Greetings
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus! This will be our first update to
everyone about the ministry here in Japan. This is quite long but I hope you will
patiently read through. Thank you very much!
For the past six
years, my wife,
and I have been full
time pastoring a small
Filipino community church under the Shinohara Kyoukai AG
Japan. We
minister to the Filipinos and Japanese as well. Filipino men and women come regularly to
passionately worship the Lord and be of service to the King. We have Japanese men who are
committed workers in the church. Our young FilJaps (half Filipino- half Japanese) started
their ministry to the Lord. Little kids are
on fire when they sing and dance for Jesus.
Through rain and
sunshine, we visit the Filipino and
Japanese homes to
nurture them with the spiritual care needed. We
have people in the church and met people who were
mistreated, abused and threatened by their spouses and others by their employers. The
truth is, Filipinos in Japan are needy people. We try to attend to their physical,
cultural, social and spiritual needs being foreigners in this land.
Jesus
started it. He loved them, set them free, healed them and provided for them. God loves us
and we ought to continue to pass on that same love to others. It is
our mission.
Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of my brother, you have done it to me”. He
said to Peter, “Feed my lambs…Take
care of my sheep.”
We can go on and on with all these
famous verses Jesus
mentioned to His people. And the challenge is for us now. The Mission of Jesus is still
the same today.
This
year, the direction of the church is geared towards “Missions Alive in 2005”. Every Christian is on a special assignment to be
of service to the believers and the unbelievers as well. We
understand
that mission is mandatory.
There are local
and global needs
and we want to be
tools in God’s hands and be used for His purposes.
We
believe that reaching the hearts of men means meeting the needs of men. The world is a big
mission field and mankind is the enemy’s target for loss, poverty and rage. It leaves
man with a need to be loved, to be understood, accepted and supported. This
is an opportunity for missions; a mission to minister and offer a hand to the poor, to the
lost, to our fellowmen, countrymen and to the ends of the world. Whether the problem is
spiritual, emotional, financial, social, moral or even intellectual, the church should be
willing vessels to reach out to them.
The
ministry I believe is not only presenting the gospel but first expressing the love of God
to them by meeting their needs.
It’s a wonderful thing to know that there is someone who cares, someone who listens,
someone who loves!
At the start of this year, God has brought challenges to the church. First, I had
an injury. I accidentally twisted my ankle so bad while I was carrying my son. Doctor put
a cast on my right leg and so I had to use crutches to be able to walk. He said it would
take 3-4 weeks to heal. I was incapacitated but my wife was able to minister in the Home
Bible Studies and Fellowship Groups. Praise God for wives who stand along with their
husbands in whatever the times and seasons may be. I said to myself that we are blessed to
have a complete body which functions normally. We can do anything and go anywhere for the
glory of God. I just hope everybody realizes that we have every reason and opportunity to
serve God. And you know what? Fast healing in less than a week. Hallelujah! Now, back to
work.
There is a Filipino wife who is severely mistreated by her Japanese husband.
Another Filipino wife on the other hand, abuses the Japanese spouse (he is a Christian).
They need our frequent counseling and our fervent prayers. There were a number of
believers and unbelievers who needed financial aid, medication, food and clothing. The
church was able to raise and send a small amount for them. There are some who needed a
place to stay and were housed temporarily. Some need a job and were introduced to some
companies and factories. Not to mention others who had problems with employers, a family
who needs to move to a different location, etc.
We were just getting ready for our regular Bible Study Lessons for all the
Fellowship Groups. And I cannot forget this past week that my wife and I had to cancel all
the Home Bible Studies and Fellowships.
The policemen on different stations but the same time and day arrested two
members of our church. The reason for their arrest: no visas. The 1st guy
overstayed here in Japan for 18 years. He has no choice but to leave his girlfriend and
son here and go back to the Philippines. I visited him at the police station and brought
his old passport and clothes.
Coming from Yokohama, I visited him again but at the Immigration Office in
Shinagawa, Tokyo to hand him over his airfare and pocket money. The Officer at the
Immigration was kind of strict unlike the previous ones I’ve met before.
As
I have mentioned in my last email to you, my sister had breast cancer. I came to the
hospital at 2pm in time for her operation. I had to be there and intercede at the same
time. The operation lasted for 3 1/2hrs and it was successful. He is a Great God! I had to
wait until she recovered. I was able to speak
to her surgeon. Only the cancer cells were
taken away. Her
breast was intact however,
her
lymph node was
affected
by
cancer and
according to the doctors,
the more lymph nodes that are
involved, and the more threatening the cancer may
be.
But even though it was
affected,
the lymph node removal was necessary. My
sister was still groggy that night. I left the hospital at 7:30pm. The next
day, she’s able
to move her right arm, which
is amazing. Rehabilitation
wasn’t needed. Fellow
believers from her church were there to help her out during her one-week confinement.
The following day, we went to Tachikawa, Tokyo to visit the 2nd guy
who was arrested of no visa. His papers are still being processed when the authorities
arrested him. We were given time to speak to him. His Filipino wife, who is documented, is
willing to present this case to a judge. They
will hold her husband at the station for 23 days more. It means that there is still time
to gather his documents before the court hearing.
In
the late afternoon, I went directly to visit my brother- in-law who just had his third
liver operation due to
some cancer cells found at the same spot. Operation was
successful and is now resting to revive his strength.
We had a chance to talk about things and
there were
tears in his eyes.
I guess his sadness
was also
brought by the condition of what his wife had gone through. I only
encouraged him
that everything’s
going to
be all right.
“Just hold on to the Lord.”
My sister from Germany arrived at Narita airport with her husband that night. It
was 4 hours drive from where I live. I really could not pick them up at the airport with
all the things I have on my hands. Good that my nephew was able to.
Yes, I went home tired and exhausted.
Since our Free English Class is a newly opened class for the Japanese (believers
and non believers), I thought I didn’t have to cancel it. One of our students said, “I’m
proud to say that my English teacher is a Filipino.” He believes that there is always
something good in Filipinos. This guy who is married to a Filipino lady, has a Filipino
heart. Though Filipinos have a bad impression to Japanese, this guy really defends
Filipinos. He said he is willing to help other Filipinos in need. What a blessing to hear!
It was Parent Orientation Day in Japanese School of my grade 1 son. And so I
attended with my son after the English Class. Oh my! There is more stuff to prepare and to
bring for my son’s schooling.
My sister from Germany visited my other sister who just had an operation. But I
cannot be with them at the moment because of some things I have to take care of. I was
only able to speak to her over the phone.
In the morning, I attended another Orientation in School for my grade 1 son’s
extension classes (Hamakko). I enrolled him so he would have more time to enjoy school. I’m
glad that my son became known in school for being obedient and friendly. Some parents
wanted their own child to be friends of Daniel because he teaches good stuff to their own
kids.
In the afternoon, we gathered groceries for the woman and her son of the 1st
guy who was arrested. They are now temporarily living
with a friend. The owner of the apartment where they rented called me and asked me about
his situation. Things like this I also have
to settle.
This day is our 8th Wedding Anniversary. Wow! And my wife is pregnant.
The kids are so excited and the church, too. She is in her first trimester. You know how
it is. I can say that she is really having a difficult time unlike with our first 2 sons.
We had to go to the doctor because she’s suffering from cough and colds and a hoarse
voice that started last Tuesday. My wife is not very good in Japanese that’s why I had
to accompany her. Oh, boy, a long wait at the hospital!
That is where we spent our Anniversary. We talked about our family, the ministry,
plans and dreams. Haha!
At night when we were preparing dinner, I got a phone call from a Filipino woman.
She was crying and desperate. The place where she lives is only for the company’s
employees. Her Filipino boyfriend who works in that company left her for another Filipino
woman who is pregnant. They are both now in the Philippines. Now, the woman left with 4
children, needs a place to stay only for a month until she has found a job. They are being
forced to leave their home by the 25th of this month. This woman does not
attend our church but has heard that we can help people like her. I told her that I would
ask help from our people or from other organizations who can assist her. It is difficult
for them because they don’t have visas. I hanged up the phone and thought, “ To whom
will I send her?” “ They are 5 in the family.” “ How can I squeeze them in our 2DK
house?” “Will she approve if some of the kids will live temporarily to different
homes?” “Maybe it would be better if they all go back to the Philippines.” “That
would also require a lot of money for passports and airfare plus pocket money.” “Lord,
how can the church help this family?”
Ooopppsss!!! The Anniversary? Now, how can
we celebrate? We just had a simple dinner at home.
Today is my eldest son’s 7th birthday. But wait! My second son was
suddenly burning with fever (40˚C), and my oldest has an ear infection. I had to bring my
sons to the doctor for a check up. Ezekiel got a strawberry tongue and throat infection.
Daniel has a deep ear infection. Rest assured that God would take care of my kids.
My second child still gets a free medical check up. We only pay a minimal amount
for my eldest. Thank you Lord!
Worship Team practice in the afternoon. We don’t have a guitarist at the moment
so I played the guitar at the rehearsal. I’m not that good. But I want to play music for
Him.
What about my son’s birthday? We decided to have a simple celebration at Sunday
school.
My sister who had an operation was discharged from the hospital (Sunday). She is
fine and strong (genki) and recovered. My other sister was with her. They were able to
attend the church service. Praise the Lord!
In the morning, we prepared individually packed food for the kids and give aways.
We just bought a small cake for the kids to enjoy at snack time.
Prepared for the Worship Service? Excited, I should say! It’s good to be home…
at home in the presence of God where I can rest…I felt so relaxed, comfortable and
strengthened. And yes, we had an awesome time offering praises and worship to the Lord.
Hallelujah! His Love is Amazing!
My sister who had an operation started to work the following day. I thank God for
the will and strength that God has given her. Glory!
Both of my kids got well over the weekend. My wife got her voice back after
singing at the service. Amen!
“…The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few…” Matthew 9:37
In Jesus Alone,
Pastor
Glen, Wendy, Daniel and Ezekiel Gazzingan
AG Shinohara Kyoukai
1-1-33
Shinohara-higashi Kohoku-ku
Yokohama-shi,
Japan
222-0022
Email: gazzis4cj5i@gol.com
Tele/fax:
(045) 4349922