Glory to God! He is always good! Though this has been the most difficult month for both my wife and me, as we had to spend most of it on opposite ends of the planet, God took this unique season to work in great ways in the hearts and lives of people, both in Japan and in the United States!
My wife’s absence this month from Japan provided both of us with unique challenges and opportunities for growth. I personally do not enjoy being alone and always prefer to be with other people. Though this made my days alone more difficult, God provided in amazing ways. During our three weeks apart, God encouraged me by allowing four families I personally know from the United States to be in Japan for various reasons. One of them even filled in for my wife on the piano for two of those three weeks! Another one of these families was the Saltzman Family, a new missionary family to Japan, whom God allowed us to assist with their immigration paperwork, who made their official arrival on September 18! It was a special honor to welcome them into Japan. The greatest joy of all was seeing many of the people in our church, especially Bro. L and Bro. K, go out of their way to take extra time to fellowship with me and step up to fill in for some of the areas where my wife usually serves, such as preparing the church meal and bulletins. Though being apart is not how we would ever choose to spend three weeks of our lives, this time apart allowed us to experience both what it means to be used by God to give, as well as to be given, grace to help in time of need.
Danielle returned safely from the United States on September 24. After catching up on our much-needed time together, God opened special opportunities for us that same week. On September 27, we visited the home of Bro. P for the first time. We were expecting to have just a short visit to pray with him, but to our surprise, he had tea and snacks already set up for us to not only visit with him, but also with his wife, whom we had only met once before, as well as one of their friends whom we had never met. We had a wonderful visit that day, and the moment of prayer we shared at the end of our visit was especially sweet. Before we prayed, I asked everyone there if there was anything specific that they wanted to pray about. As we prayed, their friend began to weep and told me that it was the first time she had heard anyone pray for her out loud. She is not saved, and I am not certain if Bro. P’s wife is saved either. They both expressed interest in visiting our church. Please pray for these dear ladies! God gave us a wonderful service on the day following, which was Danielle’s first Sunday back. God used her absence to give our church an even greater appreciation for the sweetness and warmth she carries into every service with her meek and quiet spirit, as well as all she does in the background to keep our church running, most of which goes unnoticed by many. After the service, God allowed us to hold our church’s first business meeting with our official members, where God allowed us to set a precedence for how we will make decisions together as a church going forward. We are excited to see how God will continue to grow and use our church for His honor and glory!
Major Praises This Month
• Danielle’s safe, three-week visit to the United States, able to visit family and update our home and sending church
• Help and encouragement provided both by the church and those visiting from the United States in Danielle’s absence
• Saltzman family’s arrival in Japan as new missionaries
Prayer Requests and Upcoming Events
• November 16 – Missions Sunday
• December 6, 21, and 24 – Christmas Outreach Events
• Salvation: Mr. I, Mr. D, the O family, Miss NI, and the TA family
• Baptism: Bro. K, Bro. W, Bro. TO, Bro. P, Bro. NI, Sis. NE, Sis. E, and Bro. Y
• Growth: Bro. L, W family, and Bro. M
Danielle’s Journey
At the end of August, we received a phone call about many difficult trials my mom was going through. One of the biggest was the decline of my grandma’s health. To be an encouragement to my mom, my husband graciously offered to send me to the United States for most of the month of September. I missed my home in Japan so very much during that time, but it meant so much to be there with my mom during her difficult time. I was also able to see my grandma once more, which was a huge blessing! During my time there, I attended our home and sending church that I grew up in. I was privileged with opportunities to speak to the children’s classes while I was there, as well as give an update to an adult Sunday school class. I returned home on September 24 and attended our prayer service that night. Though I am thankful for my time with my family and home church in the States, it was so very good to be back home. Thank you all so much for your prayers for my travel and family, as well as for our ministry here in Japan.
Your friends and co-laborers to Japan,
Go and Danielle Oishi
