Amazing Grace

GOD'S grace is really amazing! Last Sabbath, some of us ended up singing "Amazing Grace" three times!

Number 1: 

Gracia gave a special song during the Divine Service and towards the end of the song, everybody burst into singing:

When we've been there ten thousand years,

bright shining as the sun.

We've no less days to sing God's praise,

than when we first begun...

Number 2:

Surprise! The International Worship Group had to give a special song to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Abott, the new missionaries in our church! Nobody knew in advance so nobody practiced any songs. Well, we kinda practiced during the Divine Service so, for the second time:

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

as long as life endures...

Number 3:

Some of us went to "spy" the potential mission field in Nishinari, the so-called homeless church. We worshipped with 25 other precious souls. We all filled the church with praises to the Lord and together as brothers and sisters we ended the blessed worship with:

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come.

'tis grace that brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead us home...

Revelations and Celebrations

LAST Sabbath Bro. Freddy Ah-wan gave us a sermon on Revelations. He reminded us the importance of studying and understanding prophecy and last-day events.

We are happy to welcome Pastor Ryu and his family to our church. His two kids, Ena and Emyon got baptised. Yay!!!

We are also still collecting donations for Sis. Rosa's church building fund. Her home church in Bolivia needs our help. Please feel free to contact her.

The Sabbath ended with a fun visit to Mizuho Home Care Center where we sang songs to the elderly patients and met their staff, nurses and caregivers.

Indeed, the earth is filled with His glory!

Light and Shadows

FOR almost a century, the island of Nagashima in Okayama was closed off to the rest of Japan but it had been the home of 2,000 lepers since its establishment in the 1930s. 

Once sent to the leper colony, the patients were considered legally dead and they were completely cut off from society. They were sterilized and not allowed to have any children despite Hansen's Disease not being genetically inherited.

Today, the former patients are now in their 80s but they preferred to stay on the island, having no more known family members.

We are given a special opportunity to meet the former Hansen's Disease patients in Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium. We are thinking of visiting them in Okayama (Nagashima Island) on May 31st, Tuesday. This date is still tentative as we have to submit our formal request to visit.

For now, we would like to know who is interested in going. We would like you to comment on this post or inform Saki before April 23rd.

The fare from Osaka to Nagashima Island is about ¥12,000 roundtrip. Please contact Saki for more information.

We are planning to do a concert for the patients while they are having snacks. The details of the program is still in the works.

"As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." 

- Matthew 10:8