Lily Suzuki's Prayer and Newsletter

Vol 2. No. 4 - March 2001

Dear Prayer Partners, Supporters and Friends for the Mission Work for our LORD Jesus in Machida, Japan,

Thank you for your encouragement, support and prayers.  I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.    The LORD has been faithful in answering prayers.    The biggest news is that my prayed for grandchild is here.  It is a BOY and his name is Daniel Hikaru (light in Japanese, Gen. 1:3, “Let there be light.”)   He was 7 lb. and very health.  Praise God!    He was born Jan. 26.  Wilmy and Daniel are just fine and he is growing quickly.  My son said that he went for a check up and he now weighs 9 lb. I understand that he is very alert and strong and tries to lift up his head when he is on his tummy.  Here I go, I ‘m just a typical Grandma who loves to brag….. Sorry!    I have been kept very healthy, no colds, and was able to persevere through the very cold winter. Temperature-wise it wasn’t as cold as B. C. Canada, but due to the wind factor, much waking, and the heating system, it was cold.    People here said that this winter was exceptionally cold in Tokyo. I seem to have hit the hottest summer and the coldest winter…..    It snowed about 4 times which is very unusual for Machida so it made me feel like home.  Kiich, Iwao, the Pastor's children, and I had fun making 2 big snowmen at 11:00 p.m. at night before the snow melted.  God’s timing is always perfect, for I was just thinking about my grandchildren and was missing them.  I got to play with Kiich and Iwao. However, spring has sprung within the past 3 days, the bitter cold is gone and it is very pleasant.    As I walked to Serigaya Park yesterday, the Momo blossoms, plum blossoms, have bloomed overnight and it is beautiful.  It is a beautiful time of the year to visit Japan.  ???

Thank you for praying for time management.  It is slowly getting better and I am getting more sleep.  God is faithful and provides His Sunday sermons and delivers it for me. I wish I could say that I am getting used to it, but God continues to whisper that I am on His training ground.  Sundays sure fly around the corners really quick!  God gave me 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 .  Even that great Paul said,

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words , but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” 

Since God is using this broken clay pot, Lily, it is the power of His Spirit.  I praise Him for He alone is worthy of all honor, power, and all praise.   The 12 classes are getting larger and we have bonded and have become friends.  It is nice to see each other weekly. Please pray that they will accept the LORD as the messages are given out after each lesson.  The Bible messages are now focused on Easter and the reason as to why  we celebrate Easter. The 2 children’s classes are especially coming along well and we have lots of fun. This is a conversation class, but I am trying to develop an English program where I could teach children by introducing and incorporating Bible vocabulary so that by the time they learn to  read, they will  read out of the English children’s Bible.  If anyone has wonderful Bible Story songs like Daniel in the Lions Den and music or tapes, I would really appreciate it.   I taught them a color song yesterday and by the time the class was over, they knew 10 colors when I tested them by playing a game.  They are incredible!   I started a Bible Study class 30 min. before the Jr. and High School  English class. 

Kenichiro thirst for the Word and also loves to use his new English and Japanese Bible. The study is given in Japanese so it gives me a good chance to learn Japanese.    It is a joy and a privilege to watch him grow. We are praying so that he will decide to get baptized on Easter.    He also attends the Youth Music Ministry and plays the piano.  He volunteers and helps me sweep and mop the floors on Tuesday nights after class.   Please pray for Kenichiro that his love and faith for the LORD will deepen and that his physical condition will be healed.  I finally go to meet his shy sister, Megumi. Please pray that she will start to attend church with her family.  The parents are believers and are wonderful people who attend the Third English Service.

Tomochan  surprised us by saying, "Lily, Bible," on Christmas Eve.  That was the biggest gift from the LORD.  I was invited to his home during the New Year holidays.  One Sunday as we held hands and prayed, Tomo joined  as his mother prayed that the Lord will give me one more illustration for my Sunday sermon 30 minutes before the Service.  He was so still, very unusual for an autistic child, and said, ”Amen” after the prayer.  I immediately knew what my illustration was!  Tomochan  loves to visit my apartment and since the apartment is small, he could trash it in 5 min.  He found some crackers and scattered it all over, bed included and it was a mess. I had no time to worry about it and  thought that I could deal with it when I got home after the Service.  Well, God taught me that our outside surrounding could be a mess, but, we could have  perfect inner peace when we pray.  I talked about praying that day.  We serve an awesome Living God!

Feb. 12^th was J Passion Convention Day.  Thank you for your prayer.  Over 800 young and young at heart Christian’s attended and about 1 40 people dedicated themselves to the LORD to passionately serve Him. It was a time of praise.  They are planning a similar gathering in Osaka in March  this next month. We are praying for God’s mighty work. If  I didn’t answer you letters or messages, I’m so sorry!  It is getting so bad that I am writing letters in my dreams.  I do appreciate hearing from you and I  will try to improve!

As I close for now, I pray that  the LORD bless you and keep you and your family and give you peace. 

Thank you so much for your prayers.

His ambassador in Japan,

Love,
Lily Suzuki

Prayer Request and Praise:

Thank you Jesus for answering prayers. Please pray for:

1. God’s mighty movement of  the Holy Spirit  to draw the people of Machida,  and Japan  to Himself.

2. Vibrant relationship with the LORD each day

3. Health, physical strength and protection 

4. The English class non-believing students will open their hearts to receive the Gospel.

5. God’s wisdom in preparing and deliverance for each Sunday Sermon.

6. Time management  and decrement  as to what  I need to do each day

7. Akiko’s preparation for her studies in Canada.  She will be doing  grad. work in Christian Ed.

8. Health and protection for my family

9. Protection on Wed. -  BSF Classes, Richmond, Tokyo and all over the world.

10. Blessings, wisdom and protection for JEMS Staff.

Support:

For encouragement, letters and cards Machida Christian Center 4-18-3 Haramachida Machida, Tokyo 194-0013 JAPAN