Newsletter Vol 0 - Prelude

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Arriving in Japan

Dear family and friends,

We are officially now missionaries in Japan! We are so grateful for the many friendships and divine connections during our time living in Chicago and truly cherish you all as a gift from the Lord.

Apologies for taking so long on our first newsletter! We have now completed 9 of our 14 days of quarantine in Tokyo. We were able to spend our first week at the school's condo. And for the 2nd week, we were fortunate that by "God-incidence", Motoko has a relative that happened to have a house that was sitting empty nearby and has graciously allowed us to stay here until we find permanent housing! Praise the Lord!!

We have so many things we want to say and share with you all but will have to save them for later to try to keep things short.

Please keep us in prayer about finding permanent housing; that we abide in the Lord, keep trusting his plans & timing, and that we receive His best (not our best choice).

Lamentations of our Red Couch
by Motoko

Dear family in Christ,

Prologue- Leaving our red couch

While being excited about seeing my family and friends in my country Japan very soon, I was tearing at the seat of the airplane with quietness after the crazy busy days we had for a month. I was starting to face the reality that I was no longer at my favorite red couch in our living room in Chicago. I was wondering if there is any missionaries feel this sadness and tear at the airplane missing everything left behind at home rather than being excited with honors to obey for His Kingdom call.

We were flying to Japan where the Lord calls us to serve now. I totally believe that it is His timing, yet I felt overwhelmed with lots of goodbyes and the reality that I will miss so many things in the US where I moved 8 years ago from Japan, where I was about to return.

For the first 3 years of my life in the US, I cried and called His name numerous times with my struggles to find a way to adjust to the new life. My comfortable zone had been on our red couch, my secret place for my prayers. God sees us. He knows our heart. He hears our prayers. Our red couch I spent with tears for the 3 years had started to become the place to worship and praise in the past 5 years. People started to gather at the red couch to worship and pray. Since about a year ago, however, I had somehow started to feel in my prayers that sometime in the near future, my prayer place wouldn’t be this red couch any longer. I didn’t know why. I didn’t think about leaving our charming red couch, my comfort zone. But here I am…sitting at the seat in the airplane, not really comfy nor personally special either. In the different place from the red couch, I still cry, I still call His name, I still worship the Lord and He still knows me. But I am missing my red couch. Tears are coming down when I have started to think about home, and when I think about all things what the Lord has provided for us since the beginning of our marriage having started in Chicago. I thank you for all your prayers since the beginning of our journey. We have been very much supported and encouraged by you. We are now sent to Japan in God’s hand. Life changes, and I know that our God is always faithful and never changes. I grab this scripture speaking to me, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.

In the darkened airplane, most people are asleep and quiet. I was wondering how my husband was feeling, who just left his country and his family. Is he feeling okay? Is he anxious? Is he full of ambition for Japan? Does he need encouragement or comforting? I checked on him, and saw his face lightened through his TV screen. I surprisingly found him grinning and smiling. On the contrary to my having a melancholy moment, my husband is simply enjoying watching Sponge Bob with snacks in hands…Oh my…Sponge Bob? and moreover, the Simpsons? Yes, it seems he is in his comfort zone before landing in a spiritual battle field. I thank God again that we are together, who are individually created differently, and yet a great team in His eyes.

We have started to move our butts from our beloved red couch and now are standing at the start line of a running truck. We miss you running together with us…but thank you so much for being such great cheerleaders for us. Thank you for praying for me to be a blessing and encouraging cheerleader for my husband Victor who has a call to Japan from the Lord.

This is the Scripture that the Lord encouraged me with recently. 2 Chronicles 20:17-23

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you….. “And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.””

We would like to thank you so much again for standing together with us for the nation of Japan and His glory. We are blessed to have you praying for our new journey. Thank you for your prayers for our hearts to be strengthened to trust in Him, close to His heart, and worship Him always with joyful hearts. We praise the name of Jesus, our faithful God.

Love in Christ,

Motoko and Victor