Subject: Report in August 97

Dear Christian Friends,
Hope your life is richly blessed by God.  We are doing fine and blessed by
God with many opportunities.  A year has passed since I began to work with
Yokota church of Christ.  I have learnt many things during the year. 
Probably I could not exchange this important experience for anything.  I
learned how to work with people and how much I needed to trust in God. 
People have begun to trust in me.  In the previous letter, I indicated to
you that this congregation had had many difficult problems.  However, those
problems have begun to be solved among the members.  We just had a
congregational meeting last Saturday.  The meeting was very productive.  We
decided which direction we want to go as the congregation.  In the meeting
I made it clear to the people of the congregation that I would do anything
to help the congregation spiritually grow.  I also told them that I needed
their help.  I want them to come to my Bible studies with Japanese and to
make friendship with them.  The members of the church agreed to help me
actively and to make friendship with Japanese.  They actually began to come
to my Bible studies with Japanese.  Although I have had a positive
relationship with each member of the congregation from the beginning, it
has taken some time for me to earn their trust.  We are now working with
each other as a good team. 
 
In this letter I would like to introduce the Japanese preacher Motoyuki
Nomura, who generously lets us use his car.  Before Riki was born, he
called me and found out that we did not own a car.  He was very concerned
how we would go to hospital if Mari had a labor.  I told him that we would
take a taxi, not to worry about it.  Well, a few hours later he called me
again and told me that we could have his car.  Since he insisted that we
use his car, we accepted his offer.  
Let me tell you how I met him for the first time.  I met him at the time
when I was back from the U.S. about 7 years ago and thinking about becoming
a preacher.  The first thing he told me is that I should not become a
preacher.  He discouraged me from becoming a preacher with very strong
words.  Later I found out that he would talk to anybody like that.  I agree
with his wife that he is a very stubborn old man.  But his heart is warm. 
He often tries to help me and sent us money when we were in Memphis
studying in Harding Graduate School.  About 40 years ago he studied the
Bible in Kentucky and made a great effort to live and study in the U.S.  He
understands how difficult it can be for a Japanese to live in the U.S. and
to come back to Japan after a long time of living in Japan.      
I do not always agree with him on every issue.  I do not always do the
things he suggests me to do.  But his insights have been very helpful for
me to take a different look at evangelism and churches in Japan.  He is
probably one of a few preachers who have genuinely tried to help me
smoothly settle in Japan  I am appreciative of his willingness to help me
physically and spiritually.

Currently I have been studying with two Japanese men and two Japanese
ladies.  The two men have considerable interests in what the Bible teaches.
 I hope that I will give you a more detailed report about my Bible studies
with Japanese. 

In His service, 

Masa Nonogaki