June 2008

Benoit and Andrea’s Prayer News Bulletin    No.58 June 2008

‘…neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord:

Some time ago we told you all of the concerns we had been having regarding Eloise’s development. Since October of last year we have been pursuing having her needs assessed and seeing whether we could get the support we need for her here in Japan. In March we went to one of the best hospitals in the country with a specialist child development department, but were very disappointed to see the level of their ‘assessment’ and the very limited scope of support that they can provide for us. So it is with a heavy heart that we (on the advice of, and in consultation with OMF medical advisors) have decided to return to the UK to get Eloise fully assessed and find some support and help for her in an English speaking environment. We would love to stay here in Japan, but our ways are not the Lord’s and we believe that it is His Will that we leave for the time being. We do not yet know what Eloise’s diagnosis is, but it may be that she is on the autistic spectrum. Please pray for us to be able to get the help we need for her.

So we are moving yet again!!

We move from our house on 13^th June. We then have OMF conference the following week in Nagano prefecture, after which we are staying up in the mountains for a week of holiday, before returning to Tokyo for ten days for a final farewell at church and returning to the UK on 7^th July. Our spare room is full of all our personal things that will be shipped at the end of this month. We will be getting rid of all our furniture as we don’t know when we will be able to return to Japan, and can’t store things here indefinitely. It is hard to say goodbye after so many years (thirteen for me, Andrea, and nine for Benoit). Please pray for all our goodbyes. We do not know what we return to do in the UK. Please pray for us and OMF as we discuss possibilities and wait on the Lord to see what He wants us to be doing. Until we know what we will be doing, we also don’t know where we will be based. Please pray for us in this time of uncertainty, and for God to provide His perfect place of ministry for us.

A great way to finish:

Our last month at Saitama International Church will be one of celebration. On the 18^th May we have two baptisms planned; one a young man from Australia called Regan, the other a young Japanese woman, Asako, who recently became a Christian. Two other ladies have recently become Christians, but for family reasons are not ready yet to be baptized. Continue to pray for Etsuko and Mrs. Kado. Another reason to celebrate is the church’s tenth anniversary on the 1^st June. As we come together with past members and missionaries may it be truly a time of thanksgiving for what the Lord has done in the lives of those impacted by SIC and a looking forward with faith for the future. Once we leave there will be no missionary to take over for the foreseeable future.

Prayer and Praise

l  Praise God for all He done at SIC over the last year. We have seen the church grow, membership increase, people come to faith and this month two baptisms. Continue to uphold the church in prayer as it faces a future without missionary leadership. Pray for protection for the believers and for them to work together for the glory of God.

l  Pray for Asako and Regan as they are baptized on the 18^th May. Pray for Etsuko and Mrs. Kado to be able to publicly testify to their faith in the near future.

l  Pray for us in these last few weeks of ministry here, for goodbyes and a sense of closure on our time here. Particularly pray for the children. Eloise is loving kindergarten and it will be hard to leave. And neither understand why all their toys have disappeared into boxes. Pray for them to triumph over all the changes and adjustments of the next few months.

l  Pray for our future, that God will clearly show us what we should be doing (and where). Praise Him that we are feeling a real sense of peace. We know He is in control and knows our beginnings form our ends.

Our address: Amanuma cho 2-694-14, Omiya ku, Saitama shi, JAPAN 330-0834