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Hi friends!

How are you doing? Greetings from Tokyo. Two and a half month has passed since I got back to Japan in April. The rainy season has come but it will last only one month. It won’t last for six months like the monsoon in Myanmar.

Thank you!
I miss Singapore, Myanmar and Thailand where I used to live and work. I miss the simplicity of life in S. E. Asia, too. Those years and friends like you are a treasure in my life. How much I appreciate you for your wonderful support as sisters and brothers in Christ. I want to thank you again for praying for me before I left. You might wonder sometimes what Midori is doing in Japan, how she is, no news from her and when she is coming back?! Here I am updating.

Visiting churches
The first thing I did in Japan was to visit my elderly mother in a Christian old folk’s home named “King’s Garden”. She is 86 years old, overall good in health and solid in spiritual life. I am grateful for God’s loving care over her. I have two brothers and a sister in Japan. After this, I traveled in order to talk about Myanmar missions in churches in Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Tottori. Those cities are far from Tokyo. The scenery of the picture above was taken during a trip. I was amazed at how beautiful and greenish my country is! The bus travelled through mountains to mountains and from a tunnel to another tunnel.
One of occasions was in a nursery attached to a church. I was invited to a class of 25 five-year-old children. Wow! A great challenge! I asked God what to talk about. He showed me a girl Sarah who is one of orphans at the House of Hope (HOH) in Myanmar. I shared the story of where she came from and how her life has been transformed through the care in HOH and the love of God. I showed an 8-minute DVD of the HOH, too. Most of the kids kept sitting on the floor and paid good attention. They impressed me!
Thank God for another opportunity to talk to the children of the Sunday school in another church (Photo left, Midori is left front). The children have prayed for and supported HOH since 2005. This is the third time to visit them.
I am grateful for these opportunities to talk to the very young generation about world missions. Should I dream that many among Japanese youth would bring the Good News to the nations one day, Lord?

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New assignment and new mission field!?
While flying back to Tokyo, I sensed that one chapter was closing behind me, a chapter in which I went to Singapore and received a vision for Myanmar and then worked there. I spent a total of 14 years in S. E. Asia. I felt like crying when I reflected back on how God cared for mean was good to me. I gave thanks to the Lord for how he is merciful, faithful and good to me. He made my life abundant. Though I had no idea what path would come before me, I only I knew the Lord is with me and I am on right truck. It means the choice I made to leave Myanmar for good was the right choice even though it is different than my thoughts, and different than some of my friend’s expectations.
Soon after I arrived in Japan, an unexpected awareness was birthed in me. I was sad to see people on the street who seemed aimless in their lives and not aware of God’s love. The figure that less than 1 % of the population is Christian struck me. There is an inner voice saying, “this is my new mission field.,,,,! ?” It is a giant! Reports say that more than thirty thousand people have committed suicide each year for the last ten years. Uncountable numbers suffer depression. People possess not only many goods, but also high quality ones. Shopping malls are overwhelmingly filled with goods, meals and advertisements. Each meal is delicious.
I wonder where these raw materials come from? From Myanmar? People in Myanmar suffer hunger, luck of safe water and limited electricity. They have no jobs, poor education and many restrictions in daily life, etc. I was sad as one who enjoys richness while others suffer.

In the midst of sensing the darkness, God lifted my spirit to see the light by knowing the transformation of a young man’s life. He attended the prayer meeting in a church, when I shared what God is doing and what God is telling us through the cyclone last year in Myanmar. When the meeting was over, he said it was a very important message for Japan.
His life was changed dramatically through knowing Jesus. He was persuaded to do Thai kickboxing, Muay Thai. He came from a broken family and he was to be promoted to be a boss of the gang society. God intervened in his life at a critical moment. He was once lost and he is now following Jesus passionately. His relationship with his father, mother and grandfather were mended by the love of God. He dreams to be used for revival. He invited me to a youth service at his church to speak. Here is his testimony with his photos, but sorry written in Japanese. http://thehopechurch.web.fc2.com/ogawa.html

Serving the Myanmar in Japan?!
Though I miss Singapore and Myanmar, I know Japan is the right place for me to serve right now. I can’t see yet the major next direction. But I know what I am doing now is the right thing. I follow Him one step at a time. My desire is to be his faithful instrument. There are many ministry opportunities for Myanmar outside the country as well. I have seen many churches, YWAM and individuals in Singapore who are involved in Myanmar missions. There are a few or nearly none in Japan. I will continue to help the House of Hope and visit them sometimes. I will continue to be a channel for the cyclone relief work. Is there more of something new coming …?? Yah, there are many Burmese in Japan, too.

Daily life
Starting life in a new place is a big challenge. The life style is more hi-tech, speedy and complicated. Can I cope with a hi-tech and speedy life? Tokyo is one of most expensive cities in the world. People have prepared for retirement life, working in the companies, saving lots money, buying life-insurance, and taking care to have a healthy life, etc. On the contrary I am at the starting line with no such things. I was a bit anxious and I am telling myself how God has been good for many years. He cares for you as He has done before. I can and should trust Him.
It is true. He is caring for me and providing for my daily needs. As for accommodation, the church that adopted me as their missionary offers me to stay in the guest room attached to the church. Brothers and sisters in the church pray for me and support me morally and financially, the same as they did when as I was in Myanmar.

May the Lord bless you and all your work for Him!

Please pray for:
- Spiritual awakening in Japan
- That I can be God’s faithful instrument in ministry
- For my spiritual life
- For a suitable accommodation to settle into

Thank you and looking forward to hearing from you.

His name to be praised!

Midori Matsumoto
In Tokyo