Don and Hazel Schaeffer

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Dear Praying Friends,

We made it through the very busy month of December, thanks to your prayers! We are tired, maybe even exhausted (!), but we praise God for the exciting opportunities He gave us. It was all worth it!

UPDATE God worked in answer to your prayers! *At the Ladies Christmas Lunch, the Deborah Singers shared their vibrant faith through testimonies and song. Their passion for God was so evident. 40 women attended; over a third of them were not yet Christians.
*English Class Parties: Don said he didn’t know that women could eat so much! They came into our home and we sat for several hours. We talked about all kinds of issues. We praise God for their openness to spiritual things. One student could not come because her elderly mother had recently passed away. I went by her home with another lady to take her a little present. She asked us to come in to offer incense and to show respect to her deceased mother. Of course, I couldn’t do that, but before we left, I asked if I could pray for her and so there in front of the Buddhist altar, I was able to pray for her and her family. *KID’S OUTREACH—God brought 50 kids and 30 adults, many of whom were parents of these un-churched kids. The SS kids put on a play and a ventriloquist gave a clear presentation of the gospel. What a great opportunity to share Christ!

*On Christmas Sunday we had 80 gather to worship together. Church people brought unsaved friends. 11 were first timers. Mr. Kuninobu joined the church. He had been baptized in middle school in an Alliance church in Hiroshima. He fell away from church for years. Mr. Kuninobu started coming to our church in May after seeing the church webpage.

*We caroled in front of the train station where hundreds of commuters stopped to listen and were given tracts.

*One of the highlights of the year is to see the enthusiasm of the young people as they prepare for feeding the homeless. This year they made
150 boxed lunches and hauled all it down at 5:00 in the morning to a major train station along with clothing and other warm items. With the economic crisis in Japan, the numbers of homeless people are increasing. Several came asking us for certain items. One lady needed shoes and we had a pair that fit her! Praise God for the dedication of the young people. As we were preparing food, a homeless man from our area came in looking for food and warmth. He had no socks on his feet that cold night. Pray for wisdom as we consider what we can do in our own area. *We missed having all our kids here with us, but we enjoyed time with mission family. We are enjoying having Donnie with us for a couple of more weeks. We think he will be going back to college to rest!

AM I TOO LATE? Mrs. Suzuki lives a two-minute walk from church. She came in to Bible study one Wednesday in December eager to study the Bible. She said, “I’m 72, am I too late to learn about God?” Her husband had died earlier in the year and she was doing some soul searching. She also came to the Ladies Tea and brought a friend. She didn’t pray that first time she came, but when the ladies came to our house a couple of weeks later for Bible study and prayer and to eat together, she prayed asking God to forgive her of her sins and to make her heart pure. Pray for us as we continue to talk with Mrs. Suzuki and pray that she will make a clear commitment to follow God.

WHAT’S AHEAD *We have been in our new facilities for a year now and we praise God for what He is doing in our church and for the visibility that we have in our community. We will be having a special worship service on the 18th to mark a year in the church. Pastor Doi will be preaching. *Jane Landaw continues her study on the home. We meet next on January 23. Pray for two unsaved women who come. *Please pray for Don and the elders as they think ahead to this new year. *Please pray as we follow up the new contacts made through the December outreaches.

IN CLOSING We had our New Year’s Day service. In a country where millions visit the temple the first couple of days of the year, churches have a service to start the year meeting with God. Don spoke about how the Word of God comforts us. We wrote up promises in the Bible for each person to take home. Verses like, “I know the plans I have for you…” “Do not be afraid…” We thank God for His Word—that it never changes, and that it brings hope and life. In a time of financial turmoil, we are thankful for all of you who are investing in eternity. Thank you for giving and praying and for being a part of the work here in Japan.

Grateful for your prayers,

Don and Hazel

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