Monday, June 24th

     Crossway Church of the San Fernando Valley will be sending a short-term mission team of six people to Utsunomiya, Japan this summer.  We will leave on July 17th for an eleven day stay at the Utsunomiya  Kyokai (church).  We will be going to present a three-day program similar to vacation Bible school - called English Experience Camp (EEC).  We will also present and participate in two worship services with the church, sharing testimonies and messages; present English conversation classes; visit the University of Utsunomiya to meet with students; give classes and workshops for church members and visitors; and other activities as requested by Kawano-sensei, the pastor of Utsunomiya Kyokai.
Back Row:  Don Hori, Jonathan Yamasaki, Mason Nakada and Donny Chitwood.  
Front Row:  Jayden Yamasaki and Seiko Hasegawa.
     This good looking group of people is the team going to Utsunomiya this summer.  Don and Seiko are both retired; Donny is an electrical engineer; Jonathan just completed his freshman year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; and Jayden and Mason just completed their junior year of high school.  Our church has sent shot-term mission teams to Japan during the summer since 2007.  We have partnered with Kawano-sensei and his wife Chihoyo-sensei during this time.  We served with them in Chino, Nagano from 2007 to 2015; in Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido in 2017; and now in Utsunomiya, Tochigi.  Utsunomiya is about 6o miles north of Tokyo and is the capital city of Tochigi prefecture.  It has a population of over 500,000 people - much more than the rural cities of Chino and Nakashibetsu with populations of 56,000 and 23,000 respectively.  The Kawanos provide the leadership for all of our activities and we are there to support their ministry of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Japan. They have an eleven year old daughter who we've watched grow and mature since she was born during our first mission trip in 2007.

Photo from 2015 - Don Hori and the Kawano Family 
Chihoyo-Sensei, Chi-chan and Kawano-sensei
     I'm sorry that this is the best picture I have of the Kawano family.  This photo is very typical of who they are - a close-knit family of down-to-earth folks, always expressing the joy of salvation through Jesus Christ.  We will be joining them in less than a month to serve alongside them in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It has been a great blessing serving with them over the past twelve years.  This year will surely bring those same blessings.





Comments

  1. UnknownJune 24, 2019 at 4:08 PM

    Dear Utsunomiya Mission Team,
    You are in my prayers for safe travel and good health throughout the trip. I pray that God will fill you with the knowledge of His will and that you will bear much fruit as you serve the people of Japan. May you be blessed even as you are blessing those around you by sharing the light and love of Christ Jesus. May you sense God's presence and the power of the Holy Spirit working in you and through you. May the Holy Spirit empower you to share the gospel boldly but with gentleness, respect and love. May the peace of God be with you and guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. May all you do and say bring glory to God our Father.
    Amen and love in Christ,
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  2. Auntie TracyJuly 18, 2019 at 1:50 PM

    Dear Utsunomiya Team,

    A huge AMEN to Jen's post and prayer....may the people of Japan realize that indeed Jesus IS the best SUPERHERO who gives us eternal life and forgiveness of our sins. Praying for unity, good health and travel mercies. Look forward to reading what God is doing through each one of you. Please give my love and a big hug to the Kawanos...

    Love in Jesus,
    Tracy

    ReplyDelete

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