Lily Suzuki's Prayer and Newsletter

November

Dear Prayer Partners, Supporters and friends of The Mission Work in Amakusa, Japan

We have already forgotten the humid summer, for autumn has hit us almost overnight, with the cold mornings and the breathtaking beauty of the mountains. The vibrant red, gold and green leaves accent the black cliffs of the mountainsides as Sue, my partner, and I travel to Kawaura. The sun setting in the horizon of the ocean and the sky truly is the handiwork of God. We have a new ministry in Sakitsu, a little village on the coast and mountainside, visiting 85 year old Mrs. Akasaki. On the way home we stop just for a while to thank God for such a privilege to be driving home just at the right moment of the sunset to be able to see such beauty. We are constantly reminded of Psalm 8:1 “O Lord, our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth!” and Psalm 97, “The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.” As we pray for Amakusa’s revival, it is difficult to ignore the existence of a Living God.

We often visit Mrs. Akasaki (r) who accepted Jesus as her personal Savior. We took Mrs. Harada, a Christian friend who lives not too far from Mrs. Akasaki. She will go to visit her and to disciple her when we can't always go.

I would like to share about Mrs. Akasaki. She is a Grandmother of Takeshi at Machida. His wife, Urara, and I prayed for Takeshi to become a Christian so they could get married. I had given a testimony at MCC’s summer camp and shared how I prayed for my husband to become a Christian for 36 years. She took it to heart and waited until Takeshi became a Christian and got baptized. In his testimony, he said he was from Amakusa and had parents and a Grandmother there. He asked me to pray for his grandmother to become a Christian for he loved his Grandmother dearly. This was almost four and a half years ago. We often prayed for Grandmother to become a child of God. I was invited to their wedding and they now have a lovely Christian home and a baby daughter, Saki. They came to visit their parents in Amakusa this September and also visited us. He drove us to Sakitsu where we met his Grandma. She told us that she was so lonely living in this huge 100-year-old house. She told us that she would rather die, but was afraid to die alone in the house. Sue and I have visited her several times and witnessed to her and prayed for peace, which only Jesus can give. She accepted Jesus as her personal Savior. After she prayed to accept Jesus out loud after me, Sue started to sing a hymn, “The Trusted Heart to Jesus Clings,” the only one Japanese song Sue knows by heart, for it was her late Father’s favorite hymn. Mrs. Akasaki started to sing and knew most of the words. We were so surprised, but not God! She told us that almost 50 years ago when she lived in China, her neighbor from Nagasaki, Japan, often shared the Bible and they sang Hymns. The neighbor had planted the seed so long ago, and God had Mrs. Akasaki keep this Hymn in her heart. God’s timing is always perfect, and He mercifully keeps His people. Praise God! We also shared Psalm 121. We called Urara and she told her husband of the good news. We were so excited and overjoyed as we drove home singing Hymns ourselves. We continue to visit, share, and take other Christian friends to witness and to disciple her—to become new friends. Sue and a wonderful Christian lady took a kitten to her a few days ago, and Mrs. Akasaki was so delighted with her new little pet that keeps her company. We continue to tell her that Jesus is her LORD and friend.

The students in all the English Classes of the 3 Churches we serve have been studying in Genesis 1 – 10, as well as, related verses in the New Testament. Sue and I are in the process of memorizing John 3:16, in Japanese, with the students during the last 30 minutes of “Chapel Time.” Sue and I were really surprised when “S” in our advanced morning class suggested that we open our class by singing a few Hymns in English. Praise God! This lady happens to have attended Sunday school when she was a little child and remembers some of the songs such as “Jesus loves me this I know.” We sang it together, and she was delighted. She says that she often reads the Bible. The Sunday School teacher had planted seeds long ago and we are praying for her true salvation. Please pray for S. We have gotten to be good friends.

Our house, God’s house, is always open for the students, parents, friends, pastors and wives to come over to have a cup of tea or coffee. A mother of a little special-needs child that we met at “Suku Suku En,” meaning “a garden where children grow,” came to visit us. We became friends and were able to pray for her. We volunteer at “Suku Suku En” on Friday mornings to help with the autistic and other special Ed. toddlers and parents. It is a wonderful place, because the thoughtful and loving teachers have a wonderful program. The elementary school age children come after school for daycare. We go back there in the afternoon around 5:00 pm for the older children. The children always wait for us. This program also gives mothers a chance to visit and encourage each other. The children love to come after school; but most of them love to see their parents who come to pick them up. It is so heart warming to see that most of them have a happy home. We are praying so that we get to meet these parents so that we can share the “Good News,” when God gives us a chance. Sue often plays her ukulele and shy toddlers often respond to her singing and smiles. I have gotten attached to a 3 year-old boy who almost drowned and is now considered brain dead, but he seems to respond when I talk or sing to him or rub his hands and feet. Sue’s music seems to calm him, too. His loving mother brings him over each week so he can be stimulated and be with his peers. Please pray for K, because he is going to the hospital for surgery and therapy for over a month so that he can be in a sitting position instead of lying down all the time.

Mariko-san visited us. She is a mother of Kitsupei, whom Sue and I met at "Suku Suku En." Please pray for Kitsupei for he will have surgery so that he can be in a sitting position.

Please pray for our handicapped friends we visit on the other side of the mountain, in Kawaura (45 minutes away). We work along with them as they work by folding shorts and labeling them. Three young ladies stay after work with another boy, Shingo, who joins them for English Class. They read and listen attentively to God’s Word at Chapel Time. Please pray for their salvation and that Miki’s parents will allow her to attend church on Sunday. We were able to help Rev. Ezaki with her Sunday Service when she suddenly had to leave for her sister’s funeral. Sue gave a testimony and I gave the message. God gave us utterance. Sue gave the whole testimony in Japanese without my interpreting. Sue has been in Japan for only 6 months and we really felt the power of the Holy Sprit leading us. We see so many miracles big and small. What a blessing it was. We are so grateful to serve God in Amakusa.

Rev. Nakamura from Omochanomachi Church in Tochigi where I served for a year, Soul-sensei, a missionary from Korea and her son, Yun-san, and Pastor Kamizono came to visit us this week and stayed overnight at our house, God’s house. They came to pray for the revival of Amakusa and for our ministry. We have been praying to have all 3 of our Pastors and their wives here in Amakusa to join us in prayer and for dinner. God has answered our prayers and sent 3 additional visiting Pastors to join in our prayer. After dinner, we had a special Church Service with all Amakusa Pastors and wives attending. We have been praying for all the Pastors to join together shoulder to shoulder for the revival of Amakusa as in Zephaniah 3:9, “Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” Prayer time and fellowship in our home was such a blessing. Praise God!

Sue and I are so grateful for this chance. God has widened our ministry and we are keeping very busy. I appreciate all of you for serving with us by being wonderful prayer warriors and for your sacrificial support for this ministry. Thank you so much. You are all such an encouragement to us. Sue and I always remember you in our prayers too. May God bless you and be with you and your loved ones.

His Ambassador to Japan,
Lily Suzuki

Rev. Nakamura (far right), Soul-sensei, and Rev. Kamizono, came to stay overnight and to pray for us in Amakusa. What joy!

Praise & Prayer Requests

Prayer Praise:

1. God is faithful and is blessing our ministry.
2. Many prayers are being answered. Yuu-kun is back in church.
3. God watches over our health and language growth.
4. We are thankful for our comfortable home and to be able to open it for ministry.
5. God continues to give us good health.

Prayer Requests:

1. Vibrant relationship with the LORD to study His Word.
2. Help Sue and me to put on the Armor of God each day for spiritual warfare and to be alert in prayer. Wisdom and discernment for our ministry.
3. Training of discipleship in each church and to be strong witness for the LORD in the church and community.
4. Prayer for Mrs. Akasaki to grow in God’s Word and to learn to pray so that she will feel joy and peace.
5. Prayer for the Pastors and their wives.
6. Prayer for more children to attend English Classes so that they can hear God’s Word.
7. Prayer for the BSF Classes all over the world.
8. That our daily routine will allow enough sleep and rest for health to take up the daily ministry.
9. Prayer and healing for Deana and her husband, TJ, who had a stroke.
10. Protection for our family back home.

Thank you!