A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey familyto the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoshima, JapanLinkletter No. 115 January, 1961Dear Christian friends, Preacher's Meeting

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Last time I started out saying: "We are enjoying a very spring-like winter," Strike thatout. I must have just finished eating one of Pauline's very fine dinners when I made that statement.Since then we have had a genuine winter in every respect - except for snow. The kids are still holding out for that.

It has "been a very full season. Our children, Paula and Markie, got home from school De-cem'ber22nd after a 20 hour journey. Miss Velma Wier, a teacher in the Armed Forces Dependent schoolsnear Tokyo, was our guest over Christmas. She is from the church in Richland, Oregon. All three werein time to share in the joys and services of Christmas; visiting several of the aged and poor bringing cakes and small gifts; the annual suk-iyaki party in the Center for our helpers and their familiesattending the Christmas party of the Rotary club where for the first time the entire Christmas storywas read; going to the family night services at the Kanoya church and Christmas eve followed bycaroling in which 24 young people climbed aboard the Carry-all ending up with hot chocolate and cakesat our house at midnight; and the 5O0 a.m. waking on Christmas morning. All the youngsters wantedto be up first but the baby took the honors. Her early morning cries were the signal 4 pairs of feetto hit the deck and pandemonium to break loose.

By 6;30 the floor was covered with wrapping papers, and all of us were happily countingour blessings - not only for gifts received but for the friends who remembered us so far away bothin time and distance. By 7:30 we had eaten and at 8 o'clock we were on our way for the long day'sjourney. 900 - Sunday school and church at Matsuyama. Attendance was three times the average asmany youngsters came to get a treat of some kind. We treated them to the story of Jesus by slide,song and tape. 11;30 - Iwagawa for English Bible Class at the high school, 90 students were there.We joined in Christmas carols and in seeing again the slides. Afterwards they gave me two Japaneserecords. 12:30 - lunch in the car on the vacant grounds of the horse market near the edge of townwhile the snow came down in spits and starts around us. 1:50 - Services at Sueyoshi church and againthe joy of telling the Old Story every new. Afterwards we put the chairs around in a circle for aJapanese style Christmas party of tea and cakes and greetings. 3:50 - departed for Kanoya over themountains and thro\igh the trees. 4:45 - arrived home weary and hungry. 5:30 - Christmas dinner withall the trimmings done as only Pauline can do it. 7:00 - the whole family out the door and into thecar for the trip to Tarumizu at somewhat above speed limits. 7:50 - led the children in singing theChristmas story in a series of ten songs followed by the regular service, slides, Lord's supper andclosing "tea meeting". The church gave us a big box of Japanese-style tangerines (mekans) as we wereabout to start for home. 10:30 - back home weary and worn but still not too tired to laugh and eat alittle warmed-over turkey.

The week between Christmas and Kew Years is the busiest week in the Japanese year. Thehouse must be cleaned, food laid in for the coming guests, accounts straightened, all bills paid.We did our share. The Christian Center was thoroughly cleaned, and re-arranged. Shelving and cabinets were installed to make for better service. New bookcases were installed for a permanent studylibrary. As much as possible, money was sent off to pay all bills. We didn't get them all paid butwe sent a token anyway. The Book Store under the management of Miss Ourasaka-san, a Christian girlfrom Kanoya, did a good business during December. Profits were used to help present Hakata doll setsto the Nativity to the orphange and the leper colony, to provide a fine roadside display of the samedolls with explanatory scriptures and to send the Calendars and Christmas tracts to four-hundredChristians, friends and business contacts. ^

For New Year's we had the Alex Bills family from P^san, Korea. We began the New Year byattending 6 a.m. services at the leper colony, Paula translated for Alex's sermon. The Bills addedan extra festive note to the family gatherings at this time'of 'the year: our 19th wedding anniversary on the 29th and Gregory's birthday on the 50th. Paula and Markie had their Japanese friends infor an evening of games and fun. The Pratt boys came over to help Greg enjoy his birthday.

The Bills went home the^^e^reniaag-of the 1st. The ,2nd was a day for receiving callers-old friends,former students and helpers. It was nice to see them again and to see them doing well,many of themin the Lord's service. Then we had two more days to enjoy our youngsters "before they went back toschool. Markie gave his homing pigeons their finally loving care. Pauline fixed the children'sfavorite foods and stayed up nights sewing on "buttons, fixing seams, and tears. On the last night wegathered around the pinao>^d had a family hymn sing half the night. . Paul Pratt did his part "bystanding in line from 5:30 a.m. in front of the Kagoshima station one morning to "buy tickets for thekids so they would not have to stand up all the way. Wednesday, the 4"fch January, we drove 2 hoursup the other coast to visit missionary friends, the Vfentzes, and after lunch, put the children on theexpress for Kohe. We watched the train out of si^t around the curve and stood there on the platformfor a few moments feeling veiy lonely indeed. Pauline wiped a few tears out of her eyes.

We spent that night with Paul and Kathleen Pratt in Kagoshima City and part of the next day andthen home once more for the realities of life. T/Sgt Don and Virginia Smith with 2 of their boyscame for a few days visit. They are stationed in Pukuoka in northern Kyushu and Virginia has beenlending a mighty good helping hand on my correspondence lately. We had a nice visit and they got afirst hand view of missions in action (or inaction as the case may be).

January 9th began our 5th Institute at the Christian Center. It has run every night for 2 weeksfrom 7:15 to 9550. Harold Sims of Tokyo was our guest teacher. Since he is the best missionarylinguist among_US_ Jae^3!/BS_JjelL^able^JioLpr&aent _a chanenging iTigt-nintive nourse on the book of _Romans. We had 5 regular students but delegations from various churches swelled the total to 25 onsome nights. A total of 38 different people attended the course with an average attendance of 12.Two students, a man and his wife, journeyed up from the island of Tannegashima and stayed for the entire 2 weeks. In addition to the teaching every night, we got full mileage out of Harold Sims byhaving him speak to the Kanoya church ladies meeting, to the Kanoya Rotary Club, to the leper colony,to the orphanage, at Tarumizu church and to the bi-monthly preacher's meeting. Thanks heaps,Harold!

This last meeting goes from place to place with the preachers and their wives acting as hosts.This time it was our turn. We had a fine 2 day meeting of praying,planning and preaching. One evening we had a sukiyaki supper for the entire group in the Center. Also that night one room of theCenter was converted into a giant bed room for all. The next day before leaving we all gathered a-round the piano in the front room for an hour of hymn singing and chorus practice. We brought thesession to a halt reluctantly so those leaving for far away places could catch the bus.

All in all we can say that the ending of the year and the beginning of the next has been fulland rich. We have had>opportunity to share our hearts, our hopes, our home, OTor happiness with many,many people both American and Japanese. They, in turn, have shared the same with us. You who readthis letter have shared with us as well in many of the same ways and this is one of many good reasonswhy we begin this year both with thankfulness and great expectations.

In His service.

P.S. Now is the time to plan your missionary program for the summer D.V.B.S. Revised packet andstudy course available to those who will use it. Write us: Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan.

LINKLETTERMonthly Publication of

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0n6 day two high school boys from the town of Iwagawa stopped in on a Saturday afternoon. Theirteacher had sent them to ask if I wouldn't come and visit their schopl and give a lecture. I toldthem I would be glad to do so. We invited the boys to have supper with us and to stay all .night. Itwas their first time in an American home but they got along fine. Two weeks later I visited themand their teacher in Iwagawa and out of that meeting began an English Bible class in the high schoolwhich has been held eveiy two weeks for some time now. Almost 100 young men and women of the schoolare enrolled in this Sunday morning class.

On another day a young man named Senuki came to call. In fact, after the first call he neverceased calling either in person or by phone. It was tedious to listen to him but because of his'much speaking' he won out, Bro, Yoshii, the two younger children and I, accompanied him in a tripby car, foot, boat and bus to a remote section of the peninsular here. We had an opportunity tobring a Christian message to people who had never heard it before. Just recently, he gathered.allhis friends and neighbors at his house.out in the country. Bro. Yoshii and I went there for thenight and told these people the good news of Christ for the first time.

One afteiTnoon two young ladies knocked at the door. "We want to know how to become Christians",they said. Then they folded their hands in their laps and waited. It was obvious from looking atthem they knew nothing, whatever of Christ but that they were expecting some simple and ready formulathat would answer their qdestion and fulfill their need. I heartily wished I could answer according to their desire but alas, there are no simple answers to this question, especially not in thiscountry. I put New Testaments in each of their h^ds_ and gave a general outline of its contents.I then pointed out some specific verses about Jesus' life and teaching and suffering. After that Ishowed them some things that Christ asked us to do if we would follow him. In this way we spentover an hour but it was not the kind of answer they wanted. They never came to grips with what Iwas trying to tell them. I gave them tracts and scripture portions to read. I showed them how tofind the church and when the services were. But neither the preacher and I have heard from themsince in spite of repeated invitations.

Visitors from Kushira have been frequent callers of late. Either the preacher or a delegationfrom the church. There are many problems but basically it all stems from the confrontation of a high-principled young man whose sermons are quite long with several strong-willed much older Christianswho would rather have much shorter sermons and less urging to do the Christian thing in all affairsof life. How to solve the problem. The young minister wanted to change his title from "pastor" to."evangelist". He thought in this way the people would have more respect for him. Next came two elders from the church. Would I not exchange their pastor with the pastor from another church. I replied that I didn't call the preacher and I wasn't going to dismiss him. It was their duty to handlethe matter themselves. We prayed together and they left.

Sometimes when night comes, I review the day in my mind. It seems that I have done no work ofany kind save open the door to visitors and yet I am deathly tired. Perhaps they also serve whoonly sit and listen. ^

In His Service,

P, S. 1,

2,

A new set of slides with script, "1959-60" with the Kyushu Christian Mission is ready forloan. Write Mrs. Gladys Auerswald, Box 139, North Vemon, Indiana,An outstanding missionary packet of pictures, stories, and visual aids prepared for BVBSbut good for any missionary gathering is now ready. Send S3.00 to cover material andpostage to: IQ^ushu Christian Mission, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan.

LINKLETTERMonthly Publication of

Kyushu Christian MissionBox 139

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Biairold HeFarlaadMissioita ServioeBoic 968

lUiaols

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rZ7w?ZeTTfiRA monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey familyto the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

Linkletter No. 117 April, 1961

Dear Christian friends,

Once a year, at least, the whole family comes out of hibernation in Kanoya and journeys to the annual conventions of theJapanese Christians and the missionaries.

It's not easy. The Japanese school year ends in March.During the next two or three weeks the railroads of the countryare filled to the "brim with excursionists and young people makingthe transition from country to city; from high school to university.

To get tickets to sit and sleep on the train, we got up at3:50 a.m. one morning, drove 65 miles to the Kagoshima Railroadstation and stood in line at the ticket window. Paul Pratt camedown and stood with us. Finally at 8:50 a.m. we got the coveted(and last) four tickets.

Finally the last suitcase was packed and we caught the busout in front of our house to make the "big journey. An hour onthe "bus, an hour on the ferry, 15 minutes in a taxi, and eighteenhours on the train "brought us to Kobe where Paula and Markie werestanding on the platform to meet us. What a pleasure to be together again.

We went promptly to my sister's, Isabel Dittemore, where wemade ourselves to home. Paula and Markie and Cousin Janet spentmost of the first day just admiring the baby and holding her.Luckily, our week there coincided with the children's school vacation so they had plenty of time to relax.

Tuesday was given over to travel to Kyoto for our annualphysical examinations. Thermometers, needles, specimens, charts,pills and paperwork. We didn't get a complete bill of health,but some of us did, Gregory is over the slight case of TB he hadlast year and it looks like Markie has the early stages of a casethis year. The Dr, will be watching him closely.

Tuesday night and Wednesday was the 12th annual conventionof the Japanese churches of Christ. A large youth hostel wastaken over for the occasion. In return for the rock bottom prices,everybody took turns developing a spirit of "togetherness" setting the tables, serving the meals and cleaning up afterward. Inbetween there was plenty of good singing and preaching and somelively discussion on the issues of the day here. Yes! we haveproblems in Japan, too - but we can safely say that the fellowship we have in Christ is more important to us all than any ofthe problems that arise to plague us from time to time.

The high point of the week came on Thursday afternoon, March51, when we all moved over to Osaka Bible Seminary for the dedication of the new building. Here was a dream come true for allof us here in Japan but especially for Martin B, Clark, Presidentof the Seminary.

Pres. Martin B. Clark and Guest,Grace Madden Braley at Dedication Services

Two happy Christian young men at theJapanese convention

On the site of this building, Mr, and Mrs. M. B. Madden began work in 1935 In 1957 Harold andLeone Cole came and started the Osaka Bible Seminary, Since 1950 the seminary has been led by Bro.Clark, together with the Beckman, Cole and Mings families. In spite of meager equipment and temporary army pre-fab buildings the Seminary has pushed_ forward so that today fully 75?^ of our pulpits inJapan are filled with graduates from Osaka. A remarkable record.

Through the years Bro. Clark lias led in pushing, praying, pleading for a new building. At theNagoya convention two years ago the Japanese brethren voted to help do it. Likewise the missionaries.Many oi* who read this letter sent offerings for this project. This is a note of thanks to you.Congratulations, too. For if you could see this building you would rejoice in it just as all of usare here.

On dedication day, Grace Madden Braley, daughter of the Maddens was able to come from Koreawhere her husband is stationed. She, Mr. Cole, Mr. Nagano, one of the original Japanese Christiansin Osaka, and Mr. Clark gave us the historical continuity of the work and the building from thebeginning to the present.

Concluding the Dedication services, I spoke using a statement by Goethe: "Three things are tobe looked to in a building: that it stand on the right spot; that it be securely founded; that it besuccessfully executed. "Naturally, I concluded that this building filled the bill on all three counts.

Personally speaking. I can not help.but feel thajL-this new_building^and__what it represents marksa turning point in Japan of the plea for restoration of the church as it was in New Testament times.Through it, a great victory has been won and a real unity achieved. A focal point of progress andpride has been established. We are confident of better days ahead - even though at the present momeni:the progress of the gospel in Japan is probably at its low point since the war.

Thursday night and Friday the missionaries made good use of the new building as they held their8th annual convention. There were 78 of us counting the children. I always want to coimt thembecause it would be a mighty poor gathering without them. All the Osaka and Kobe missionaries tookus into their homes. Our family was at the Clarks. A fine program had been arranged and everybodyentered into it with a will. V/hen it was all over with a banquet on Friday night, we could all singwith one heart, 'the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above',

Ve spent Saturday talking over mutual concerns in the kingdom with Clarks. Attended Resurrection Day services in a local Japanese church and that afternoon a similar worship and communion withthe missionary brethren. Monday we spent in a last visit with our family and that night took atrain homeward.

We arrived physically worn out but strengthened for another season of patiently continuing aChristian life and witness here in Kanoya. Pauline wants to be remembered to each of you and bothof us ask that you will remember us and those who labor with us when you pray.

In His Service.

LINKLETTERMonthly Publication of

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A monthly report by (he Mark C. Maxty familyto the friend} of the Kyuibu CbrinUn Minion

Kinoyi, Kagothiaui, Jkpai^