News

I have just made a kind of newsletter thing so I thought I'd post it here just in case anyone is interested:

August 18th 2007
Hi everyone! Well, we have been here in Japan for two years and are now well and truly settled. We just thought we would write a short newsletter to let people know what we are up to and how things are going.

Daniel
Well, our main news is of course the birth of Daniel Kenshi McKee! He was born on the 29th of June and weighed in at a healthy 3.195 kgs (about 7lbs). Since then he has grown quickly and it’s been really great looking after him and getting to know him! Our neighbours, friends and relatives here all really love him and there was a real buzz about him being born... I suppose there are no so many N. Irish/Japanese babies born so everyone wanted to see what he looked like! It’s funny because all the Japanese say he looks like a European while all our friends and family from home thinks he looks really Japanese! You can judge for yourselves. We just think he looks like himself, as they say.

We really did receive a lot of presents from people all over the world so thanks so much for that everyone. Everything we got was lovely and we really appreciate your kindness. (Check out our blog for more pics).

Work
I am still teaching English in a private after-school class and also at a local church with maiko. It’s been going well and we can easily see how God has provided for us in everything. Recently, I decided to lighten my workload a bit this year and study some Japanese as it had been difficult to work so much and learn at the same time. I joined a morning class which allowed me to continue working in the afternoons and evenings and it went really well. I have finished a 6 month course and I will do another 3 months from October if all goes well. It’s been great to be around other foreigners learning Japanese and I think I have improved a bit... but not enough yet! Maiko is continuing to study at a Bible school in Osaka as well as being a mum!

Ministry
We are continuing to teach Bible during our English classes and are also involved in the children’s and teenagers work at our church. Our monthly kids club in our house is doing really well and we are constantly amazed that so many non-Christian children are coming and hearing about God for the first time and being changed by the story of Jesus. In October we will start another kids club near the city centre so we are praying for that. Our main news in this area however, is that I have joined up with a Pastor who is planting a church in Osaka city centre. I will be helping out in various ways but mainly through children’s work, teaching some English and doing prison visits (an interesting mix I think!). We really thank God that this opportunity has opened for us because this is the sort of thing we have been praying for for a while.

Guests from abroad
We have also continued our vision of hosting groups from abroad who want to come to Japan for short term missions. This ministry is called United Ministries Japan and this year we were again visited by a YWAM team from Switzerland. They were a group of young people from Swiss churches who created a dance concert and we assisted them as they toured Osaka and the surrounding areas. It went really well this year and they really blessed people in old people’s homes, child care centres, churches, city centres and many other places they visited.

Prayer points. Please pray for:
The new kids club which will start in October near Osaka city centre
The new church plant I am assisting
Daniel
Maiko’s studies
My Japanese!
The IAAF World Championships in Athletics was in Osaka this month. Praise the Lord our outreach went so well!

That God will continue to guide us and reveal his heart for Japan to us

Well, that’s all for now. God bless you all and hopefully we can speak to you soon!
Bye, from Chris, Maiko and Daniel