Not bidding for sainthood. Just simple humanity.

You've heard it. Usually at funerals.  Friends are asked to share a eulogy, usually their thoughts or remembrances of the dearly departed.  And I know how hard that can be to get up in front of a crowd of people, with emotions stirred and unstable.  Nerves also kick in.  A little note page is unfolded and away we go.

Invariably, on all but very rare occasions, you will hear comments like, "She was always smiling."  "She never complained."  "He had nothing but good things to say about people."  "She was always so sweet."

I think to myself. Wow, this person is a saint.  She ALWAYS smiled?  She NEVER complained?  What? She never got upset when the toilet backed up all over hallway carpet and down the stairs?  She was smiling even through that root canal?  She didn't complain when she had to work those eleven hour days? Really???

In my occasional role conducting funerals, I've coached folks who are encumbered with the responsibility of delivering the eulogy.  "Please," I say to them, "don't use the words 'always' or 'never' in your description of them.  Because it's rarely, if ever, true.  And it also carries the sense that you're trying to single-handedly get them into heaven."

This was brought home to me early in my ministry when I pastored in San Diego.  A young woman had passed away of a particularly painful disease, and her good friend brought the eulogy.  I distinctly remember the words, "Despite the daily battle with pain, she never cried. She never complained."  Wow, I thought.  That's a strong woman.

But after the service, as we were having lunch together and all the funerary pretense was dropped, this same friend, talking to her friends laughed as she talked about how the deceased woman monku'd (complained) all the time.  It was in direct contrast to her comments during the eulogy.  And to be fair, this was another example of an extreme.  As unlikely as it was that she NEVER complained.  It was also unlikely that she complained ALL the time.

I don't know what it is about death.  It may give us a momentary glimpse of a person's value and importance in our lives.  As you watch television interviews and hear people talk about someone who was taken abruptly by death, you will invariably hear those words:  always and never.  

I will bet you money!

As author Wendell Johnson says, "Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use."

My own medicine

After receiving the news regarding my kidney situation and the impact on my overseas travel, I probably need to hear some of my own teaching from Scripture.  

Changes in lifestyle, in financial status, in employment, in family, in health, can lead to struggles with uncertainty about the future and depression.  A message recently preached on depression may be helpful to you if you are facing this challenge.

May God bring encouragement to your heart today.

Health Update

A tradução portuguesa está escrito em baixo.
La traducción al español se escribe abajo.

I had an appointment with my kidney specialist last Thursday.



As I've shared over the course of the last few years, I have been amazed at God's care and provision as I've dealt with both back and kidney issues. I was diagnosed with 4th stage kidney failure back in 2006.

Each year that has gone by without significant changes has been very much attributable to your prayers. Even with physically (and spiritually) intensive mission trips taken twice yearly, the decline in my kidney function has been minimal.

However, it looks as though the new year will bring changes. My kidney function numbers have dropped significantly. Kidney function is not recoverable in my case (chronic kidney disease). Therefore my nephrologist is recommending that I begin dialysis sometime after the beginning of the year. 

The other issue is that with dialysis treatment, once I begin, the treatment will require visits to the dialysis center 2 or 3 times a week. The nature of insurance for this type of disease is that I would be unable to travel outside of the US.

My doctor is also recommending that I forego my January mission to Argentina. The primary concern is my project being in two very remote areas outside of Buenos Aires city, it would make accessibility to a hospital an issue if a medical emergency came up. I am in agreement.

I would appreciate your prayers as I consider how I am to repurpose and reposition my ministry with JEMS. Discussions with Pastor Rick will begin after his return from sabbatical.

* * * * *

Encontrei com meu nefrologista ontém. Desde 2006 tenho sofrido com uma condição chamado falência renal crônica. Agora o médico está falando que estou começando com falência renal aguda. Depois do ano novo, tenho que começar tratamento de diálise. Quando começar esse tratamento, continua para sempre. Pois o seguro de saúde não cobra tratamento fora do país e vou precisar fazer 2-3 vezes por semana, vai ficar impossível para viajar mais ao Brasil. 

O médico me avisou para não arriscar mais minha saúde com uma viagem em janeiro. Principalmente sabendo a situação em Argentina que o lugar do acampamento e da creche fica longe do capital Buenos Aires. Se tiver alguma emergência médica durante o projeto, vai ficar difícil para mim chegar num hospital na hora adequada.

Por isso, acho melhor para mim não participar. Falando nisso, agora eu tenho que conversar com a JEMS sobre o futuro do ministério na América do Sul. O papel de meu ministério vai mudar numa maneira imensa como eu não poderia viajar mais fora dos EUA. É provável que eu vá começar tratamento de hemodiálise em janeiro ou fevereiro.

Peço suas orações que eu não fique deprimido. Se tiver perguntas, por favor entrar em contato comigo.

* * * * *

Como he compartido a lo largo de los últimos años, me he quedado sorprendido por el cuidado y la provisión de Dios como yo he tratado con los dos números anteriores y los riñones. Me diagnosticaron insuficiencia renal cuarta etapa en el 2006.

Cada año que ha transcurrido sin cambios significativos ha sido en gran medida atribuible a las oraciones de los amigos. Incluso con viajes misioneros física (y espiritual) intensivos toman dos veces al año, el descenso de mi función renal ha sido mínima.

Sin embargo, parece que el nuevo año traerá cambios. Mis números de función renal se han reducido significativamente. La función renal no es recuperable en mi caso (insuficiencia renal crónica). Por lo tanto mi nefrólogo está recomendando que empiezo a diálisis después del comienzo del año.

El otro problema es que con el tratamiento de diálisis, cuando que comience, el tratamiento requerirá visitas al centro de diálisis 2 o 3 veces a la semana. El seguro para este tipo de enfermedad es que yo sería incapaz de viajar fuera de los EE.UU..

Mi médico también está recomendando que renuncio mi misión de enero a Argentina. La principal preocupación es mi proyecto de estar en dos zonas muy remotas fuera de la ciudad de Buenos Aires, tendría acceso a un hospital en un problema si una emergencia médica se acercó. Estoy de acuerdo.

Mi gran tristeza es que no voy a ser capaz de visitar por última vez. Es una gran pena. Los amo a todos ustedes y voy a extrañar muchísimo!

Le agradecería sus oraciones ya que considero como soy de reutilizar y cambiar la posición de mi ministerio con JEMS.

Abrazos,

Pastor John

My grace is sufficient for you . . .

I received news this evening about the home-going of Mrs Miyeko Takaya. Miyeko is predeceased by her late husband, Rev Roy. They were both instrumental in my return to ministry. They initiated the process to invite me to serve as part-time English department pastor of the Japanese American Christian Chapel or Celebration in Camarillo. I am so grateful for their trust and investment in my life, my memories of their friendship and kindness. May God bless the family.

Today, I take to heart the sufficiency of God's grace in my life. The fact that I am able to serve in ministry with all my history and the broken pieces of my past is evidence not only of God grace, but of the kindness of people like Roy and Miyeko who permitted me to return to serve the Lord.

All that I'm able to do - as a pastor, as a missions strategist - is directly a product of God's grace in my life.

The reality of evil

It has been a blessing in my life that I have never had to say the awful words, "My friend was murdered."  I suppose that this is the benefit of living in the US, in a fairly stable community environment.  Other people in other places and countries are not so fortunate to make that claim.  

This changed for me on Monday, October 26th.  As I read through my Facebook newsfeed, I came across a puzzling post that someone had just written in Portuguese, "Go in peace, Sayuri."  The post was referencing a friend of mine from the Amazon region of Brazil, from the Japanese colony of Tomé Açu.  "What?"  I thought.  That expression is generally reserved for someone when they die.  Concerned, I began looking through various profiles of friends and family and found words like, "Unexpected.  Horrible. Barbaric.  Brutal."  With a growing dread of what those words were referring to, I turned to Google and entered my friend's name.  

There it was.  Online news articles referring to the disappearance and murder of my friend, Karina Sayuri Konagano.  I sat at  my desk in the JEMS office and cried.  I had just seen her in August.  In fact, although her city of Tomé Açu was four hours by car from Belém where I was serving, I made a special point to visit that town because I wanted to see her as well as to encourage others in that farming colony.  We met, together with her sister and father, at the agricultural fair.  The photo is from that visit and that event on August 1.

Such a great person!  She loved God and loved people.  That smile would dazzle you, and her laugh would set off a roomful of smiles.  There was so much hope for her future.  She was in a special relationship with another friend of mine.  All that was shattered this past weekend.

The news reports say that whoever killed her also burned her body.  Who does that?  

We read daily in the papers about the reality of evil.  It has struck very close to the Christian community in northern Brazil through the horrific death of Karina Sayuri.  While I feel absolutely devastated by the news, I cannot imagine how her family must feel.  

They buried her today in accordance with Brazilian law.  But justice remains to be pursued.  The way that we overcome evil Paul says is to overcome it with good.  "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  (Romans 12:21).  

At times like this we can feel helpless and hopeless, but we are not without either.  Both help and hope may be found as we go to the Lord in prayer.  This is where evil is overcome, as we bow before the throne of grace.  I invite you to join me in praying for 1) the Konagano family as they mourn and struggle with the loss of their beloved daughter and sister.  2)  for law enforcement to apprehend the perpetrator of this awful crime that justice might be done, and 3) for the dear Japanese Evangelical Church of the Amazon, where Karina Sayuri was a member.  I am sure that they have been rocked by this despicable expression of evil.

I was blessed to know Sayuri's kindness, goodness and warmth.  Many today are feeling her absence.  

If you think of it, please pray for her parents (Michinori and Amelia) and her two sisters.  The sisters served with the JEMS team at camp this past July.

The Psalmist provides a lesson about evildoers in Psalm 94

1 The Lord is a God who avenges.
    O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth;
    pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, Lord, will the wicked,
    how long will the wicked be jubilant?

4 They pour out arrogant words;
    all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5 They crush your people, Lord;
    they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the foreigner;
    they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “The Lord does not see;
    the God of Jacob takes no notice.”

8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
    you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
    Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
    Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11 The Lord knows all human plans;
    he knows that they are futile.

12 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
    the one you teach from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble,
    till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not reject his people;
    he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
    Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the Lord had given me help,
    I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me,
    your consolation brought me joy.

20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
    a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
21 The wicked band together against the righteous
    and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord has become my fortress,
    and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23 He will repay them for their sins
    and destroy them for their wickedness;
    the Lord our God will destroy them.

Balancing body and ministry

In 2 Corinthians 4, the Apostle Paul writes, 
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

I am grateful every day for your prayers on my behalf and on behalf of the ministry at JEMS in South America. In 2006 I was diagnosed with kidney disease. The great blessing is that eight years later, while my prognosis hasn't changed, the grace of God has enabled me to stave off the accelerated deterioration of my kidney function. 

The original causes of the kidney damage are no longer in play. Some have suggested that the demands of my work schedule are contributing to the kidney issue. But at this point, my kidney degeneration is related more to aging, which means that whether I'm sitting at home or whether I'm on the field, time will take its toll.  Given the option of staying home or serving overseas, I choose the latter.

Much gratitude fills my heart for God's precious gifts that are permitting me to serve as I do. Language acquisition, partnering relationships, strategic vision, a gifting to impart God's word, have all been key components of my ministry overseas. Would I be burying my talent in the ground if I neglected to use these gifts which God has uniquely suited to cross-cultural service?

Since my return to JEMS in 2008, God has been faithful to your prayers on my behalf. If you've followed along with my prayer letters (this blog), you will know that ministries and network relationships have been re-established in Brazil, new partnerships have been cultivated in Argentina, Paraguay and Peru. God continues to permit inroads for the gospel to reach the unchurched and for the discipling of believers in South America. 

I have been able since 2008 to travel to and serve in South America at least twice a year, staying each time an average of two months. While that may not seem like a lot of time, these contacts are strategic as JEMS works to actively encourage and support local national churches.

At the present moment, I am working to organize a missions team made up of Nikkei (and other) Brazilians from São Paulo to spend two weeks with me in Buenos Aires, Argentina in January 2016. JEMS has been invited to serve at a youth camp through the auspices of the Japanese Evangelical Church of La Fuente. (Iglesia Evangélica Japonesa en la Argentina, La Fuente pertains to the address of the church on Av. LaFuente 441 (C.A.B.A.)

Just as JEMS gives North Americans the opportunity to serve cross-culturally in South America, we have created a program that offers a chance for Brazilians to do the same in their neighboring countries and communities. Please pray as I meet with my kidney specialist next month to determine my travel-ability in January.

So what about my back? 

Most folks are aware that I am also struggling with back issues (spinal stenosis). The current state of affairs is that surgery remains a long-shot option as much concern has been expressed in my consultations for the possibility of paralysis as a consequence of surgery. So given the option of pain or paralysis, I am currently opting to deal with the pain.

Some fixes have been easy to implement. Better shoes (orthopedic old man shoes) and a back brace to lessen the stress on my back. The other fix is taking a bit more time (losing weight).

Thinking about it this morning, I am grateful that the pain is not as bad as it could be. I take a couple of Tylenol in the morning and go about my day. (NSAIDs are not an option due to my kidney issues). On occasion when the pain level gets too high, I have to resort to a prescribed medication that is a bit stronger, but thankfully, that isn't very often. I am still limited in how much walking I am able to do. I am appreciative of friends and pastors in South America who understand my situation and have provided me with almost door-to-door car service. Negotiating the large international airports has been less tiring and stressful as I am able to request wheelchair service.

When people ask about my back, my answer is "About the same." But that in itself is an answer to prayer as my answer is not, "It's gotten worse." I will take "about the same" over worse any day.  

Financial Support Update

This is a new section of my prayer blog as I have not made the question of my financial support needs known.  I have been serving with JEMS on a 3/4 time basis as I have waited for my support to come in.  But it would be good for you to know what my specific needs are if I am to be able to transition to full time.

As you can see, I am still in need of approximately $960/month in contributions in order to transition to full-time ministry with JEMS.  

For your clarification, the cost of ministry (travel, housing and meals while on the field) come from a separate South America missions account.  Those funds are specific to the cost of doing business.  The annual expenses for South America missions (overseas and at home) have been kept to a reasonable amount of $70,000 yearly.  Those funds are strictly for missions expenditures and are not available to subsidize my salary.

Please consider your financial partnership in this ministry which God has continued to bless and expand.  To make a one-time gift or to set up monthly support, please follow this link to the JEMS donation page.

With much gratitude for your prayers and for your generous participation in partnership with making Jesus known in South America.

Pastor John

Lord willing, January in Argentina!

    

  

  

   

JEMS is in the process of organizing a missions trip in January 2016 to Buenos Aires. We are awaiting confirmation of dates, but we are aiming for January 11-20. The program is being offered to Brazilians who are interested in serving cross-culturally. JEMS is coordinating with local Argentinian Nikkei churches. 

Pray for the team which will be led by Pastor John and will work in camp, offering Bible study, sharing testimonies, leading games and crafts within an under-served community one hour outside of greater Buenos Aires in the town of Moreno.

Too Soon

JEMS South America Department shares its condolences with the family of Paul Yunouye. Paul served with JEMS as a short term summer worker in Brazil and Paraguay in 1997. 

Paul, front row second from left

His unexpected and untimely passing has left his wife, Moon Ja and two children. Our prayers are with them at this time.  We ask God to provide his comfort and consolation.