JOHN AND ERIKO HOULETTE, ASIAN ACCESS
CALLED TO PASTOR IN A DARK PLACE
Over ten years ago, Yoshihiro Ishida walked into Saikyo Hope Chapel and asked for a Bible. He voraciously read the Bible I gave him and was soon led to Christ by our deaconess. I baptized him, and he began to lead homeless people and internationals to Christ. HIs testimony of being saved from a life of a Hikikomori, (shut-in) was stunning. Three years ago, after completing seminary, he became an evangelist on staff at Saikyo. Pastor Hari did a remarkable job of discipling him. Last month he shared that he had received a call as pastor of the Yuzawa Bible Baptist Church, in Akita Prefecture. This is what he had to say about going to Yuzawa, in the heart of Japan’s snow country, 370 miles north of Tokyo: “They have the highest unemployment rate, the highest rate of cancer, the lowest marriage rate, but God reminded me that His light shines in the darkness so I want to be faithful to His call.” Please pray for him as he starts his new ministry in April.
NISHIONO WEDDING
Thank you for praying for Ken and Seiko Nishiono. They were married last month in Iwaki. I was not able to attend the wedding, but heard that it was a beautiful testimony to the Lord. Continue to pray for them as they minister together to the people in temporary housing in Iwaki, southern Fukushima County.
SAVE THE DATE
Thank you for your ongoing prayers for us! Eriko and I were in Japan 2/25-3/3 to attend her dad’s funeral, and leave today for Boston.
Please pray for us in the next three months that we would be able to:
• Focus on our studies.
• Complete other training events (Disaster Response Chaplaincy, 3/11-15, Rocklin, CA).
• Experience a week of sabbath rest (5/18-23).
• Attend our re-commissioning service on May 24th, at Church on the Hill, San Jose, CA.
• Pack and ship our belongings, and close up our apartment in Boston by our Japan tentative department date of June 5th.
Those of you who live in Northern California, please plan to attend our re-commissioning service on May 24th, 11 am, at Church on the Hill, 500 Sands Dr., San Jose, CA. We will share about our plans for ministry in Japan, have a challenge from the Word and a light lunch. If you can come, please RSVP by 5/17 to: jhoulette@asianaccess.org.
We are praising God that our outgoing expenses are being met! Thank you for those who gave generous one-time gifts. We are seeing our monthly support come in as well.