Hi everyone,
How are you going? I pray that wherever you are and whatever you are doing, that you are continuing to trust in God and remember His goodness to you.
Things here are pretty much the same as last month. Our state of emergency was extended until the end of May, although it was lifted in 39 prefectures this week (not the one I live in). Like many of you, my life has now moved onto zoom and things are humming along nicely. All universities are now operating online, although the way classes and material is delivered differs significantly.
Hyogo block has now been doing our weekly meetings online for 6 weeks. A number of university groups have been meeting online but there are still a number that haven’t started yet. This week (Monday 18th) we start leaders training again but this time it is for the whole region and not just my block. We also managed to have a new student welcome event (see photo below of the students playing a game a bit like catchphrase). Considering it was online, I think the students did a good job of welcoming the new students and hopefully they will stick around even though everything is online.
One of the positives to come out of going online is that our weekly youth group meetings have gone from 3 to 5 kids attending. I would love you to pray that other kids who are connected to our church will be able to join us as well and this time of social distancing will bring many of them back into fellowship with us.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of me and CMS. The CMS Lasting Hope Appeal has started and will run until the end of June. This appeal plays a vital role in helping keep missionaries like me on location, as well as raise up new workers for God’s harvest. This year, CMS needs to raise $1.6 million to support missionaries as we share the gospel of lasting hope. If you are able to make a one-off contribution to support God’s mission of ‘A World that knows Jesus’, please do so at lastinghope.cms.org.au.
Your gospel partner,
Kellie
Please pray for:
- the Japanese government and officials who are making decisions about Corona virus responses, that they will have wisdom.
- University students as they adjust to new ways of learning, that these disruptions will turn their hearts towards God.
- Leaders training, that students will take up this opportunity, be encouraged and grow in their understanding of what it means to be a godly leader.
- the youth group kids, that they will grow in their relationship with God.
