We went to renew our friendship with Sis Lin Young. She was formerly supported by our church through God’s Trio Partner. She was not feeling well when we visited her but through the sharing, we sensed that she was struggling in her pastoral ministry. The reason was she had spread herself too thin and she no longer focussed on church planting. Our visit was an encouragement to her as she had been thinking about us just a few days before.

From there we proceeded to visit Myanmar Compassionate Project (MCP), as usual Mr & Mrs Dal were very delighted to see us. MCP has shifted their office out of the city. Due to higher rentals, the MCP office has shifted to a double storey terrace. The office is situated on the top floor and the ground floor is a clinic. The present building belongs to Dr Dal, and the MCP has moved in rent-free. As for their future plan, Dr Dal shared that MCP owns a plot of land next door, which was donated by a Canadian couple. He plans to build a multipurpose building complex. He submitted his proposal for a multi- purpose building complex with some background detail of MCP to us.

Wai Tuck and I were impressed with the report they presented to us. The report was in regard to the S$15,000 the church donated to help to the people affected by the Nargis cyclone. Personally, I was impressed by their integrity and accountability to the last cent. Read more about the report HERE.

For the next 2 days, I conducted a Million Leaders Mandate Book Two training to about 45 people . Out of the 45 people, 22 are from Pastor John’s bible college student body. These 22 students are potential candidates for us to recruit for future church plants. The response was very encouraging and we felt a strong anointing.

We managed to get in touch with Mang No, a hardworking man and quite well respected in his own village. He has a church surrounded by poor people. He has a heart for the poor. We have a good time of fellowship and discussed about our December program.

We spent quite a lot of time with John and his family (one baby girl Lydia, 18 months old). John is fine and his ministry is slowly picking up. Our church donated money to buy land for church planting purposes. The foundation of the building was completed, and with the gift of an additional S$2000 from the church, he can now install all the 16 pillars and put up some walls and some parts of the ceiling. As for the ministry, we shared with him about potential church planters and effective strategies to plant more churches in Myanmar. We also discussed about how to help the local church workers to be self sufficient.

John brought us to a small church on Sunday and the lady pastor is from the Bamar background. She is quite dynamic and we felt the need to network with her again in November and December.

Personally, I felt that the trip was good as the objectives set were achieved. It also indicates signalled to Pastor John that we were still committed to partnering him in church planting. (report by Pastor Thomas Tan; pics are recently received from John)

During the 9 days, two full days were used for travelling and recovery time. I interviewed and videotaped two couples in a large city in Turkey who worked with and under St, and his supervisor in another city. I also videotaped the parts of the church service on Sunday in which I preached and St conducted the holy communion in Turkish, so people can actually see and feel the church they helped to plant, and also interviewed three Turkish believers. I had numerous conversations with St at mealtimes, while travelling and in the room when work matters are concerned. Ministry to the public in a Muslim country is risky so none was planned for the team but they got to visit and encourage St and get to know him and his work better. We also visited several sites of ruined cities like Smyrna, Ephesus, Laodicea, Philadelphia and Sardis. We read relevant portions of Scriptures from Rev 2, and 3 and prayed.  We also carried back three big bags and hand luggage for St and Yip even offered to pay for postal shipping fees for his boxes of books. Praise the Lord.

15 years is a lot of life to lay down for a foreign people and St has done so. He has learned the language, the culture, and with a team planted a small fellowship of converts. Both the fellow workers and believers appreciate the church for its faithful support of St and felt they would miss him and his ministry. Pray for St has he closes one chapter, takes himself out of the situation, process how God has been using him in the past and consider what the next step will be. Pray also for Turkey which has a population of 72 millions, still largely unreached and most have never heard the gospel. 61% of Turkish population is under 35 and that is a lot of young people. Pray.  -Kenny Chee

(Photos and names of places and people cannot be posted for security reasons).

My 24- session Cardiac Therapy ended a month ago. Those sessions helped me regained some physical strength. And that was good and I really enjoyed those sessions. Now Joyce and I try to take regular walks in the parks to keep up the exercise.

Through this ordeal, I have lost more than 20 lbs (10Kg). The scale seems to show that I am still losing weight though at a much slower pace. I think this has been a combination of the initial lost of appetite immediately following the surgery and the change of diet. I am still eating a lot but have cut out carbs including rice and bread (except Ezekiel Bread which is a flourless and sprouted bread).

As far as my energy level goes, my guess would be I am about 60% of my pre-surgery level. I still find myself tiring easily and needing to take rest through the day. I guess that’s normal in recovery.

Work wise, I have started to work on some initial preparation for the missions conference that I help organize each year. As for trips, I am hoping that I will recover well enough to start traveling at the end of the year. Perhaps the wise thing for me to do is to start it slow and build up strength again.

I will sure appreciate your continuing prayers for my recovery.

Thank you for your friendship and support,

Sim

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?

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

All of us had a chance to preach in a two day youth workshop too! I shared on our identity in Christ and many youths responsed to the altar call and it was exciting to see many received their new destiny in Him! They are now able to see how God sees them! Amen! Another highlight for me was that I was asked by my leader to lead worship for the sunday service!!! This was a first time for me and I tk God it turned out good! All glory to God!

Outside ministry time, I had a few divine appointments too! I met a young working adult named, Mintu, at a resturant and I invited him to join me for breakfast since both of us was alone. As we talked, I realised he stammers, so after some sharing about ourselves, I offered to pray for him and also shared the gospel with him. He was very happy! I believe God will healed him and he will turn to Christ! Amen!

Another divine appointment was Beenu! A young lady who just graduated from university. We met her while we were having lunch. And it all started by me asking her boyfriend for help in ordering foods and after that, she just approached us and helped us with further orderings. And I knew it was God’s plan that we met. So I offered to pray for her to find a job and this led her to re-commit herself back to Jesus! She back-slided but God won her back! Amen!

Therefore, let us con’t to pray for these two souls, Mintu and Beenu. That they will experience God every new day! From these two incidents, I realised that God is truly at work all the time! Even when we were having meals! Amen! We just have to open our 5 senses and join Him in His work!

Last,but not least, tk you for praying for us! I was healed very soon after I sent out my last email to you! No more cough and cold! How powerful is our God and our prayers! Amen!

In Darjeeling , I had the chance to visit the sick in a hospital. Talked with them; prayed for them; and sharing the gospel with them. And as a team, we went to a Christian school to reach out to the children. Many of them are pre-believers. We led their morning chapel and its after school programme. It was our blessing to be able to see the kids and performing for them before God! The kids are all so pretty and beautiful!! Praise God for His creation! I had the opportunity to share my testimony with them too!

Before we left Darjeeling , we went to a nearby village called, TakDah, to lead their one day children camp! And it was very good! I even got the chance to preach to the kids for the “first-time” and it was overwhelming for me to see almost all the kids, and some adults too, accepting Jesus into their lives! PTL!

God is at work in Darjeeling ! And we had certainly brought the Kingdom of God nearer to them. And for those who had accepted Christ, His Kingdom is already living in them! Amen!

Prayer requests:
Please continue to pray for us for good health as some of us had not been feeling good recently, myself included. I had running nose and slight cough. WE could be facing spiritual warfare but, fear not, we are fighting from victory! Amen! When the light comes, darkness flee and hide!

Siliguri’s weather is hot and dry! The roads super dusty too! but God spoke to us that we shall not complain or compare it with Darjeeling . Cos, He made them both beautiful in His ways! Amen!

Alright folks, will write to you again when i had the chance. And if i dont write, pls know that we are super safe and sound in His name! Amen!

Peter Tan, Victor(interpreter), and Robert(interpreter’s friend) brought Pastor Mary, my wife and I,  on a exploratory visit to a Batam Center Indonesian church of 70 members called GTI Bukit Zaitun. We visited a small cluster of families that reared pigs but were resettled after an earthquake in Nias, in Sumatra. It was a hot, humid bare piece of land on a slope and the houses were patched together and squatter like. And then we had lunch and ministered at the youth service of the church we were exploring as a place for youth mission trips. There were about twenty youths and their singing was robust and inspiring. After the message we prayed for them and the Lord was present to touch their hearts. On Sunday, we woke up early for an unusually early morning service at 8.30am and this time, while Mary took the sunday school, I preached an encouraging Pentecost Sunday message on how the Holy Spirit comes to take away our fears and gave an altar call and prayed for people. The Lord was present and touched the people. We had lunch with the pastor, took the ferry and were home by about 5pm, tired out from the ministry, travelling, and heat. We were thankful to God for the trip and also for Peter Tan, Victor and Robert who introduced us to the place and acted as interpreter.

This Sunday, all money in church offering envelopes, enclosed with your Sunday bulletins,  will go to the above expenditure. Those not in envelopes will go to the church general fund. Money given for this missions supplementary fund that is not expended by the end of the financial year will be absorbed into the church general fund.