only will it be an English class, but we have ten glorious minutes every week to plant the gospel inside of people that most likely have never heard it before. Hundreds of people walk by this shop on a daily basis, and it is a perfect place to reach people. Little by little life is beginning to sprout in the midst of the death process.
John read a wonderful quote out loud today, "Bear not a single care thyself, one is too much for thee, the work is Mine and Mine alone; thy work, to rest in Me."
The Lord is in charge! He has not left us destitute.

2010-04-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
As of today, we have three English classes set up in three churches in three different cities in Japan. It is very exciting to be able to reach multiple areas every week, and we're hoping and praying for much fruit to come through these English classes. The past several weeks we have been able to go around to several churches and have sweet fellowship with the believers. Once we have greeted all these churches, we're planning to settle into Pastor Shuzo and Harumi's church in Hari as our home church. Long term though, it is my hope to start a church in an unreached area for the Lord. English classes are beginning to form and people are starting to get interested. In our free time, John and I try to go out through the neighborhoods in the cities we are teaching and meet the people that live in area. I think this helps people warm up to us a little bit, and realize that coming to an English class is not such a scary thing. John and I are studying the language every day. My mother leaves us on the 20th, and that day is looming closer and closer. From the time she leaves, the extent of our communication with people will be the amount of Japanese we know. And that is a scary thing.
We live on the top of a very big hill, here in Haibara. Last night a Japanese brother lent us his vehicle to borrow until we get set up with our own. It is rather big for a Japanese car, and it was rather scary trying to get it up to the top of the hill in the dark on such a narrow road. My mom was driving, and we got just barely up to the top when the wheels started spinning out and it just wouldn't go any more. John and I had to jump out of the car and push it up the rest of the way. It was a little bit unnerving for everyone!
I guess that's a picture of what it is like being over here. We're climbing up a big mountain, and most the time it seems like we can't quite climb over the top of it... we're just not able. But then I feel the strong arms of the Lord behind me, and with a gentle push, I'm at the top. Every day is a new mountain and every day it seems impossible, but every day the Lord proves to us we aren't alone.
I sure love you guys so much, and I thank you for all your prayer and support.
Here are a few unsaved souls to add to the prayer list. Thank you for your prayer!

Miko - 18 yr old girl we met at the train station in Nikkaido
Shinobu Fujiwara - neighbor in Haibara
Matsumoto San - neighbor in Haibara
Nishijima San - one of Mama's first English students twenty years ago, has never received the Lord

2010-04-01T02:46:00.000-07:00

2010-03-31T23:40:00.000-07:00

2010-03-31T22:54:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,
I just got back from a three day youth camp on the other side of Japan. It was my first immersion into the food, language and culture of Japan with no family around to soften the blow! While it was hard, I'm so glad I was able to have that time of living with the Japanese and observing their culture on an intimate level. God did great things throughout the whole week, and by the end of the camp, we were hugging and crying with each other like family, rejoicing over the greatness of our God. This particular youth camp was almost entirely put on by Sam and Haeho Benedict's boys and their friends. The most precious time of the camp was the testimony time on the very last day. Through the worship services and the messages, real revival had begun to spark in the young people and during the testimony time, teenagers went up one by one and shared with tears what the Lord was doing in their hearts. One of the sweetest testimonies came from Paul Benedict, the youngest of the Benedict boys, whose parents have been missionaries in Japan since before I was born. He shared with deep tears how intimate the Lord had become to him in this youth camp. It is amazing to me to see the Lord becoming so real to the third and fourth generations of missionaries here in Japan, and to see the torch of the gospel be passed down to the next generation. My cup has been filled, and I'm so excited to see what God can do if you just believe Him for it. In the land of .4 of 1% of the population being serious Christians, this camp of about fifty young people was miraculous indeed! I have see something this week that I yearn to see again and again and again. Nothing can describe the thrill of Christ becoming real to a person! Thank you for praying and for your words of encouragement. Most of the youth at this camp are the only Christians in their family, so please pray for their commitment to Christ to stay strong. God bless you! We serve a great and mighty God, and He is alive in Japan!

2010-03-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
Just would like to give you an update on the things we've been able to get done while we're here. Thursday I had a very good meeting with Pastor Shuzo Sensei and Harumi, and yesterday I had a great meeting with another pastor in the Tenri area, pastor Shibahara Sensei. Both are excited about the possibility of English Dendo (evangelism) in their church, and are beginning to make fliers to advertise for the English classes.
I applied for my alien registration on Friday and was able to reactivate the old Cathcart bank account here in Japan!
Today we went to Pastor Shuzo and Harumi's church and greeted our family there. I've returned to that church three times in the last two years, and I can never seem to get through a service without crying. They are such a light in the darkness. One of the songs they sang in their service was "Let the Flame Burn Brighter", and that for me was amazing because I have been singing that song non stop since we left America.
There is a great opportunity here in Haibara to hold my own English/Bible class. A believer who owns a coffee/dessert shop by the train station wants me to teach English there, and she's offered the rent at an incredibly low price. I am so excited because it is in an area that hundreds of people walk by every day. This is the first door that has opened for me in Haibara, and I'm thrilled to realize the Lord has gone before us.
My brother and mother came with me on this trip to help me get set up. It has been so wonderful, and I can't imagine how hard it would have been had they not been here. Our word of encouragement to each other daily is "He delights in using the weak things!" I'm so glad we are at our best when we are at our weakest, because that leaves all the room for His strength.
I want to thank you so much for your prayers. I see things working together amazingly and I know there are people out there praying. Thank you. One by one we are making new contacts here in Haibara, and I am believing they will be future believers. Please pray for the salvation of their souls.

Ichida Tomoyo - woman at the bank in Haibara
Kinoshta San - my landlord in Haibara

2010-03-25T03:49:00.000-07:00

I safely arrived to Japan yesterday with no major incidents. There are so many blessings from the Lord in bringing us safely here. From receiving my visa in the nick of time before we left to getting every bit of our luggage with nothing missing, everything has worked together so smoothly.
I just had a very good meeting with the main pastor and his wife that I will be working with. They are a precious people.
The language has hit me again like a two by four between the eyes, but I'm grateful to realize I can understand much more than I did several months ago.
Thank you so much for your prayer and support.
His Kingdom come in Japan!

First Newsletter

2010-02-23T12:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,
The month of January was for me both humbling and greatly encouraging. At my parents' request, I attended the Destiny World Missions conference in San Antonio, TX to share my desire to pick up the torch for Christ in Japan. Destiny was the church that sent my parents out as missionaries to Japan thirty years ago, and it was a great honor to share that I am returning to the mission field of my parents, numerous aunts and uncles, and of my great grandparents. While in San Antonio, I was able to share the need of Japan at International Bible Church and several Christian schools. Many mighty men and women of God prayed over me with the laying on of hands and I was sent out from both churches with their blessing and support.

The next week I returned to my home church's own mission conference. They also laid hands on me and sent me out as their ambassador to take the Gospel to Japan. With my cup overflowing, and thanks to the support from many of you, I am moving to Japan the third week of March.

I believe there is a harvest waiting to be reaped in Japan, and I long to be one of the laborers in His field. I am going to Japan because I trust God and His guidance, and I trust that He is the Savior of the Japanese today, tomorrow and forever.

Thank you so much for your prayer and support.

Yours for His harvest,

Bethany Joy Cathart