Kato City Baptist Church start

 We passed out 10,000 flyers announcing the opening service of the Kato City Baptist Church starting the first week of September.  I got lots of exercise walking different communities of my soon-to-be new home area and got tanned arms in the process; and lost about 1.5 kg.   Opening day was the 15th.

We had a dedication service on the 7th with over 45 Japanese and two American missionary families coming, including 6 Japanese pastors.  We sang some songs and showed a video presentation of the construction/reformation of the interior of the building that started in June.   Many people brought gifts of desserts/sweets, as is the custom, or flowers.  The church in Osaka gave us 5 new bibles and 5 hymn books; all a real blessing.

   Group photo of everyone

       About 12 kids were upstairs 

On the 15th besides Fukumoto-san, Henry and I (the core group), these folks came:  Fukumoto's grandparents from Osaka, about 90 minutes away.  Three men from around the area within about 15-20 minutes.  One man lives 5 minutes from the church and brought his 4-year-old son.  Little Eric was not used to me, so he wanted to stay with Dad instead of going upstairs to the kids' classroom.  He was baptized in a sister baptist church about 40 minutes from Kato City.   Another man we met a few weeks ago when we passed out flyers for a children's event (only one kid came with her mom then).  They have a bakery next to our bank in nearby Yashiro City.  His wife was not with him on the 15th.  The third man lives about 20 minutes from us and goes to the church Fukumoto's grandparents attend in Osaka. His name is Morimoto and he's a single guy and lives with his parents.  All these men are Christians.  No new people came as a result of the flyers.   Henry preached both services.  Our theme song is Ron Hamilton's "All Are Welcome", a catchy tune with a great message. 

   

At the 5:00 pm service, four people from Bread of Life BC came up and Mr. Morimoto returned.  We had some of the snacks afterward.  At our Thursday night service, Mr. Morimoto came again. 

   the afternoon service

Saturday, Henry and Mr. Fukumoto visited the men that came and were able to talk with them.  Mr. Morimoto said he was going to the Osaka church on Sunday.  :-(    They knocked on doors of about 40 homes near the church, but I don't think they actually talked to anyone.  

On the 22nd, it was just us three in both services.  Singing was a bit challenging with  just us, but we got to practice the theme song again and it will soon be memorized.  

It is the beginning of prayerfully, a good, solid church in Kato. 

Latest Quilts

 These are quilts I made for an older brother who is 2 and his newborn sister.   The blue is for Joshua and the reds/pinks are for Lilly 

The latest Ward grandkids

Joe with this three daughters   and Christin with them below 

 This is Arianna wearing Peter's glasses  She is so like her Dad! 

Jewel, Arianna and Peter 

A big, fat Caterpillar

This critter was one a branch of our blackberry plant.  As I was cutting the bushes back for the year, there it was.  It's about 4 inches long, short and sparse hair; two black tufts near the head.  Those sticks are part of the blackberry stem.  I have no idea what this turns into. 

It was on a blackberry stem and I cut it off and put it on the deck.  Overnight the critter moved to the blue pole which is a butterfly net and has stayed there.  

New Church Plant Construction Progress

Carpet tile was put on the first floor  

Brothers Saeki (left) and Scott (right) helped with the Air Conditioning.  The summer intern from Ambassador, Kyle, helped a lot while he was here. 

We took out the kitchen that was her and moved it upstairs.  This is now a Restroom under the stairs

Kyle removing the flooring on the second floor.  Blue tile carpet was also put up here.  

This is the kitchen area on the second floor.

Latest Grandbaby photos

Willow is now 7 months and such a cutie--always smiling it seems.  

Alora and Clarity turned 2 on August 3rd.   Lots of curly hair and personality.  

One of Willow's captivating looks.  

Dad Joseph and his littlest one.

Taking a dip in the back yard 

Arianna and mom Jewel  

Peter's family.  Little Arianna looks so much like her dad.  

Saying goodbye

We took Teresa to the bus that goes to the Airport and said our goodbyes.  Her flights are from Kansai to Korea, then to San Francisco, Finally getting to Houston at midnight Wednesday morning.  It has been such a blessing to have her here this summer.  She was a big help to us and the church by playing cello every service and doing the chalk art drawing for the children's meetings here and in Kato City.  Teresa starts her 8th year teaching in Katy at the end of the month.  :-)  

July 28th Sunday Services

Some of the special music during the morning service today.  

Church Summer Festival

We had a kids' game day this morning.  Four boys and their parents came.  First we started with a curling games where they rolled a cup with a golf ball under it down the table to the target.   Then there was a foam ball shooting target which was not that easy to knock over the various faces.  Third was tossing a bean bag through a hole.  Last was a Japanese water balloon game.  It was very wet.  Then Henry told the story of the three Hebrew guys thrown in the furnace while Teresa drew black-light chalk art of the story.  She is really good, IMHO.  

Mr. Mawatari giving the kids instructions and below demonstrating the foam ball shooter. 

Little Yuri tried throwing the rice bags in the hole 

This water balloon game is not like any in the USA. The object is to pick up a rubberband string attached to a balloon using a hook with a paper string attached.  If it gets wet, the hook can't catch the balloon. 

You can just barely see the white outline of Jesus in the furnace with the three Hebrews (under the black light)

After these activities everyone had hot dog and chips for lunch.  We had passed out 5,000 flyers last week for this event and no new kids came.