Overseas Missionary Fellowship

China Inland Mission

19-5 Migi Iwabuchi Doori

Shirogane Machi, Hachinohe Shi

Aomori Ken, Japan

December 1957

Dear ________,

 

As we see Christmas fast approaching it makes us conscious once again that time is quickly passing and that the Lord's work requireth haste. May the Lord make us wise in the use of the time and opportunities He gives us. We need continual wisdom here on the field as to the proper use of our time. The multitudes of unsaved and the opportunities for evangelism challenge us and demand our time; the Christians need teaching and the preparation of messages, etc. in Japanese is still a difficult task and demands our time; the realization that unless we become proficient in the use of the language we cannot fulfill our ministry in this land drives us to the language study books and still demands many many hours of our time; it takes time to just live, especially with three small children in our house demanding attention and guidance in many things; visitors come to our doors demanding attention and guidance in many things; visitors come to our doors either for social calls or seeking spiritual help and of course we take time for this; we must take time for personal Bible study and for prayer else all of our efforts be fruitless. It is easy enough to accept the fact that in the Lord's service we have sufficient time to fulfill His will for us but to put this theory into practise is often most difficult and a source of frustration to many missionaries. Pray for us that He might "so teach us to number our days that we may get us a heart of wisdom."

We enjoyed a few weeks holidays during August and although Louise was not well most of the time we appreciated the change. The Christians carried on with the meetings in our absence.

You have prayed much for Mr. Enomoto the fisherman and will be happy to know that in September he followed the Lord in baptism. It was a great privilege to go with him and a few other believers down to the sea shore one Sunday morning and baptize him. As we work much these days amongst the thousands of fishermen in this area we take courage from seeing the transformed life of Mr. Enomoto and trust that he is only the first fruits of many more who will yet follow the Lord.

Recently we have had the privilege of welcoming another missioanry couple, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, who have come to work with us. They have had to leave Hokkaido mainly because of health and will carry on the work here after we leave for furlough next summer. It is good to have another couple to work with. Pray that the Lord will lead us in our united labours and give us contact with many hungry hearts.

Pray for Miss Masuya, a girl of seventeen, who seems close to believing but is still holding back because she knows her father will oppose her.

Also pray for Mr. Kuji, the jewellers son mentioned before, he is now our language teacher and seems more interested in the things of the Lord.

The winter months will be a time of concentrated language study for us. Pray that we may have the wisdom, patience and strength necessary for the study and for the exams to be written.

With sincere Christmas greetings from,

Lea and Louise Little