July, 2010 Nakahara News Nakahara Mission Fund, P. O. Box 54842 Lexington, KY 40555

 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I trust that the Lord is continuing to shower you with His blessings and bring comfort in times of need. As I write this, I am reflecting on our time in the U.S. last summer with all of you. What a blessing that was. Kazuma and I still talk about what a wonderful fellowship we had with each of you.

I would like to share some updates with you. Regarding our land issue, we have discovered a few more details. In the last newsletter, I shared with you that a relative has taken over the rights to the property. Consequently, he has hired a lawyer to take care of this matter. Of course, the lawyer doesn’t have the decision making power, but I was able to make an appointment for a meeting in the beginning of August. He has been informed that if the land were to go on sale, our church would be the first to be notified. We can fully sense God’s hands in this situation. Please pray with us for wisdom and opportunity.

The land project is an enormous task for our church. Some of the members are frustrated, fearful, and discouraged as you can imagine. But others are positive as they continue to pray for God’s leading and direction. As I mentioned to you in my last newsletter, one of the members became convicted during her morning devotion while reading the passage about Sarah laughing when God told Abraham that she would bear a child. This lady was laughing inside when we first decided to launch the land project. But God spoke to her clearly about her lack of faith, and now she is starting a special prayer time before the Sunday service reading the sermon passage and praying for the service, for the members, for the church, and for this project. She first expressed her desire to start this prayer meeting saying, “I want people to come and join me with enthusiasm, not out of obligation….I will dedicate this time to prayer even if I am the only one…” We have seven people attending regularly so far. God is teaching us that we need to UNITE in prayer as we head into this project. Satan will always try to bring discord among believers, but we believe praying for unity, and working hard to unite is what God is calling us to do beyond anything else right now.

Jesus prayed “…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21. Continuing in prayer He said, “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23). This prayer of Jesus is the very prayer we are praying for our church. I am so thankful and thrilled for this blessing – to see our members coming together in this time of uncertainty, yet God is giving us much hope and joy.

I would like to share another ministry we started recently. As we gather each month and fellowship at our potluck lunch, we have one person share a testimony. This is focused on what the Lord is teaching him or her. It has been six months, so we have had six people share their faith journey so far. What is exciting is that this is totally on a volunteer basis, and three of them are new believers. I believe that this is encouraging all others to be in the Word daily, and listen and wait for God’s leading in each of their lives. If we are not in the Word, we will not be sensitive enough to know what God is trying to teach and or where He is leading us. It is so thrilling to see our young people excited to be in the Word. “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth…” (Ecc.12:1).

As for my family, everyone is doing well. Kazuma and Lynn have both started in their new schools in April, and they are adjusting very well. They are excited to break for the summer in a little while. I have been invited to be a guest speaker at the Christian Church Convention in Kobe near Osaka at the end of August (Aug. 27-29). I am humbled to serve in such capacity, and excited at the same time that we can put our differences aside and come together to worship our Mighty God.

Lastly, as the apostle Paul told Timothy, “You, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist; discharge all the duties of your ministry.” I take this as a charge from the Lord personally. I am so grateful to all of you for taking part in this vital ministry and for your support. “So it will be that the many prayers for us will be answered, and God will bless us; and many will raise their voices to him in thanksgiving for us” (I Thess. 1:2). May God bless each of you and may you be filled with His joy!

Love,

Michiya, Tomoko, Kazuma and Lynn