Overseas Missionary Fellowship

19-5 Migi Iwabuchi Doori

Shirogane Machi, Hachinohe Shi

Aomori Ken, Japan

March 29, 1958

Dear Friends,

 

1 John 3:22 has often been a challenge to us and should be a challenge to any who are seeking to carry on an active and successful prayer ministry. In the Greek, we are told, the verbs in this verse are in the "continuous present tense." The verse would thus read "and whatsoever we keep on asking for we keep on receiving because we keep on keeping his commandments." If we keep on praying and keep on obeying we can expect God to keep on answering our prayers. But this "keeping on" is not automatic. It takes unwavering faith and hard work. May the Lord enable us each one to live steady, continually obedient lives and to continue faithfully in our praying so that we will have the joy of seeing our prayers being continually answered.

Our first item is one of praise for the safe arrival of Lorraine Esther born March 18th. Louise and baby are well and will be home from our "rest home" in Aomori City in about one weeks time. Daddy and family have been getting along fine (????) during mother's absence but will be glad to welcome her and little sister home again.

During February Mr. Watanabe came to northern Honshu to visit the centres where he held evangelistic campaigns lat summer. His brief five day visit with us was a great blessing to the Christians especially. Miss Kubo, the dress maker, came into real assurance and blessing at that time. Pray that she might continue on with the Lord inspite of much family opposition.

Mr. Iwafuji, the elderly farmer of about sixty, seems to be really trusting in the Lord now. Through the faithful witness of his daughter (our Sunday School teacher) and through the death of one of his grand children he has decided to confess the Lord openly. He still has a problem concerning which we should pray. His three year term as a member of the local Buddhist shrine committee does not expire until October. He says now that he will wait until then (in order to keep his promise) to make a complete public break from idolatry and will be baptized. Let us pray that he will make this break even before October.

Some of the Christians have been joining us recently in street preaching and this "trying of their wings" has been a real blessing to them. Have you ever tried preaching on the streets in your town especially after having been saved for only a year or two? If so, you can appreciate the step of faith this is for them and you can rejoice with us to see this growth of grace in these for whom you have been praying.

Mr. Tamagawa, saved last summer, needs our prayers. He has not been with us for three months now. We found out that he was formerly a drunkard and dope peddler so has no doubt fallen into his old sins again. The Lord's grace is sufficient for even such as he.

Our July furlough is drawing near and we find much yet to be done. Lea successfully passed a language exam in January and hopes to do another before June. Pray that we may have the grace and strength to fulfull our ministry during the remaining months before furlough.

Thank you for your continued prayers,

Lea and Louise Little