TRUMANSBURG CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
HOME MISSION

Wednesday through Thursday we spent visiting friends, the bamboo groves where I used to pray, and eating long–waited for Japanese food!

You cannot imagine the deep joy it was to meet and visit with some older Japanese who are in their seventies and eighties, people with whom we had shared the Bible and prayed for over several years. They have since received the Lord, been baptized and are member of the Kobe Church. Among these people were the parents of Pastor and Mrs. Otsuki. I will never, ever forget their smiling Christian faces and their hugs.

On Saturday Pastor and Mrs. Otsuki planned a reception / fellowship time and invited Cornell University students I had taught while in Ithaca and had since returned to Japan, as well as many other friends from long ago. Also attending were students from the Kobe School of International Languages to whom I taught Bible, who have since “turned gray” and hold responsible jobs and / or are parents. Their joyous Christian faces and the fellowship with them was precious. They had a sharing time, remembering events that happened years ago between 1963 and 1987.

On Sunday morning there was a beautiful worship service with the Word of God, a grand piano, an organ, a children’s choir that sang in English and the adult choir. I felt so “at home”, like I had never left Japan.

In the afternoon was the long awaited dedication of the beautiful three-story building on “land of gold”! The land and building cost one million U.S. dollars. When I asked the pastor how they ever did that, he said everyone who could mortgaged their homes and made commitment! Amazing, when you realize there are only seventy members. There are two other groups of Christians (outreaches) that may be helping, I think.

The dedication truly honored the Lord. Three or four other Pastors shared their thoughts, young people sang, the adult choir sang and Pastor Otsuki shared. One of the deacons, who has liver cancer, came out of the hospital long enough to share about the leading of the Lord in acquiring the church. I shared for about sixteen minutes (in Japanese) and Erin sang a beautiful solo.

Now to amaze you about your part. I prayed for $2000 to be able to give a love gift to the church in Kobe, Japan, and through you God answered and brought in $2,635 for the love gift! A heartfelt thank you to all who gave and prayed. God answered your prayers by giving sustaining strength to meet the physical and spiritual needs of every day.

Psalm 66:5 “Come and see the works of God…”

I Timothy 1:17 “…..to God be honor and glory forever!”

Love in our Savior
Blanche Hamilton

P.S. Also, the church in Japan gave me a “love gift” of $2,000!