This is a flavour of the most recent latest prayer letter from the Yokota family which is available from Elspeth and Sandy. 

May 2010

Dear friends,

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Colossians 3:23

Many months of praying and preparation preceded the arrival of the team from Rock Baptist Church, Cambridge, on 3rd April and exhaustion followed their exodus on 12th April.  But it was well worth it!

What a rocking time we had together, both in our home and in church. Let it be known that they fulfilled the words of Col 3:23! The team gave it their all, and all for the glory of God. Families from church and English classes opened their homes and hearts to those from Rock, and many good memories were made. We pray that as those friendships grow, that they will have eternal value too. 

Apart from daily team time, twos and threes helped and ran English classes, took part in small groups and special programmes. The whole team were loved and cared for by all they met, and many of our friends here learned new vocabulary such as lovely and indeed - they had not met many UK folks before.

It’s impossible to record all that happened, and to know all the personal conversations that took place, but one big highlight was the British Evening on the last Saturday.  Watching people having fun in the hokey cokey, learning about Britain, and enjoying food together was something in itself, but to know each of the people who came, to know how and why they came, to know a little of where they are at, in relation to not just knowing the UK, but knowing God, wow, that was a real privilege! About one third of tham were not Christians as far as we know, and it was a big encouragement to see so many coming together. 

Would you pray for the people who heard Tony’s testimony that night, and especially for the English students who came, that we can continue to read the Bible together and come nearer to knowing Jesus as Saviour and Lord. One lady came the next day to church, was one of the first to recite the memory verse that day and, even more importantly, she understood and accepted Jesus’ love and forgiveness for herself. Please do pray for her and for those around her.

It’s always a challenge to know how to write a letter like this, and it really is our desire that you may be able to imagine a little of what life is like for us here, and that you would be able to pray for us more specifically. We challenged the Rock team that now they knew ‘where we were’, that they could pray and encourage us so much better. We would welcome other prayers, emails, and even visits: there’s nothing like visiting someone in their own home to know how they live and what they get up to!

Praise and Prayer Points

Thank God for the ways He worked in and through the Rock team and in us.

Thank God for safe travel, protection and provision of all we need.

Please continue to pray for us as the team has gone now and we are back into our routines.

We want to keep being faithful to what God wants us to do here.

Thank you for praying!

Sakae and Hazel, Leo and Kai Yokota