Rock of Ages (Seattle) Team:
Report from Japan Mission
Seattle Rock of Ages LB Church and Japanese Ministries joined together with several of our sister LB churches in Japan to reach out to their communities through three summer kids' camps, by sending and receiving a short-term mission team to Japan, July 23-August 6.
The emphasis of the mission was to respond to God's call to missions as a strong strand of three: the Sending Team, the Going Team and the Receiving Team, all to the glory of God and to the benefit and blessing of all involved. The "Going Team" members were Jason Wills, Cory Olson, Trevor Olson, Sam Olson, Roger and Sue Olson, Hannah Olson (joining us after finishing her year of teaching English in Akita), and two Japanese students who recently accepted Christ, Iyoko and Masa. Most on the team already had experience in helping out with Japanese Ministries at the Rock, so it was a very smooth transition and adjustment for them to minister in Japan.
The "Receiving Team" was three of our LB churches who had prepared Kids' camps for us to participate in as "magnets and lights" and as English teachers, especially at Takanosu Kids' English Camp. Before going, we prepared skits, songs, games, testimonies and crafts. Each church was well prepared to host and use us. They also responded that it was so easy to host us because of our personal familiarity with the people and places and eagerly invited us back again. We continue to receive letters about how much they were encouraged by our coming. Roger was able to come alongside two of our Japanese LB Pastors by filling in for them on Sundays and during the week to give them a much needed rest. I was glad to meet up with several old friends who were then "seekers" and are now "sisters" in the Lord, as well as to be able to reconnect with old friends who needed praying for.
Seattle Rock of Ages, the "Sending Team," responded generously to the call and challenge of fundraising with about $12,000 in offerings, enough to cover this team' s expenses as well as set some ahead for a possible future trip. All who were involved can be assured it was well worth the effort and investment. Our churches were encouraged, lives were touched and possibly some future missionaries were born!
Thank you for praying,
Sue Olson
We welcome Hudson William
(son of Steve and Janice)!
Born August 6th, Paris, France
8lbs 1oz, 19
Thank You Helland Family!
We want to express our gratefulness for the faithful service that Larry and Pam Helland and their children, Hans, Kaari, Katie and Rebekah, gave to the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. Larry gave oversight to the construction of our Welcome Center in Ndjamena, which was a very important ministry over the last seven years. Hans, their eldest, filled in in their absence twice. We thank all of them for their ministry to our missionaries, missionaries from other ministries and many Chadians. Larry, Pam and the girls will be moving to South Carolina where Larry will be working at Columbia International University and may take some classes on a part-time basis. May God richly bless them and their future ministry.
