A MONTHLY REPORT BY THE MARK G. MAXEY FAMILY

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSIONKANOYA, KAGOSHIMA 893, JAPAN-BOX 417, NORTH VERNON, IND, 47265

Dear Christian friends, JanuaryBy the grace of God a New Year has arrived. 1970 was a rough year for the world.

have faith to believe 1971 will be better. A message of ours, "Life in the 70's" will beed in the January, February and March issues of the Restoration Herald. Wish you'd read itthe Orientals reckon the years, this is the Year of the Boar. Whatever else may be said ofhe's a 'rootin tootin' animal that makes his way in placeswhere lesser breeds would fail. It may be that this is an an-imal whose time has come.

the Kanoya Church of Christ has had its own building ( a con- HljjMverted Japanese dwelling) on a rented piece of land (about$10 per month) near the business center of Japan. The build- SJB"^ing was both decaying and inadequate for a growing church.For ^ ^ * "lljfive years, Bro. Yoshii and the church have been looking for . ^a new site. The far corner of the mission land, adjoining thechurch's kindergarten seemed to be best. We sold it to thema year ago at a fraction of its value.

All energy was now concentrated on the buildingself. For all funds given by the Kanoya Christians themselves,the mission has provided matching funds. So far this has a- BRQ YOSHII BAPTISING MRS. TANAKA-90amounted to $3660. We will continue this plan till the Iremaining debt is paid. Bro. Yoshii has led in planning Jan adequate building, well-lighted, airy and including a 1cry room and a worthy parsonage next door. On Dec. 27,

even before the paint was dry, Bro. Yoshii had the rareprivilege of baptizing a Japanese great-grandmother, 90years old. On January 3, churches of this area gathered for worship and the dedication service. Bro. Yoshii ,asked me to bring the message which I was happy to do.Sobegins a new page in the history of the Kanoya church.New facilities mean new responsibilities for evangelism.I know that Kanoya church will meet the challenge.

r

Weprint-. Ashim,

KANOYA CHURCH - DEDICATED JAN. 3, 1971

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1?!' ! iMi

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PROPOSED BUILDING - KAGOSHIMA CHURCH OF CHRISTNEWLY COMPLETED BOOK STORE & MR. IIMURE

M/M Walter Maxey areready for week-endspeaking within driving distance of Cincinnati, Ohio untilMay. Then full-timetill they sail fromSan- Francisco forJapan in mid-August.

CONTACT:Walter & Mary Maxey3422 W. 8th StreetCincinnati,OH 45209Phone:(513)921-3761

NOTICEA n^w display and setof slides are now available. Slides withcassette tape can beordered from:

John Miles Baker147 Avenue Cota

San Clemente,CA 92672Both slides & displaycan be borrowed fromMrs. Cecil Smith, Jr.Box 417 North Vernon,

Indiana, 47265Phone: (812) 346-3665

MARRIED 29 YEARS DEC. 29

LINKLETTERMontlily Publication ofKYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSIONBox 417North Vernon, Indiana 47265

1^"

liegular readers will recall a few years ago when the citytook away some land and sliced off an end of the Christian Center.Now, Katsuo Shimoda, working by himself for a year, has built anew addition at the opposite end. It not only houses a well-lightedbook store, but also has washrooms, kitchenette, and double glassdoors opening into the Center classrooms. This provides a new entrance and an extension for overflow crowds. The old book store willbecome a library and office. This building and facilities were paidfor from money received from the city for the end they cut off. Mr.limure is in charge of bookstore sales for the local area and allover Japan by mail. We try to develop and up-grade teaching materialseach year. In the past year we have published in Kanoya GUIDE TOCHRISTIANITY in three editions, English, Japanese and Japanese-Eng-lish; and ADVANCED COURSE FOR ENGLISH BIBLE LESSONS in English &Japanese. Also in English & Chinese with the help of Isabel Ditte-more. Another big project was publishing a Japanese edition of acourse for marking the New Testament for personal teaching aboutthe church and salvation. This was developed by my brother, Bryan,of Defiance, Ohio. Soon to come off the press is a booklet of res-ponsive ^a.dings emphasizijig tli_e_fundamental teachings of the church.

Last July we asked 115 individuals, groups and churches ifthey would give $444.44 each by November 30 for a proposed new churchbuilding in the capital city of Kagoshima. The church there is aneyesore. The termites are at work, the rafters are sagging and theroof has rusted through. It is a hindrance to evangelism. By the endof December had given the full amount and lesser amounts.Thisis about one-third of the amount hoped for. We could be sad overthose who have not responded but we have been thrilled by those whohave replied. In Lock Haven, Penna., a class of older working andwidowed ladies gave of their l.Lving to raise this amount. A churchof 35 members in Akron, Iowa picked up corn, painted plaques, heldauctions and worked in a dozen other ways and went over their goal.The church at Missouri Valley raised their amount by passing outlittle church banks . Tony Kron, aged seven, hospitalized withacute leukemia sent word that his offering was ready. His bankwas sent to me here in Japan with is offering intact inside. Itcontained 53?. That quarter, two dimes, five cents and three pennies are going to be praserved somewhere in the new church. Thereare other heart-warming stories to tell but the message is clear:Christian sacrifice and love are not dead yet. Thank you all!

There is still time. Next Sunday when you meet in your owncomfortable buildijig, count your blessings and make an agreementwith God to share your blessings with the brethren in Kagoshima. Youwill be glad ;^u did and so will all of us here. God bless your NewYear. IN HIS SERVICE, ^

Mission ServicesBox 698Joliei:, XL 60434

Non-profit OrganizationU. S. POSTAGE

PAIDLouisville, Kentucky

Permit No. 537

A MONTHLY REPORT BY THE MARK G. MAXEY FAMILY

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSIONKANOYA, KAGOSHIMA 893, JAPAN-BOX 417, NORTH VERNON, IND. 47265

Linkletter No. 200 February, 1971Dear Christian friends.

After reading the January LIN^QJETTER Paula phoned to ask why we didn't say anythingabout Christmas in it. I wanted to but there was too much to write about. Besides, you mightnot believe that we took part in that many Christmas activities. We did have a good Christmas.We were well-remembered, with our family about and blessed by the fellowship of the Japanesebrethren and yourselves as well. We have tried to be a blessing in return. One unusual gift fromWalter and Mary and Gregory was a tie fully five inches wide at the bottom. Big enough to keepa man s stomach warm in a winter breeze. It's the biggest tie in town, I can tell you that. NowI ve got a bright "yeller" shirt to go with it. I haven't felt so giddy in years.

When winter days are coldest, we have our annual study course. It was the coldest ofwinters this year. Since our climate is mild the people here do not build for winter or heatmuch. They just endure the cold till warmer breezes blow. As jour frosty breath ruffled the pages of our Bibles in the var-ious churches, I thought of the old Negro spiritual the Maxeyfamily liked to harmonize on: "The church is old and the ben-ches worn and the Bible am a gittin hard to read; but theSpirit is there as sure as your born, which is all the comfortwe need."

The plan is to have five nights of study in Kanoya y mLfor all who can attend there. Then four hours each in as manyof the churches as possible with a fellowship meal together.Our guest teacher was Stephen lijima, highly successful' minis-ter of the Minato Church of Christ, Yokohama, for the past 25 Lyears; author of^a commentary on Galatians and publisher of *" TRAINING IN RIGHTEOTSNESS.by chapter in Japanese' in his magazine. Some day it will come ;'0 1out as a Japanese book.) He was with us eleven days teacV.ing ^in the churches at Kushikino, Kagoshima and Tarumizu on the Bjltt 'way to Kanoya Sueyoshi, Kajiki and Nishinomote afternights at the Christian Center he developed the themes of "HowI can grow spiritually," "How my family can grow spiritually,""How my church can grow spiritually," and "How the church cangrow in Japan." Interest and attendance grew every night. KAGOSHIMA CHURCH OF CHRISTAT KAGOSHIMA CHURCH OF CHRIST

? fiisttty^sss 1

I I

LAST NIGHT - CHRISTIAN CENTER, KANOYA AT KUSHIKINO CHURCH OF CHRIST

TIME NOW TO PLANFOR DVBS. FEATUREJAPAN THIS YEAROrder the KyushuChristian MissionDVBS Packet. Complete materialsfor ten missionsemphasis periods

^$5" 00 'Postpaid^Box 417, NortlVernon, IndianaV47265 OR Box 99San Clemnte, California 92672.

ANNUAL CONVENTION

CHURCH OF CHRISTMISSIONARIES INJAPAN. NEAR fOKYQAraiL 5, 6 and 7Write:Haf^d Sims3-33-7 Mejiro DaiHachioji 192> JPN.Plan your work &travel to attend.

I GOT "WIDTH" IT

Average attendance in Kanoya was 36^th a total of 170 different people being taughtin all eight places from January 30 through fgirniary 9. Thank you Bro. lijima for sharing yourjoyful faith with uSj,--irwaS^j;Ule*teg for;,TO ^11.

This^Js^d^lNKLETTER NO. 200. (No., 1^ was written October 3, 1949) We have quite a fewpeople who have read"dll-26o issues'lfrW'JB^e them on file. I have my own collection and I keeptelling myself that some day I'm going to sit down and read them all through again. That would takeseveral days at least^^__^^_

Th^l^NKLETT^ name came from the Idea of sending a LETTER to our living LINK churchesrevery month. It wo'trtd-be'^rsonal and a substitute for long letters we knew we would not have timeto write to each one. We believed chat he who receives must also reportj that Christians must beinformed if they are to pray and give inCelligently; that the missionary ought to write honestlyincluding the bad along with the good, Che successes as well as the failures; and that the expenseof such reporting deserved careful writing and good printing. It has not been easy to maintain thisstandard. Even more difficult to do it monthly. We miss once in awhile in spite of our good intentions. It takes a determined act of will to sit down to the eight-hour stint of layout, writingand re.-writing that each letter requires. Since my typewriting is the world's worst, corrections are

}US .

Since one cannot write about everything, the hardest iob is to decide to.leaveout. Sometimes a LINKLETTER will contain only an account of what happened during a few hours"of

"on?day during the month. We do not think that what is going to happen is genuinely news,especially since missionaries are notably optimistic about future activities. We pref.;r to reportwhat has happened. But the news of \-7hat has happened soon becomes stale. How to get the news tothe reader from the foreign field is a major problem. Air mail to everyone is too expensive. Airfreight Is cheaper but the paper work is intolerable. Sending the copy to the U.S. means you mustwait your turn at the printers. That can take a long time since you are not there to check up onit. Letter press printers as a whole are overworked, under-staffed and constantly afflicted witha sick relative or an ailing press or both. Besides, few of them are able to resist the temptationto change your copy to suit their own fancy. I don't appreciate Chat.

Our solution is to prepare the copy ourselves and have 800 copies printed In Kanoyaby the offset process.(Each page is photographed. The picture is put on a thin metal plate. Themetal plate "offsets" the image to a rubber roller. The roller transfers the image to the paper.)Mr. limure at the Christian Center air malls 100 copies to Mrs. Smith In North Vemon. She includesa copy with each receipt she sends out. The 600 or so copies that go to individuals are addressedhere and air mailed to Bill Gaslin, minister of Shlvely Christian Church, Louisville, Ky., who sendsChem out by our mailing permit. Another 100 copies go tc Japanese and foreign .addresses-direct fromKanoya. I mail the master copy to ZIP PRINTING Co. of Los Angeles. They offs^ 4500 coples!^.anddeliver Chem to Mrs. Charles Davis of Long Beach. She and a devoted group of ladies in ParlccrestChurch of Christ mail these out in large envelopes to supporting groups and churches. From KanoyaCo you, that process takes a minimum of one month. I know of no way to shorten that time.

Since our general rule was that the LINKLETTER would not be a fund-raising sheet, wehave never tried to send it out broadcast, nation-wide. We had to give up leaving a pad on thedisplay table at the churches where we spoke In the U.S. We were getting hundreds of names. Many,many children. It was just too costly. Instead, we decided that all supporting churches wouldget as many copies as they wished for their membership but that we would charge $1:00 per year formailing to individual addresses, especially those who wanted to read the LINKLETTER but who mighthave their mission giving committed elsewhere. This has worked out well. All subscriptions runfor the calendar year, January through December. The address is kept up-to-date every month. Weare slow to drop any reader but we do want to keep a lean mailing list of vitally interested read-ers. We have wasted our time and yours if the LINl^TTER Is thrown away without_beJ.^ read.

This background may help you to appreciate the LINKLETTER more the next time youVi read it. Sometime in the next two years we hope to publish the best of these letters of the past|vtwenty years. (I wonder when I'll find time for that.) Meanwhile, keep reading. This Is a contln-S V^d story which the Lord is helping us write. It is sometimes sad. scraetimes glad, l^^for us

least, never dull. We hope tha^ you agree. IN HIS SERVICE,

LINKLETTERMontWy Publication ofKYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSIONBox 417

North Vernon, Indiana 47265

Hlsslon ServicesBos 698Jollet. a 60434

\%n

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Louisville, KentuckyPermit No. 537

A MONTHLY REPORT BY THE MARK G. MAXEY FAMILY

uNKcerreRTO THE FRIENDS OF THE KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

KANOYA, KAGOSHIMA 893, JAPAN-BOX 417, NORTH VERNON, IND. 47265

LinkleCter No. 201 March, 1971Dear Christian friends.

The loudspeakers on che girls' high school across the way plays "AuldLang Syne" as the graduates and their parents leave the school grounds for the lasttime. It is the saddest note of spring. The newspaper says that Tokyo maintains itsplace as the world's most expensive city. Why do so many graduates want to go there?While waiting my turn at the bank, I see Mr. Nejima who keeps my car in gasoline.Hesays the price has gone up five yen per liter March 1. That will make it over 60ca gallon. Ouch! Pauline picks up a grapefruit imported from the U.S. priced at270 each (75c) and puts it down. No matter. We can buy five of the local varietyfor the same price and they have enough rind, seeds and citric acid to make the"furrin" variety pallid by comparison.

My brother, Bryan Maxey, minister at Defiance, Ohio , developed-aB^le1 people know their way around their own Bibles and to us^p&em ill ileacking others. We reproduced it in Japanese. Recently we have been usingjit at the churches instead of the morning seTmon. One system of references marked/in yellow traces the Gospel plan of salvation. Another system of references markedI in red shows the plan for the church. In addition Co its overflow, my briefcasej has been bulging with scissors, colored pencils, tubes of paste and my own marked

Japanese New Testament for a sample. It has been a good time together. The secondtime around we learn how to use the references and get the meaning out of them.

Gus Schwab, minister of thft-f-iTS-tChristian Church in Naha, Okinawa askedus to come down for their annua.K^amtt^'Retreat^ebruary 20-22. In spite of thepopular propaganda, there are"^mmitted Chri^fr^ans in our armed services who arevitally concerned about their owfl-C-hristi-atrwitness and the world around them. TheFirst Christian Church is such a group. We were invigorated by the Prayer and Sharesessions. The Buzz sessions and by the fellowship and kindness shown us. Also bythe fellowship of the other missionaries of the area, including my sister, Mrs.Dittemore.(Okinawa is halfway between our house and her house in Taiwan.)"More TlianConquerors" was che theme of the Retreat. Gus assigned me two sermons, "Conquerorsthrough the Love of God" and "Conquerors through Christ." It was a satisfaction todig into the word in preparation, especially chapter eight of Romans. If there isany richer digging in the New Testament, I don't know where it is. Lillian Martinand Isabel from Taiwan and Harlan Woodruff and Claire Boulton of Okinawa developedother themes from the same chapter. Thank you, Gus, and First Christian for giving us this spiritual boost.

This church, however, faces a problem. Because of the vast number ofmilitary units on the island, many of them widely separated, it has been impossibleto find one advertising medium that would inform them all about Che existence ofthis church. You can help. Tell you own family and friends who are in Okinawa. Urgethem to attend. Write directly to the church giving names and units so they can becontacted. The address: First Christian Church, 157 Aza, Ginowan, Ginowan City,Okinawa. Phone: 097-2824.

Sometime in 1972, Okinawa will revert to its pre-war status as a partof Japan proper. Politically, economically and militarily, the next few years willbe a trying time for all concerned. This should not cause Christians to become fainthearted, however. The Japanese government receives missionaries and grants completereligious freedom to all. This is a plus factor often overlooked as we support morepeople and projects in primitive lands. The effective preaching of the gospel willcontinue right on through the difficulties. Continue your prayerful support of themissionaries and ministers there.

m 11 III! si.y 'f'.j'f.x irjliP-{y/\

Minister Gus Schwab welcomes Mark MaxeyClaire Boulton,Isabel Dittemore,LillianMartin, Pauline Maxey & Harlan Woodruff

MARKING BIBLES FOR TEACHING

.KANOYi

paperYou may notice the print on the back page getting a little smaller Che next few times. Turn up the light and hold the

little closer. I wane to use the back page to discuss some inCeresCing missionary developments .In the past cen years we have senc about 32 nationals back to their homelands as "foreign" missionaries. That the

ctiTs have been willing to do so shows both their goodwill and their committment Co world-wide evangelism. That the churchesshould do so uncritically and Chat the church papers should praise this strategy shows poor understanding of sound missionarypractice.

(The problem of sending nationals Co Che U.S. for ministerial training is one that must be discussed another time. Wecan say, however, that it is a j>ankrupt method, of training- a national Christian leadership. In my book, Second Thoughts, I havethree chapters that deserve re'ading~iJy"'everyone seriously concerned. These chapters are; "Establishing the Church Abroad: Thenand Now," "Training Nationals in Their Homeland," and "Training Nationals in Che United States." As for the last, my conclusionwas that "The very best prospects (for foreign study) are those (nationals) who have already completed their Bible college training in Japan and have established themselves in the Christian community here before departing for limited graduate study in theU.S." (p.122). Young nationals and young missionaries disagree with this. Mature nationals and missionaries agree. Nothing z&ziprevent nationals of any age and character from coming to the U.S. for ministerial training on their own steam buc does thisobligate the churches to send them home as "missionaries"? I chink not. )

Our goal is Co evangelize the world. The missionary has a vital role to play but considering Che immensity of Che Caskhis basic task must be as a multipli^y of national leaders. Whether we can truly have a Christian world or not then depends uponChe Christians o every councry feVsngellzing their own countries.Again,considering the multitudes Co be won, it is obvious thatno country, not even the U.S., can send enough men and money Co do Che job. That means that , sooner than later, Che naCional

.^church must assume the major burden. I am talking about the indigenous church.classically defined as "self-supporting, self-0 governing and self-propagating." If we agree that the indigenous church is our goal we need to inquire how we can reach that goal

,quickly.Some are convinced that sending nationals back fully-supported from the U.S. is Che answer. They give Cwo reasons: (1)

hhey can do-.it JiejLter-,_aad (2) they cao-do. it cheaper. These are^jjgijijyUjfiiCiGSiaj^ 1 agree, that the .m

A MONTHLY REPORT BY THE MARK G. MAXEY FAMILY

LINKlj&ri'ER NO." to the friends of the kyushu Christian mission- ' '^ ^GOSHIMA 893, japan-box 417, north VERNON, IND. 47265Responsibility is-a word often used when missions are discussed. At those I have attended the raission-

ary did not rate-very highly in this department. Irresponsibility is one of his failings it is said and if "res-nrotri^fh riot be found measures should be taken to protect the missionary from himself or toth^^mLp missionaries - or both. I cannot accept this conclusion. Experience has taught methat more often it is the church that acts irresponsibly toward the missionary and his task.

^ M, Actually, "responsibility" is an inadequate word to express the faithful support Pauline and I have re-war^thi kf"? f years now. The Apostle Paul got it right when he said (Phil. 1:5) that heThL ^ partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." Partnership in the gospel is morenjhpr ^ I 7 lovc_and faith in action. IM like to suggest some ways in which churches andother supporters can be good partners in the gospel proclamation overseas.

^1- Churches are good partners when they are actively and personally praying for the missions they sup-Tmpmh f ^ Church in Anderson, Indiana has been doing that for us. Every week we get a card from

^ greeting and a promise of prayer for us during that week. It is a gift ofer L ba^e ^ ^ spiritual boost for us. The idea is spreading-as it should. "The gift without the giv-

, Churches are good partners when they keep in touch with the missionary. Communication is not a oneway street from the missionary to the church. It works the other way as well. Letters, tapes, pictures, remembrances of personal holidays should flow out to the missionary to relie\ehis separation. Several churches sendme their weekly bulletins. This is important reading for me for through them I know your problems, your victories and your joys and have fellowship from afar. f J

, . 3- Churches are good partners when they are faithful to their present missionaries. The right to ceasesupport by the church is fundamental but there must be a solid reason and adequate notice of such action. When achurch-drops support of its long-time missionary in favor of a newer face serving in a more popular field wheregreater results are being obtained, it is being fickle. When it retains its long-time missionary at the old levelot support and adopts a new missionary at far greater support the church is in effect mercifully letting the old-timer die on the vine while turning its interests and energies elsewhere. When a church ceases support of itsmissionary while he is in mid-term and thousands of miles from home, it shows itself lacking both in mercy andbrotherly-love. When it takes this action on short notice or with no notice, as so often happens, it has takenan action which it would never practice with relation to its o^m staff and never tolerate if practiced againstthe church. For Che missionary on the field, there is no appeal. There is one good result though: the missionarylearns what it is to walk by faith.

Churches are good partners when they send their mission funds every month. Quarterly, semi-annuallyor annual giving saves work lor tne sending church but it works a hardship on the mission field. With the exceptionof annual taxes and insurance premiums, mission financial obligations are payable every month just as in the localchurch. The end of the month comes rapidly and with it the bills and bill collectors and the set expenses that havebeen obligated. When the mission meets these faithfully, good will and confidence is built. How important theseassets are! Often a church will pay its committment to the missionary's salary in a lump sum once in the year.Butit is impossible for the missionary to wait a year to be paid. Money from the general fund must be used until liv-link money comes in.

Churches are good partners when they review their mission giving annually. Nothing stands still, especially in the financial realm. If inflation is a fact of life in the U.S., it is more so in many foreign count-ries, especially Japan. For example if you started giving $5 per month to Japan missions in 1950 and have continued till 1971, your $5 has reduced its purchasing power to $2'. In effect, by giving the same amount you have reduced your giving by 60% per cent. In the same way, if you started giving $20 in I960 it is only worth $10 today.Support to Japan missions would have to be raised 7% every year to maintain the same purchasing power. No churchin the U.S. is paying the same salaries nor living on the same income as it did in 1950 or I960, yet many churchesaccept It as normal to maintain the same level of mission support year after year. This faithfulness is ereatlvappreciated, but is it fair?

Churches are good partners when they make their mission giving the last item, not the first, to bedropped from the budget.The present depression and unemployment in the U.S. has pinched many churches financially. This is understandable. There is no way missionary work can escape this pinch also. Indeed, it is beingfelt right now. Does it follow, however, that missions should be the first to be cut. Few churches curtail thelocal program unless as a last resort. Building payments have to be met. It is the overseas program that is theeasiest to wean. The church promises itself that the giving will be resumed later, if that should-become pos-sibie. In any case, the result is the same. Missions has borne the brunt of the sacrifice and the church hasviolated its conscience.

I hope you have been a good partner in reading the above with concern and understanding. In no sense isthis a purely personal statement. I write what many missionaries think but are hesitant to say. I write out ofconcern for the healthy undergirding of the great task of preaching the gospel in Japan - and everywhere. The churchhas a world-wide committment. Those who are at the cutting edge of the gospel at the ends of the earth need thepartnership of the church as never before. Will you be good partners? We will try to be here. IN HIS SERVTCELWill you be good partners? We will try to be h^S^E^

YOU CAN ORDER THESE BOOKS AND ITEMS WRITTEN BY MARK MAXEY. DETACH AND MAIL WITH YOUR CHECK TO:Your name "GO YE" BOOKS

~ 147 Avenue CotaAnd address Clemente, Cal. 9267225c: (25 for $5) GU.IDE TO CHRISTIANITY,Simple,scriptural,visual &effective guide to Christ

$1.00 LINKLETTER. One year's subscription to this highly personal, monthly mission report.11 $2.00 SECOND THOUGHTS, 161 pages. Inspirational thoughts on men, miss ions,methods St Japan.

$5.00 MISSION PACKET.22 items. Two lO-day courses & visual aids for VBS & mission studies.TOTAL ENCLOSED.(Please add 25c to apply on postage to all orders)

MARTIN and EVELYN CLARK

Bible colleges in the United States have "become a

A preacher training program in Japan is

Reason: M eldership qualified to train younger Christians

Problem: The number of Christians in Japan from vhom to expect recruitment and support isvery small.

OSAKAATTEMPTING TO MEET

BIBLETHIS DUAL

SEMINARY HCHALLENGE

ILJ

HoaoW W. Colz atjtht of U.S. Maddmi when no iach ichool zxlited.'^50 ^md^A the. l

\i uNKLerreRr

A MONTHLY REPORT BY THE MARK G. MAXEY FAMILY

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSIONKANOYA. KAGOSHIMA 893, JAPAN-BOX 417, NORTH VERNON, IND.

Linkletter No. 204

Dear Christian friends,

rP 9\ August, 1971

August means heat and humidity. Just about like Floridaas far as Kanoya is concerned. "Sweating it out" is one way toface it. Another way is to enjoy it with family and friends andcool lemonade out in the yard when time permits. We like Augustnot only for the above but for the many opportunities for serviceit brings.

August brought firm progress on the Kagoshima church.building. I signed the contract and gave Mr. Fujihara, the contractor a check for_^QOO^^, That's the_ largest check I haveever written in any kind of money ($11,000+) Mrs.'^ MotGyoshi putup a sign pointing to the temporary meeting place nearby. Bro.Motoyoshi and Mr. Fujihara called on the neighbors to tell themwork was to begin and apologize for the inconvenience it wouldcause. Mr. Fujihara had prepared gifts of saki for them but agreedto Bro. Motoyoshi's suggestion to make it soft drinks instead.The old building was torn down and steel rod cores are in placefor the pillars. Just a year ago I asked you to share in thisproject. I thought it would be done by now. Instead we are justbeginning. Such is Japan, JPr^y^and .^hare with-us-t:-j 11 itTu n August has brought repairs.'^ "'After twenty years, rust" had completely stopped up the water pipes.They all had to be replaced. The work was done by the same man that put them in orginally. Anew floorand supports were put in one room where white ants and dry rot had done their worst. Buckled plywood wallswere re-done. Other floors and a leaky roof are among other repairs to be done. All added but unavoidableexpense. Summer income has played nip and tuck with outgo with outgo the winner for the moment.

4 e. Q brinp birthdays. Pauline's is August 2. Mother's was August 8. Granddaughter Megumi's isAugust 9 and mine is August 10. Jailline rpached the wonderful-ao^^f year and the children madeIt a great day for her. Wherever they were, they sent pictures alTd special messages for a scrapbook whichPaula prepared. This was given to her along with other gifts and a special cake baked by Faith and Hope. Igave her fifty brand new 100 bills. That made an impressive bundle even if not too much value. Since I pas-

"e'll both hold at that age until we are really old enough to brag.TSugust brings typhoons. A recent editorial in the Mainichi Daily News noted that of 27 or 28

typhoons that begin in the South Pacific each year, three or four attack Japan directly. August has themost storms but September typhoons are the most devastating. On the average, typhoons kill 1600 peopleevery year in Japan and do 200 billion (.556 million) worth of property damage. In addition to this, atyphoon packs the energy of a hundred hydrogen bombs so no sane person lib^es"Tot a typhoon to come. Thesestorms cost time and money. At our house, two days to get ready and two or three days to clean-up and repair afterward. Typhoon Olive, the biggest August typhoon in thirty years began to beat us with wind andwater on August four, the day camp was to begin. (It didn't) The center of the typhoon landed at Kushi-kino about 50 miles to the northwest. Wind-driven high tides, an overflowing dam above town and torrentialrain all coming at the same time brought disaster. Within thirty minutes 1000 houses were flooded andpeople fled for their lives. Nine died. The Kushikino church and parsonage had three feet of water abovethe floor. Bro. Tanijiri was away from home but his wife and two children safely fled in the night. Mrs.Obara, a member of the church, was bitten by a viper aa she walked over a land-slide. She will recover butshe was not a pretty sight when Bro. Tanijiri and I called on her in the hospital.

It took several days before we got word from Kushikino of the situation. Then five of us wenttrom Kanoya in my old truck with cleaning equipment and three people from Kagoshima church. We spent theday washing, scrubbing, airing, moving furniture and taking off rotten plywood. The Tanijiris lost alltheir bedding, floor coverings, some appliances and personal possessions. The church suffered floor andwall damage and ruined books and org^;^AJajp3Wlnn:ehfesf:witl:ia aiding them. Perhaps you would like to also.foT- ft., 1August brings This was_ the^ j^wenty-\ljsi'^ rLS,eg,ay,v^.,year. The typhoon delayed campfor two Jays and reduced attendance but spifi^^^se*flTOi*fampened. Counting part-timers, we had over8iKtrs and ,a,.fai:uUy that prepared well and worked together to make an outstanding week of the year,^e were especially blessed by the preaching of Bro. Kamada from Okinawa and by the five decisions forChrist on the last day. The rest of the story is in pictures on the other side.

Wcdnetday, July SS, 1971 O MtlofdU OaSy Ktwt. 1971

Sweating It OutT uxgra and pimvcii are tiban ai a vteial liKarnallon Umv aualTed cus aflar eus

virtue. lK=omlr.g l.ii of tnt Jip.noi to f not-amaiak.,",r iggnogabia In aMltly. ncal In u art af ixr. w>Illi9ut aagi.lit wlW ao manir anvlron- uyaranet. TJla wlnnar > a ?7-y-aHrnontal sliniptlona urround- Eight pioplo, raoitl, wsrkin uisp aulatarvt wlia enSuradng iitem. paopto learn to from the Kanda ahopping tha ordeal wearing 49 pteeaeadapt tfiemaalvn ta cn4ura area of Tokya. challenged ef clothlna. Bathed In aaa*and p.rKre, ir not barn tha heat Maxday In an en- lUnt alreama at eiit. hola theo vloctsaltudei. Melw duranea eenteaU Waarlna a ooativ commented- -IVeand Paltutlen, auplad with a daux pitaei of winterelalh- aa many tMngt"to endBF*

. T. .at'ixa. all a>act Inj and nureing a het-weter thew dava, I tackled the confined taloranaa Inm a auf- botlla tloM ta thtlr bodlee, ten In the earneet hope that*1? . '-i.r '"'" ""> ""'Id "ake cailerforT^tradltlonal CMlMt In Ta. dawn alaneilda cKamal mo to uckle the myriad

5L ' ** traJlera. other dimcultlca at praaiatkaal tta KaW way may ba Aa IT all thia waa aal aaouch, day llvliij.-

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H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y , M O T H E R ! K A G O S H I M A B L D G . C O N T R A C T N E W M E E T I N G P L A C E S I G N F I R S T S T E E L W O R K B E G U N

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W E A R E " B L E S S E D " B Y S H R I N E V I S I T

S C R U B B I N G C H U R C H F L O O R

K U S H I K I N O C H U R C H C L E A N - U P C R E W

2 L s t A N N U A L C A M P - G R O U P P I C T U R E K O I C H I H O M O R I ' S J U N I O R C L A S S

H I D E O Y O S H I I ' S S E N I O R C L A S S

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C A M P M G R . C A M P E V A N G E L I S T C A M P C H A P E L M E S S A G E 5 C O N F E S S I O N S O F F A I T f l C A M P ' S O V E R H A N D ' S D O W N

L I N K L E T T E R

M o n t h l y P u b l i c a t i o n o f

K Y U S H U C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

B o x 4 1 7

N o r t h V e r n o n , I n d i a n a 4 7 2 6 5

R E T U R N R E Q U E S T E D '

M i s s i o n S e r v i c e s * A ^ s p c

B o x x y ? ^

K e m p t o n , I H 4 6 0 4 9

N o n - P r o f i t O r g a n i z a t i o n

U . S . P O S T A G E

P A I D

L o u i s v i l l e , K e n t u c k y

P e r m i t N o . 5 3 7

A MONTHLY REPORT BY THE MARK G. MAXEY FAMILY

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSIONKANOYA. KAGOSHIMA 883. JAPAN - BOX 417. NORTH VERNON. INO. 47265

Linkletter No. 205 October, 1971Dear Chrisclan friends,

Some of you haven't heard from us In a long time. July and August LINK-XETTERS are stalled somewhere between here and the West Coast. One of these daysthey'll arrive at your house. We hope they will make interesting reading.

To go back a bit, August 25 was a day we had long waited for. The HonorableEldest Son was due back in Japan after an absence_of seven years b^^^nglng with him hislovely wife, Mary. I went up a day early Co'enj'oy a visit with Paula and Kiyoto andthe two grandchildren. The next day we were up early to be on hand at the Port of Yokohama for the 8 A.M. arrival of the S.S. Pres. Cleveland. As the tugs nosed the shipinto its berth, 1 recalled the day In June, 1947 v^en I stood on the same pier waiting to welcome Pauline and Paula after a two year separation and to meet for the firsttime an eighteen month old baby boy that Paula had nicknamed "Markie." That was Cheday I learned what it meant to "cry for joy." Now, twenty-four years lacer, the emotion was repeated as Japanese friends stood with us to welcome he and Mary "home".

After coffee and ice cream at a nearby cafe I kept a stream of ten yencoins dropping into a pay phone so Walter and Mary could tell Pauline of their safearrival. Then Kiyoto drove us Co Koganei City, a suburb west of Tokyo and near International Christian University where Walter and Mary are enrolled. Kiyoto's sisterlives there and with her help a good apartment, Just a 100 yards from the stationwhere they can take a train, was found. The real estate agent relieved them of onemonth's rent for his fee, one month's rent for a breal^se deposit and three month'srent, non-refundable, "key" money for a total of$^50.^hus do they separate one fromhis money In one of the world's most expensive c'ities. They took Che proffered key,it looked very ordinary indeed, and dropped off most of their baggage.

Kiyoto told us that a typhoon was heading for Kyushu. Since this meansall transportation Is cancellcd, we headed for home on Che first flight we could getthe next day, Friday. The plane left late ruining our connections. We took a trainride, then an hour's taxi ride to another train that brought us into Kanoya lateFriday night. Pauline, Faith, Hope, Bro. Yoshii and many members of the Kanoya churchformed a happy welcoming committee at the station platform. Home at last. Nobody wasin a hurry to finish supper that night or to go to bed.

Bro. Yoshii asked Walter to preach at Kanoya church Sunday morning. While hedid so and during the reception the church had for Walter and Mary afterward, the promised typhoon began Co arrive. Back home, I cranked up a small generator so we couldhave some lights. That was a mistake. It also lighted up Che TV which showed us thatKanoya would be in the direct path of Che typhoon. Luckily it kept turning so thatthough well shook we-were not demolished. Mostly, we lost a night of sleep. 1 guesswe will call/^'"Mary's Typhoon" since it came on her first week-end in Japan. Shewill see mar^ more but tbisTone will remain as a special memory forever.

' We had a wonderful week talking, shopping, seeing Faith off for her Junioryear at Canadian Academy, seeing old family slides and pictures, taking care of thepaper work required of all new arrivals and helping them get basic housekeeping thingstogether for their return to Tokyo. Sunday morning, September 5 was farewell time a-gain. The three of us drove to Sueyoshl for the morning service. Walter had decidedhe was going to preach this time in Japanese even thought it cost him study time outof his week at home. He was far from satisfied wlththe result but the rest of usthought it was great. When the Christians said he was better than I, they were notbeing polite to him. It was true. That which I had painfully and poorly acquiredthrough the years he was able to say so that he was clearly understood by all.

The ladies of this small church had prepared a meal of festive rice inhonor of the occasion but before we aCe Bro. Taniguchi, 91, rose Co say a few wordsto Mary. He said, "You have left your Father and Mother, your family, your friends,your native town and your homeland to come to Japan and live with us here. You maybe sad and lonely when you think abouC it. And yeC, we want you to know that you havefamily and friends here, too. We are your Christian brothers and sisters. We areglad to welcome you to Japan. We will love sou and Cake care of you. Do not be afraid.This gets in close to the heart and my voice broke as 1 translated. In a speech ofless than a minute Bro. Taniguchi had got to the heart of what it means to be a missionary in terms of loss on one hand and gain on the other. (Read Mark 10: 29-31)

Later in the afternoon we drove a hundred more miles to the port of Hyugawhere I put them & their freight on a ferry for the 27 hour ride to Tokyo. Paula andKiyoto met them at the other end and helped them get settled. Now both are studyingJapanese. For Mary this will be a real vail of tears for one must forget he knowsanything and become a child again learning the A,B,C's of another language, Waltercan speak Japanese but he has the man-size job of learning to read and write one ofthe world's most formidable languages in a year's time including at least LOOO characters used on the ordinary printed page. Eight hours a day, five days a week withtests everyday till June 30, 1972. They need your prayers and concern.

WELCOHE HOME MARKIE AND MART

LOOKING AT BOYHOOD PICTURES

I

FAREWELL TO FAITH - OFF TO SCHOOL

WALTER'S FIRST SERMON fN JAPANESE

Mosc children reared in foreign lands want to return. Many find a way toido BO In the business, diplomatic or teaching areas. Missionary sons who return asmissionaries are noteworthy because they are so rare. Most missionaries go out likeAbraham as they, "By faith, sojourn in a land of promise, as in a foreign land."Butthe missionary son goes to a land that is not foreign at all. It is his home and heknows all too well the immensity of the spiritual and physical challenge he faces.Naturally, any father is proud when his son follows in his footsteps, especially aaa missionary, for this is not a calling that the world delights to honor nor reward.But especially he hopes that his son will be a better, more effective missionary thanhe himself has been. Pauline said it this way, "Perhaps our great:8t missionary workIs to have become the parents of a missionary."

We must switch from the sublime to the material. Japan's financial circleshave a saying, "When Wall Street catches cold, Japan sneezes." But when PresidentNixon spoke August 15, Japan had a heart attack. "Dollar shock" they call it here.The stock market crashed; dollars were not wanted; the banks did not want to cashchecks; and August missionary giving ;^lch is always low was lower than ever thisyear. It was a very difficult time and we are not out of the woods yet.

The "yen" was created in 1871, just 100 years ago. It was silver, the sizeof a Mexican dollar and worth $1.00 U.S. The yen was divided into 100 sen. It wasa very lucky workman who was able to earn 50 sen a day pre-war. When I came to Japanin 1946 the yen had slipped to 15 yen to the dollar. I remember the day in 1947 whenthe 50 to 1 rate was announced. Later it went to 270 to I and headed for way out yonder. The Dodge Commission performed an economic miracle in 1949. The Japanese government followed to the leLter their recommendations, an exchange rate of 360 to $1.00was set and was maintained for 22 years. That ended on August 27. Bowing to pressurefrom the U.S., the Bank of Japan allowed the exchange rate to "float". It has been"floating" downstream every since. The rate is now 330 to the dollar, an 87, devaluation of the dollar and a 15 to 207. devaluation is considered inevitable before theyear end. " ~ _

From the U.S. viewpoint this is good. Prices of Japanese goods will behigher in the U.S. and U.S. goods will be more competitive. For those of us who areliving in Japan it is bad. We have had an 87 drop in our dollars plus and 8% pricerie since January, 1971. Put the two together and it means it costs us 16% more tolive and carry on our work than it did a few months ago. This Is serious for missionary work which always hovers a few days from bankruptcy anyhow. If at all possible,we appeal to those who support missions in Japan to adjust their giving to maintainthe purchasing power we had earlier this year. This is an appeal for those who care.

Just a few lines left to sum up the rest of the news. Faith with two loyalhelpers held a fine DVBS at the orphanage. Kolchi Homori finished up a summer of filmevangelism and has returned to Osaka Bible Seminary, The Kagoshima church has askedhim to be their minister after he graduates in March. The annual convention was heldat Kushiklno church, devastated by an August typhoon. Now completely redone, it is ahandsome building. Japan churches gave S400. The local church and the mission willshare the rest of the $1200 cost. The Kagoshima church building is five days ahead ofschedule and will be finished November 20. We are hanging on the limb of faith asthe final payment approaches. While in Osaka attending a seminary on theological education and a special board meeting at Osaka Bible Seminary, Hope phoned that Paulinehad severely sprained her ankle in a fall downtown. Her foot was put in a cast and ather insistence the hospital had her brought home. I got home next day. Mrs. Yoshilbrought in delicious meals till I could get the hang of the stcve, the washer andthe sweeper again. Hope was a loyal and energetic helper. After one meal to her likingshe said, "Say, Dad, I didn't know you could cook?" I replied, "There are lots ofthings you don't know. Honey." Just as I was getting housework fitted into my schedule,Mr.Iimure, who runs the book store, ran into a taxi with his motorcyle on the way tothe postofflce and broke a leg. Doing his work began to take two hours a day. Youmight say that things got busy. Then I sprained my own ankle on a tipped sidewalk.It was so painful I thought I would be laid up for a week like the doctor said. Butafter several hours in ice packs and a night of rest, I found I could limp along thenext day and drive a car as well. At that point I was thankful for small favors. NowPauline Is getting around slowly and painfully. After she had fixed us her first mealin three weeks, Hope paused with a forkfull of potatoes and gravy in mid-air to say,"Mother, this is so good I can't stand it." I'll have to say "Ameo" to that and "Farewell" .for this time. IN HIS SERVICE,

LfNKLETTERMonthly Publication ofKYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSIONBox 417North Vemon, Indiana 47265

Return Requested

I. ^ J

KOICHI HOMORI SHOWING GOSPEL FILM

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MINISTERS AT KAGOSHIMA BUILDING

VBS TEAM:UEHARA,KUSUMOTO & FAITH

1970 ONE YENALUMINIUM

VALUE: 1/3 C

1896 ONE YEN COIN!SILVER-$1:00 value

Non-Profit OrganizationU. S. POSTAGE

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Louisville, KentuckyPermit No. 537

Mission Services, Asaoo^'Box 177Keaptoa, IN 45049