Parents, this is written primarily for your children; please share with them.  Others, you are welcome to read, as well.

You have heard that we’re going to Japan, right?  And, you probably know that we’re going there, so that we can tell people about Jesus.  Maybe you have even been praying for us.  If so, thank you so much.  It means a lot to us.

There is a lot to like about Japan–great food, beautiful mountains and ocean, interesting cities, fun places to visit, kind people, and safe neighborhoods.  But, there are a couple things we love that Japan doesn’t have.

First, most people in Japan don’t know Jesus yet.  That makes us sad, because we think Jesus is the best.  If you know him, you know the best person in the entire universe!  Never forget that.  Many don’t know him.

Second, Japan doesn’t have you or your family.  Japan is far away.  We’re going to be there a long time.  Maybe the rest of our lives.  Sure, we’ll come back to visit, but we’re going to miss you.  We won’t be at many of your birthday or Christmas parties.  We won’t be able to play at the park with you most summers or go sledding with you most winters.  We might not be there to give you a hug when you’re sad or high-five when you’re happy.

There’s something we want to share with you.  Even though we’ll be on the other side of the world, we can still be friends.  In fact, we can actually be better than friends.  How is that possible?  Here is what the Bible says:

“You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.  For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.  Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 6b-8).

The Bible says that we can be fellow workers.  That’s exciting!  We can be like two farmers working the same field or two soldiers fighting in the war or two teammates playing the same game–just on opposite sides of the world.

We are going to Japan “for the sake of the name.”  That means, we are going, so that when Japanese people hear the name “Jesus,” they would say something like, “Jesus! He’s my Savior, my Lord, my King, my best Friend, my God and so much more!”  We don’t want him to be a stranger in Japan any longer; we want Jesus’ name to be spoken often from many happy lips.

Do you want the same thing?  If so, you can work alongside us.  And, you don’t have to come to Japan to do it (though maybe someday God will lead you to join us in Japan…we would like that).  If you help send and support us, the Bible says you are a “fellow worker for the truth.”  Our ministry is your ministry.  We just have different roles.

William Carey was a famous missionary who lived about 200 years ago.  He went to India.  A friend of his said something like, “India is a gold mine that seems as deep as the center of the earth; who will go down into it?” William Carey responded, “I will go down, but remember that you must hold the rope.”

The same could be said about Japan.  And, you hold the rope for us when you and your family remember us, support us financially, pray for us, ask how we are doing, encourage us with your words or tell others about our ministry.  By God’s design, we can’t go down into the deep gold mine without you.  Keep holding the rope.  Do it for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ.