September Update

Thank you to those who have asked about Amy.  She arrived back in Japan about 10 days ago, and recovered from jet lag very quickly and is doing very well both physically and emotionally.  We are thankful to all be back in Japan again as a family and praising God for his miraculous provision in so many ways! 

We just finished up a 6 day planning and focus retreat with our partners in Tokyo.  It was a wonderful time of renewed vision, prayer, looking at the scriptures, goal-setting, and considering the social and demographics of our specific locations. 

We also had a two day visit from the couple who founded CTEN (Commission To Every Nation). It too was a very encouraging time!

Please PRAY:

• for Caleb as he drives up to Takayama on Sunday (a city 2 hours drive north of us) to train some believers there in evangelism and disciple making. This will be a group training all in Japanese.  Please that the Spirit would enable Caleb to speak clearly and to effectively "infect" the hearers with the passion and heart of the Father.
• for Enoch as he continues to re-adjust back into Japanese pre-school
• for us as we renew contacts among the lost as well as the saved, that we would be prayerful and purposeful 
• for Caleb as he seeks to build relationships with pastors in the hopes of partnering with them for the sake of the kingdom and training believers in their churches

rejoicing in the goodness of our Father,

The Ebys

For extra update reading:

Here are some thoughts that God laid on my heart during the retreat:

"As I sit here on the mountain side overlooking the cities of Gifu, Kakamigahara, Ichinomiya, Ogaki, Hashima, and Nagoya, God is telling me, 'Ask for these cities, and I will give them to you. Seek my will and my way for them and I will open your eyes to see them. Knock on the doors of opportunity and of the community and they will be opened for you.' Do I want to see Gifu and the surrounding cities reached for the Lord? Then ASK for it!!! Do I want to find ways into the community and the hearts of the Japanese? Then SEEK for it!!! Do I want open doors into various parts of the city? Opportunities to proclaim Christ in various locations and institutions? Then KNOCK!!! I need to spend more time asking, seeking, and knocking!"

Our target mission field the greater area of Gifu city, consisting of 1.2 million people (with only about 1,400 believers). And our prayer and goal is to see 10% of this reached for the Lord, living and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that the entire population will hear the Good News!  Please join us as we pray for this.  

our team picture in Gifu - minus Enoch who was at Yochien (Japanese pre-school)