Okinawa Christian Mission

FEBRUARY

1956

WOODRUFF NEWS LETTER

Pastor Nishihara To Lead Motobu Mission Team
One of the most encouraging developments of
recent weeks has been the forming of a Mission
Team made up of Okinawans who shall attempt to
win their entire district to Christ. The suggestion
for this project came from Okinawan leaders. The
idea is sound; it is as solid as the rocks in the

quarry of Shiogawa and as fertile as the soil in

the Motobu Mountains. The decision to establish

this Mission project was the result of a con

ference with the Motobu leaders at the close of

special services held in the Motobu Church of

Christ on Christmas day. Pastor Nishihira led

the discussion and spoke of his desire to or
ganize a team of local missionaries who would
go out from the Motobu Church of Christ into
every village in the Motobu district. I was deeply
Motobu Mission Team
moved at their humility before God as they faced
e task of such magnitude. But 1 was more than
thrilled at their complete faith in God that He will result in more souls won to Christ per dollar
could not fail in this project if the members of investment than any other method.
the team would launch out into the work in con
There are 30 villages in Motobu with a total
fidence and a willingness to sacrifice that their population of 23,000. The Motobu leaders now
goal might be reached.
teach in 10 villages and yesterday laid plans to
Pastor Nishihira becomes the first local enter 12 more villages this spring. Pastor Nishi
pastor to head up a project of this kind; the Moto hira anticipates five baptisms in each village
bu team becomes the first native group to accept after a year of teaching, which is a conservative
the responsibility of evangelizing an entire area. figure. This year the Motobu group will partici
This is something new in our approach to evange pate in a Summer Camp with the Nakijin and le
lism and I am anxious to see just what God will Shima areas under the leadership of Brother
be able to do through this team of native mis Melvin Huckins. But, by next year, they foresee
sionaries. Here is a team with which an American a need for their own camp and launching their
Missionary cannot compete and I hope they will program with that goal in mind.
be able to achieve their goal without the inter
We solicit your daily prayers and regular sup
ference of an American Missionary. I have complete port for this new mission venture. Thanks to the
confidence in their ability and honesty; we shall Parkrose Christian Church in Portland, Oregon,
back them with funds and prayer as long as they the West Side Church of Christ in Eugene, Oregon
are engaged in a worthy work. It will take $300 and the Church of Christ in Madras, Oregon, $80
per month to finance this project; this will pay has already been pledged to this project. We need
the entire support of all seven members of the another $220 per month to adequately underwrite
team and leave enough over to support four future the total program of the Motobu Team. Their first
students from that area in the Seminary, purchase purchase will be a $40 bicycle, then a $300
a Motor-Scooter, a bicycle, a set of Visser slides, motor-scooter, next a $60 set of Visser Slides and
another projector and maintain the equipment they a $25 Japanese projector. The Motobu Mission
will use in their work. I believe this to be a wise Team has launched a worthy MOVEMENT, Help
use of American dollars on the mission field. It us to keep them on the AlOVE.

"Xei
^ive
unh ike
and dec!a/ie 0i$ {utaise in
elands.
iBRlah 42:12

ff

Recent Victories
TIoa Hnif

Christmas time we sent out a letter in

I n l/Qy MTI6I vlll iSl mOSt which we
briefly summarized our activities in

1955 and outlined our most important project for

This year the Miyasato Church of Christ pre- the early part of 1956. Recent victories make chat
presented their Christmas program on December _
26th. We began the day by baptizing 25 converts
firom classes in seven villages taught by Bible
Seminary students. Five hundred children attended

the afternoon program and 400 adults came out in C

the evening. More than 100 children participated R
in the various pantomimes, choruses and plays, r
making more than 1,000 who heard the Christmas
story in this one church at Christmas time. This

year the entire program was in the hands of Okj- 1

nawan leadership; they wrote their own plays, L

composed their own pantomimes, directed their
own music, and performed each part with skill.
Aliss Tamako Nakasone, now interpreting in the 1
Seminary had charge of the entire program and
Yoshiyuki f/iga, brother to Yoshimitsu now study
ing in San Jose, painted all the elaborate back
ground. It was by far the best program we have
had; next year we look for a bigger and better
performance.

Christmas Day In Motobu

At the invitation of Pasror Nishihira, Emetine

and I spent Christmas day with the Motobu Church

of Christ as children from seven villages came

together for Christmas services and fellowship.

There is a total Bible School enrollment of 700 f-

in these seven villages; 500 of these received

recognition for attendance in the Bible classes h

and 350 attended the services in the Motobu I
church. Of this number the largest group came I
from two classes taught by Kiyoshi Oshiro, 63- n

year-old student in the Okinaua Bible Seminary. |

It was encouraging to note the significant growth ;

in Bible School attendance in the Motobu area, ^

and gratifying to know that the OkinaiLO Bible I

Seminary has made an important contribution to y

this growth.

THE PICTURES AT RIGHT

Top. These were baptised at Miyasato December
26, 1955.
Center.

Pastor Nishihira and his Bible school

children.

Holtom. KiyoshiOshito and Bible school children

from one of his classes.

Final Report For 1955

160 Baptisms
Weekly Bible teaching in 47 villages
The Lord's Supper in 16 villageseoch Lord's Day
33 students in Okinawa Bible Seminary

Pastor Onogo Surveys Future Mission Field

Pastor Onaga, Tako Tamaki, Takeru Fukuletter out of date; we said that in 1955 there

were more than 120 baptisms, weekly Bible

classes in 40 villages and the Lord's Supper in
ten. The Final Report for 1955 appears at the
bottom of page two of this Newsletter. But even
that report is now out of date. Since the first of
January we have begun the Lord's Supper in three
more villages and weekly classes in 14. The upto-date report as of today (January 16, 1956) is:
Weekly Bible classes in 61 villages and the
Lord's Supper each Lord's Day in 19. We share
these recent victories with you that you may re

shima, Brother Hosoi and I spent December 29ch

on a sight-seeing survey of four districts in

'Northern Okinawa. From Nago we headed north to

Kunigami district, passing through Ogimi district

on the way and taking note of every village we
were not reaching with Bible classes. We learned
the name, approximate population and future pos
sibilities of each village. We arrived in Hentona
village in time to take our noon meal in the local
cafe and discuss our findings. I chose the villages
which I would enter with my Sunday night team.
After dinner we crossed from the village of Shioya
to the eastern side of the Island and toured through

joice together with us. Yoiur prayers and offerings Higashi district, making the final decision on the

have borne abundant fruit and will bring a much five villages my team would reach on Sunday
greater harvest in 1956. Continue to pray for this afternoon. We continued south into Kushi district,
work.

We feel sure that the prayers of American

Christians are back of us in this program. The
drafting of the Christmas Letterthe public an
nouncement of a goal of 30 new villages by
Summerwas a bold step. But every village we
planned to enter in January has opened its doors

arriving in Nago at sunset, tired out after a long

day of driving over rough and dusty roads, but
enthused with the possibilities in the areas we
had covered.

From the facts learned in this survey Brother

Onaga has laid out his plan for evangelism. On

Tuesday night he will enter five villages in Kushi
to the Gospel message. The Mayor of each village district; on Thursday night he will reach five
has extended a personal invitation to members of villages in the Ogimi area and Sunday afternoon
my evangelistic team to use the community hall will go to five villages in the Kunigami district
for their weekly classes. This is something un near the town of Okuma. Brother Onaga has also
heard of and the only explanation for it is that received confirmation from the students who shall
Almighty God has prepared the way for us. Yours make up his evangelistic team. They are all set
have been the prayers which helped to "move the to go as soon as a vehicle is available and are
Hand that moves the world."
just now waiting for God's next move, which ap
Further evidence that God is back of us in pears to be coming sooner than we anticipated
this program has been the response of a number when we wrote the Christmas Newsletter.
of High School students in Brother Hosoi's Friday
THE FLEMING CAR
night Bible class. Eight of these students have
volunteered to go two-by-two into four new vil
When we made plans for our enlarged program
lages near Nago.These villages were not included of evangelism in 1956, we were counting oh buy
in ourgoal of 30. So, our goal of "30 NewVillages ing a car from the Major Maynards who were due
By Summer" may have sounded big and bold but to return to the States for assignment the latter
it was not as big as God wanted it to be.
part of April. But the man who spoke first for the
Maynard car decided to buy. Since then. Chaplain
At least seven of these new villages had been
Fleming, who leaves for a Stateside assignment
reached previously by denominational leaders but
in February, has offered to sell his car for $400.
classes had been discontinued for as much as
It appears that God wants us to reach out goal
one year. In one of these villages we have an
of 30 new villages by March instead of by next
attendance on Thursday night of 200 children and
summer. We shall proceed with that assumption.
50 adults. Some of the young people in this The Fleming car is a good buy; $100 will put it
second class are asking questions like: "What is
in excellent shape.
real baptism?" "Is Baptism essential to Salva
The early disciples went everywhere preach
tion?" Imagine the thrill that brings to a New
Testament people; our students can preach for ing the Gospel and that is what we are going to
hours on questions like this. In another village do. We invite you to "go along" with us in this
we found three young people who had been sprin new venture for Christ. There is some connection
kled but had never heard of the Lord's Supper.
Denominational

leaders

leave

their

work

un

between this invitation to "go along" and the

price of the Fleming car.

finished. One of our Seminary students will take

them and expound to them the way of God more
Scripturally and break bread with them each Lord's 50 BAPTISMS SINCE OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Day according to the pattern shown in The Book. the physical strength to preach every day and
We request your prayers that we may achieve every night in this fertile field. Pray that God
our aims for 1956 and continue the classes in

will call students from every village to shepherd

every village we enter. Pray that we might have the flocks now springing up.

:FUTURE plans:
Work under our direct supervision had reached
a point that it became necessary in the latter part
of 1955 to formulate tentative plans of an en
larged nature to cover a prolonged period of time
that we might have more plainly visible guideposts ahead to enable us to plow a straight furrow
as we break the sod of this virgin mission field.
Some of our second year Seminary students were
asking the question, "Where do we go from here?"
They longed for a glimpse of something tangible
in the future; they desired a definite port to set
out to, a chart to sail by and a harbor to anchor

on Okinawa has the Lord's Supper each Lord's

Day.

From here we go to outlying Islands and the

mainland of Japan putting natives in charge of
Mission Centers with Bible Seminaries that will

train natives to evangelize their own people.

These were the guideposts, this was the vision
we put before our students.

When do we accomplish all of this?According

as

it is written in God's Timetable. We shall

take each goal step by step in the order in which

the Holy Spirit leads us and as quickly as God
challenge which resulted in a definite program provides the leaders and you provide the ftinds
for the future. We called the men students to a and prayers to back each separate project. The
special meeting and mapped out a future program.
realization of our 1956 goal is already in view.
We have located the site and have the personnel
For the immediate future, definite plans
for the 1957 Yagaji Christian Camp. We have lo
For 1956: Summer camps in two areas, a goal cated the sites for the Fukuji River and Kushi
of 30 new villages by summer, purchase another Christian Camps. Brother Onaga has committed
car, revise the Seminary curriculum to include himself to lead the Okuma Mission Team. Other
third year subjects, place Nishihira in charge of students are considering the leadership of future
the work in Motobu, put Pastor Onaga in charge important areas. As soon as a native leader has
of a team of student evangelists.
shown himself faithful in little things we shall
For the more distant future, more tentative place him over bigger things. We go on from here
toward this enlarged goal with complete faith in
plans, reaching out over a period of 20 years.
God that he cannot fail, believing that He has not
In 1957: An All-Okinawa Convention of the yet had a chance to demonstrate what can be
churches of Christ; The Namio Kamadas to gradu done through a native Mission force loyal to the
ate from Tokyo Bible Seminary, take over the New Testament position, completely dedicated to
Yabu work and teach in the Okinawa Bible Semi' a program of evangelism, backed by the funds and
nary: The Onagas to move to Okuma to establish prayers of American Brethren. I would stake my
a center which will evangelize the Ogimi, Kuni- life that it is rightthat it is soundto invest
gami and Higashi districts; Summer Camps in American dollars and the prayers of American
Motobu, Yagaji, and Imbu. Brother Nishihira to Christians in a program, the sole aim of which is
organize a one-year branch of the Okinawa Bible evangelism, dedicated to the training of native
Seminary in Motobu.
leaders and sending them out to win their own
people to Christ. I would stake my life on the
After 1957 definite moves as soon as possible.
capability and honesty of the Okinawans who
Enlarge the Seminary Paper to include Bible have proved their loyalty to Christ and His Word
School lessons, printing it weekly instead of as they have evangelized in the villages and
in. The demand of the students became a real

monthly; establish a one year branch school of

studied in this school. iTjelieve that God is more

the Okinawa Bible Seminary in Okuma; Summer interested in evangelism than in anything else;
Camps on the Fukuji River and in Nago districts; that He gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples of
establish Mission centers in key areas as soon the Lord not solely to be a Comforter in times
as Okinawan leadership is trained for the work; of distress but to give conviction, compassion
the Higas, after taking graduate work in the States, and power to witness to a lost world. With this

to return to strengthen the Okinawa Bible Semi conviction we set out to achieve in the future
nary; Brother Hosoi to go to the States to take just as much as God can accomplish through us.
graduate work after the Higas return to Okinawa; We request your prayers and support as we weigh
a constant march of evangelism until every village anchor and set sail.
'SEMINARY NOTES"

Miss Ritsuko Nakachi, Seminary student from her brother on the Southern Ryukyu island of
Nakijin, was united in marriage to Noboro Zaha Ishigaki in the Yaeyama group. She conducted
in the Motobu Church of Christ January 6, 1956. five services and through the use of colored
The marriage service was conducted by Brother slides bore testimony to hundreds of people on
Huckins; Seminary students assisted in decorating this practically untouched field.
and serving. Through this marriage alliance
Brother Huckins loses a capable worker but the
Motobu Mission Team gains another member.

Akihiko Ijichi, who for several months was

confined to the hospital with an infected knee, is
back in school"digging in" to become the

Miss Toshiko Oganeku, second year student,

spent one week during Christmas vacation with preacher he hopes to be.

Airs. Ryomei Onaga, wife of the pastor of the

Yabu Church of Christ, and Mrs. Namio Kamada,

student in Tokyo Bible Seminary, both recently

underwent major operations but have fully re
covered. Miyoshi is back in the parsonage in
Yabu and Chi^ko is attending classes again.
Brother Hosoi is now teaching a course on
the Book of Acts to the first year students;
Tamako Nakasone is interpreting for me Doctor

Victor Hoven's book "The Voices of The Pro

phets" to second year students and Miss Toshiko

Kinjo has enrolled as a regular student but con
tinues to interpret for me in six villages each
week.

The new term of our Seminary begins on April

10th. Please pray that we may have a large en
rollment of good students to enable us to do a
more effective work in the coming years.

NEWS BRIEFS

The Mel Huckins family arrived on Okinawa Okinawa. We were included in that invitation. It
December 6th from their first furlough in the was a fine fellowshipdelicious holiday eats and
States and are once again in their house in Naki- presents for missionaries and their children.
jin settling down for another term of evangelism
The Protestant Women's Guild (United State's

on the Mission field.

Air Corps dependents) of Kadenagavea Christmas

December 7th and flew Stateside for their first party for ail Protestant Missionaries and their
furlough after four years of witnessing among native pastors. It was a real treat for all of us.
An excellent program was planned, a delicious
these people.
meal served, presents given to all native leaders
The Protestant Women's Guild (United State's and their families and S20 offering to each pastor
Army dependents) of Futema gave a Christmas to be used to help the unfortunate in the churches
party for all Protestant Missionaries serving on where they serve.
Carl, Grace and S\onica Fish left Okinawa

Fishermen Mending Nets at Toguchi, Okinawa

Letter From The Higos

Dear Christian friends:

Greetings in the Name of our Master!

It has been a long time since we last wrote to
you. We are sorry that we could not write you for
our Christmas greetings; I want you to know that
we had a very busy Christmas and that we could
not write to you personally at that time.

U'e are happy that we can write another letter

to you in this issue.
First of all, we would like to tell you our
happy news. While we were in Seattle, Washing
ton, helping the D.V.3.S. at the West Seattle
Christian Church last summer, we received a
letter from my oldest brother, Johnny Higa from
Oakland, California. We knew he was coming to
the States, but did not know the exact time. I
was very excited and anxious to see him because
I had not seen him for seven years. I went down
to see him in Oakland. How happy we were when
we met each other after seven long years; not in
Okinawa, but in America. We stayed together for
two days, then we were separated again. He is
one of Brother Vioodrufj's first converts on Oki
nawa. He is a professor in Ryukyu University on
Okinawa, and was called to Michigan State to
teach in the graduate course of Chemistry Engi
neering as an exchange professor. I had a wonder
ful visit with him in those two short days. He
was impressed with this country and especially
with the fine Christian welcome. I want you to
pray for him too, so that he will become a much
stronger, and greater Christian leader in the
future, because of being in the States.

Second, we want to tell you about our Christ

mas vacation. We were invited to hold a ten-day
evangelistic meeting at McKinley Indian Misshn,

Johnny Higa (left) and Mitsu

where we spoke last summer. We had many won

derful and unforgettable experiences there. We

experienced quite a snow and s'ince we were

raised in a warm country, it impressed us greatly.
Above everything else I was so happy and very
impressed by the fact that the missionaries and
workers were working hard in that difficult field,
along with a few of the fine Indian Christians.
We had wonderful experiences in preaching and
in visiting the people who need Christ.
WE NEED YOUK HELP!

Last of all, we would like to tell you of a

problem which we are facing now in our lives. We
are very happy staying in a nice apartment and
are enjoying cooking Japanese meals and eating
rice every day. The Lord has been so good to us
in our new home and we are praying that we will
trust Him forever in our lives. The problem is
thisthis year we are supported by the money
which we have in mission funds, and we have
decided that we will visit churches and receive

our help from them. We are finding out that this

does not work so well for when we go out, we
have to leave on Saturdays and come home on

Mondays; and this doesn't leave us any time to

studying during the weekends. The mission fund
is almost gone. We trust God and we will pray
and do our best; I hope you and your fine church
group will help us.
We have faith in the Word of God Seek ye first

the Kingdom of Cod and His righteousness, all

other things will be added unto you.
We will seek God and His righteousness.

Please pray and help us in this matter.

In His Happy Service
SMtsu and Fumiko

Financial Statement
Financial Statement for Harlan ond Emeiine Woodruff ONLY
Address Funds for Woodruffs to:

First Christian Church, 2nd and College, Newberg, Oregon

September, 1955

Harlan WoodruffMission Expenses

Aug 19Sep 20, 1955 (Partial pay

GENERAL RECEIPTS

Mrs. V. F. Kuliowatz

10.00

Harmony Chr Ch, Milwaukie,

Oregon

10.00

Cof C, E.Palestine,Ohio
C of C, Sweet Home, Ore.
C of C, Florence, Ore.

25.00
45.21
40.00

Chr Ch (Teresa Vailing)

Ronald Ingle
1st Chr Ch, Rylie, Texas

25.00
7.00
10.00

C of C, Crdswell, Ore.

10.00

New Market Chr Ch

Crabtree Chr Ch

73.65
50.00

Newport Chr Ch, Newport, Ore

10.00
St. Johns Chr Ch, Portland, Ore
5.00
Harmony Chr Ch, Milwaukie, Ore 10.00
Mrs. Groye, Okinawa
8.33
ClX Cl, Pine St. ChrCh
Tacoma, Wash.

itemization)

Winsome Cl, C of C,
Cottage Grove, Ore

20.00
364.19

SPECIAL & LIVINGLINK

OCM Crcl, Corvallis, Ore

(Toshiko)

25.00

W Seattle Chr Ch, Seattle, Wash

(Livinglink-Emeline)
130.00
Chr Ch S.S., Woodland, Wn
(Ryomei)
25.00

Cof C, Julesberg, Colo (Fumiko)25.57

Ladies Cncl, Sisters C of C,
Sisters, Ore (Native worker)
Madras C of C, Madras, Ore
(Native worker)

30.00
60.00

SEPTEMBER SUMMARY

General Receipts

Harlan WoodruffSale of "Life

of Christ Visualized"

1,179.27

Balance September 30, 1955

Mission Fund
Mitsu & Fumiko

144.67
885.74

11,030.41

Westside C of C, Eugene, Ore

October, 1955

C of C, Cresswell, Ore

15.00
400.57

10.00

Workers & Student help

304.15
Gas, Oil, Grease, Tire repair 25.59
Bibles for camp prizes
2.70

Film & Developing

Postage, Customs, Telegram
Muffler repair

Building Material
Carpenters

3.88
3.30
.25

100.00
33.33

Shimoji boat fare to Miyako

Vehicle inspection
X-ray and medicine for
Keiko Kinjo
Printing the Tembo
Check cashing fees

1.50
17.08
2.50

Emeiine WoodruffLivinglink
Charles WakeleeTravel

130.00
15.00

Mr. & Mrs. Voshimitsu Higa

Bal of Sept Livinglink
Mr. & Mrs. Yoshimitsu lliga
October Livinglink

30.00
40.00
25.00

SFC Theo. G. Richardson,

England

5.00

1st Lt. Richard Beck, Okinawa 50.00

O. L. Bussell, Eugene, Ore

IstChrCh, Rylie, Texas
Univ St CofC, Eugene, Ore
Chr Ch, Carmi, 111
1st Chr Ch, Springfield, Ore
Dorcas Bridge, Lamar, Colo

50.00
10.00
75.00
250.00
11.88
34.20

C of C, Anacortes, Wash

54.53

Capt. Erwin Kadlub, Okinawa

8.33
10.00
25.00

Court St Chr Ch, Salem, Ore

IstChrCh, Fayetteville,N.C.
St. Johns Chr Ch, Portland, Ore
CIX Cl, Pine St Chr Ch,

8.3 3
1.66

120.00
150.00

15.00
5.00

Tacoma, Wash
Kendrick Palmers, Unionville,

5.00

Missouri

26.51

Winsome Cl, CofC,

Cottage Grove, Ore

Postage & phone call

1.80

Gas, oil & grease

Medical help to students
Seminary light bill

22.61
11.49
2.50

Food for students

50.00

Mr. Yaka
Mr. Hosoi

8.33
25.00

Student & workers' support

Office supplies

99.16
2.41

Chieko Kamada boat fare

46.66

Points for Chevrolet

1.25

16.65
50.00
)

338.86

250.00

Balance

88.86

Emeiine WoodruffLivinglink 130.00

Harlan WoodruffLivinglink
October & December

300.00

Harlan WoodruffMission Expenses

Sept21,-Octo 10, 1955
Postage
I
6.23
Akihiko for bicycle
8.33

Film & printing

Check cashing fees
Gas, oil & grease
Workers' & student support
Spark plugs for Chevrolet

5.22
1.72
19.07
426.82
2.16

Transformer
Food for students

5.25
54.43

Printing of Seminary paper

Hospital help for Genko

25.00

Nakasone

2.25

Nails, lumber, screen

Teaching materials

8.10
4.08

Elecuicalsup^ies&labor

18.75

Mr. & Mrs. Yoshimitsu Higa

November livinglink
Namio KamadaSupport for

November & December

20.00
6.45 Sumiko MatayoshiSupport
for
November & December
5.00

Chr Ch, R(q>ert, Idaho

Rex Lawsons, Rupert, Idaho
J

Harlan WoodruffMission Expenses

Aug 6-Aug 27, 1955

DISBURSEMENTS

Less amount paid in Sept

Chr Ch, Florence, Ore

P. H. Loveland, Salem, Ore

696.96

Harlan WoodruffMission Expenses

Aug 29Sept 20, 1955
Motor repair
S
1.00

Total

GENERAL RECEIPTS

DlfflURSEMENTS

^od for summer camps

8.00
$

35mm Slide Projector

Building material

SFC Theo. Richardson, England 5.00

10.00

12,209.68

TOTAL

Disbursements

10.00

Ore (Bible college student) 30.00

1st Chr Ch, S.S. Cl, Roseburg,
Ore (Bible college student) 30.00

(Beitatsu Sheroma)

364.19
400.57

1,444.92

10.00

N Lincoln Chr Ch, Oceanlake,

Chr Ch, Gresham, Ore

(Mrs. Nakasone)

Special & Livinglink

Brought Forward

Glencoe RdChr Ch,

Milwaukie, Ore.

Willamina C of C, Willamina,
Ore. (Native Pastor)

Ore (Shoes for Takeru)

250.00

11,179.27

5.00

N Lincoln Chr Ch, Oceanlake,

mentsee Oct for balance and

150.00
80.00

30.00

11,366.27

766.90

OCTOBER SUMMARY

SPECIAL & LIVINGLINK

General Receipts

766.90

Veldon C. Boge, Sr., Beaverton,

Special & Livinglink
696.96
Ore (Yurika Shimada)
S 100.00 Brought forward
1,030.41
1st Chr Ch, Newberg, Ore
TOTAL
12,494.27
(LivinglinkHarlan)
300.00
W Seattle Chr Ch, Seattle, Wash
Disbursements
1,366.27
(LivinglinkEmeiine)
130.00
OCM Crcl, Corvallis, Ore
Balance October 31, 1955
(Toshiko)

25.00

CofC, Julesburg, Colo (Fumiko) 28.96

Chr Ch, Gresham, Ore
(Mrs. Nakasone)
Chr Ch SS, Woodland, Wn

Mission Fund

1363.30

Mitsu 8c Fumiko

764.70

11,128.00
10.00

(Ryomei)
30.00
BoonesCreek C.E., Johnson City,
Tenn (Student)
10.00
Court St Chr Ch, Salem, Ore.
(Harlan)
5.00
IstChrCh, Rupert, Ida(Kamada) 15.00
C of C, Willamina, Ore
(Native Pastor)
10.00
CofC, Madras, Ore (Native wrkr) 25.00

Not/ember, 1955
GENERAL RECEIPTS

IstChrCh, Rylie,Texas
Chr Ch, Corbett, Ore

10.00
15.00

Women's Bible Cl, Engelwood

Chr Ch, Indianapolis, Ind
40,00
Ronald Ingle, llermiston. Ore 10.00
IstChrCh, Roseburg, Ore
15.00
C of C, Cresswell, Ote

20.00

C of C, Sweet Home, Ore

36.12

Chr Cfa, I'lorence, Ore

40.00

Chr Ch, Tillamoolc, Ore

Chr Wo Fel, Tillamook, Ore

10.00
13.82

DifSup Miss, Gr Chr Ch

Mc. Vemon, Mo.

3.00

Garden Rd Chr Ch, Salem, Ore

10.00

St Johns Chr Ch, CHB, Portland

5.00

CDC Cl, Pine St Chr Ch,

Tacoma, Wash

5.00

1st Chr Ch, COSCl, Roseburg,

Oregon

Carpenters

Christmas giftW.Seattle Chr

Ch^ch

266.60

SPECIAL & LIVINGLINK

W Seattle Chr Ch, Seattle, Wash

130.00

C of C, Madras, Ore
(Native worker)
25.00
Parkrose Chr Ch, Portland, Ore

(Gayu Nishihira)
Westside C of C, Eugene, Ore

60.00

Comp & printing

81.5.0

Postage on mailing

10;04

Labor & 30 plates

11.35

Mr. & Mrs. Yoshimitsu Higa

December Livinglink
150.00
$1,071.19

General Receipts
Special & Livinglink
Brought forward
TOTAL

Disbiusements

Mitsu & Fumiko

30.00

GENERAL RECEIPTS

10.00

OCM Crcl, Chr Ch, Corvallis,

25.00

Lds Cncl, C of C, Sisters,

799.62

25.00

C of C Bible Sc, .'Vnacortes,

Chr Ch, Medford, Okla

C of C, Crcsswell, Ore
Chr Youth Leage, WSeattle

Wash

Willamina C of C, Willamina,
Ore (Chosin Higa)
10.00
Eastside C of C, Oakland, Calif
(Mitsu & Fumiko)
25.00

Brookfield C of C, Oakland, Cal

(Mitsu & Fumiko)
5.00
Y.P., Bakersfield Ch, Bakersfield,
Calif (Mitsu & Fumiko)
7.00
C of C Y.P., Thorp, Wash
(Mitsu & Fumiko)
2.54
Glencoe Rd Chr Ch, Milwaukle,
10.00
Ore (Takemitsu Nakachi)
476.21

42.40

50.00
18.45

Chr Ch

10.65

Central Chr Ch, Portland, Ore

Chr Ch, Rylie, Texas

12.00
10.00

S. D. Crawford, Julesburg, Colo 100.00

1st Cof Ch, Ceres, Calif
Paul Mallette, Carmi, 111

10.00
25.00

St Jobns Chr Ch, Portland

5.00

Chr Miss Soc, Burlington, Ind

50.00
NE Chr Ch, Grand J unction, Colo 16.00
Webber St C of C, Urbana, 111
25.00
SFC Theo. G. Richardson,
Ft. Ord, Calif
5.00
Winona Baker, Connersville, Ind 10.00
N.Lincoln Chr Ch, Oceanlake,
Ore

Emeline WoodruffLivinglink 130.00

Harlan WoodruffMission Expenses

Seminary light bill

2.50

Postage

2.91

23.12
437.65

35.83

3.00

Cheko Kamadahospital exp. 50.00

Bus fare for students

499.50

Food for students

15.00

10.00

43.49
30.15
5.16
100.00

Medical aid to students

10.76

Postage
Seminary light bill

5.90
2.50

Tents for summer camp

50.00

Printing for Tembo newspaper 20.83

Check cashing fee
.67
Dimmer switch, door repair,
idler arm, & motor tune
7.95
Teaching supplies
2.00
Emeline WoodruffLivinglink 130.00
Mr. & Mrs. Yoshimitsu Higa

Janu^ Livinglink

150.00

Harlan Woodruff-Mission Expenses

Nov 27December 5, 1955_

Student & workers'support'

499.16

Check cashing fees

2.86

Food for students

50.00

Generator repair
Gas, oil tt grease

4.16
10.88

Postage

2.50

Harlan WoodruffChristmas Gifts

C. HigaWillamina C of C
G. NishishihiraParkrose
Chr Ch

31.00
15.00

HarlanC of C, Julesburg,
Colo

35.00

$1,224.97
SPECIAL & LIVINGLINK

DECEMBER SUMMARY

Chr Ch S.S., Woodland, Wash

(Ryomei)

W Seattle Chr Ch, Seattle, Wash

(LivinglinkEmeline)

30.00 General Receipts

$ 499.50
569.04

Special & Livinglink

130.00 Brought forward

799.62

10.00 N Lincoln Chr Ch, Oceanlake, Ore

Office supplies
2.15
Check cashing fees
3.53
Miyoshi Onagahospital ezp. 50.00
Food for students

30.00

Lulu Blender Hill, Okeene, OklalO.OO

DISBURSEMENTS

Teaching materials

gift for Takeru

Office supplies
5.00
40.00

Chr Ch, Florence, Ore

Lds Cncl, Chr Ch,
Carmi, 111

15.00

Boones Creek C.E., Jonesboro,

Tenn (Student)
10.00

Medical help_

10.00

Nov 1,-Nov 26, 1955

-Student & workers' support
Gas, oil & grease

SFC Theo. G. Richardson,

Ft. Ord, Calif
$

30.00

Westside C of C, Eugene, Ore

Gas, oil & grease

Student tc workers* support

30.00

Harlan WoodruffMission Expenses

Cof C, Julesburg,Colo(Fumiko)28.50

Oct 10-Oct31,.1955

Support
Chr Ch, Gresham, Ore
(Mrs. Nakasoni)

Harlan WoodruffChristmas

December, 1955

gift
15.00
For G. Nishishihira, Regular

DISBURSEMENTS

682.74

15.00

Ore (Native Worker)

35.00

(B. Sheroma)
15.00
OCM Crcl, Corvallis, Ore
(Toshiko)
25.00
Parkrose Chr Ch, Portland, Ore
For G. Nishishihira, Christmas

Balance November 30, 1955

Mission Fund
$116.88

38.17

(B. Sheroma)

(Christmas gin for Harlan)

Westside Cof C, Eugene, Ore

Wo Miss Grp, Univ St C of C,

Eugene, Ore (Student fund)
30.10
C
of C, Willamina, Ore
266.60
For C. HigaChristmas gift 31.00
476.21
For C. HigaRegular support 10.00
1,128.00
Veldon Boge, Sr., Beaverton, Ore
$1,870.81
(Toshiko Oganaku)
100.00
1,071.19
$ 569.04

gift)
Chr Ch, S.S., Woodland, Wn
(Ryomei)

Ore (Toshiko)

Cof C{Julesburg, Colo

NOVEMBER SUMMARY

(B. Sheroma)
W Seattle Chr Ch (Christmas

ChrCh, Gresham, Ore

(Mrs. Nakasone)

38.17

Mission ServicesOct Newsletter

8.33
8.33

(LivinglinkEmeline)

1.44
8.00

15.00

Mrs. Grove, Okinawa

Miss Harris, Okinawa
I

10.00

Film
Shoes for Takeru

TOTAL
$1,868.16
For TakeruTuition, etc
51.00 Disbursements
1,224.97
Jr Dep Willamina Chr Ch, WillaBalance December 31, 1955
mina, Ore (Leper children in
For TakeruChristmas gift

Okinawa)

Ch of C, J tdesburg, Colo
(Fumiko)

15.00

14.00

Mission Fund
Mitsu & Fumiko

27.94

$ 82.51
560.68
$

FORWARDING AGENTS FOR MISSIONARIES TO OKINAWA ARE:

THE DOWNEYS: Mr. & Mrs. Stewart L. Rodgers,

222 East Oak Street, Orrville, Ohio
THE CHRISTMANS: Virgil Kent, Route One, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
THE FISHES: Mrs. Marvin Rose, Route One, Box 85, Pontego, North Carolina
THE WOODRUFFS: First Christian Church, 2ncl & College, Newberg, Oregon

643.19

Qk^idmaHiOKINAWA CHRISTIAN NEWS

VOL. 4

OCTOBER 1, 1956

DOWNEYS ARRIVE

After nearly one month on the boat

the Gerald Downey family reached
Okinawa, their chosen field of service.
The S. S. Sea Serpent brought than into
Naha port at 12:00 o'clock noon on the
25th of August. Their scheduled date
of arrival was the 17th, but as usual
the boat was late.

The Mel Huc^ins

family and our family greeted them at

the dock and welcomed them to Okin
awa.

We were happy to meet the Downeys

and we are enjojdng a fine fellowship
with them. They slept in the Koza
church building (because our house was
too small) and ate with us for the first

three days. At present they are stay

ing with the Huckins in northern Okin
awa.

I spent some time helping them look

for a house, but nothing has been found.

They would appreciate your prayars as
they get settled and get accustomed to
this eastern way of life.

NO. 10

NASHIRG-SAN SPEAKS
TO THE CHURCHES
Seiken Nashiro-san is the young man

from Tokya Bible Seminary who came

to Okinawa to help us in Christian Camp

this year. He is a fine CJhristian and

seems to be doing well in his Bible
training in Tokyo. His teaching and
good example at camp helped greatly
the camp spirit.
When the camps were over Nashirosan visited several churches speaking
from one to three evenings in each

place. We were happy that he could

come to the Moromi (Koza) church
and speak to us. His messages were
good, but our attendance was quite
poor. I drove to our new preadiing
point (Gusukuma) each evening dur

ing the meeting to pick up anyone in

terested in attending. One of the eve

nings two blind men came, but th^

were the only ones to come from Gusu
kuma. One of these blind men had
never been to a Christian worship ser
vice before.

Bro. Downey attended the closing

NO D.V.B.S.
Junko-san and her helpers were plan-^
ning to have a Daily Vacation Bible
School the week following Senior camp.
As is often the case (it is a custom on
Okinawa) the children had to go to

situation.

their school and work making it im-

work extra difficult here.

service and was introduced to the folks

(Continued on next page)

possible to attend a D.V.B.S. There was

nothing that we could do to change the
Customs

make

the

Lord's

(Continued from page one)

OKINAWA CHRISTIAN NEWS

here at Moromi.

On the 6th of September, Nashirosan boarded Okinawa's new passenger

Published Each Month By

ship, the "Okinawa Maru." Helen, Kay,

Kathy, Tatsunori and I went to the port

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Church of Christ)

to say good-by to him. It is a colorful

sight to see ships leave the Okinawan
port. Nashiro-san returned to Tokyo

VIRGIL KENT, Editor

Entered as

where he will continue to prepare him

self for the great task of winning his
people to Christ. Please pray for him.

second class mail matter on

May 4, 1956 at Post Office at Gering,

Nebraska, under act of Aug. 24, 1912

O'BON FESTIVAL

O'bon is

was difficult to have worship services

Okinawa's memorial day.

It is on July 13th according to the Lunar

here in the Moromi church when the

people were practicing for the Bon-

calendar. Services are held at temples

odori.

and in private homes for ansectors, rel

atives and friends.

It is particularly

for those who have passed away dur

ing the past year.
The main feature of O'bon is the

offering of foodstuffs to the deceased

and of course all those who assemble
for the service will partake of special

food prepared for the day. People work

ing away from home are expected to
return at this time to worship with
their family. It is a religious day, but
also quite a joyful occasion.
The

Christians

have

difficulty

in

breaking away from this custom be

cause of the family pressure.
Bon--odori is another feature of O'bon.

It is the community dance. Young and

old dance in the temple and shrine
compound. This dancing goes on all
night. Not only do they dance in the
temple and shrine compound, but also
they go from house to house and re
ceive offering from the people. Dances
and songs differ according to districts
and symbolize their respective tradi

This is the Bon-odori (dance) here

at Moromi

taken at the shrine

compound.

These people need Christ so that they

might worship Him rather than their
ancestors. "Thou shall worship the Lord

thy God and Him only shall thou serve."

THE UNINVITED GUEST

On Friday, Sept. 7, typhoon "Emma"

tions. There is much drinking (sake)

during the Bon-odori practice and the

came to Okinawa as the uninvited guest.

Bon-odori itself.

Battered Okinawa picked up and patch

ed up today (10th) in the wake of the

In some sections im

morality is connected with these danc

es.

About 50 feet from

our house and

the church is a shrine where the people

of this village put on their dance. "We
were kept awake at nights by the drum
beats, samisen (stringed instrument)

music, and chanting of the people. It

worst typhoon to hit the island in seven

years. We were hit by the center winds
which were 140 mph. Emma took sev
eral lives and did $20,000,000 damage
and left thousands of Okinawans home

less and without crops to harvest.

Okinawan police reported that 1,244

liouses were completely destroyed and

Mr. L. J. McElwee

about 2,000 partly destroyed. These reports were not complete. Our home was
Hooded and we had to move everjrthing

Mrs. Mae Van Matre

Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Osnes
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Smith

from the bedroom into the living room

which had a few dry spots. We all

slept in one bed one ni^t. We were
afraid that any minute our roof would
hlow off.

Mrs. John Laws

Church of Christ Missionary Society,

Worthington, Minn.
Mr. and Mrs. Glen Munson
Mrs. Biml Graham

The house and church are both dam-i

aged and need repairs before we get
another rain. Our car was also damaged. A few of our personal posses-

sions were damaged some by the water.

We are thankful that God spared

Junior Girls, Church at Bryant,

Scottsbluff, Nebr.
Pre-school S.S. Class, Church at

Bryant, Scottsbluff, Nebr.

Christian Church, Polo, Mo.
Mr. and Mrs. Balph Christman

cur lives and that our damage was not

as great as others. Emma is the fourth

Infielders

typhoon to visit Okinawa in six weeks.

Gerald and Erma Lee Downey, c/o

According to the paper another typhoon

First Christian Church, 16 Union St.,

is reported brewing up near Guam, the

Joliet, 111.

same spawning ground that hatched

Emma.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lash (Recruits)

c/o R. Hobert Lash, 327 Pourtii St., Un-

We are thankful for your prayers for

our safety. If another typhoon comes

coin, m.

Carl and Grace Fish, c/o W&s. Marvin

this season we will have to flee to a

Rose, Wenona, N.C.

stronger shelter.
Please, no more uninivited guests this
year.

Melvin and Marguerite Huckins, c/o

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Sapp, 1919 So. lOth
St., Council Bluffs, la.

"

Harlan and Emeline Woodruff, c/o

OUTFIELDERS FOR AUGUST

Christian Churdi, Galena, Kan.
Mr. N. C. McCue
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Hughes

Christian Church, Second & College, Newbwg, Ore.

Cloyd and Helen Christman, c/o IMr.

and Mrs. Virgil Kent, Rt 1, Scottsbluff,

Miss Bessie Johnson

Nebraska.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Cloyd, Helen, Kay and Kathy Christman

AUGUST 1956

Brought forward

$ 188.63

Contributions

249.38

$ 438.01
DISBURSEAAENT-

Living Link Support

Cloyd

$ 90.00

Helen

100.00

Kay
Kathy
Postage

25.00
25.00
17.00

News Letters
Rent

Interpreter

28.75
25.00

Personal gifts sent to Christmans

25.00

18.50
$ 354.25

Balance on hand August 31, 1956

$ 83.76

LitiaH

OKINAWA CHRISTIAN NEWS

HINDERANCES TO THE GOSPEL
As we have stated before, this Koza
area is the "Sodom and Gomorrah" of
Okinawa. There are more bars, night

clubs, and dance halls in Koza than

any other type of business. Houses of
prostitution are everywhere in the area
and are kept busy by the G.I.s.

Many other hinderances to the Gos

our efforts seem fruitless as we view

attendance

Since Christian camp our

has

fallen

to

less

than

JUNKO-SAN VISITS JAPAN

For some time Junko-san, one of
the Christian workers, has been hop

ing for the day when she could go to

Japan for a visit. She was bom in
Japan, but has not been able to see
her native country for several years.
She has relatives and friends living

near Osaka. While in Japan she plans

pel abound here. We have been here

laboring in Koza for seven months and
them now.

NO. 11

NOVEMBER 1, 1956

VOL. 4

handful and the Sunday school children

have stopped coming. The typhoons
have hindered some, but they cannot
be blamed for all of it. My interpreter
said yesterday, "the people of this area
have no interest in Christianity." We
have called on homes, invited and an-

to

visit

Tokyo Bible Seminary and

friends in that area. Junko-san is plan

ning to attend Tokyo Bible Seminary

sometime in the near future, Lord will
ing.

On the 18th of September Helen, Kay,

Kathy and I went to the Okinawan
port to see Junko-san off. Her boat,
the Kuroshio Maru, was to leave at

5:00 p.m., but it was two hours late

in getting started. She will return the
latter part of October.
nounced the services over the village

radio, etc., but without response. There

are people in this island who will listen
to the Gospel and who will accept
Christ if given an opportunity.
Lord, help us to find them and teach

them, is our prayer. "And if any will

not receive you or listen to your words,
shake off the dust from your feet as
you leave that house or town." Matt.
10:44.

Many people think more of a "Bar

Paradise" (as in the picture) than they
do of the Heavenly Paradise.

TYPHOON HARRIET WAS HERE

OKINAWA CHRISTIAN NEWS

Typhoon Harriet, the fifth of this

season, was here recently. At first ex
pected to brush the island lightly, Har

Published Each Month By

riet altered her course and visited the

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

island with howling winds up to 130

mph or more. The eye of the typhoon

(Church of Christ)

passed over Kadena Air Base (and our

VIRGIL KENT, Editor

home) at 2:00 a.m., giving Okinawa

an hour of comparative calm before
renewed winds slugged the battered

Entered as second class mail matter on

Way 4, 3956 at Post Office at Gering,

Nebraska, under act of Aug. 24, 1912

OUTFIELDERS FOR SETPEMBER

Ralph Christman
Christian Church, Galena, Kan.
Women's Fellowship of Church
Christ, Webster City, Iowa

island from a new direction.

of

Christian Church, Richland Center, Wis.

Mr. and Mrs. Glen Munson

Breed

Missionary

Society,

Mountain,

Wisconsin.

Howard Spaulding

There was no loss of life, but there

was quite a bit of damage done. One
family lost their home for the third
time this year. The 4,300 ton Kakusan
Maru (Japanese ship we sailed on from
Japan to Okinawa in March) ran
aground in the teeth of Harriet be
tween Japan and Okinawa. Also the
British freighter, Bedford Earl, ran
aground near Okinawa during the
storm.

Mr. and Mrs. Leadore Randall

The tile roofs on the house and the

Gerald and Erma Lee Downey

church were not repaired before ty

phoon Harriet visited. We thought we

Mrs. Burl Graham

Mr. and Mrs. Chase Rusk

Polo Christian Church. Polp, Mo.

Mr. and Mrs. I. E. Johnson, Jr.
Church of Christ Missionary Society,
Worthington, Minn.
N. C. McCue, Miss Bessie Johnson,
L. J. McElwee, Ida Laboda, Mr. and
Mrs. Virgil Kent, Dr. Ellis Baker, Mr.
and Mrs. Leon Hughes, Mrs. May Vein
Matre, Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Osnes, Mr.
and Mrs. Ed Smith, Gladyce E. Munroe,
Tessa L. Schreiner

Infielders
Gerald and Erma Lee Downey, c/o
First Christian Church, 16, Union St.,
Joliet, III.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lash (Recruits)
c/0 R. Hobart Lash, 327 Fourth St.,
Lincoln, 111.
Carl and Grace Fish, c/o Mrs. Marvin
Rose, Wenona, N.C.
Melvin and Marguerite Huckins, c/o
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Sapp, 1919 So.
10th St., Council Bluffs, la.
Harlan and Emeline Woodruff, c/o First

Christian Church, Second & College,

Newberg, Ore.
Cloyd and Helen Christman, c/o Mr.
and IV&s. Virgil Kent, Rt. 1, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

would get flooded out, but the water

did not come in as bad.during Harriet

as it did during Emma. Tatsunori did
some repairing on the church build

ing after Harriet left us. Tatsunori is

replacing the screens in the genkon.

Again we think God for His pro
tecting hand. O give thanks to the Lord
for He is good and His loving kindness
endures

forever.

HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP

sinful ways.

(By Tatsuniro Kinjo)

God requires us to be

faithful in every action, idea, and word.

Our pure faith will take us into the

Have you ever travelled abroad?

country of God. In Revelations 22:27

The most necessary thing while trav-

we are told "He who is unclean shall

eling is a passport. If we do not have

a passport it would be impossible to

not enter into the glory of God."

Here on Okinawa many people are

pass from one country to another.

not in Christ. After the second world

No person can enter into the eternal

war was over many Americans have

Holy City which Jesus is preparing

come to this island. Not only soldiers

for us if he does not have a heavenly

passport. This woi'ld is not our permanent home, we are only passing toward
the unseen world. Our earthly life is
temporary and there is a gate we must
pass through. If your passport has the

and business men, but also God's messengers. They have been preaching
God's Word eagerly as the early
Apostles did and the message of salvation has been spread slowly one to
the other. What do you think our mis-

signature of the Lord Jesus Christ on

it you can pass safely into paradise.
We need a passport for this earthly
traveling, also we need a passport when

sion in this world is? The answer is

in Mark 16:15.
Before the war it seemed that there
were no missionaries on Okinawa. But

we come to the gate of heaven. People

of all nations are seeking happy spiritual rest, heavenly blessings, etc., but
they cannot reach these things until
they come to believe in Jesus. He who
does not abide in Christ is not really
happy. Material happiness is not true
happiness. Material things are neces-

at last God has sent his messengers to

preach the Gospel of salvation. Sometimes it seems easy to preach the Gospel and other times it is very difficult,
However, we have a responsibility to
overcome these difficulties in preaching the Gospel.
i hope that someday the Okinawans
who have not yet accepted Jesus as
Saviour will be willing to follow the
Lord Jesus, and become citizens of His
Kingdom.

saiy -and helpful in this life

most important thing is that
come a child of God. He will
all happy blessings if we are
unto the

end.

We

must

but the
we begive us
in Him

endeavor to

get into the Holy City. We must have

our citizenship in heaven. All Christians have become citizens of the
heavenly Kingdom, but some of them
will lose their citizenship on the way

THANKS TO ALL
We wish to express our continued
thanks to all who have so faithfully
prayed and given to the Lord's work
here. May God's rich blessings be upon

to heaven and return back into their

you all is our praper.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Cloyd, Helen, Kay and Kathy Christman

Brought forward

$ 83.76

Contributions

495.83
*i57o

DISBURSEMENTS-

Living Link Support

Cloyd

$110.00

Helen

100.00

Kay
Kathy
News Letters (July & August)
Rent

25.00
25.00
56.50

Interpreter
Postage

25.00

25.00
3.08
$369.58

Balance on hand September 30, 1956

$210.01

minister and asking if they can attend

"AND THEY BEGAN TO

services.

MAKE EXCUSE"

About fifty yards from the Moromi

church there lives an American G.I.,
his Okinawan wife and their baby. One

evening shortly after we moved to this

area, this G.I. came to our house. He
said that he was from a small town
back in the States and had attended

a country church. Since the Moromi

church is like a country church he felt
that he would feel "more at home" if
he could attend here rather than the

Kadena chapel. Then too, his Okinawan

wife could hear the Gospel in her na
tive tongue and get acquainted with
Christianity.

We were quite happy that they came

and asked us if they could attend wor
ship services. We told then that we
would be glad to have them come. It
was something very unusual as people
are not in the habit of coming to a

The first week passed and they did

not show up so we called on them.
Their excuse was that they were too
busy and didn't get ready in time.
The second and third week passed and
they still hadn't come to services. When
we called again they said, "as soon
as we get straightened around we will
come."

Five months have passed and evi

dently they still haven't gotten straight
ened around for they have not darkened
the door of the church once. Why they
came and asked if they might attend
services

and

then

did not

come

is a

mystery to us. Perhaps they wanted

to soothe their conscience by pretend
ing to be interested in the church. We
have invited them a

number of times

but they always have an excuse . . .

"and they began to make excuse." Lk.
14:18.

VIRGIL KENT
Route No. 1

Scottsbluff, Nebraska

""'J 58
Harold McFarland

Box 968
Joiett, 111.

Wll8ser<- v- VOWS, Mi

'BRETHREN, OUR HEART'S DESIRE AND PRAYER TO GOD FOR THE OKINAWANS
IS, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED."

DECEMBER 1, 1956

VOL 4

MUST VACATE
We must move from our home in
Moromi. Why?
The American G. I.
who built the house we are living in
came to see us about three weeks ago.

He noticed that the tile roof (damaged

by the typhoons) was not repaired and
that the paint on the house (a very
poor grade) had washed off in many

places. After looking around the place

a bit he said that we had not been keep
ing it up like we should. I asked him
in what way and what he expected us
to do?

When we first came to see us

about four or five months ago he told

us not to do ANY improving on the
place. We had wanted to paint and

varnish inside and put tile on the floor,

but he said if we improved the place
any that he would make it tough for
us and for all the missionaries on the

island.

Now he accuses us of not keep

ing up the place and wants us to paint

the house on the outside (and buy the
paint, of course) and repair the tile
roof which would be quite a good sized
bill.

I told him that we did not intend

to repaint the house and repair the tile

roof because according to the laws here
that is the responsibility of the owner,
not the renter.

He didn't like it when

i mentioned that we weren't planning

to fix up the house and he asked us to
move as soon as possible. He was going
to see the village mayor and try to have
our contract broken.

This G. I. retinrned

NO. 12

again several days later and talked to

Helen~and~T^lad gone shopping. He

said he thought that we would be out

of his house by this time.

Helen ex

plained that we didn't have any place

to move yet and that we woiUd move
as soon as we could.

The Mel Huckins

family has offered to let us live in their

garage in Imadomari when it is finished.
We have accepted their offer as places
to rent are almost impossible to find.
The garage is under construction now
and should be finished, enough so that
we can move in, in about two weeks.
I have been helping Mel Huckins and
Gerald Downey work on the Huckins
garage. I am not a carpenter like my
father, but have been able to pound
some nails and saw some boards.

(Continued next page)

Also

SEASON'S GREETINGS
OKINAWA CHRISTIAN NEWS

Published Each Month By

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

(Church of Christ)

By the time this news letter reaches

you the Christmas season will be near.
We would like to wish you all a very

Merry Christmas. May God's precious

Gift fill your hearts and give you peace
and rest in this troubled world.

VIRGIL KENT, Editor

It is

our hope and prayer that many weary

souls will find the Prince of Peace which

Entered as second class mail matter on

May 4/ 1956 at Post Office at Gering,

Nebraska, under act of Aug. 24, 1912

(Continued from preceding page)

I was able to saw one of my fingers and
make it quite sore. The Downey fam

ily was imable to find a place to rent

and so they will like in the second story
of the Huckins garage temporarily and
we will like in the first floor tmtil fur

lough time.

We are thankful that Mel

and his family are able to take us under

their wing and shelter up from the

storms. This is a picture of the garage

in its earlier stages.
LOOKING AHEAD
As some of you already know we

are planning to return to the States in

July of '57 for a furlough. We realize
that it is still several months away, but
plans and certain preparations must be
made in the near future. Our "Furlough
Fund" has only a few dollars in it and
we will need at least $1,500.00 for travd.
We cannot fall back upon our general
fund as it is very low most of the time.
We believe that you who sent us here
to labor for Our Lord will bring us
home when our furlough is due. We
should have the travel funds on hand

by the last of June. Kay will be start

ing sdiool in September and we want
to have her settled by that time. Please
remember this need in your prayers
and in your giving.
ONE DIES EVERY SECOND
A himdred thousand souls a day

Are passing one by one aw^ay

In Christless guilt and gloom.
Without one ray of hope or light.
With future dark as endless night.
They're passing to their doom.

God gave to them as a gift. "For God

so loved the world that He gave his
only begotten Son that whosoever be
lieves in him should not perish but have
everlasting life."

FUTURE WORK
If all goes well we will move to

Imadomari by Thanksgiving Day. When

we leave Moromi the Christians here
will have to conduct some of the ser

vices of the church by themselves. We

will not be .able to drive down here for

every service, however, we will do all

that we can to help them. There are
several young men here who are cap
able of leading the services and we
hope that they will assume ^eir re

sponsibility. Living up north we will

be doing most of our work up there.
The quiet, little moimtain village of
Izumi needs help. One of the young
men from that village has asked several
times for someone to come and teach his
people the Gospel. The Fishes were
working some in that village before
they returned to the States. There is a

house of worship there, but the congre

gation is small because a

number of

the Christians have moved.

Mel Huck

ins has helped some, but he has a

number of classes and is kept very busy

with them. We are going to accept the
challenge of Izumi and try to help them
find the way to eternal life. It may be
possible that we can open up a new
work in some village that has never
heard the Gospel of Salvation. We do

not plan to work in the village of Ima

domari or any of the villages where thei
Huckins are working. Also we will not
work in any of the village where the
Downeys plan to work. Pray with us

that God might leadin ourundertakings. ^

GIVE US YOUR SAVIOUR

Suddenly before my inward, open vision

Millions of faces crowded up to view,
Sad eyes that said, "For us is no
provision;

Give us your Saviour, too."

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Cloyd, Helen, Kay and Kathy Chrlstman

OCTOBER 1956

Brought forward

$210.01

Contributions

280.00
$490.01

DISBURSEMENTS-

Livlng Link Support

Cloyd

Helen

$100.00
100.00

Kay
Kathy
Newsletters
Car expense

25.00
25.00
25.75
35.00

Rent

25.00

Interpreter
Supplies

25.00
1.02

li

$361.77
Balance on hand October 31, 1956

$128.24