To our dear family and friends,

Greetings from sunny Japan! Liam and Laurel recently had one month off school for summer break. During this time, Jake’s parents came to visit for a week and we were all able to stay together and explore Sapporo. A major highlight was visiting Teine Pool, which has a beautiful view of the mountains. Praise God, He provided my driver’s license right before Jake’s parents arrived and we could borrow a van from OMF for the week. We are currently working on purchasing a vehicle of our own, please pray God would provide the right car at the right price.

This past month has been hard for our family as we prepared to say goodbye for now to Jake’s beloved Grandpa Bob (Pa Bob as our kids called him). After a long battle with cancer, he has finally entered into God’s loving presence. We are so grateful to know he is in the very best place he could ever be but we will miss him greatly. Please keep our family in your prayers as we process through grief from a distance, it is hard to not be able to give and receive hugs and love from family right now. Video calls help but definitely are not the same. Please pray we would all know God’s loving presence and comfort with us at this time.

On a positive note, my parents will be coming to visit starting tomorrow! Please pray for safe travels and that we would have a restful and enjoyable holiday with them.

Ministry wise, we are continuing to progress in our language studies and both of us should finish our second textbook by the end of October, when we will leave for Center Visit. During the Center Visit we will travel south to Kanto and Tohoku, visiting various OMF missionaries and churches that OMF partners with. The goal is for us to gain a better understanding of the many ways OMF is partnering with the Japanese to share the gospel and to pray through God’s calling for us once we graduate from language school. We have been asked to consider serving in a support role in Kanto, please pray for God’s leading.

We recently finished our one year assignment at Sapporo Bible Christ Church and will begin attending Wakaba Christ Christ. Our brothers and sisters at Sapporo Church were so welcoming and loved on our kids greatly. We will miss them and were so happy to attend such a wonderful, Christ-centered church here in Japan. God is moving among the Japanese!

Thank you to everyone who has sent a message, letter, and/or care package over the last few months. It is very meaningful to us that you would think of us and reach out. We are bolstered by your support!

Philippians 1:3-6: I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Update on Baby Frankie

Thank you also for your many prayers for my niece, Frankie. Praise God, she seems to be thriving! We are extremely grateful for God’s healing upon her. Her smiles are contagious!

Prayer Points

-Praise for a good visit with Jake’s family and request that my parents visiting would also be wonderful

-Request for a reliable car to serve our family, especially as winter approaches

-Grieving well at the passing of Grandpa Bob

-For God’s guidance as we consider next steps during Center Visit

-Praise for God’s moving among the Japanese people and for more hearts to be open to the good news

-Praise for God healing Frankie, she is such a joy!

Who doesn’t love more photos?