Dear Christian Friends,
Hope you have had a happy new year. As you may know, the New Year Days are the most important holidays for Japanese. Most Japanese take day off from December 28 to January 3. Although they are supposed to take a rest during those holidays, they end up spending very busy days. Many of them go home to visit their parents far off by taking a crowded train and/or visit relatives near where they live. The traffic and the trains are often packed. I wish people take a vacation at different times. After all, it is not a rest at all. Like many Japanese, we visited my father. Also, we visited Mari*s mother and spent a couple of days there. (I enjoyed spending a time with them, though.)

I had work to do on January 2, which is still a special holiday for Japanese. Every New Year Days, Japanese Christians have a New Year Worship Service at Mito church of Christ 100 miles east of Tokyo. I was one of the two feature speakers for the meeting. I spoke for the meeting two years ago, too. I am very grateful for this kind of opportunity. I did well to glorify the name of God. However, the following is my conclusion. "I guess many older preachers want to take a rest on this special holiday. Therefore, they ask somebody like me to speak for the meeting." I am just joking.

I am quite surprised at the widespread of Internet in Japan. Although I suppose Internet in Japan is not spread as much as in the States, a number of people keep on responding to my page. When I put the page on the web, I did not expect this number of people to respond. I did not prepare the answers for Questions and Answers page because I did not know how responsive people are to the page. So far, seven individuals asked questions about the Bible and Christianity. Two of them are taking a correspondence course. I have a dialogue with five of them. None of them are a Christian.

Since they ask me many questions, I have to prayerfully (and quickly) prepare the answers for the questions I put on the page. Also, I have to make a correspondence course which can meet the needs of Japanese. I have been using the correspondence course prepared by Jim McGuiugan. This is very difficult and theological. A number of Japanese who responded to the page have written me that it is very difficult for them to read the Old Testament and even hard to believe it. Though I consider the OT as very important and essential to Christian faith, I think the starting point for Japanese people is the New testament. Since there are no correspondence courses suitable to Japanese people*s needs, I have to prepare for it. It takes the wisdom of God.

Let me write what one of them wrote me. "I have been reading the novel bible written by Walter Walgreen. (My comment: I do not know this novel and author.) I also have been reading the real Bible. A lot of questions have come to me. Where did Abraham come from? Why is sacrifice necessary? Why did God command Israel to kill people? Was the sea really divided? Why did God give Jeremiah sufferings? I have also learnt a couple of things from the Bible: the foolishness of man and the weakness of human mind. I would appreciate if you teach me about the Bible." I answered a couple of his questions and try to arouse his interests in God, Jesus and the Bible.

This evening I will meet a man who responded to my page. As I indicated, Internet has opened up lots of possibilities for reaching out to people. Please continue to pray for this work. In His service, Masa Nonogaki