April 2003

To our Friends and Supporters:

Easter greetings from Japan. As we write this, the war against Iraq is just a few days old. While the rationale for this action by the United States and its allies is not without cogent arguments, it nevertheless entails grave dangers for the future, and thus it is with a very heavy heart that we watch it unfolding. By the time you read this letter, the situation will likely be much clearer, and we will have some inkling as to whether or not our fears are unfounded. We pray that they are, and we join with you in praying for God’s direction in both what we as Christians can and should be doing as well as for God’s guidance of those in decision-making positions, most of all President Bush. Most of our Japanese Christian colleagues have expressed deep reservations concerning the wisdom of this action, a feeling that many of us in the missionary community share. Certainly, this action does have the potential for opening up a Pandora’s box of unintended repercussions (although, of course, those supporting this effort argue that not taking this action has the potential of opening up a different Pandora’s box of equally unsavory possibilities!). Tim will tell. Well, actually no, for he hasn’t a clue. Time will tell! But we place our trust in God, the Lord of time, who alone knows the future and is in ultimate control of it.

As you know, that was all cancelled much to our disappointment. These events would have been a huge publicity bonanza for Make-A-Wish, but it was not to be. Likewise, Tim was looking forward to being a “tour guide” for two days for a group of church officials from the United Methodist Church on their way to a consultation in the Philippines, but that also was cancelled. Another event that is in the planning and is likely to be affected by all of this is an effort to set up a cultural interchange camp experience for Japanese and American youth. We are advertising in the churches for around 10 Japanese junior and senior high kids to accompany Tim to southern Washington for a camp experience with American kids from August 17 to 22. With all of the talk about potential terrorist attacks and the instability that the Iraq war is likely to generate, it is difficult to get commitments. A lot of interest has been expressed, but whether things will be clear enough by late April for people to be comfortable enough to commit to the program seems increasingly unlikely. We ask for your prayers concerning this.

Lisa will be entering graduate school in June and has been accepted at “Emperor’s College” in Santa Monica, California, where she will be getting a degree in oriental medicine. She is particularly interested in the melding together of Eastern and Western medicine. Tim will accompany her to California on May 22 to help her find an apartment and get settled in. (Any leads any of you might have for something not too expensive and not too far from Santa Monica would be appreciated!) He’ll then “trade daughters” and Jennifer will accompany him back to Japan on June 2 for the summer, after finishing her first year in college.

With the increasing importance of the Internet, we are finally getting a Web site in Japanese for our materials on faith and science. There is a short English page attached to it, but unless your computer has Japanese language ability, the rest of the site would be gibberish (even if you can read Japanese, as the fonts would be totally messed up). If you are curious to take a peek, the address is www.konkyo.org. There is still a lot of material we plan to put on, but hopefully by the time this gets to you in hard copy, much of that will be done.

Juji's health is pretty much the same as it has been for several years. She still struggles with the same neuromuscular condition and will need her periodic hospitalization and treatment soon, probably going in for a three-to four-week stay in April or May. As always, please do remember her in your prayers. We thank you all for your continued support of our work through your prayers and offerings.

Love,

Tim, Juji, Lisa and Jennifer

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 178