maxey mark pauline 1962 japan

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey familyto the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan January, 1962Linkletter No. 122

Dear Christian friends,

This is the year of the Tiger and we already have it firmly by the tail. We areafraid to let go and almost afraid to hang on. It promises to be a very interestingyear.

I don't kn^w-=why'Christmas and New Years have to'come at the very busiesttime of the year but such is the case. We were limp with fatigue before they hadpassed and haven't recovered yet.

Here, in brief, is how we went about telling the Good News of Christ's coming.In four towns where we have churches, Christmas tracts with an annovmcement ofthe church services were placed in the morning newspaper on Christmas day. Two-thousand tracts telling the Christmas story were given us by the Japan Bible Society.These we passed out to every home in our neighborhood. The ladies of the Kanoyachurch stood on the main street corner for a day passing out these and other tracts to passerbys, trying to give them anidea of what the Real Story was. (Surprisingly, one person asked the pastor's wife "Is it His Birth or His Death you aretrying to remember"). A large display window on the roadside in front of our house showed the nativity scene with explanatory scriptures. People stopped to view it at all hours of the day and night. A new slide set with Japanese so\indtrack on tape was purchased and shown 17 times. One of these was the Kanoya Rotary Club of which I am a member.They asked me if I wouldn't have my family sing some carols, give a talk and show pictures. This I was very happy to do.For the first time this group of leaders of our community and their families heard the story of Christ's birth. They weredeeply impressed. Later a newspaper reporter who missed the meeting came to interview me. He said he had heard fromhis wife about what I said and wanted me to tell him again. He wrote it down and it appeared in full in the next issue of theRotary bulletin.

For eight nights in a row we went to Christmas meetings. For each Pauline prepared a huge tray of cupcakes. Usuallythere were two for each person. They ate one with their tea and carefully wrapped up the other to take home. This is the onereally family-type gathering that the churches have here. Very little is done at home but the Christians find their observance at the church, the singing, the pictures, the preaching, the tea and cakes, the unhurried exchange of greetings, andthe giving of some small remembrance to their teacher or leader - one of real joy. We found this Christmas to be moremeaningful than any other as our lives have become increasingly entwined with those of the Japanese Christians.

On Sunday, the 24th, I urged those listening to personally consider what they might give to Christ rather than receive\\him. It was real joy to see our son Gregory step forward to give himself to Christ. That afternoon, at the Osumi J 1

/ Gakkusha, three of the orphans made a similar decision. 1 guess these decisions are what really made Christmas forV^^auline and I,

Svmday night, the 24th, was the very wonderful Sunday School program and none of the credit belongs to me. It was entirely arranged by the pastor's wife, Mrs. Yoshii and the teachers. We were proud parents of course, to see Faith as anAngel, and Greg too, in the play. The meeting ended happily with all the youngsters receiving one of Pauline's cupcakeswith a lighted candle in it. Previously the ladies of the church had spent a day in Pauline's kitchen as she helped them makecookies for the childrens treats.

That night, we had about 35 young people as we went in two cars and a sound truck to the hospitals, old folks home,shut-ins and on the main street corners to sing the old songs ever new. They all ended up at our house for a midnight buffetof Christmas eats and sweets which Pauline had fixed. What a grand time we had together.

As we were taking them home, however, the old Chev. stopped. Nothing would make her go again. I waited an hourfor a truck to come and pull me home. Then I spent till 4 a.m. Christmas morning putting on a new fuel pump and coil.The battery was run down so I couldn't check my work that night. After a couple hours sleep I was up with Pauline to sharein the childrens happiness as they opened their gifts. (Thank you again, for all of you who shared with these so far awayfrom you). Then Markie helped me push the car out the driveway and down the hill. I got one backfire and that was all. Ihad failed my mechanics test this time. Chagrined, I had to hail a taxi for the long ride out to the leper colony, to preach,for their early morning Christmas service.

The Rotary Christmas party that afternoon and a Christmas program again at the leper colony that night left no time fora Christmas dinner. However, on Wednesday, we invited Miss Ouraslaa from the Christian Center, Mr. Shimoda, (mydoing-everything man) at the Mission and Mrs. Yoshii to gather with our family. We counted our blessings, enjoyed thefood, were happy to have our family and Christian friends with us and ate slowly enjoying the food. Afterward, we listened to Christmas music. It didn't matter a bit that our Chri_stma&-dinner was two days late.

The 24 hours from 4 p. m. Saturday, -qpftfTrthpr |^ C). till 4 p. m. Sunday, are ones that I will probably never forget. At4 o'clock the phone rang. It was Mrs. Yoshii at~th'e church saying that one of the elderly members, Mr. Yamaguchi, had

died suddenly. The car was being worked on so 1 started out by bicycle to find his home out in the country. When I gotthere I foxind the house roped off eind the police and the coroner making an examination. They explained that Mr. Yamaguchihad no relatives and they asked if the church would take the responsibility and provide a funeral. I assuredhim that we would.

At 7, we met with the church officers and one city official. We decided to hold the funeral the following afternoon, tokeep the body for the night at the Christian Center, and to ask Christians to come by two's during the night to sit with thebody according to local custom. I left immediately to prepare the Center and ask people to come help. At 9 p.m. theybrought the body. I signed a receipt and the night vigil began. Between preparing for the funeral, taking people home, andbringing others back, precious little sleep was gotten that night.

Sunday morning after the sermon, Faith came forward tojconfess her faith ii^ Alqf Bro. Yoshii's younger brother and sister, Faith's friend, Shizuka Nafcamur^ and tw6'other yomig people fronTthe orphanage. The baptistery was prepared and from 11:30 to 12:30 these ten were baptized, made their first prayers and began their New Life as Christians.The church was very cold, the water not much warmer, but our hearts were very warm with joy at this service.

The church was re-arranged, and at 1 o'clock Bro. Yamaguchi's fvuieral was held. It was a service of quiet assurancerather than sadness for Bro. Yamaguchi was an old maJti who had been a faithful Christian since he was baptized ajid he haddied naturally in his sleep without suffering. Immediately after the service, we all went with the body to the crematory acouple of miles from town. (Shimoda-san had had to spend all morning and all my available yen getting liie death certificateand certificate for cremation so the services could be completed by Sunday afternoon).

At the Crematory, a Shinto silter was opened above the casket but I closed the doors carefully but firmly before conduct-JLng_the-service. Then-and only-then^did the Christians return to th&ir-homes, They had eome to ehurch-at 10:30, stayedthrough three services plus a fourth at the crematory and didn't get back to their homes vuitil 2:30 in the afternoon. Noone went home ahead of time and no one complained even though this was the coldest day we had had and for the Japanese thebusiest day of the year - the day before New Years when every bill must be paid, vast amounts of food prepared and thehouse and grounds thoroughly cleaned.

As the attendant was preparing to put the body into the furnace, the lady in charge of the hearse presented me with abill for her services. I was both surprised and nonplused. I told her that I had not one yen with me and couldn't get ajiy tillJanuary 4th since the banks would be closed for three days at New Years. When she heard this it was her turn to be surprised. She said it was both the last day of the month and the last day of the year and that she needed her money right now.I allowed that was too bad since I had no money, we had had to wait an hour for the hearse, that she gave me a receipt instead of an itemized bill, that I thought her charges were rather excessive for the services rendered and I didn't understandwhat sill the hurry was about. This phased her not one bit. She still had a big smile on her face and her hand extended toward me with the receipt. At this point, a stranger stepped forward. She said she was Bro. Yamaguchi's landlady andthat the police had turned over to her the money in his pocketbook to meet any expenses. So I asked one of the church members who used to be the Chief of Police to go with me and we all went down to the Police Station. There after suitable palaver and tea the police authorized the landlady to pay the funeral lady and also to reimburse me for the certificates I hadbought. The fvineral lady left pleased as c6uld be.

I went back to the crematory and waited there with two other men from the church. At 3:45 the cremation was completed. The doors were opened and the remains brought forth. We were given em urn and each of us a long pair of chopsticks. Beginning with the feet, each of us in turn, picked up a portion of bone and placed in the urn until it was full. Thenthe urn was tied in a white cloth and we returned with it to the church where it was placed on a special shelf with anotherurn to await the day (we hope before furlough) when our Christie mausolem-will be completed. Mrs. Yoshii served us teaand our task was completed a little after four. '"

New Year's Day we gathered at the church at 6 a.m. to begin the New Year with prayer and Bible reading. That afternoon we drove to Miyakonojo to visit with friends and to take Paula eind Markie part way on their return trip to Kobe and thewinter term at school. Their stay with us had been entirely too short but full of happy memories.

So ended the old and begins the new. Look for the next installment of the story of 1962, in your mailbox about thistime next month. May every blessing be yours till then.

In His Service,

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication ofKyushu Christieui Mission

Box 139

North Vernon, Indiana

Mr. Harold UcFarlandMissions ServicesBox 968Joliet, Illinois

Non-Profit OrganizationU. S. POSTAGE

PAID

North Vernon, IndianaPermit No. 1


Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

Linkletter No, 125


February, 1962

't'

rjLSBi!

See that picture on the right! That's 28 pounds of pure radish. For those who think theyhave seen eveiything, take another look. You may not believe me, but radishes double this sizeare not uncommon. They grow in the volcanic soil of Mt. Sakurajima. They come in season aboutmid-January and are highly-prized by the Japanese for their flavour, texture and health-givingproperties,.-_J.us.t_aiiQher one of. the things that-make, life-interesting in. our neck, of the world*

Last month and this were full of very interesting things, beginning with the 7th Leader'sTraining ..Cjfeurse held at the Christian Center from January 8 thru 17. We have had sorfe^î^ ii;ne

'courses soffar but this one seemed to us to be the best one in every way.

JohnliMuto, graduate of Tokyo Bible Seminary, writer, teacher, preacher of that area was ourguest letûrer. His subject: "The Christian faith and the Old Testament". He was thoroughly prepared anf a,s a result the class was thoroughly enjoyed. The United States and even the Englishlanguegîs thoroiighly saturated with the thoughts, names, and histoiy of the Bible. Not so inJapan, îttle, if anything, is known of the Bible, Bible lands and Bible times. When I ask someof my s^^dents if there is such a land as Palestine and such a city as Jerusalem, they are apt tosay th^ they do not exist. Since much of their own ancient histoiy finds its source in fairytales ylhey naturally conclude that Christianity finds its source in the same. Thus you can see theimportance of the subject.

A.'/'Ve had a total of 45 different students, two of them came from a distance (Tannegashima and a

Sueyo'shi) and stayed through the entire course. There were twelve who successfully completed thecourse and were given certificates.

I During two days of the 2nd week we had the bi-monthly preacher's meeting. Preachers, wives,children, missionaries and guests made a total of 26. We ate our meals together in the Christiarjcenter including a sukiyaki supper enjoyed by all on the first night. Bro. Muto's lectures andsermons provided the spiritual sustenarjce for the meeting. On Tuesday morning we gathered ourchsirs in a circle and had a frank discussion about some of the problems facing- us and cur relationship together as individuals, as ministers and as churches, Evspecially from some denominationally-ipinded Japanese pastors in the Tokyo area, we are under strong pressure to adopt rules and regulations, which would completely negate our historic pleas for a return to the simple unencumbered,midenominational Christianity of New Testament times. In that age freedom in Christ was prizedand fellowship was based on loyalty to Him and His Word.

YDuring this session and several personal ones that followed we opened our hearts to one another. Vwe did not reach complete agreement but we did come to a grea'ter understanding of one anotherand the task we are trying to do together. Two or three nights, Paul Pratt, John Muto and Ispent most of the night talking together. As a result there came .ideas which we believe will turna corn^ for_new-4)rogress in the Lord's work not oni^.4Ji=.Qu-r-'^ eetion-^ but-thraughoui Japan,

Wewei^ mentioned in two newspapers recently. The Kirisuto Shimbun, a national Christianweekly, carried a testimony about one of the aged leper Christians at the Leprosarium near Kanoya,This lady began her story by telling how I had baptized her eleven years previously. Since thattime her physical condition has deteriorated greatly. Though blind and fingerless, she maintainsher faith by reading the Japanese Bible in Braille with her tongue. Letters she writes with herfeet.

The Minami Nippon, our area newspaper sent a reporter and photographer for several interviews.Since Japanese reporters are notorious for taking inteiîews and then going out and writing up thestory to suit themselves and what they think their readers want to hear, we were very pleased tofind an accurate and flives and work in a subsequent issue of the Su,nday

Here are some projeo^^^^^have recently completed or started. (l) Reprinting- of10,000 "bookies, "Gi^^,gtoGjj^^^?laîtyThis is the re-printing since we first produced ithere in 10 (2) Reprinting of our "Twelve Week Coura:g"To!r-Siîsh Bihle Studies".This couz>^ has gone into edition after edition during the past 6 years and is u^&d widely throughout Jap^. (3) Starting of a Christian children's libra.ry at the orphanage that w^help. (Thisprojeo^ was possible through the help of the church in East Orange, N, J, and Minoo chfevrch, Osaka),(4) Re-doing the film strips "Visualized Bible Study Series" and "Kow That I am AChr^tian" inJapanese. All charts, scriptures, and titles were re-done in Japanese, photographed an^new slidesmade. Scripts and tapes in Japanese were prepared. This required a tremendous amount oAwork forall ten sets, each about 45 minutes long, (5) Preparation of special books for personal iângel-ism for all the pastors. These books consists of clear plastic pages in which 7 x 10 photographsof each pastor and family, the missionaries, the churches and charts of eveiy phase of Christianteaching. Again much time, work and expense involved in a project that we think will produce good

-"'results. (6) A series of 15 Japanese-type scrolls featuring important sayings of Christ, feesescrolls were especially-made to fit the large display window in our rest house by the roadsiJe.

I Each will hang one week before being changed, (7) Remodeling of the kitchen in the Kanoya ihurch^with the church paying for the materials. (6) Work resumed on the Christian mausoleum by ô.! Shimoda, This was about half-done last fall when work was halted for lack of funds, Bro, îmoda

has just returned from Tokyo where he was helping Bro. Hammond build his home and work cejêr. (9)I Re-publication of our booklet, Christians in Japan, which gives a summary, past, presenl^nd future

of the work in Japan. (IO) Printing of C, J, Shai'p's Training for Service, We had pâuced two. mimeographed editions in the past but now it is being produced on good paper in a thojpughly read->âble and permanent fonn. Both of these editions have been made possible by the rea^mable-priced^Christian printing ministry of Harold Cole in Osaka. We take this occasion to thar^him.

''\_Jhe biggest project of all, of course, is getting ready to return to the U. S, this summer.Winding"up-the work of a six year term and transferring responsibilities is not a job that can bedone in a few days or even a few weeks. Every day we are doing something to ease the transition.Pauline is pushing school work very hard trying to get two days lessons into one day as much aspossible. The clothing problem looms large. Changing sizes, changing climates,changing countries,changing styles - results in frequent mind changing and head shaking.

As you can well imagine the everyday schedule, the weekly teaching and preaching, currentprojects, and future planning constitute a burden considerably heavier than the giant radishpictured on the other page. We ask your daily prayers for both spiritual and physical health.

In His seivice,

Mark G. Maxey

rZTFwZerTeRjA monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey familyto the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission


Linkletter No. 124 April, 1962 THESE THREE WERE BAPTIZED


You may have forgotten it by now "but we are still "basking in the warmth of Col. Glenn'ssuccessful orbit. I couldnH hold my eyes open long enough that night to listen to the launching "but I was up early the next day to hear the good news. That day at Rotary meeting the members spontaneously rose and gave three hearty ""banzais" To Glenn, the U.S. and the successfulflight. The speaker said he has listened to the event "with tears of joy." It suddenly hit methat this event was meaning more to the Japanese than it was to me. The following days as I received the congratulations of my Japanese friends I glowed in a new pride of my country and itsachievements.

Far from orbitting myself, I got the flu "bug and went to "bed. First hitting Tokyo,wewatched the accounts in the paper as it slowly worked its way south. I knew well enough whenit got to Kanoya. I went to "bed for a full week. It has "been some time since I was sick thatlong and missed so many appointments.

Recovering from that I took my family to Kobe and Osaka for four days. We stayed withIsabel Dittemore and all of us went over to the Kyoto Baptist hospital for our annual physicalsand innoculations. We attended the Councillor's meeting at Osaka Bihle Seminary and spent a longafternoon and evening listening a lot and talking a little about the affairs of that vital institution. Several of the missionary families gathered that night as guests of George and EthelBeckman for an excellent meal and fellowship.

Returning home for a week-end of teaching and preaching, I had to leave home before dawnon Monday to make the journey "by ship to Tannegashima for the regular preacher's meeting. Thisisland which is noted for its foul weather and incessant winds presented its better face thistime. We enjoyed "both delightful weather and fellowship. We took time out from our meetings togo down to the sea shore where Bro. Ikeda_baptized, a young lady who had made a long journey fromthe other side of the island for~that purpose. .

The day after I got home, we had a similar happy experience at the sea shore near Kanoya.For a long time I had preached at the leper colony without results. Last month, con-jfessed their faith in Christ, A day was set and the Christian lepers hired a "bus for the tripfto the bay. There in a lovely setting in the cool, clear waters I "baptized the three men yousee sitting on the rock in the above picture. (The man in the middle wears a mask not "becausehe has a cold "but because he has no nose.) A fire was built on the sand so they could dry andwarm themselves. We joined in singing ajid praying and then we had a delightful picnic togetherbefore returning. It was a lesson in sharing what few people have a chance to see. Some of thesick have obvious wounds from their disease. Others have no visible results. But all share to-

""^ther. Where eyes or legs or arms or hands or fingers are missing, those who have them providetn5-^eded assistance.

At Kanoya, too, that week we had another baptismal service at the regular prayer meeting hour when two middle school_,sj;.uiients from.the...orphanage .were-!b.a.tiLlz_ed. These decisions forChrist and committment to Him provided the spiritual stimulus to keep going even when the bodywas rebelling at the grueling pace.

The first day of Spring, March 21, is a holiday in Japan, On that day all the churchesin Satsuma peninsula (on the opposite side of Kagoshima Bay) gathered in Kushikino for a convention and farewell meeting for our family. Of course, it was three months before our actualleave-taking but since it was a convenient time for everyone, there was no harm done in havingit early. I preached at the morning service. After lunch together, we talked together about

the missionary's furlough and what it meant in travel, and work, and worry. The brethren couldsee it would be no picnic. We were three hours on the road each way plus five hours at the meeting so the day itself was no picnic. In fact, it put Pauline in bed for several days. The roadsof Japan are slowly improving but mostly they are still wagon trails.

The last of the month brought Paula and Markie home from Kobe (7OO miles north) forspring vacation. Since they will not be able to return to Kanoya before we depart for furlough,this was their last visit home. It was a busy time as they went through the things in theirrooms deciding what they would take or leave. Friends came to call and they made farewell callsin return. We had their special friends for supper and an evening of games together. We spenta day with them in Kagoshima visiting the Pratts, getting cholera shots, and shopping for thereturn journey.

The first Sunday they went with me to Matsuyama and Sueyoshi where Bro. and SisterTanneguchi had a Japanese feast for them. Mrs. Yoshii had them for supper Wednesday night. OnFriday, the brethren of Koyama, Ozaki and Kushira gathered together at the Kushira church for aChristian farewell service. There was a small gift for each of them, a devotional service, andtea and cakes, Sunday after church at Kanoya,60 of the members and friends remained for a similarmeeting, both for them and for our family. It was a happy time till we stood to sing "Blest Bethe Tie that Binds" at the close of the service. In the middle of the hymn, Pauline and I brokedown and we could sing no more. Sunday night, we journeyed to Tarumizv church. The friends from

"Kallgata also^ê and the rinal73fare;5^1JL As^b^cah^dedu^Y^leave-taking inJapan is not simple. If'Ts'a special ceremony all in itself, time-consuming yet meaningful. ForChristians it is even more poignant.

En route back to school, we invited all the preachers and their families as well as thePratts to join us for a noon meal at a Kagoshima restaurant before they took the train back north.Now they are gone, the house seems half-empty again, and we face the last two months of our stay.They promise to be hard and long.

^ On March 27, Jlr^-Pratt -got word that her mother had died suddently in Indianapolis. Her^xfamily asked her to cbm:e home -fco be with her Father at this trying time, so she and the oldest'.son, Paul, flew home. We share her sorrow. Missionaries leave their homeland knowing full well

that they may never see some of their loved ones again in this life and sometimes this knowledgeadds to sorrow when they pass.

Sometime back when a friend from a nearby country was going to visit he had the problemof how he was going to pay for it. So he wrote me a letter which began, "Now let us speak lightly of money." I thought it was the most delightful way of introducing such a tender subject thatI had read.

We, too, are going to make a journey and before we leave all bills must be paid and fundsleft on hand to meet obligations as they become due. At least two times a year direct supportIhissionaries, including ourselves, have an extremely difficult time meeting mission expenses.

i^They are Ma^ch.^d..Apr41. - income tax time and Jjaly_and Au^st - vacation time. Both these timesxai^Jitnies of busy ml^si0Tr~W0rk ~ajid unusual eêns^ôn~t^^japirnTniî~oh""field."' ^

Pardon us for this reference but we thought you would like to think about this problemever so lightly with us.

God bless you all.

LIWKLETTERMonthly Publication of

Kyushu Christian MissionBox 139

North Vernon, IndianaMr. Harold McParlandMissions ServicesBox 968Joliet, IlliriQis

In His service.

Mark G. Maxey


PAIDNorth Vemon, Indiana

Permit No. 1



LIMLETTER NO. 125 May, 1962


Oliver Goldsmith said; "HOPE like the glinmiering taper's light,Adorns and cheers our way; And still, as darker grows the night, Emits a"brighter Ray."

If Goldsmith had had our little girl Hope before him as hewrote these lines, he couldn't have said it better, she ^adorns and maypv ir MnAirmqcheers our way' every day. HOPE MAXEY - 18 MONTHS

Only one tiny little cloud in her sky and she doesn't even know it. She has no livinglink support. We've never mentioned it before but it seems a good time to do so, now that we areabout to head for home again.

$50 per month till she is six and $40 per month thereafter will establish a personalsupporting relationship with this wonderful girl and make her a part of your missionary family. Ifinterested, let us know.

Soon after you get this we will be leaving Kanoya (June 12) to return to the U.S. after asix year's absence. En route we will attend Paula's high school graduation in Kobe and the annualmissionary convention near Tokyo. Ve expect to depart from Tokyo June 20 taking the long way home.

By gettir^ together a large group of other missionaries going to Europe, we were able toform a charter group to fly to Europe at considerable savings, Ve intend to spend a month campingthere and visiting our missionaries in Italy, Germany and England, arriving in New York on August 5

Ve are grateful to our living link churches for their help in providing a furlough travelfund. We figured economy airline fares from Tokyo to the U.S. midwest and came up with a budget of$2880 for our family of 7 This is the amount we will use from the furlough fund on the journeyhome. All expenses in excess of that will be borne by ourselves. Needless to say, we are lookingforward to the experience very much.

After ve get to the U.S. we will be visiting family, friends and living link churches fora month before setting up housekeeping in Louisville, Kentucky at the same place we lived before.

In case you want to write us, call us up or come see us, here is the address:

Mark G. Maxey The phone is: Box 98 (7421 Brown's Lane) 92I-2765Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky (This is on the new direct dial system

from almost anyvhere in the nation.)We expect to be at the above address till August, 1965* Meanwhile, be assured that any

mail sent to us in Japan will be forwarded to us promptly. Also our permanent U.S. address: Box 139>North Vernon, Indiana, will always reach us.

Bro. Yoshii returns from his year of study in the U.S. June 2. Ve will have just a weekor so together before we leave. The Christian Center and Book Store will continue to operate underthe direction of our fine Christian manager, Miss Syoko Ourasaka. Mr. Katsuo Shimoda and his youngbride will live on the property and see that it is maintained and repaired. His father, BenzoShimoda, mission carpenter who has been with us since the very beginning, will go to Tokyo for ayear to help the missionaries there with building and repairs. Summer camp and other activities andgatherings will continue to make use of the facilities here. Bro. Paul Pratt, co-worker in KagoshimaCity, will work with Bro. Yoshii in carrying on my responsibilities.

Even though separated by the miles, we intend to maintain our spiritual and financial responsibilities here to the limit of our ability.

W What news here in the past month? One, very special event was a trip to Korea from Aprilto preach in the first Southern Christian Convention in^Tulan^^Bro, Chang, energetic pastor

of the Dai Kyo Church of Christ had invited me.

Physically the trip was punishing, "but spiritual it was rewarding. En route to catch thetrain the car hroke down and I had to get out in the driving rain and hitch-hike a ride the rest ofthe 65 mile journey. In the course of a week I spent two nights on the train, two nights in thehold of a tiny thirty-year old ship that bov;ed to every wind and wave it met, and two nights withthe Korean "brethren at the convention talking late and up early for the 500 a.m. prayer meetings.

Highlights of the trip were: the opportunity to preach to the convention itself threenights; an interview over Radio HIKP; speaking to 800 students at the chapel period of Pusan Vocational College; a quick trip to visit Jchn and Jane Hill, 200 miles to the north, and to speak tothe 35 students in their training program; the refreshment of listening to the joyous singing andfervent praying of the Korean "brethren; and the joy of baptizing four of the people who attendedthe convention in the icy waters of the Korea Strait just before departure.

A.^a6fisd special event was the revival meeting held at the Kanoya church May 19 - 22.Claude Likins made the long journey down from Tokyo to preach for us, 9OOO handbills were distributed. Comiriunity loudspeakers and radio systems announced the meetings every day. The original "Kingof Kings" film was shown in three installments. The young people of the church on their monthlymeeting n-ight -made 40"~large posiiers by hand. After they had hung in^fhe" chur"^ "for a week"they putthem up around the town. The big day of the week was Resurrection Day which began with a sunriseservice at the leper colony and ended with the final service of the meeting that night in Kanoya.

We had good crowds to hear Claude's excellent preaching. No committments at the time ofthe meeting but since then several new faces at the regular services and at least two new peoplethat have never missed a service since that time. Nothing soul-shaking about that you might thinkbut we are very happy with even so little.

special event was another afternoon at the sea shore with the Christian from theleper colony when I baptized four of the ladies from there. Pauline and several of the women fromthe Kanoya chui-ch went also. It was especially meaningful to Pauline who has taught the women atthe leper colony so faithfully month after month and year after year. These decisions for Christwere the fruits of her labors.

Until the next time then, remember us when you pray,is ours to see you all again.

You cannot imagine the longing that

In His service,

LINKLETTERMonthly Publication of


North Vernon, Indiana

RETURN REQUESTED

Mark G. Maxey '


PAIDNorth Vernon, Indiana

Permit No, 1

JUN 7 ^62

Mr, Harold McFarlandMissions ServicesBox 968Joliet, Illinois

LINKLETTER NO. 126



July, 1962

Dear Christian Friends,

Once again it is time and past time for a report of our stewardship,ember, 1959 through April, 1962 - Thirty-two months.

This report covers the period from Sept-

Recently one of our national periodicals carried a statement by an eminent man to the effect that he had neverseen a satisfactory missionary financial report. As far as this man goes - no doubt that is true. I doubt, however,that he has seen all missionary reports, nor ever will see them all. The nvimber of missionary financial reportsthat any person sees will depend upon the number of missionaries that he is supporting.

Personally, I can honestly say that I am not satisfied with any financial report that I have ever prepared. Theactual listing of dollars and cents seems pretty far removed from the day to day life and work which we carry on here.Also, when I have pulled the crank for the last time on the adding machine and have checked and rechecked the figures,I am appalled that it has cost so much to do so little. . I say so little because looking at it from the human point of view,preaching the Gospel cannot seem to be a very successful enterprise when measured in dollars and cents, per convertmade. Certainly not in Japan. I am gald to take, indeed, I am forced to take the position that what is insignificant inman's sight may be very important in God's sight. Having done our very best, we leave it in His hands.

From a business man's point of view again, this is an unsatisfactory report. It will not pass the accountingprocedures required by public accountants. We do not have a system of double signing checks nor of purchase ordersand vouchers for every item spent. Our simple system of daily entires in a ledger with a balance struck each monthand a typewritten monthly report sent to our forwarding secretary must suffice. Even this amount of arithmetic takesan appalling amount of time and energy. The figures that you see below are just about right. I can tell you exactlyhow much was taken in, how much was spent and how much is left. However, if you were to go through my books andconvert money from dollars to yen and from yen to dollars, you might come up with a few figures different from mine.In this sense, then, it is not a satisfactory report. Otherwise, I submit it to you as a reliable report and as a fairaccounting of how the money sent to us has been used. This is of the kind of report we will continue to send. I hopeto receive a more charitable reception to my figures than you would give to the monthly statement you receive fromyour bank. To simplify, we will try to arrange all expenditures under the headings listed. Sometimes we strain alittle bit to fit the entry into one of these headings.

EDUCATION1959 - $168. 101960 - 831.531961 -1,257.331962 - 892.05

SPECIFIED

1959 - $311. 101960 - 575.051961 - 70.001962 - 0.00

LEADERSHIP TRAINING1959 - $116. 101960 - 490.671961 -1,268.431962 - 261.10

EVANGELISM1959 - $357. 581960 - 405.171961 - 332.711962 - 444.08

AUDIO-VISUAL

1959 - $ 96-371960 - 496,621961 - 211.851962 - 26.88

Education; These funds paid for tuition and book expenses for Paula, W^terMark, Gregory and Faith from Calvert-Schools ^nBaltimore, Maryland andalso tuition fees and travel for Paula and Walter Mark for two years in Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan.

Specified: A number of funds was transmitted to us for the Kindergartenbuilding in Tannegeshima. These specified funds were forwarded. A fewother specified items are included.

Leadership Training: Seven Leadership Training Courses have been held(twice annually) in the Christian Center Building. Books, special teachersand other expenses are included. Also included are the travel expenses forBrother Hideo Yoshii for a year of study at Cincinnati Bible Seminary.

Evangelism; Everything we do is evangelism in one way or another butthese funds are those actually spent for evangelistic campaigns such asadvertising, speakers, follow up, travel, and other items incidental tothese meetings.

Audio Visual: A complete set of audio visual equipment is maintained andtapes, charts, and film strips are added to our library regularly. Thesefunds also include purchase of two recorders and the preparation of slidesets of this Mission for the use of churches in America.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE Building and Maintenance; We have large grounds of three and one-half1959 - 1,076.88 acres. On this ground we have the mission house, garage, guest room,1960 -4413.15 Japanese house, work shop, storage shed, two bicycle sheds, Christian1961 - 1,873. 20 Center building and a large out-side toilet. A man is employed full time1962 - 811.37 to maintain these buildings and grounds. These funds have also built a

parsonage, helped raise and move two church buildings and built a newcement Christian mausoleum.

MINISTERS SALARIES1959 - $740. 231960 -1,948. 131961 -1,208.371962 - 344.94

BENEVOLENCE1959 - $113.441960 - 11.111961 - 6.931962 - -0-

Ministers' Salaries: In cooperation with the churches we helped supportministers through the church treasurers. There is no support directlyfrom the Mission to any pastor. Each church is working on a plan of self-support with deminishing support from the Mission year by year. This isworking in all cases except one.

Benevolence; We do not do much benevolence as a mission. The funds hereindicated are those sent directly to be used by the orphanage nearby. Thisorphanage is run by the Prefecture but on such a low level that we help it aswe can. Other benevolence we try to do as our own personal Christian work.

\PUBLICITY

1959 - $241.841960 -1,050. 991961 -1,198.261962 - 497.71

BOOKSTORE

1959 - $208.881960 -1,265. 011961 - 784.831962 - 233.63

MEDICAL

1959 - $ -0-1960 - 104.801961 - 270.581962 - 29.36

BANK CHARGES

1959 - $ 3. 641960 - 60.521961 - 79.121962 - 16.55

MISSIONARY FAMILY195.9 - J,6Q0^Q1960 -4300.001961 -4,800.001962 - 1,600.00

Publicity: The charges at the left are mostly for the maintenance of the mailing list, the preparation, printing and mailing of the monthly Linkletter. If youhave done any printing, you know that these costs have been climbing year byyear. I regret the size of this expenditure but we think that ifis a worthwhileone. We know from your letters that you think the Linkletter is something thatyou want coming into your home regularly, as well.

Bookstore: Our bookstore is not self-supporting and probably will never be.Our location is too remote and our volume of business is not large enough tomake it so. Booksellers receive a discount of 15% to 20% in Japan. Recentlypostage rates have been raised in Japan and since we are so far from Tokyo,the publishing center, each book is now sold at a loss. Through the bookstorewe are able to do a large amount of literature evangelism and to provide Biblesand books and a regular library for the use of the Christians here and otherswho need to receive them.

Medical: Following the practice of many missionaries in the East, the missionpays half of the medical expenses that may come. Once a year, the entirefamily receives a complete physical check-up.

Bank Charges: As the fortunes in the U. S. rise and fall, it is the value of thedollar. If you are used to the constant purchasing power of the dollar, you maybe interested in knowing that we receive different amounts of yen for the dollaraccording to the quotation being offered day by day. The basic rate is 360 yenper one dollar but usually we receive less than that, plus the transmissioncharges from the foreign exchange banks to our own local bank. This accountsfor Bank Charges.

Missionary Family: Again the largest single item in the budget is for themigsionary family. EUrr\ijaaJteJ3iejnis..ôriary_and yOU eliminate the greategj:single expense in evangelizing in foreign fields. Personally we would likenothing better than to be so successful in this task as to work ourselves outof a job. However, such a prospect doesn't yet appear.

TELEPHONE-TELEGRAPH Telephone and Telegraph: Time saved is money earned and this expenditure is1959 - $ 87.311960 - 188.241961 - 212.981962 - 77.80

well worthwhile. While the telephone system in Japan is not nearly as efficientas that in America, still it does serve in a valuable way for instant contacts andin making arrangements which would cause much time and delay otherwise. Atelephone is rated as a luxury item in Japan and the charges are higher thannormal in the U.S. Besides the basic rates, we pay so much for each call made.

Office Expenses: This includes the salary of Miss Ourasaka, who works both inthe bookstore and helps with my office work. It also includes the inevitablesupplies necessary for an office; paper, pencils, ink, etc. Compared to officeexpenses in the U.S. , this is quite nominal.

Freight and Postage: I suppose we could call freight a kind of postage. This includes all supplies carried to and from this mission center by Japanese railways,by truck and by the Japanese Postal system.

OPFICE1959 - $193. 261960 - 534.931961 - 696.771962 - ^33.62 -

FREIGHT-POSTAGE

1959 - $194.961960 - 583.891961 - 570.271962 - 290.24

TRAVEL

1959 - $588.451960 -1,498. 691961 -1,083.341962 - 720.88

SUMMARY

From last report:General Fund

Travel: This is an essential item in the missionary budget. The missionary'sdesk work is never done, but still to accomplish his task, he must leave his homeand get our where the people are. These travel items includes the fuel and maintenance of the Mission Carry-All, and travel near our area and other points in Japanand for Christian work by car, by bus, train, ship and occasionally by airplane.

$231.75 Tent Fund $256. 69 Repatriation Fund $781.58

Tent f'und was'comisuied'wixn tjenerai Fxaidr -Ti?rrt-T'Trnd-waa acsio tell you all about it. One thing weremember especially was the humorous^return ticket to__Jaân-prepared by Bill Walker and signed by allthe missionaries. This was presented" to- paullireârrd I the last night,

Wednesday, June 20, arrived all too soon. Claude and Evalyn Likins helped us get aboardan early morning train to Tokyo, Harold Sims had gone ahead previously to see Janet and IsabelDittemore off since they were leaving Tokyo the same day,

Tokyo's Haneda a,irport the final farewells were said. Cdr. Desbrow, our Kanoyaneighbor, was also leaving Japan, He and Lt, Col. Lisney had come over by helicopter to see us off.Finally at 11;30 a,m, I had turned over my final headaches and list of items forgotten to HaroldSims, herded the other 85 passengers aboard our charter airplane, and we were on our way.

2500 miles and 9 hours of flying time brought us.,,to-.ii,ong Kong. Here we stayed for twodays. We took a trip up to the'Wmboo curtain'^ visited the school and church operated by ourfriends, the Anthony Bollbacks, on top of one of the huge housing projects built for the refugeesand treated ourselves to a real Chinese meal.

Next hop was 8^ hours and 2250 miles to Calcutta flying over the troubled lands ofViet Nam, Laos and Burma, Fuel and food -and we were on our way again, 5^ hours and 1450 miles_toKarachi. We arrived at midnight and had a fine and unusual meal beginning with mutton stew andending with mutton meat rolls.

Then another Ions hop - di hours and 1200 miles to Damascus - arriving early Sunday morning. After "breakfast, we re-arranged the chairs in the teIraiinai i^hy and joined together inprayer and praise. Naturally our thoughts turned to the conversion of the Apostle Paul en route tothis city so many centuries before.

The weather was "beautiful for the final f 1ight- 6 hours and 1500 miles away. Wecould see clearly the islands and countries "bordering the nor^^n edge of the Mediterranean Sea.

At Rome two thirds of the group went on north to Frankfurt and Copenhagen. "Mac" Coffeyof the Mediterranean Mission was on hand to meet us. Also the-^MJcswaaon "bus we had rented to carryus over the countryside was there. After a day in Rome, Bro. Coffey led us as we drove down andacâ^s the peninsula center of the mission work. The next day to their

where preparations were "being made for the weeks of Christian camp. We spent a full week heregetting our camping gear together and enjoying the fellowship of the Coffey family, Charles andMary Francis Phipps, Evelyn Jones, and the Charles Troyer family. We had one enjoyable Sundayvisiting the churches with Bro. Coffey. It was with real regret that we left to continue our journey.

The following five weeks took us j^-ûgh-Ptal.v - ^ples. Rome. Pisa. Florence. Milan,setting up our tent each night; buying fruit and food in the market places, each member of thefamily doing his own wash and wear laundry each night. How we enjoyed the rich treasure of Italianart and architecture and the friendliness of the people. Tr^tn Switzerlajid - a jewel of a countrywith another beautiful vista around each bend. Luzerne, Beme, TntêrTachen, Zurich, and Basel.

iptn P,PTmflny^ First a delightful week-end at Tubingen with the Earl Stuckenbruck family,the James Crouch family and also Mr. and Mrs. "V. G. Gilbert, who happened to be visiting at thesame time. It was a joy to worship with the German brethren at the church in Tubingen. Erankfurtwas the next stop where we picked up our mail and had a fine visit with Ed and Mary Fausz and ' Îllabelle Henninger, carrying on radio evangelism in Europe. The fellowship of Christian brethrenis a real joy wherever you go.

Through Hoi1and and Belgium, across the channel T^hi^land where we spent the first weekend with the iesan WegiMt. family, a^d the church at. S.tockport. This was very meaningful to us aswe were able to sing and preach in our own tongue and to converse freely with everyone we met. Wefelt that the Wegwarts were the right people in the right place serving in a needy mission field.

Cambridge, Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, the Tower ofLondon - more to see but time was running out. Back_o^ttaer.::i5flaijQeat.f^ a three day visit.in

" '^wQ~aaypi J.n~we^tern France with" our friends, M/Sgt. and Mrs. Winstead, whom we had'known inJapan, up to' Yerûa_passing en route ttopu^_ two towns named Maxey where we stopped for pictures andvisits with the people living there. "aF"Verndiin^we were welcomed by the Chaplain McNally familywhom we had met while camping. Here we spoke to a small group in chapel and visited the battjLefieldwhere World War I raged.

August ^.^had-uaome. We hastene^Jt^^toembg^^ _whereairport, checked our baggage and had^JJajj&e,Jioux^-Sisit with Guy andarrived on the Continent from the U. S. the day previously and had când see us off.

riî&^î^lkswagon at thehad just

-Sênidio-=^]jaêmbourg to visit

At 5sOO p.m. we were on our way. At midnight we had supper at Reykjavik, Iceland, as thesun still lingered on the horizon. At 4:00 a.m. we were at qi;,, Hpwf1 rn.^, and at 8:00 a.m.we landed at Ttew_ yfirTc Oity^ having completed safely a seven weeks' journey o^_18,50Qjî^s. We feltthat we had received God's care every mile of the way.

Tibbs and Norma-Maxey- were on hand to welcome us back to the -land we love. . Through thecooperative efforts of Ed Hoist Motors (Pierre, South Dakota), Roscoe Adams, minister at North"Vernon, and Joe Kearns of Louisville, a Plymouth station wagon was at the airport ready to carry uson our way. After 24 hours we continued our journey westward eagerly looking forward to reunionswith family, friends and Christian brethren. One of these days we hope to be seeing you personally,too.



North "Vernon, Indiana

RETURN REQUESTED

In His Service^

Mark G. Maxey / ^

Mr, Harold McFarlandMissions ServicesBox 968Joliet, Illinois


PAIDNorth "Vernon, Indiana

Permit No. 1

Sitnl Dtnntt

CSCCNWQSD RO PARK

Calcutta, Karachi, Damascus and the major cities of Europe.the amount it would have taken to bring our family home directly across the Pacific.pay the additional cimount required for the longer journey. No cost to the mission was involved).

A monthly report by the Mark G, Maxey familyto the friends.of the Kyushu Christian Mission


Liinkletter No. 128 October, 1962

Dear Christian Friends,

It is just two months now, since we got back to the U. S. and itis difficvilt to describe the tremendous emotional experience thishas been. Especially in revisiting the people and places whichhave so many memories for us.

To tell you about it briefly. We left Japan on June 20 and arrivedin New York City August 3 after a trip that took us to Hong Kong,

(For the record we want to mention that we received from the missionWe borrowed money on our life insurance to

After a reunion with my older brother, Tibbs Maxey and family, in New York City, naturally we headed west. First week-end;Berwick, Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Ringold, Maryland. Then to Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania for a few days withPauline's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Pethtel. At the same time speaking in her home church at Wind Ridge and neighboringWayne sburg.

The next week-end at Copley, Ohio for a reunion with Pauline's brotliers, Allan, Boyd and Roy and their wives and families.And at Weston, Ohio for all day Sunday with my young brother Bryan and family.

The next week took us to Michigan; Detroit with Dr. Schaeffer and feimily, (He has watched Paula's progress since she had polioso many years ago.) Newtown, Gregory's living link church. Battle Creek, Pavda's living link and Vandalia, Faith's.

A long hop brought us to Storm Lake, Iowa where we relaxed at the home of my younger sister and husband, Mary and AlvinGiese. That-week-end up into Minnesota to Madelia, the church where I began preaching-25 year-ago, and to Truman, Minnesota,my second pastorate. Both of these churches provide Walter's living link.

Then down to Claremore, Oklzihoma to my mother and husband, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Elrod. Now 79, eyes a little weaker, alittle bit thinner, a little bit whiter, Mother still has the wit and wisdom with which she raised her tribe of youngsters.

A long 750 mile drive brought us back to North Vernon, Indiana the last Sunday in August. North Vernon is one of my livinglink churches. We preached here from 1941-1944. This is where Pauline and I began our married life 21 years ago and where ouroldest daughter, Paula, saw the light of day. We left here in July, 1944 to become an Army Chaplain. From the chaplaincy we wentdirectly to the mission field. So we have never been back there to live but it still remains our legal address: where we bank, vote,pay our taxes, and get our mail when no other address will reach us. This is also home for the Kyushu Christian Mission, incorpo-here under the laws of the state of IndicUia.

We reached journey's end August 28, when the faithful Plymouth station wagon nosed into the driveway of our home at PleasureRidge Park, just south of Louisville, Kentucky, (see map above). We had lived here on furlough six years ago.

One of the happiest surprises of the entire journey was to find the house newly-painted, floors sanded, and the house furnished,ready for housekeeping. This was the summer's work of the Loyal Friends class of the Clifton church in Louisville, one of Pauline'sliving links. Naturally, our first Sunday in Louisville was spent with them. We tried, but words failed us as we tried to express ourthanks for what they had done.

At Pleasure Ridge, the neighborhood had all cut their lawns at the same time so that the whole area looked like a park. Nextdoor neighbors, Mary and Roy Burkhead, who had watched over the house in our absence, had put food for our first meal in therefrigerator. The church at North Vernon had fixed up a money tree for us when we were there and this was enough to buy all theother essentials around the yard and house. My living link church in Sciotoville, Ohio bought Pauline a dryer and one of my otherliving link churches in Milton, Kentucky gave us a food shower. Surely, "our cup runneth over".

Labor Day, brother Victor Lee Maxey and family, also living in Louisville had a welcome home picnic for us and sister, Mrs.Isabel Dittemore, who with her daughter Janet had just returned from a term of service in Japan as well. This completed re-unionswith our families. So for this year four members of the Maxey family are living within a few miles of each other in Louisville, Ky.Our Father, R. Tibbs Maxey, was born and reared in central Kentucky, so it looks like we are drawn irresistibly back to the placeof our beginnings.

September 6, Walter entered the local high school as a Junior. Gregory began grade 5 and Faith grade two. September 14, Idrove Paula to Milligan College where she enrolled as a Freshman. (Her address: Box 254, Milligan College, Tennessee.) Sobegins her step out into the world and we are already bejginning to feel)the loneliness we will know more keenly when we leave herhere next year.

Pauline has picked up the thread of homemaking American style and I am visiting the churches giving a personal report of thepast six years in Japan. So far I have spent four days in a missionary rally with our supporting church in Streator, Illinois; spokefor the cornerstone laying at the College of the Scriptures; reported to the Fellowship Class at South Louisville church and at nearby Shively church where Pauline and the family attend; held a Week of Missions at my living link church in Sciotoville, Ohio, andspoke for the Fifth Sunday Rally at Clay County, Illinois where the brethren there presented the mission with a check for $500 toapply on the purchase of our furlough vehicle. Seven years ago these 13 churches were the ones who bought the Chevrolet Carry-All used throughout our last term. Speaking dates in South Jefferson (KY) Christian Church; Old Bethel Christian Church (ClayCounty, Illinois) and Fairfield, Illinois completed our schedule through October.

It is impossible to-mention all the wonderful ministers and friends we have met and all the wonderful experiences we have hadwith them. To each of them who reads this letter, "Thanks again" from our whole family.

Here are some items to note:

1. Lord willing we will sail from California in mid-August next year in order to arrive in Japan by September first.2. The work in Japan continues as do our spiritual and financial responsibilities there. Each month we are assisting on pastor's

salaries, evangelistic efforts, literature work, and necessary maintenance of mission buildings and property. Miss Ourasakais running the Christian Book Store on a f\xll time basis. Bro. Shimoda lives in the Japanese house adjoining our home, takingcare of the property there and helping with repair on church buildings. Bro. Yoshii, pastor of the Kanoya church, reports afine summer camp and Daily Vacation Bible school progreim. We are in rgprnla-r -iMnna vath the brethren there byletter and tape recording. .Due to the serious condition of her Father, our co-workers, PauL^jjd^athleen Pratt came home at the end of August. Theyhad been home only a few days when herg"dYWi,^y. ^fwas visiting them on the night he died. Her mother haddied suddenly just six months before.^ Remember them^ wh^en you pray; Also,-the work in^Kyushu left without missionariesthis year.After 13 years of sacrificial work, Gladys Auerswald has asked for a vacation from her labors as forwarding secretary. tAnother faithful member of the North Vernon church has come forward to help out. She is Mrs. Christine Deiotte. So inthe near future your receipts will be signed by her. *' 'Because of this chsuige, we have a new box number. It is Box 49. So address your mail to: Kyushu Christian Mission, Box49, North Vernon, Indiana.Because the Linkletter is printed here near Louisville, we have decided to mail it out here. This will make for some economiescind speed up mailing by a day or two. So this address: Box 98, Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky will be the address for Link-letter requests and changes of address.Our own personal address for the remainder of this furlough will be 7321 Browns Lane (Box 98), Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky.Phone 921-2765 (area code 502 for direct dialing).For you who are receiving the Linkletter (some perhaps for the first time) we'd like to hear confirmation from you that you dowish to receive this letter. At the same time, give us your correct address. It cost us 8 cents every time the Post Officetells us for you. Also the subscription price is $1.00 per year when mailed out to individual addresses. A small charge forthis little paper on which we expend a lot of effort and considerable expense trying to make it one of the best of its kind.

So much for the business. Faith came in the house a little while ago. "Monrunie" she said, "when do you want to go back toJapcin." "When the time is up", Pauline replied. "I want to go right now", said Faith. Big tears began to stream down her face."I want to see my friends so much. I'll just have to pray for them" This she did right then. (Her homesickness is shared byus all).

Why not add your prayers to hers. The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Rome: "For God is my witness, .how uncreasinglyI make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered by the will of Godto come imto you. For I long to see you...

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Pray for us that we may be prospered to go to our Japanese brethren again. We long to see them.

- In His service.



Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

Mark G. Maxey '

Ivir, Harold McFarlandMissions ServicesBox 968Joliet, IHinpis

Non-Profit OrgamizationU. S. POSTAGE

PAIDPleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

Permit No. 15

/CHRISTMAS, 1962

erriej?A monchly report by the Mark G- Haxey familyCO the friends of the Kyushu Chriilian Million

Kanoya, Kagoihima, Japan

Box 98

Pleasure Ridge Pork, Kentucky

Dear Christian Friends:

Frankly, if one sits at home and contemplates the world solelyas it can be seen and heard through the newspapers, radio and television, thereseems to be very Uttle, "peace on earth, good will toward men" this Christmas.

Yet it has always been so and sometimes this has caused men tobe cynical about Christ and His promises. "Pretty words", they say, "but there isnothing to it."

There lies the problem. We are waiting for peace and goodwillto be shown throughout the world and in the lives of others. After it works forthem, then we'll have a try at it ourselves, we think.

God's promise was first of all to individuals. When peoplelike us, one by one, begin to believe what Jesus said, then will begin to come"Peace on earth and Good Will toward men" In our own small worlds. There is agood chance, too, that it will be caught by the great number of people who comein contact with us.

Our Christmas wish for you is that this month through Christ youwill receive a full measure of "peace and goodwill". The real thing, not just tinsel like the merchantshung up for us the week before Thanksgiving.

One of the blessings of being on furlough, is the chance to bein homes all across the land where genuine peace and joy is found and to be the recipient of the good willthese kind of homes have so much of.

We have made a number of tours since we last wrote. One inearly October took us to a smorgasbord and evening of missions in Columbus, Indiana; three days at aMissionary Rally with Woodvlew church, Grand Rapids, Michigan; a kick-off banquet for Central Church,Harvey, Illinois; then all night by train to Mt. Byrd Christian Church, Milton, Kentucky for a visit withthis living link church.

The next tour took us to the mission fair at Clinton, Illinois; thegrade school and church at Wapella, Illinois; chapel at Lincoln Christian College, all day in Chicagotrying to find relatives of one of the leper ladies near Kanoya; church supper and mission meeting at Ancona,Illinois; Sunday morning with the churches at Ambla and Tab, Indiana; that night at Burlington, Indiana;on to Jennings Church, St. Louis, Missouri; West Side Church, Columbia; College Chapel at CentralChristian College of the Bible In Moberly; and Prairie Hill Church, Salisbury, Missouri.

I had barely gotten home on Friday, October 19, when Paulinereceived word that her father, Charles L. Pethtel, had died of a heart attack as he walked up the lane tothe mail box. We left the next day for the sad Journey to Wind Ridge in the southwest corner of PennsylvaniaAll of us were thankful that we had had a good visit with him the first thing after we had arrived home inAugust. So we are reminded that "in the midst of life we are In death. "

The following week was spent close by since Paula was goingto be home a few days from college. We went to the Wilkinson, Medora and English churches in Indiana and

South Louisville Christian in Louisville. Then two days at CincinnatiBible Seminary where Prof. Winter put me through the paces at his missionsclass. Northern Hills Church and the following day for the monthly meetingof the World Missions Volunteers group - an organization originally foundedby my sister, Mrs. Dittemore, and in which Pauline and I were chartermembers over 20 years ago. That night Nephew, Brian Giese and LydiaShigenobu, (Kanoya Christian, Isabel's helper and nov/ student at CBS)went with me back to Louisville. So ended October.

November began with the annualWide-World Rally my brother Tibbs holds at his College of the Scriptures inLouisville where colored preachers are trained. Pauline and Isabel spoketo the ladies meeting. I spoke one night and at the youth banquet. At the .youth banquet. Rod Cameron of Rhodesia was supposed to appear with his dummy and entertain with hisventriloquist' act. Rod could not come so that left me as the dummy. Pauline came to the rescue. She cameup with the idea of using Faith's large Japanese rag doll. We hid Shigenobu-san behind a screen. I talkedto the doll and Shigenobu-san made with the replies. We fooled the people for a few minutes but wecontinued to have a lot of fun together even after they found out that I was no ventdloqulst. (See picture).

The third tour took me to Omega Church, Calvary Baptist inIndianapolis, Jerome Church, Etna Green and North Liberty all In Indiana; Hatfield Church way up inMichigan, three days with the Missionary Rally at Newtown near Battle Creek; Coats Grove near Hastings,Michigan and Parkview Church of Christ at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, en route home. I waited over on Mondayand attended the preacher's meeting there so I could visit with brother Bryan and his wife Kathryn and meettheir new little baby boy they brought with them from V/eston, Ohio, not too far away.

The next trip took me to Cincinnati to attend the Conference onEvangelism where I heard many good sermons and met many old friends. Friday night to Hollowtown Churchin Highland County, Ohio. I preached here in 1940-4] while studying in Cincinnati. My mother alsopreached here at one time driving out from Hillsboro in a Model TFord over the dirt roads. Sunday morningat Sardinia, Ohio and Sunday night at Hillsboro, Ohio. My father preached here 35 years ago. Naturallythere are many precious memories in places like these.

I spent Thanksgiving week with my family and we had as ourspecial guests on that special day, Paul and Kathleen Pratt, our co-workers in Japan, now on furloughmaking their home in Indianapolis. Meanwhile our three daughters have had birthdays - Hope became twoon October 4," Faith became 7 November 13 and Paula became a young lady of 19 on November 29. Allthree are a joy to our home.

I wish I could tell you in detail of the homes visited, wonderfulmeals and church suppers eaten, old friendships renewed, places of sacred memory revisited, the hours ofconversations, and the many who have shown kindness to me and mine. To each of these and to all of youwesayagain, "PEACE AND GOODWILL." "HAPPY NEW YEAR, TOO!" This from the whole Maxeyfamily. ,

In His service.



Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

Non-profit OrganizationU. S. POSTAGE

PAIDPleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

Permit No. 15

%

maxey mark pauline 1962 japan

Documents