Kyushu Christian Mission, Kanoya, KagoshL^na, Japan

In U.S.: Box U9, North Vernon, Indiana 47265

Linkletter No. 180 January, 1969

Another New Year is here. As you read theeditorial to the right you will understand that January 1 is a very special day in Japan. In the cycleof the Zodiac, this is the year of the Fowl andtherefore a year of Peace, Prosperity and Productivity. That's quite an order to lay on all the hensand their strutting spouses.

Year In, Year OutYear in, year out, it's always the same. Seeing out the

old year is one mad rush. And seeing in the new year islike a leisurely return to normalcy.

New Year's Day is our favorite holiday. And more sothis coming year because the accident of the calendar willbe giving many of us eight days' vacation. This is the daythat the smog over Tokyo clears up as if it had never beenthere. It is when congestion disappears from the citystreets and taxi drivers suddenly become courteous.

Until then, however, it can be a hectic month. Thebonuses with the up-to-the-dead!ine union negotiations injecting a note of suspense. Shopping for Christmas andoseibo gifts. The succession of bnnevkai, with their tollof furry tongues and bleary eyes. Fights with taxi drivers.And the rising tempo and tension which seem to be whipping us into an ever fusler pace as the old year runs out.

Government offices and the slock exchanges usually closeon the 28th. And this year, most business houses closed

peace! Japan has had 23 years of it while with them. Then the bustle is transferred to the home asthe family cleans out the dust of the outgoing year, andthe women prepare the New Year food. And since moststores used to close for three days, it meant lots of food.

Then on New Year's Eve, the final bath to wash off thedirt of the old year, the temple bells ringing in the newyear (brought to us by courtesy of TV), the tosJiikoshi sobato bridge the gap from the old year to the new.! Then it's New Year's Day, our favorite day of the year.The kadomatsu at the gate. The hataumode, the traditionalfirst visit to the shrines and temples. The morning otoso,sweet and slightly alcoholic. And the moclii. Suddently,for the first tiine, all the tension and care of the past yearseem to drop away. It's a day of laughter and relaxationOf the family inlaying together at battledore and shuttl.cock or the card game called karuta.

From the second day, the pace begins slowly to catc iup, as the courtesy calls begin. And many car owners,with their new-found mobility, escape to the country andthe hot-spring re.sorts.

In the streets, young girls blossom out in their brightkimono anrl men in their Sunday best begin swarming tothe amusement centers. But the best thing about it is thefeeling that a year which starts out so well can hardly bebad.japan Times Editorial, December 30, 1968

the U.S. has fought wars to the west and south ofher. Japan spends 1% of her income on defense. Forthe rest of her security she depends on the U.S.This relationship is spelled out in the SecurityTreaty which comes up for renewal in 1970. Nationalism is the new order here and many Japanese wantout of the treaty. Some radical groups want out badenough that they are willing to make war on theirown country to bring it about. The U.S. withdrawalfrom Okinawa is also a prime topic. These issuesare heating up right now and the next 20 monthswill be crucial in the relationships of our twocountries. Christians of both nations can hardlydo better than heed the Apostle's advice to prayfor "all who are in high positions."

prosperity! Japan has it as a nation -with the highest foreign currency reserves ever.As a people - nobody exceeds the Japanese in put-ting money aside for a rainy day. Also no people anywhere plans, saves and works harder to educate their children than the Japanese. This, of course, is the basis for future prosperity. Whether the present young people will get a college education or not is now a cause for concern.Radical, revolutionary students have seized physical control of several campuses shutting downclasses and cancelling graduations in the spring. I have no doubt Japan will solve this crisisin its own time and in its own way but today's college youth are making the sacrifice.

productivity! Japan can hardly improve on its record in this field. It already hasan impressive number of firsts and seconds in world manufacturing. Half of all ships now beingmade in the world are made in Japan, for instance. I remember a ship's captain telling me ittook a month to get his ship loaded in Pakistan but on the return voyage he got the same amountof tonnage loaded in Kobe in 24 hours. That's the secret! The Japanese know how to work hard andare willing to do so.

Christians will recall that the Cock has long been a symbol for the Apostle Peter.Christ had told him, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." In our own timesthe crowing of the cock could stand for our day of judgment for our frequentdenial of our obligation as Christians to evangelize the world. If so, the New Year brings no cause for rejoicing. In Japan at least, Peace, Prosperity and Productivity leave little desire for spiritualseeking. Joseph Hunt, Catholic missionary and friend since our army days here wrote me: "Wehave hard times in Japan now. So hard to get converts... People are interested and pleasant tomeet, but the 'but' is still there. Patience and keeping at it, prayer and kindness (are needed.)This transition must be gone through but the seeds of work sown during it (will bear fruit later.)Another missionary told me, "We have reached a cul-de-sac, a blind alley, in our evangelism inJapan and nobody seems to know where to turn." For myself, I've been doing a lot of thinking,praying, listening and studying. I don't think I am going to be satisfied to keep on doing whatI've always done but I'm going to keep on doing just that until I am sure going off in anotherdirection will have some hope of success.

To pick up the thread of activities. We have had threeforeign visitors: Verney Unruh, former missionary neighbor and nowwith the MennoniCe mission office in Newton, Kansas; Capt. L.W. ^Swanson from the Coast and Geodetic Survey in Beltsville, Md. Hewas back in Kanoya to talk with city offLcials about retaining thesatellite observation site for future use. I was able to assisthim in this. And the Major McDonald family from Itazuke Air Base.

We have had preacher's meetings October 28 in Kagoshima j-November 25 in Kushikino at which I preached and December 30 at the W ..Christian Center in Kanoya. Four family birthdays have come and i JSgone: Hope was 8 on October 4; Faith was 13 on November 13; Paula 3y||K* awas 25 November 29 and Greg was 17 on Decmeber 30. We send ourthanks to their living link churches helping make them memorable p^y^INE YANAGIMO:days: Farmdale for Hope; Vandalia for Faith; and Newtown for Greg. iPauline and I completed 27 years of married life December 29. (Has it been that long?) And 18years ago this year-end we moved into the mission house where we still live. (Frankly I didn'tthink it would last this long.)

MEGUMI PAULINE YANAGIMOTO

In "Noveniber we visited Cahdadian Academy where Faith and Greg;"attend, had conferences with their teachers, participated in the Dorm Parents meeting and saw Greg in the roleof Cardinal Wolsey in the play, "A Man For All Seasons." The whole cast put on a masterful performance. We had two days in Nagoya with Paula and Kiyoto. Pauline had her physical exam atKyoto Baptist Hospital. A specialist at Kyoto University Hospital looked at the cataract on myleft eye and said, "Wait Awhile." Two years is what he meant. I'm driving with one eye now soit looks like it's going to be a long two years. I attended the Councillor's Meeting of OsakaBible Seminary and led the music for the Friday night session of the schools annual evangelismrally called, Tane Make Kai. Faith and Greg got home for Thanksgiving week end but they have tospend just about as much time on the train as they get to stay at home.

The climax of December is the 25th but before that there are the Christmas sermonsand programs and fellowship at all the churches. This year I detect a more spiritual intereston the part of non-Christians in what Christmas really means. I gave a ten minute talk at theKotary Christmas party on the meaning of Christmas. Kiyoto and Paula Yanagimoto arrived the19th with daughter Megumi for 10 days so our Christmas days were blessed with a baby in the house

and the joy of being grandparents. Faith and Greg got home theCOME TO THE 20th and the next day a local surgeon. Dr. Kawahara, operated on

, ^ Greg for hernia. He has recuperated at home after the third day andt NVENTION ready to return to school. To Kanoya church on the eve of theOF THE 24th for Family Christmas night; helping to chauffeur the carollers

afterwatd ending up at our house for cookies and hot chocolate;CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN JAPAN up stockings at..Z a.m.; famil_y_Chris.tmas at 7 a^m_.to._theTOKYO leper colony for Christmas worship services by 9 a.m.; Christmas

orphanage at noon provided by the church at3,4,5, , 9 East Orange, N.J., the Kanoya church women and our own family;A UNIQUE GATHERING Pauline's Christmas dinner at 3 p.m. ; and the day brought to a. close at the Christmas service and party at Kushira church at 7.A SUPERB FELLOWSHIP r, u a ^ c t t a ju j r

December days were full days made happy days in the company of

FOR MORE DETAILS Japanese who have come to share the same faith in Christ; and madehappy by the cards, letters, boxes and remembrances that many ofTOKYO MISSIONARIES ^ thoughts and prayers.Thank you I IN HIS SERVICE, ^

MNKLETTER

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fUhft<i.GTrG:nkof the Kyushu Christian Mission Kanoya, Kagoshiraa, Japan

February, 1969Linkletter No. 181 . ^ February, 1969- •• j -

Dear Christian friends, •

A sure sign that it is dead of winter here is;the appearance on the market of the giant Sakurajima radishes. I passed out seeds for these all over the U.S.last year. Did anybody have success with them? If yoursdidn't get as big as the one Hope is holding, don't worry.This size can only grow in the volcanic soil of nearbyMt. Sakurajima. Hence the name: Sakurajima Radish.

Saying it is dead of winter sounds like ithas really been cold here. It hasn't. On the contrary,January was the warmest in 14 years. The birds, the beesand the blooms got all mixed up and came out too soon.I'm afraid we'll be paying for this too-soon-spring thenext two months.

HOPE WITH AN ARMFUL OF RADISH

Like everyone else I began January filled with get-up-and-go and promises to myselfof all that I was going to get done. It didn't turn out that way . Some kind of bug hit me. Wehad a good fight and the bug won. After laying in bed for several days with a fever, I decidedI needed some help. My friend, Dr. Kinkawa, came up, brought me some medicines and encouragingwords and a few days later I began to come around. I have never been so sick or so weak afterit was over. I tried to get up and go as I have in the past but found I had to lay down andrest every hour or so. Pauline stood by with glass after glass of fresh fruit juice she hadsqueezed out. It was the only thing that tasted good. Generous man that I am, I passed myfever on to Pauline but she got-well much quicker than I. We are both feeling fine again now.The Hong Kong flu is just now sweeping Japan. We think we have already had it once and that itwill pass us by.

When the local Rotary Club was organized ten years ago I was a charter member. Ihave always done my part on the committees but they have never been sure what to do with meotherwise. This year, however, I am serving as Vice-President. In the natural pecking orderthat means I should become President this July. Last week. Club President, Mr. Iga, waited onme. He wanted to know if it was true that if I were elected to higher office that I couldn'twork for Rotary on Sunday. I assured him that was true. He pointed out what I already knew ,that all area assemblies, forums, conferences and conventions are held on Sunday. Only the reg-Hularmeetings are onaweekday.Itold him thatIenjoyed

being in Rotary and a part of the community in this waybut that Rotary was not first with me and never would be,Sundays would find me in the churches of the area. Thusends my chance for "higher office" and no regrets.

Japan is a land that enjoys ceremonies and Iappreciate being invited to them even t"hough it means a lotof time, a lot of tea, and long hours of sitting on thefloor. One very enjoyable occasion was the birthday celebration of the Taneguchis when he was 88 and she was 77.Aside from being a ripe old age, these are years whichare lemembered in an extra special way in Japan. This isthe time when both family and community bring gifts, congratulations and wishes for more years to come. Bro. Tane-guchi is the elder & mainstay of the Sueyoshi church. Inspite of his years and a case of Parkinson's disease, hefaithfully leads the service, conducts the Lord's suppereach Sunday and preaches twice a month. I preach the other

MR. & MRS. TOYOJI TANEGUCHI, 88 and 77 Sundays.

U . Another interesting occasion was the Japanese version of a New England town meetingheld in the city auditorium recently. About 500 leaders of the area were invited. The Governorof our prefecture and his staff sat in front and offered to answer questions put to them by theaudience. "Kagoshima Prefecture in the Next 20 Years" was the theme of the meeting. One youngman, hot and eager, jumped to his feet and wanted to know why, 100 years after Japan had becomea modern nation, Kagoshima Prefecture was still at the bottom of the list nation-wise economically, and almost every other way. That set the tone for the meeting and I sat back and enjoyed watching the officials juggle this and other hot potatoes. They promised that our peninsula would have an international airport, a fine harbor, more paved roads, increased trafficsafety, more ferry service in the bay, new factories, more employment, prosperous farmers andimproved income for all. Does any of that have a familiar ring?

Not so pleasant was the funeral of Shigeru Shimoshige, 56, who died suddenly of aheart attack. He was the optometrist who has kept my eyeglasses in repair all these years. Atthe house, as the body was brought out to the hearse, the wife and women of the family followedand stood at the gate. At the moment the hearse began to move toward the crematory, the wifetook her husbands favorite rice bowl and threw it to the pavement where it broke into pieceswith a resounding crash - a symbol that he would not be returning to his home again. It was thesaddest thing I have ever seen at a funeral. As she burst into sobs, I could not help sobbinewith her. " ^

Each place has its own kind of problems. Let me tell you one of ours. In 1955 whenIsabel Dittemore and the Kagoshima City Christians bought land for the church there, somebodymissed registering a strip of land exacly one foot wide running down the side of the propertynext to the side walk. The owner sold the front half of his lot to the church. Later he soldthe back half to another man who built his house there. A few years ago this man told the churchthat he had purchased a strip of land alongside the church but that he would trade it for an

equal amount of land next to his fence. Surprised, thechurch checked city records and found that this land wasnot in the books. Nothing to show it belonged to anyone.It was 'no man's land'. Since the church was positivethey had bought and paid for this land also, they decided the man's claim was without merit and took no action .

Two years ago the man suddenly put up a signboard on this strip. We appealed to the police and cityofficials. They said it was not their problem. A typhoon last year blew the sign down. Bro. Doyama, theminister picked the pieces up from the church yard and"threw them away. In a few days a signboard twice thesize of the former one appeared. It half conceals thechurch. The church is in bad repair, inadequate & one

-©£-oux---priorities this term is" to" see a new buildingon this prime spot. But nothing can be started untilthis problem is settled. Court action would take sixyears and cost a fortune. The neighbor has a bad heartand his wife fears he will die if the matter is broughtup again. His son is an unreasonable as his father,strong as a bull and not above threatening. Both refusenow to sell or trade. Solutions anyone? IN HIS SERVICE,

JO'

> h y > « •

IS IT A BUILDING OR A SIGNBOARD?

LINKLETTERMonthly Publication of

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Linkletter

No. 181March

1969

of the Kyushu Christian fAission Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

Dear Christian friends,

Christ reminds us that "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of hispossessions," (Luke 12il5) We had learned that truth from childhood. For the Christian,life is made up of everything that touches him, especially the world of people *diom heblesses and who in turn bless him. People enter our lives here in many ways.

BY TELEPPIOKEj From the Kanoya Naval Air Station. The duty officer calls that a U.S.air crew must stay overnight but they have no money of any kind, I lent them $^0 to take careof the hotel bill. Later from Okinawa the p0.ane commander sends me a check. Even later anothercrew lands in Kanoya and brings Pauline a gift of a case of mayonnnaise, I told her, "We castour**lettuce"on the waters,salad dressing," From"I'm taking my firstleaving company in ^Osaka," Osaka is stillbut I am glad that aftei^^li't Ito return to Kyushu ^ 'H'*' 'alive. / /

BY MAIL; / y4'{deliveries in Japan/ Xkindly brings ourMonday morning, •mail seems to I >1^ |ii; mthe week-end it { ®ful way to begin ^shoot the morn-

Vemon i WeeklyShirley Smith, £ters she gets. Iencouraged. \Indiana* A member \this week, A very \it is, Montanai \and wife Barbara \Steven Mark - another \ ,of, Hayatot Prof,if I will teach EnglishCollege, Sorry, it can'tsend $20 of Japanese noodles,fine crop of big,big radishes,someone to visit my parents in

I'/r s 'H -/Jr. 1

irii

and it came back covered with

Osaka. Kenji Niro on the wiretstep back to Kyushu. I'm

Totyo and moving back to* a long step from I^shu

10 years his promiseto preach is still

_ I L TARUMIZU (Mr. Doyama)

^ • \ No more SundayT \- ^>J\ batch early

\ Since foreignDoyama) collect over

' m . \ is a wonder-^ /' the day - and5^ A® f ing. North

KUSHIRA (Mr. limure) report fromAlso the let-

^ We are alwaysO ^ / Bethany Church.

praying for us/ special blessing

/ Capt. Tom Poston/ have a new son,

0 y name sake to be proud• /Saroji wants to know

in Jiagoshima Technicaldone, Kansasi Ilease

Can do. THinoisi Had aCaliforniai Please send

Kumamoto. They are not ghristians

/ IB

OUR WOiiLD IN JAPAN

and I want them to be, Bro, Tanijiri, the nearest preacher went immediately, Hiroshimai Pleasevisit my Father, He doesn't know how sick he is, I am concerned about his soul.. Bro. Yoshiiand I both do this. Yokohama. Foimer Bible class student, Koichi Toyozume, has moved north.He writesi "Your lessons will lead me all through my life,,,You gave bread to me. It's thebread of life and I walked one by one to you and God." Thank you, Koichi. Sometimes the teacher needs to know that the seed he plants is taking root. So the mail puts us in touch with theworld of people,

VISITORS I The fourth delegation from the Rotary Club comes to ask if I would bePresident the coming ysar. In Japan one refuses politely three times and accepts the fourth,I refused three times fiimly and accepted reluctant3.y the fourth - on my terms. A local barbercomes. His young son has congenital heart troub3.e. He can not get the owner to sell him theland he dearly loves so he can relocate his shop, T.B, has crippled his leg (and Japan is notkind .to the deformed. His wife would like to go walking with him but he is too ashamed. Hisworld has collapsed and he wants to know the way out. We spend a long time studying together about the Way, the Truth and the Life. Bro, Yoshii is following it up, Helen and Way-

%

greeting wayful jew family at station TEACHER STUDENTS - AT CHRISTIAN CENTER

ful Jew of San Jose stop by en route to Hong Kong to begin missionary work, Helen is able tovisit her father's people in Kinaamoto, Wayful is returning to coimtry of his ancestors. TheYoshii family joins us for supper as we ;rtth them Godspeed.

TEACHH '̂Gi English Bible classes is a means of teaching the gospel to an untouchedgroup in a neutral setting. The students want JSnglish, I .want to teach them about Christ, Thestudents understand I will do very best to satisfy both wants. I have written the Bible-based texts niysGlf. Each student also has an English-Japanese New Testament vriiich we read fromeach class. Biggest classes are on Saturday afternoon from 2,30 to 5.30 at the ChristianCenter. During February 137 students attended the Basic and Advanced classes there. OtherEnglish Bible classes meet every Thursday night at Kagoshima, So far this class is the leastsuccessful in numbers and most demanding physically - 32 hours of travel for l-J hours ofclass, I consider it a challenge. Every Friday night at Koyama from 6 to 7 p.m. Twice amonth on Sunday mornings at Sueyoshi from 9.15 to 10,30, And once a month at Kajiki, Inthese classes I meet eager minds and young hearts and have a chance to mold both. Also everyFriday night we have Bible study (now it is the Book of James) at Koyama from 7.15 P.®. Itmeets in the upper room of Bro, Shigemoto who has a filling station there. Once a month onThursday I teach a Training for Service class at the leper colony from 1 to 3 P.oi.

PREACHII'JGi "Preachers make poor listeners," they say. It has to be true becauseevery preacher worth his salt wants to be telling the Good News himself, I am no different,Sundays are long days but happy days. First Sunday: Sueyoshi at 10,30, Lunch on the road ata scenic spot, Kajikiat 1,30 follow^ by a Bible Class, Four hours o.f driving. Second Sim-*dayI 9.00 a.m, leper colony, 10,00 at either Kanoya church or Kushira church, 4 p,m. Teachthe orphans at Osumi Gakkusha, 7.30, and 1-^ lecture with slides of our trip under the title,"God's people around the world," Fine attendance. Third Sunday: Again 9.15_Bible class and_10.30 preaching at Sueyoshi. A very long drive arriving exactly at 3 p.m. for the serviceat Kushikino, Supper and visit with the Tanijiri family before leaving for home. Six hoursof driving for the day, all of it hectic. Fourth Sunday: 10,00 ,m, at Kagoshima church.Sometimes to preach. Sometimes to listen. English Bible class from 11,30 to 12.30, Ferryboat ride to Tarumizu for 3 P.m. service. On the way home stop in Takasu for Lord's Supperand prayer at Yamashita's house. He is an invalid. Back to Kanoya for a quick supper anddown to church for the slides and lecture, I drove II50 kilometers 0^ tMs circuit last month,God blessed us with safety and good health. IN HIS SEiTOCE,

I INKLETTER Nun-Pro t i t 0rgani7.a t ionMonthly Publication of 1 1 U S POSTAGEYTJSifii cmaSTiAN MISSION 6erw,. e.' ' ' paid

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Kyushu Christian Mission, Kanoya, Kagoshima, JapanIll.SlilERI

f^liOUL (Taylor, PattenH • ..;;T "ChoU^c^hae)

T^JON (Hill) ^\ J no ^ 1

f:...,. .n* BiTCAkt//*! elm. p:SEltARA(S^"'(ConvenCion

_./mii.E8 aft ^ ^ISEHARA (* PUSAN(Chang & /r

& Greg)(It azSt«. Air Base)

WELCOMED TO TAEJON, KOREA - BY JOHN HILL

In U.S.: Box 49, North Vernon, Indiana 47265

Linkletter No. 183 tvM 3 April, 1969

Dear Christian friends,

John and Jane Hill invited us to come to Korea

to teach and practice evangelism. We worked out a date sowe could do that, attend the annual convention in Japanand bring our two school children back home for springvacation all in one circuit.

The plane left with our baggage but without usat the Fukuoka airport on Saturday, March 22. Since ourwhole family was on one passport , the immigration peopledecided we could not just take Hope and leave the othertwo. Lt. Col. Dell McDonald and wife, Betty, of ItazukeAir Base extended their superb hospitality to us for 3more days till I could return to Kagoshima for more papers. On Tuesday, the officials were kinder to us andin less than an hour we touched down in Pusan.

The feast prepared for Saturday had long gonebut Melba Lash on Tuesday night and Mrs. Chang on Wednesday morning showed us by their good meals that allwas forgiven. Wednesday morning I taught for two hoursat the Far East Vocational School that S.M. Chang andDick Lash have founded. We attended Rotary meeting together. After the meeting an American there told us thatthe briefcase I had left in a taxi the day before hadbeen found. Since it contained my passport, tickets,Bible and notes, this was very welcome news. We pickedit up at the radio station, left a reward for the driver, and departed for Taejon, 150 miles north, on the2.30 p.m. train.

At Taejon we were welcomed with flowers, adelegation of students, the glad hand of John Hill andthe first of very many delicious meals by Jane Hill. By7.30 we were on our way to our first meeting at San YungDong church. We preached five nights and two times onSunday with 31 responses. In the mornings Pauline gavetwo lectures on teacMng and myself 3 lectures on evangelism to the students at Korea Bible Seminary. This isthe Hill's main work. Also on Sunday afternoon, Paulinespoke to the area ladies at the Sun Who Dong church.Forthe vrfiole week, Bro. Kim was our faithful translator,standing by us hour after hour, delivering word by word-and blow by blow.

The praying and singing of the Korean Christians was invigorating. Their zeal made us ashamed. Theirhospitality, even in poverty was heartwarming. (And theirwell-peppered 'kimchi' warmed the insides in a way thatwater wouldn't quench.) Living conditions are hard andthe constant threat of communism is a very important factor in the life of the nation. Great progress, though,has been made in every factor of Korean life the pastfew years. Except for the country roads. They are justlike they were 1000 years ago •

AT KOREA BIBLE SEMINARY - TEACHING

COLLEGE QUARTET - PRAISING THE LORD

Harold and Ada Taylor were our gracious hostsin Seoul on Monday. We had a good visit with Gordon andSharon Patten, too. Tuesday morning we spoke in chapelat Korea Christian Seminary founded by Soongook Choi andYoonkwan Chae, tbe present president. Afterwards they andBro. Ahn took us to the airport at noon to return home.

Harold Sims was a welcome sight at Tokyo's Han-eda airport. He and Lois killed the fatted calf for usat Isehara that night and mixed us with their bags andbaggage for the trip to the convention site Wednesdaya.m. The 17th missionary convention began that afternoon. The Tokyo missionaries made all the arrangementsand A1 Hammond prepared an especially fine program.Pauline gave a devotional talk. I took part in a panel on"Recruiting National Leadership" and gave a lecture on"Changes in Missionary Thought and Method Since WorldWar II." Believe me, there have been some changes made.

•' • I" liii'i GoDVCut—of- •Churches &£-

Christ began on Thursday and continued through Resurrection Day. Stephen lijima and Peter Kobayashi of theMinato church of Christ took the lead in preparing anoutstanding fellowship. Bro, Yoshii and I shared a paneldiscussion on "Leadership in the Church." My side of theproblem was, "Weakness in the Japanese Church Leadershipand How to Solve it." Easier said than done.

To my mind, this convention showed maturity.18 years ago I was given a drubbing for suggesting wedrop the special title 'Sensei' (teacher) in favor ofthe more biblical 'brother' but 'brother' was the salutation used at this convention. There used to be a

clear distinction made between Japanese Christians and'gaijin' (foreigners) Christians. That word with itsattached stigma was little used at this gathering. Therewas a time when missionaries could not be sure eitherthat they were wanted or their services appreciated. Atthis meeting, the Japanese brethren on their own initiative expressed that appreciation by words, a giftand a scroll to 11 missionaries -wdio have served 20 yearsand more in Japan. (There are 10 more missionaries inthe wings with 19 years service.) Direct support missionaries have adequately demonstrated both continuityand responsibility in Japan. This has not been matchedby some of their supporting churches.

The convention was made full for us as a family by the presence of Paula, Kiyoto and Megumi. AndFaith and Greg who came up from school on Thursday. Weall took the train back to Kyushu on Saturday afternoon;had Resurrection Day services with the Sueyosh.f churchon Sunday afternoon; and reached home that night assuredthat He Lives and that w^ toc^ shall Live. IN HIS SERVICE^

sAm 4m9

CHRISTIANS FROM KYUSHU - PAST & PRESENT

MISSIONARY SERVICE TO JAPAN - 20 YEARS-^

SPRING IS HERE - HOPE AND FRIENDS

HIDEO YOSHII - BAPTIZING INTO CHRIS'i

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Linkletter No. 185 June, 1969

Dear Christian friends.

When Jesus said, "Let the dead bury theirdead," he gave us a basis for deciding which is most important; to serve the living or the dead (spiritually and physically.) I had never had to make such a decision until Sunday morning, June 8, 1969.

Pauline, Hope and I were already a full day'sjourney from Kanoya to Osaka Bible Seminary to lecture onevangelism for a week. Also to bring Faith and Greg back homefrom school for the summer. We were attending church at thetown of Saeki when we got a message from Kanoya that Bro.Shigemoto of Koyama had died. It is the sort of news onefinds hard to believe.

For over five years I have conducted a weekly I SHIGEO SHIGEMOTO ^Bible study at his house. He was in good health and good spirits at the last class on Friday night. He was just 39, had never known ill health and the onlyChristian in his family, (Though his wife and two young children had always made me welcome intheir home.) In fact, he was the only Christian living in Koyama, the others having moved awayor gone off to school.

After church, I called Bro. Yoshii in Kanoya and got the rest of the information:that Bro Shigemoto had a heart attack and died in a moment's time at 6 a.m. Sunday; that thefuneral would be held on Monday; and that he had already told the family I could not be presentsince I was on the way to Osaka. I told him we would return immediately. He said it would begood if we would. After enjoying the hospitality of Philip and Wilma Visser briefly we started.

We got back to Koyama, a small town about ten miles from Kanoya, after 9 p.m. Iput on my coat and tie and approached the house. I heard a voice and I despaired, "The Buddhistpriest is here first and reading his sutras. A Christian funeral will not be possible. What ashamed" These were my thoughts as I went around to the side of the house and peered through acrack in the sliding doors. I was reassured. Bro. limure was preaching a sermon on life afterdeath.

This was Shigemoto's Father's house, a large, old-style building with adequateroom. The dividing doors had been taken out and about 50 of the neighborl'iood people were sittingon the tatami floors listening. Pauline and I took our places at the back. In the front Bro.Shigemoto was laying on a large double bed as if asleep. A handkerchief covered his face. Hiswife and children sat by the side of the bed. His parents and relatives sat in a row on theopposite side of the room. In a moment Bro. limure asked me to say a few words. I inquired ifthis was the funeral and he said it was only a meeting to talk about the dead. I was happy torecall our long friendship, our fellowship as Christians and our business dealings - since Ialways filled my gas tank at his station. After comforting his wife and family we went on toKanoya, phoned our children and Mr. Clark at Osaka Bible Seminary that we would be two dayslate in arriving and then fell in bed completely exhausted.

Since embalming is seldom done in Japan, disposal must be made of the body onthe day following death, at the latest. The funeral was set for Monday noon. The women of theneighborhood were on hand to prepare food for the mourners. Men of the community were assistingin the funeral preparations. Women of the family were dressed in solid black kimonos with asingle crest on the back. The men were in black suits. Members of the Kushira Rotary Club towhich he belonged were there as a group. Bro. Shigemoto's body was in a plain wooden box restingon the floor. Two of his nieces brought in a wooden cross just made at a nearby carpenter shopand placed it against the wall back of the casket. The house was filled to overflowing andlatecomers pressed into the garden and pathways alongside the house and looked in the open doors.

Kindly but firmly insisting on a Christian funeral, the doors were closed onthe family Buddhist altar. Bro. Tamaki of the Kushira church picked up the bowl of rice andother offerings to the dead and carried them out. An organ had been brought from Kanoya. Mrs.Yoshii began to play a hymn and the first Christian funeral ever to be held in this town commenced. Bro. limure conducted the service.Mr. Shigemoto's daughter played a song on the koto ( a13 stringed musical instrument). I preached the sermon. I asked Bro. Yoshii to interpret forme so there would be no possibility of misunderstanding. (The average funeral in Japan consistsof prayers which even the Buddhist priest himself does not understand, to say nothing of hishearers.) As I began to speak, work in the kitchen ceased and the women leaned their headsthrough the door to listen. Mourners in the yard pressed in closer. I had a compelling opportunity and obligation. My message had three points: (1) That we assume immortality when wethink that other people will die but not ourselves. (2) That the number of years a man livesis only one measure of the goodness of one's life. And, (3) that nothing can be done for a man'ssoul after death. We were there to comfort the family, rejoice in the fact that Shigemoto san,though young, had prepared to die by his obedience to Christ, and to testify to all that lifeis given us as an opportunity to prepare for life eternal. It may have been the most importantsermon I ever preached. Bro. Yoshii told me- later that the message was worth the effort I hadmade to come back and give it.

As the funeral drew to a close, Bro. liraure asked the people not to pray to nor•to- -the—dead •—Instead—th^—lid—was taken off the coffin and those wished -filed past leaving

a flower on the coffin. A neighbor helped the older brother nail the coffin shut. It was carriedout and placed in a small bus. The immediate family and friends got in and went with the coffinto the crematory in Kanoya.

After a hymn and prayer at the crematory, the casket was rolled into the oven andthe metal doors noisily closed by the caretaker . Some of the men went around to the back wherethe fire would be lit. This lighting is usually done by the eldest son of the deceased - who inthis case was only 8 years old. They called his name out loudly several times but mercifully hedidn't come. The elder brother lighted the wick with a match, the wick was stuck through ahole in the furnace door and the fire began. The family retired to a waiting room. In two shorthours the span of "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" was completed. The family gathered the asheswith long metal tongs, placed them in a small urn, wrapped the urn in a white cloth and madetheir way homeward - a silent, sad and lonely journey.

Is that the end of the story? Not yet! At the Kanoya Rotary meeting last Wednesday, a member asked if anyone had heard about the funeral of the Kushira Rotary member. No onehad. He then told that this man was an earnest Christian; that his funeral had been an inspiration to the whole club; and that at the last meeting Mr. Maxey's funeral message had been reported in full by the club president.

One more paragraph and I am through. Last Sunday afternoon we were preachingat Kushikino which is just about as far away' from Kanoya as one can get and still get back homeby night. Bro. Tanijiri said I would be getting a phone call from Kanoya after the service. Iwas_not looking forward to_that._ When the phone rang, however, Bro. Yoshii's first words were;"Don't worry! It's good news this time. Mrs. Shigemoto confessed her faith in Christ this morningand wants to be baptized tonight. Can you get back to Kanoya in time for the service ?" I toldhim I could. That night after Bro. Yoshii's sermon, I baptized Mrs. Shigemoto into Christ. Itwas an emotion-filled moment for us all. At the prayer meeting afterward, Mrs. Shigemoto said,"I'did not know I could have such joy so soon after such sadness."

Now, there is still one Christian living in KoyamaIN HIS SERVICE

LINKLETTER1 1, .

6 im

""-rNon-profit Organization

Monthly Publication of li."U.S.POSTAGE

KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION PAIDBox 49, North Vernon, Louisville, Kentucky

Indiana 47265 Mission yerviceiJBox 968

Permit No.537

'/ollet Illinois 60434

RETURN REQUESTED

Kyushu Christian Mission STUDY PACKET $5:00 ^

1. Offering bag - Japanese style 7. Large Picture; A Christian Church2. Pair of chopsticks 8. Large Picture: The Christian Center3. Return Envelope 9. Folder: Kagoshima City4. Course Outline - One page, both sides 10. Folder: Parlez Vous Japanese?5. Buddhist Scroll - See Lesson. Outline 11. Sample: Japanese Sunday School Lesson6. Song Sheet: "Others, Others." 12. Sample: Sunday School Attendance Card

13. Sample: Japanese Book Mark - Ten Commandments14. Scripture Portion: Sermon on the Mount - Japanese and English15. Sample: LINKLETTER, monthly publication of the Kyushu Christian Mission.16. Word Set: 13 Religious Words in English, Japanese (Kanji) and Japanese (Roman letters).17. Story Set Booklet: "Everyday with Kenii and Michiko" (Bought seperately: 50c) 11 pages18. Story Set Booklet: **Meet the Maxev Missionary Family" (Bought seperately: SOc)^ 16 pages19. Wall Poster (folded): Large Map of Japan with Pictures of Mark and Pauline Maxey20. Picture Sheet Poster (folded): 25 pictures to illustrate the lessons21. Booklet: Background Notes: Japan , 12 pages22. Booklet, Japan Missions - 1968, 28 pages

USES:

1 DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. The Story Sets and other materials have been designedto provide the missionary emphasis at Vacation Bible School for two weeks - fivedays per week. A minimum of 30 minutes, preferably 45 minutes, should be allottedfor this purpose in the morning program. This could be at the opening exercises;mid-morning assembly; closing exercises; at departmental assemblies; or class byclass with the teacher visiting each class by turn throughout the morning. Whateverworks best for your own situation, building, space available and class sizes is theplan to follow. While there is enough material here to fill up an entira morningif used correctly, yet its real purpose is to supplement your regular Bible studycourses by a period of missionary teaching to point up all the rest of the study.

2. BIBLE SCHOOL OPENING EXERCISES. For the \Aiole group, by departments or classes.Theapplication would be as above. If used every Sunday, it would be a 10-12 week series.Xf used once a month, it would cover a year. Probably this is too long to make an impact.

3. YOUNG PEOPLElS MEETINGS - SUNDAY NIGHT OR WEEK NIGHT. This study set can be used veryeffectively this way to provide a series of missionary teaching once a year. In thiscase the entire period should be allotted for the lesson. A night or two during theseries could be used for slides on Japan and of the Kyushu mission in particular.See address below for orderirng slides.

4. ADULT MISSIONARY MEETINGS - There is amply lesson material, background informationand display items to make either a single presentation or a number of presentationsabout Japan, its j)eople, its religions, its customs and its missionaries— Since thelesson stoms are written with a young audience in mind, the information in thesestories would have to be adapted by the teacher for the group to be taught.

5. DISPLAY FOR MISSION FAIRS, RALLIES, CONVENTIONS AND FAITH-PROMISE CAMPAIGNS. Scissors,paste, thumbtacks, a wall or tack board, a table, a borrowed Japanese vase,"-parasol,kimono and lantern and the materials in this packet and you have all that is neededto make an eye-catching, informative display. Small placards and explanatory notesunderneath or alongside the display items will be helpful & appreciated by the viewers.

6. RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR TERM PAPERS, CLASS REPORT, GEOGRAPHY CLASS OR MISSIONARY LESSON.Do not throw this material away. It can be used again and again. Try to keep all together in this packet. Make one person responsible for it.

Non-Profit -drgai^l^ationLINKLETTER

Monthly Publication of , .

KYVSHli CHRISTIAN MISSION ^Box 49, North Vernon, * t,,. . cnAnA

Indiana 47265 Illinois 604.14

RETURN REQUESTED -)

U.S.POSTAGE

PAID

Louisville, KentuckyPermit No. 537

AN OFFERING. Kiao anrl a return envelope it would seem thatSince we have 1-luded an o ferxng which does not give

an offering is in order. That is tru . practical method atthe hearers efeLive. It has missed a chance of getting a committment,hand - money-has not been young people have been for many their

sst :;:f v;sr/^rr ui.u......... .r"""" s t;the mlssionap^ s pro 1 resources at hand. DVBS offerings in the summer time are

especiaUy helpful because this is the time of least missionary giving during the year.

e::~s;sing if the offering given is joyous, firee and spontaneous.

. 1 an nfferine bae like those used in the churches in Japan. The offering

rid^rerbarinn^rs^in 5apa"' S '̂thrLo^ntlfoffering givenrr^:"urit^:rrLtt: Lrhapsyour group wouldT enjoy trying the Japanese way.

Areturn envelope is included if you want to write us here directly in Japan. Or youcan wtitfto our forwarding secretary, Mrs. Cecil Smith Jr. Box 49 «°"h Vernon Indiana 47265. In either case you will receive a receipt and a letter of thanks. If you willtell us how many children you had in your DVBS. Bible school young peoples meeting orother group you will be sent from Japan a Japanese paper book mark for each person.

SJif^:^ffpMark G. Maxey. Kyushu Christian Mission. Kanoya. Kagoshima 893, JapanIn the U.S. Mrs. Cecil Smith, Jr., Forwarding Secretary, Kyushu Christian MissionLx 49, North Ve^on, Indiana 47265. Phone: (812) 346-7302Slides. Display items, and Books: Johb Miles Baker, 147 Avenue Cota San Clemente.

California 92672. Phone: (714) 492-1333(Study sets and books can also be ordered from Mrs. Smith)

^^r-f^^TOR^A^^^ear subscription to this highly readable monthly account of thelives of the Maxey missionary family in Japan.

$1.00 - CMF - ITS FIRST 15 YEARS. A case history study of the problem ofcentralized, organised missionary organizations among free churches.

$2 00 - SECOND THOUGHTS. Anew book by Mark Maxey. Twelve chapters on men and missionsas they relate to Japan. It will give you some new viewpoints to think about.

$5 00 - KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION STUDY PACKET as described on this sheet. Awealth ofmaterial and information gathered at considerable expense

JOHN MILES BAKER ORDER BLANK MRS. CECIL SMITH, JR.147 Avanue Cota OR BOX 49San Clemente, CA 92672 NORTH VERNON, IN 47265PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: COST: MAIL TO THIS ADDRESS:

TOTAL: CHECK ENCLOSED ( ) PLEASE BILL ME ( )

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey famlb

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian MissionKanoya, Kagoshima 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vernon, IN.47265

Linkletter No. 186

Dear Christian friends,

July, 1969

^ .ifeFOURTH OF JULY GUESTS

r 1

BRO. YOSHII (1.) WELCOMES "DENDO" TEAMBros. Turner, Honmori. Oda & Nakaninri

I have never been one to pray about the weather. Twelve years as a newsboy taught me to accept the sutiand the snow, the wind and the rain as a natural part of jlife both to be accepted and enjoyed. It has never oc- Bcurred to me to change plans because the weather had Ichanged and, accept for those who sail ships and fly the Iskies, I have always wondered \diy other people did. I

Our rainy season this year came early and ^stayed late. We had 29 days during which the clouds lifted only three times. Our yearly rainfall here is 7 feet,9 inches but during one week ervd we had a foot and a half ^and 3% feet in the 29 days. This is equal to a year'srainfall in Indiana. As the days wore on, I confess I 1began to talk to God about the weather. I

The hills, cliffs and subsoil of this area isa light rockCxdiich actually floats on water.) It absorbs Ba lot of water but as it does so it loses its consistency,It can collapse at any time. The resulting landslides ^killed 51 people in our prefecture. Two weeks after the irains, a huge cliff back of the Kanoya church let loose Jat 4 a.m. fracturing three buildings next door. The churchescaped damage but the incident added new urgercy to theirplan to relocate and rebuild as soon as possible.

Every Fourth of July is open house for the foreigners at this end of Kyushu. The invitations alwaysread, "Rain or Shine." Most of the time it shines. Thistime the heavenly spigots worked overtime all day long.Only the hardy came but we had a good time, good food andan amazingly varied group. Besides our regular friendsthere were Americans passing through from Kansas, WestVirginia and Pennslyvania? and 80 year old Grandmotherfrom Iowa making her home with missionary children inKagoshima plus two Canadians, one Frenchman and one Australian.We flew the flag & all joined in our patriotism.

"Dendo" is the Japanese word for evangelism.It is an easy word to say but a harder word to do. Oncea year for a full week, Osaka Bible Seminary sends outits entire faculty and student body for 'dendo.'The teamsare selected months in advance so that they can- pray andprepare together. We always welcome these teams here and _try to match their preparation with our own. We printed55,000 tracts that Bro. Oda had written for distributionby hand and in the newspapers. Bro. Yoshii planned athree day meeting at Kanoya; Bro. limure three days atKushira and Bro. Daikusono two days at Kajiki. While inKanoya the team stayed with us and ate breakfast with us.Other than that the local churches took care of their

entertaiment, incidental expenses and planned a veryfull schedule of calling and speaking in addition to themeetings at night. We provided printing, advertisingtravel expenses to and from Osaka plus seeing that the

BRO. TAMAKI ADVERTISING THE MEETINGS

BRO. NAKAMORI TEACHING BIBLE SCHOOL

BRO. HOMORI TEACHING MEMORY VERSE

CHRISTIAN STANDARD For July 9, 1949-

Mark G. Maxeys to Returnto Japan as Missionaries

Battle Creek, Mich.—Mr. iinrl Mrs. Mark(5. Mnxey announce that they are completingplans to rclurii to Japan as missioniiries,They plan to estaMish New Teatameutchurches on the island of Kyushu, the south-ommo8( island Japan. There are two con-gregfttions alrondy established there at Ea-uoye and Kokura. Harold Cole and PaulNielsen of the Osaka Misaioo are presentlyassisting *thesc churches. The Maxeys willostablish a new mission and work in newterrilory, but will co-operate fully with mis-sioanries in Jnpnn.

Mr. Mn?:ey is a graduate of MinnesotaBible College and The Cincinnati Bible Seminary with the degree* A.B,, M.A., and B.D.He h:iB held located pastorates at Truman,Minn.; and North Vernon, Ind.; in additionto student pastorntes at Madclia, Minn,;

fnith. Their background, their eagerness t<iwork in Japan, their unquestioned faith anddevotion tn our Lord and Saviour, JesusChrist, should enable them in the Lord tndo a commeadablc work In that needy field.

I believe Mark and Pauline Max'uy areworthy of your cossldorBtion, and heartilycommend them to you. Sincerely,

OeoME Mask ICujott

To Whom It May Concern:Chaplain Mark Maxey and his wife are

planning to go to Japan as missionaries. Itmight well be said that they are planning toreturn to Japan as missionaries, for duringhis term of service in .Tapan with the Amon-can Army, Chaplain Maxey found tbe opportunities to speak far Christ to the Ja]>-anese and decided that this b the Held iswhich he would spend his life. Even thoughPaula contracted infantlie paralysis duringtheir stay in Japan, these intrepid messengersof the cross are determined to go back. Thereis a spirit of pioneering in this Maxey family,which has made itself manifest. Mark Maxey'sloyalty and ability is too well known to needcommendation. Only the announcement thatthis family of Christians desire to go 10Japan with tbe message of salvatloa shou'.draise up supporters throughout America tofurnish the necessary funds for a new inisskmstation in Japan. R, C. Foster

team and their equipment got to each place ontime. I was the driver for that project. Bro.Tamaki, Christian store owner in Kushira spentseveral hours each day advertising with hiscar.

The team itself was the very best:Koichi Homorij second year student from Kajiki,Kagoshima; Atsushi Nakamori, 5th year studentfrom Hokkaido; Akira Oda, Prof, of Greek andNew Testament and Bill Turner of Osaka and theSeminary. They took turns preaching, givingtheir testimonies of faith and singing praisesto the Lord. The bore the oppressive heat andhumidity in good grace and gave a good accountof themselves in every way.

The attendance was good and on Sunday,June 20, five people were baptized into Christ.Three by Bro. limure in the Kushira river andtwo at the Kanoya church, one by. Bro. Yoshiiand one by myself. The latter was Kazuhiro Shi-"^m^o,~a nephew of"the man"I wrote about in my

last letter. He had attended my Bible classes for a long time but final-y the spark of faith was kindled and he began his walk with God. Theten days of 'dendo' were exhausting but exhilirating, too.

Probably not many of you will remember this news item in theChristian Standard of 20 years ago. In one way it seems like a longtime. In another, it seems like yesterday - there is still so much todo. One thing about it still stands out in my memory. On Saturday,July 9, when this issue was reaching its readers. Curt Hess, ministerof the Sciotoville (Ohio) Church of Christ, sent me a telegram askingif I would consider being their living link missionary. I was happy toaccept. They tQok partial living link support of $50 a month, a committment which they have more than maintained for 20 years. Steadfastsupporters like this make for steadfast missionaries on the field.

Other living link support soon followed so that by the timewe left for Japan in August, 1950 it was all promised. The amazing thingis that most of those original supporters are still with us. They are:19-20 YEARS; Alberta Church of Christ, Portland, Ore.; Brownstown, Ind.;Ladies Aid, Jamestown, 0.; Loyal Friends Class, Clifton church, Louisville, Ky.; Madelia, Minn.; Medora, Ind.; North Vernon, Ind.; Women'sGounci-l~Xeiild« 0; YSAJIS: Newtown church, Battle Creek, Mich.; 14YEARS: Vandalia, Mich.; 13 YEARS: Mt Byrd church, Milton, Ky.; 7 YEARS:Miles Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; 2 YEARS: Bethany Christian, Anderson, Ind.;1 YEAR: First Christian, Columbus, Indiana.

Tlie Mstk tlu«r)—Mark. P»iil», Walt«r Muk.ud pMlin*

Hollowtown, Highland County, 0.; New Hol-l.md, O.; and Circleville, O. At prescDt.beis ininwtefing Sunday evenings to the congregation at Vendalia in addition to theDlckman Boacl Chapel, Fort Cueter, Mich.

During ber husband's absence, while over-seaK, Mrs. Maxcy, a graduate of The CId-cinnatl Bible Seminary, was instrumental inestablishing the Laurel Home Church ofChrist, CutcinnaCi, O.

Mr. Maxey has served live years as anArmy chaplain In the United States, Philippine Islands, and Japan. His family waswitb him In Japan, where they had opportunity to become acrinainted with the peopleand to observe the great opportunities forthe gospel there. They returned to the Statesearly In 1945, so that their daughter, Paula,could receive additiunal treatment fur poliont Percy Jones General Hospital, BattluCreek.

Mr, Maxey is requesting release from theArmy the last of August to begin a tour ofthe churcbes la order that they may returnto Japan in the summer of 1950. They maybe contacted (or speaking dates at 29 Wendell Street, Battle Creek, Mieb. Forwardingagent is Mrs. Gladys Auerswald, Box 102,North Vernon, Ind.

Centra! Church, Battle Creek, has assumedliving-link support of Paula to become themission's first regular stipporters. Livinp-Unksapport for other members of the family isstill needed. There are two children—Paulaand Walter Mark.

Letters of recommendation are printed be-low:

To Whom It May OoncemjIt a privilege to have this opportunity

of saying a word eonceming Mr. MarkMaxey, who Is wholeheartedly committed totbe canse of New Testament Christianity,and his wife, Pauline, who is of like precious

Page Four (436) This is only those who provide for our family's living. Wehave an equal^ impressive list of those who have provided working funds for this mission since itfirst began. For all these and the more recent supporters as well, we thank God ,

LXNKLETTER Non-Proflt OrganizationMonthly Publication of U.S.POSTAGE

KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION PAID

Box 49, North Vernon, Louisville, KentuckyIndiana 47265 Missaion Services

&OV 968

Permit No.537

'oXiet Hliucis 60434

RETURN REQUESTED

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey fetellj

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian MissionKanoya, Kagoshima 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vernon, Ind. 47269

Linkletter No. 187 August, 1969

MEGUMI PAULINE - ONE YEAR OLD

Dear Christian friends,•5E7 -V ^^^1, ^ i u

After Bro. Yoshii and I had concluded a memorial ser- ^ ^ #vice at Bro. Shigemoto's old family home, he leaned over to me •and said, "It looks like it's going to be a very fruitful year."I was bound to agree. And a full year as. well.

Our annual Christian service/camp'was one of the fin- iest we have ever had. (Of course, in qur shortened memories,thelast is always the best.) We had a total of 60 campers. Thecamp ground is the buildings and lawn here at the mission. The i^gUMI PAULINE - ONE YEAR OLDfaculty wffi the preachers of the area plus Lonnie and Coral Ming^of Osaka Bible Seminary. He was camp speaker and she the song leader. Paula and her baby werewith us during camp, too. She taught my class twice and played the organ. The camp courses werebuilt around the theme, '*Hear the Voice of God."

For the first cime ever, no rains or winds spoiled the outside activities. At night,movies of the Life of Christ were held on the front lawn. Many of the neighbors came to seealso. These combined with Lonnie*s sermons had a powerful effect. Thursday night was stuntnight. Our group decided to stage the battle of David and Goliath. Little Kyogu Fukunaga hurledhis stone at me, the mighty Goliath. My job was to fall over dead at the right moment andclasp my forehead with a handful of catsup. Our stunt won first prize - a watermelon, (Hopewas voted best actress in all the stunts for her portrayal of Sisera, the king who got a tentspike driven through his head while he slept.)

The climax came Friday night at the closing service and around the camp fire.^i^fixtee^of the campers chose Christ for their Saviour. Three of them were minister's children includ^ing our own Hope, 8. Also in the group was Kazue Shigemoto, daughter of Shigeo Shigemoto, theman I wrote about two months ago.Three of his family have been baptized since he died. 'Hebeing dead yet speaketh."

August has always been an Important month for our family. Pauline's birthday isthe 2nd; my Mother's was the 8th; grandaughter Megumi was born last year on the 9th and my dayis the 10th. This fell on Sunday, the day after camp ended. It became, then, the spiritualb^thday of many of the young people as they were baptized into Christ at their various churches.It was my own joy to baptize Shigemoto San and Hope at the Kanoya church that day.

August is also an important month in Japan. The Budhist festival for the dead, 0 Bon,falls on August 15. This is vacation time, family reunion time and gift giving time. In fact,the store sales, the new clothes, the gift business almost reminded us 5f a Christ-less Christmas. August 15 also marked the 24th anniversary of the end of the war here in Japan. I attendedthe memorial service sponsored by the city for the 1934 soldiers from this area who died duringthat war. There were only 20 mourners, 20 representatives of various civic groups and about20 other people in the large hall. It was rather sad and certainly a commentary on the shortnessof human emotions and memories.

Our home has been blessed with many guests this summer. Charles and Nancy Millerand daughter spent a week with us from Guam where they are school teachers. Paula and Megumiwere with us for two weeks during which we had a joint birthday party. The house seemed prettyempty when she went back home (to Nagoya) with her mother. Lonnie and Coral Mings and son stayedwith us during camp. Many, many Japanese friends and students, back for a summer visit, alsocame to call reminding us of times past and of lasting Christian influence. Now the summer drawsto a close and Faith and Greg return to Canadian Academy in Kobe. Greg is a senior now and willreturn to the U.S. next summer. There is a touch of sadness as the family grows smaller but alsoa touch of pride to see your young people reaching out to fill their place in the world.

IN HIS SERVICE, X -T)

19th ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP

t'l, f

» 83-8.CAMP "POSTKR

DAVID AND GOLIATH

sis I;

MR.IIMURE BAPTIZING - KUSHIRA

LINKLETTERMonthly Publication of

KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSIONBox 49, North Vernon,

Indiana 47265

RETURN REQUESTED

r

FACULTY

LONNIE MINGS - CAMP SPEAKER

"^ti.

iSIXTEEN WHO BELIEVED IN CHRIST

V

terVicei. .

ixtx 96M

•'oliet Iliinois 60434

PUTTING UP THE TENT

OUTDOOR MOVIES

Sl

HOPE IS BAPTIZED - AUGUST 10

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S.POSTAGE

PAID

Louisville, KentuckyPermit No.537

Amonthly report by the Mark G. Max^ famll

to the friends of -the Kyushu Christian MissionKanoya, Kagoshima 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vemon, Ind. 47269

Linkletter No. 188 October, 1969

Dear Christian friends.

The weather people promised us a real typhoon andwe got one at the end of August. It left us with several hundred dollars of damage to roofs, fences and trees. But the Ka-jiki church was wiped out - song books, Bibles, furniture, theminister's study.Nothing was left but the floor.(Special offerings to help rebuild should be sent to Polly Wilkinson23769 West Edison Road, South Bend, Indiana 46628).

Isabel Dittemorehad asked us to teach a leader's coursein Taiwan. Tickets, visas, innoculations, teaching materials,arrangements for our responsibilities here - at last we wereready. We enrolled Faith (Freshman) and Greg (Senior) at Canadian Academy at Kobe on the way with generous assists by thehospitality of Martin & Evelyn Clark, Claude & Evalyn Likins.

We arrived in Taipei on September 2, Isabel put herhouse, a good bed, a lamp and study table at our disposal andwe began the class the next night. We taught the BETHEL SERIES, a disciplined Bible study requiring hours of study andmemorization for^ each class by the student and may more hoursof preparation by the teacher.Frequent quizzes and tests insure serious Study. Usually the course is taught 2 hours oncea week. We went after it 2 hours a night, every night. At theend of 14 sessions we had covered the Pentateuch - or 9 lessons and four tests. Since I was away from home and its schedule I could read the Bible for hours at a time. I learnedmore than the students did and came away with a new appreciation for the Book of Books.

It was an interesting class: 7 Chinese, 1 Japaneseand four missionaries including Pauline. Each had his text inhis own language but the teaching was in English. We had funalong the way. A coin bank was soon full of fines for tardinessand failure to carry memory cards. On test nights the studentsbribed me with gifts of bananas for better grades. Since Idearly love bananas I happily accepted the bribes and gave

THE BETHEL BIBLE STUDY CLASS - AFTER EXAM #4 INTRODUCIN(

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ITaiwan-IjTarongkon;

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KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS

ISABEL DITTEMORE & BROTHER

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them five extra points on their scores. On the last nightwe all had a Chinese feast together in Isabel's frontyard. She will continue the class week by week.

Besides taking the course herself, Isabelkept us well fed and took care of all the details. ThanksHoney! It was a privilege to work with you again. We also enjoyed the hospitality of missionaries Alan and Janet Bemo, Ted and Beverly Skiles and Mrs. Lillian Martinwho are also working on the island.

On our last day, Paula and Kiyoto came to Taiwan for their vacation. We had a fine day togelier beforegoing on to Hongkong. Helen and Wayful Jew took care ofus there, showed us the city, introduced us to the delights of Chinese cooking and kept our coffee cups filled as we talked late into the night about concerns ofthe Kingdom. They are deep in language study, alreadyusing it very well and making friends everywhere.

Brb7~Li invitedus to preach on Sunday. It was

a pleasure. Mandarin, Cantonese and English were usedin the same service but each heard in his own languageand was edified. That night we visited the classes conducted by Paul & Susan Palmer and Ben Reese. On MondayM/M Bollback of the Alliance mission had us to lunch. Wecarried on an intense conversation about the field andits needs between bites. Then it was time to go.

We left Hongkong at 6 p.m Monday and arrivedin Fukuoka, Kyushu at 10. We went through customs twicein Japan, twice in Taiwan and once in Hongkong. The inspector looked me in the eye and asked, "Any whiskey?Any tobacco? Any gold? Any firearms?" I replied in thenegative, they passed our bags without inspection and wewere on our way.Last off the plane,1st out of the terming.

We set up all night on the train to Kagoshima.Pauline and Hope went directly home. I took a ship fivehours south to Tanegashima for our annual area convention.Finally I was safely home late Wednesday night. To preachand fellowship in other areas gives one the spiritualstrength to come back to the realities of his own field.Truly, we received a blessing from each person and eachplace we met on the way< October first we began again-our regular schedule of teaching and preaching. Paulinehas begun third grade for Hope. She just had her 9th'̂n^ppy Birthday on October 4. The next tw^g^^^ftftnths willpo. the most difficult days since the war for Japan mis-^sionaries: Inflation, Viet Nam, Okinawa, Security Treaty^

renewal & Anti-Americanism. We all ^eed your flayer• IN HIS SERVICE,

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication ofKYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

Box 49, North Vernon,Indiana 47265

Sisslcn ServicesBox 968

•Wiec Ulinois 60434RETURN REQUESTED

r y

SHU CHEN LI 6e WAYFULL JEW - HONGKONG

BRO. IKEDA WELCOMES CONVENTION GOERS

KAJIKI MINISTER & HIS RUINED BIBLE

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A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian MissionKanoya, Kagoahlma 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vernon, Ind. 47269

Linkletter No. 190 December, 1969

Dear Christian friends, JA: 12 61970Tanabe is a delightful seacoast town, 100 miles south of Osaka on

the Kii peninsula. Surrounded by citrus groves, its narrow, winding streetswere laid out to hinder invaders in samurai days. We were warmly welcomedthere, not as invaders,-but as Christian friends in mid-November,

Heisuke Enomoto, an officer in the Tanabe church and a Rotarianhad asked me to come speak to the Tanabe club on the various issues confronting Japan and the U.S. at this critical time from the viewpoint of anAmerican, a Christian and as President of the Kanoya Rotary Club. I discussed the issues and their causes at the regular noon meeting and that nightafter supper in a local Japanese inn I discussed the possible Christiansolutions using Romans 13 as a basis. A vigorous give and take on politicaland religious issues followed. Several earnest Buddhists stressed that theirown religion offered the same, if not better, solutions. I felt it was avery rewarding evening for all of us.

^tviap Xemmon first came to^ Japan 39 years ago making her theoldest in'years^'of any of us and surely in-service. After the war, she returned to Japan and settled in Tanabe. Her work there since that time hasmade her one of the respected citizens of the city. One good way for a missionary to measure his work is to see how many disciples he has influecDcedto go out and preach to their own. By this measure, Miss Lemmon has donevery well indeed for year by year young people have gone forth out of Tanabe for training and Christian service. We had sweet fellowship in her homeand good food as well. When we preached her many students were there tolisten. At her invitation, Pauline spoke one day to a women's group in herhome and another day to the mother's of the kindergarten children at church.

Sueyo Morikawa was a Kyushu boy who found Christ while servingin the Kanoya Naval Air station about ten years ago. Now tthe minister ofthe Tanabe Church of Christ, he and the Christians worked themselves to thelimit getting ready for our three day meeting there. The result of theirprayers and work was evident - the church was filled with interested listeners for every service. That made preaching easy. People remained to talkand ask questions after the services. Sunday night at the invitation a kindergarten mother stepped forward; also a young high school boy whose two

MORIKAWA FAMILY.

VIVIAN LEMMON

MEETING ADVERTISING

INTRODUCTION BY BRO. ENOMOTO THE HIDAKAS-JUST MARRIED BAPTIZING INTO CHRIST

small sisters had brought him to the meetings; then, a third, Mrs. Morikawa, the minister's wife.She had been sprinkled and a member of another church. Her husband had the joy of baptizing herinto Christ along with the other two. Many in the church had been praying for this for a longtime. After the baptism, we gathered for prayer and remained to talk of God's working. The hourgrew late and some one said we should return home for sleep. I asked, "Who can go to sleep withthis kind of happiness in his heart?"

On Monday we took the long way around the peninsula and visited Mikimoto's Pearl Farm.Tuesday, to Ise Jingu, the national Shinto shrine where important events are reported to the godsby the Emperor, the Prince or the Prime Minister. Tuesday afternoon we called on Fr. Joseph Huntat Matsuzaki. He was 52 years old when he took care of the Catholic services for me when I wasRegimental Chaplain of the 35th Infantry at Otsu, Japan. I thought he was old then. Now I am 52and he is 74 and still going strong. He showed us the home for deformed children he has chargeof as we recalled old times together. Wednesday was a happy day in Nagoya with Kiyoto, Paulaand grandaughter Megumi. Thursday to the Baptist Hospital in Kyoto for our annual physical. Itlooks like our problems are the same as everybody else - not enough hours to do the tasks we haveset our bodies to do. When the body rebels, we wonder why. All day Friday attending the Councillor's meeting of Osaka Bible Seminary. Friday night and Saturday attending the annual preachingrally (Tane Maki Kai) of the Seminary. The preparation, preaching, attendance and fellowship wereoutstanding this year.- Martin and Evelyn Clark shared again their bountiful hospitality andgot-us-tQ—the airport foi^the 7:00 A.tf; plane to Kyushu Sunday morning.

By 10 A.M. we were preaching in Sueyoshi. After the sermon, Miss Ueda tearfully andjoyfully accepted the invitation to believe in Christ. She borrowed a kimono and I took a changeof clothing out of my suitcase and we all went to the river that same hour. Returning to thechurch, we had prayer together and all of us went on our way rejoicing. Happy days like this oneand the meetings at Tanabe can carry one through many a dry spell.

The Homori family of Kajiki asked us to be guests at the wedding of their eldest daughter to Tameyuki Hidaka. Son, Koichi, is a Christian and a student of Osaka Bible Seminary butthe rest of the family is not; We have enjoyed the hospitality of their home many times. Thewedding was held at the Kirishima Jingu, an ancient Shinto shrine of the area. It was our firsttime to be seated inside a shrine for a service. There are no idols but prayers and foods areoffered to the spirits. The marriage ends as white-robed priestesses carry the three ceremonialwine cups and wine kettle back and forth to be drunk by the bride and gioom seated at oppositesides of the shrine. At the wedding feast, first friends of the groom and then of the bridegive speeches praising them and offering suggestions for a happy marriage. I was happy to speakin praise of the bride and to leave with them both the words of Jesus from Matthew 19; 4-6. Fora wedding gift we left a Bible marked with the passages about marriage, a matching hymnbookand two small books about Christianity. During the feast the bride left once to change from herwedding kimono to a second kimono and then a second time to put on her going-away dress. She nevergot to eat a bite of the feast, nor was she expected to.

One of the wedding guestvas a Japanese lady, 70 years old. She went to the U.S, whenshe was 20 and this was her first return to Japan. She could hardly believe it was the same place.En route to Japan she had toured the world. She_s^d, .'^After seeing. them,_I ..know .that the U..S.,is truly a wonderful place to live. There is none better. I wouldn't want to live any other place."After all the breast-beating I've heard about the U.S. and its alleged shortcomings, It made mefeel warm all over to hear these spontaneous words of praise. In these days of Thanksgiving andChristmas joy we could well include thanks and praise for the country which has blessed us allour days. May the joy of Christ be personal, vital and lasti^ is our Christmas prayer for you.

IN HIS SERVICE,

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication ofKYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

Box 49, North Vernon,Indiana 47265

ElETURN REQUESTED

Misiiion Services

iiox 9(58

'.'oiiet Illinois 60434

J:AN 'i. 61370IfI

' ^ ^ !. ijj I Sa u i .

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Louisville, KentuckyPermit No.537