Cheery greetings from Japan! The Lord has granted a priceless opportunity to join this fifteen-member team to serve two missionary families and their churches: first the Oishis in Kisarazu, east of Tokyo, followed by the Morgans in the southern region of Osaka. The Lord is granting victory through much opposition.

This trip illustrates beautifully what He’s been doing through June and July. Once again, He’s “taken us to school!” Candidate School in June gave us the opportunity to prepare six new couples for missionary service. Missions University in July then brought these precious folks back to join veteran missionaries for mutual growth, culminating in the appointment of the candidates as new missionaries in the Sunday evening service. Praise God for more qualified and prepared laborers in the Lord’s harvest!

These events illustrate the wondrous reality that serving the Lord is a thrilling journey of growth and maturation. Trusting and obeying the Lord, prayerfully and even desperately seeking His guidance and power, and finding it, is life in “living color.” Trials are seen in the context of God’s love and providence.

For example, in His school, we’ve learned this week that in Japan, the Biblical, unconditional love of God isn’t well understood because the only love known is that which is earned and thus can later be withdrawn. Even the chorus “Jesus Loves Me” can be misunderstood and so not well appreciated. Missionaries must labor diligently to learn how to communicate spiritual truth with understanding. It’s no wonder that Jesus said, “. . . without me ye can do nothing.” It’s no wonder that the lifeblood of missionaries is fervent, informed, effectual prayer support. How convicting this has been to all of us.

Application? We’ve served all these years with the goals to help missionaries reach the field fully prepared and to help them to serve most effectively with longevity. This time in school has reinforced to me the immense value of missionary service and our need to fully and wisely support them.

We can’t tell you how much we love you and appreciate your faithful prayer and financial support. Since we’re still in school, we don’t feel at all worthy, but we do our best to produce fruit for your account.

With love and deep appreciation,

Dan and Lana Siemer