Go and Danielle Oishi Prayer Letter: Our First Missions-Emphasis Month

Praise the Lord! God is always good, even when our circumstances are not! Though we chose not to include these details in our previous praise report in hopes that these circumstances were not permanent, we are sad to report that Bro. K, whom we have spoken much about in our letters, has suddenly chosen to turn against my wife and me and has cut off all communication with us and our church. We have not heard from him in over a month. Please pray that his faith would be restored. Around the same time, we found out that Bro. L, our only official church member, will be moving back to his home country of Hong Kong and has started his process of moving out of Japan. Please pray for him as he makes this difficult transition. We are thankful that God sent him to us to help us during our first two years in Kisarazu! As our church currently meets on Sundays in one of his buildings, we will soon have to find a new place to meet. Please pray that God would open new doors for us.

In the midst of our heartaches, God has given us much to praise Him for as well. On the first of this month, Bro. M, one of our faithful young men with whom I have been meeting one on one every week to aid in his discipleship, has completed his written salvation testimony! He also realized his need to be Scripturally baptized, based on the timing of when he truly came to trust Christ as his personal Saviour. Please pray that God would give him the courage to make this decision soon, as we will be going over this subject in depth. On November 6, Danielle’s visa extension was approved—this time a five-year visa, which is what we needed to apply for her permanent residence in Japan! We praise God for this answered prayer. On November 7 & 20, we were able to spend even more time with the O family, our neighbors who are not yet saved, spending time out shopping with them and sharing a meal in their home. I was also able to spend much time with Mr. I, a lost gentleman in our city whom we have now known for two years, on the phone this month, as he seems excited about our upcoming Christmas events. We praise God for these new doors that are beginning to open after a few have been closed. Please pray that Mr. I and the O family will get saved!

God led us to respond to our recent battles by holding our church plant’s first Missions-Emphasis Month. Our church plant currently supports three missionary families, and we praise God that, for the very first time, our church was able to host one of them in person on November 16! This couple is a personal friend to my wife and me and serves in a creative-access nation. They were used of God to bring a great challenge to our church and much-needed encouragement to my wife and me personally. We showed videos of our other supporting missionaries on the other weeks. Please pray that God would give our church a strong burden for missions! Please pray that God would use our upcoming Christmas outreaches to reach many new souls! May all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May we all stay encouraged in Him!

Major Praises This Month

• God blessed our first Missions-Emphasis Month.
• Danielle was granted a five-year visa extension.

Upcoming Events

• December 6, 21, & 24 – Christmas Outreach Events
• January 1 – New Year’s Day Service

Prayer Requests

• Salvation: Mr. I, Mr. D, the O family, Miss NI, and the TA family
• Baptism: Bro. M, Bro. W, Bro. TO, Bro. P, Bro. NI, Sis. NE, Sis. E, and Bro. Y
• Growth: W family and Bro. M
• For Bro. K’s return and Bro. L’s future
• For restored church attendance
• New location for our church to meet on Sundays

Danielle’s Journey

Bro. L, our church member, as well as the owner of the guesthouse where we meet, was out of the country this month, and we were faced with a unique challenge. There were guests who were scheduled to check out before our church service and check back in afterwards, which is fairly common. However, these guests took the key with them, and with Bro. L away, we were locked out! I circled around the house looking for a way in. Everything was locked tight, aside from one window that was not just unlocked, but completely left open! I quickly climbed onto the air-conditioning unit and into the window that God had left open for us and was able to unlock the door from the inside! Due to the current situation of our church here, we have had several lower Sundays. However, for the first time in almost two years, we held a service with only my husband and me on November 23. I prepared a meal for a full room and folded bulletins for each seat set out as always, and though no one else attended, God met with us. For me personally, it was a reminder of why we do what we do and Whom I am truly working hard to serve. I love the work that God has called us to, not just for the people we hope to reach, but for the God we get to serve!

Your friends and co-laborers to Japan,

Go and Danielle Oishi