In October, we held another Poverty Simulation (see photo here at right, and on page 2) for the sixth graders at Urawa Lutheran School (ULS). We

again talked candidly about how poverty impacts students

their age, trying to make an idea that is hard to persona- lize relevant to 11-year olds. We highlighted specific situ-

ations in Indonesia that we researched & experienced

while living and working there for 5 years (2008 – 2013).

We have been looking for every opportunity possible to

connect ULS and Japanese families to our former school organization, Pelita Harapan. These Christian schools were

founded in the early 1990’s, planted in all socio-economic

levels of Indonesia – modern cities & primitive villages, hop-

ing to bring Jesus to that Muslim culture through education.

The ULS sixth grade classes were combined, then shuffled

and divided. They were each assigned a “family group in a rural village” in which they had to make wise decisions regarding money and educa-

tion and health. They needed to discuss how to benefit family members, fur-

ther their own goals for the future, as well as for the entire village --

all using microfinance and cooperation.

In November, we brought up the idea of poverty again in special

class periods, this time to make a craft to help the sixth graders remember to pray for students their age in Indonesia. They

used beautiful ethnic lace to decorate candle holders to (cont. next page)

As the sun comes

over the horizon to il- luminate The Land of

the Rising Sun on New Year’s morning,

many Japanese people look to iconic Mt. Fuji

(in the photo below) to

witness the miracle of another year dawning over

this unique & beautiful land. This year especially, 2020, will see

this fascinating country of Japan hosting

the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo for the whole world to see. 2020 is

The Year of the Rat on the 12-year

calendar from ancient times (seen above left). CAN YOU FIND YOUR BIRTH YEAR?

WHICH ANIMAL ARE YOU?

Going Forth

Edition 24, No. 4

Winter 2019

In Japanese culture, “Hatsuyume” (初夢 ) is

the first dream one has in the new year.

Traditionally, the contents of a dream on that

night would foretell the luck of the dreamer in the

coming year. It is considered to be particularly good luck to dream of Mount Fuji, a hawk, and an

eggplant. CAN YOU FIND THOSE THREE THINGS

IN THIS NEWLETTER?

Who’s going to dream about an

EGGPLANT

???

Not ME!

Herman Damar photo on boredpanda.com

(continued from page 1)

help raise money for

a gift to Sekola Len-

tera Harapan (see lo-

go above). This Chris-tian rural village

school organization

in Indonesia strug-gles to provide basic

educational sup-

plies for families. We feel that it is

no coincidence that

the name, “Lamp of Hope School,” seems

to fit into the theme

of this Service Lear-

ning project: the glow of knowledge and ed-

ucation, sunlight, candles, warmth, etc. Speaking of

light, the monetary gifts from ULS families and

staff will help to buy solar-powered lamps for students who live in villages where there is little

or no electricity and lighting to study after

sundown. These lamps will gather energy

from the sun to power the bulb, providing light for up to 6 hours after dark.

We hope that ULS students can better

understand some of the needs of others their own age, but in very

different situations

than theirs, through this experience. We

want to help them

combine learning with service to another

community to help

meet the needs of those

who need it most. We pray that this kind of

worldview will effect

positive change in the future with God’s help

through their reflection

on this process!

During the craft lesson, as glue was drying in between steps of construction, we shared short cultural

lessons about Indonesia. We taught Bahasa Indone-

sian language phrases and greetings, showed more

photographs of our family’s time there, played an Indo- nesian game, and sang, “Jesus Loves Me” in Bahasa (see box above).

In order to buy a reliable lamp to send to the village schools, we began testing solar products in our

apartment (see Isaac in the photo above left, setting up the panel close to our veranda window). The plan is to purchase as many lamps as we can, and then haul them to Jakarta this coming March in order to deliver them in

person. We are putting together a short-term mission trip, traveling with our ULS co-worker, Michiko Ishii, as

we visit schools and officially work to draw the Harapan Foundation closer to Urawa Lutheran School. Our hostess, Hanna Parapat, is faithfully arranging visits at various campuses and villages.

“The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light; on those

living in the land of the shadow of death a light has

dawned. For unto us a child is born, to us a son is

given, and He will be called, ‘Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ ” (Isaiah 9:5)

Just like the photo of the rising

sun dawning over Japan on

the front page, Heaven’s pure

Light dawned on our world,

lay in a manger, a tiny body

holding the warmth & glow of God’s love in his little body…

Photos (Clockwise from center):

ULS student measuring & gluing her lace for the candle holder; some finished holders; the solar lamp that we will purchase; Isaac testing the solar lamp in our apartment, a Power Point slide from our presentation about praying for the schools & students in Indonesia; a village school in Indonesia, getting light for study from the windows; Debi teaching the students to sing “Jesus Loves Me” in the language of Indonesia!

Theirworld.org

Flickr.com

Jesus

Loves Me (in Japanese)

Shu ware o aisu

Shu wa tsuyo kereba

Ware yo waku to mo

Osore wa araji

Waga Shu Iesu

Waga Shu Iesu

Waga Shu Iesu Ware o aisu!

Jesus Loves Me (in Indonesian)

Yesus kasih pada ku Alkitab mengajarku

Meskiku kecil lemah

Tapi Yesus kasihla

Yah, Yesus kasih

Yah, Yesus kasih

Yah, Yesus kasih Dia kasih padaku!

respectlife.drvc.org

“Let the Light of Your Face shine upon us, O Lord.

You have filled my heart with great joy!

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:6-8)

“The unfolding of

Your Words

gives light

[and

warmth].

Make Your

Face shine

upon your

servant and

teach me

Your Ways.” (Psalm 109:

130,135)

There have been big changes in our family’s schedule lately --the biggest being Isaac and Megumi joining the Scout troop at Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ) in Tokyo with 2 other students from our homeschool fellowship group. The troop’s number is “610,” chosen for Ephesians 6:10 (see box below). We have been blessed by the faithful Christian discipleship of Scout leader- ship, both adults and fellow students. This particular troop is a little unusual in Japan for its commitment to camp in woods without campsites and protecting beautiful Japanese forests by leaving no trace of having been there. All areas used by the troop on a campout must be wiped clean, leaves scattered, ashes buried, & all food packed out. They have bushwhacked off of animal trails and learned to camp in cold and wet conditions (once without the warmth of a fire). They are stretching and growing in new ways! After joining the Scouts, all young recruits are given a thick handbook containing regulations, lists of important oaths, stand-

dards & promises to memorize, and a regimen of tasks to be completed to earn the rank of Scout. These lists must be checked off, witnessed by leaders, one task being making fire. Using matches, knives, & hatchets out in the woods are privileges that

must be earned by showing maturity in their use. What adventures they are having out in God’s fresh Creation!

We’ll walk for Truth,

speak out for love!

In Jesus’ Name, we shall

be strong!

To lift the fallen, to save

the children, to fill the

nation with Your Song!

Let the flame burn

brighter in the heart of

the darkness turning

night to glorious day! Let

the song grow louder as

our love grows stronger!

Let it shine! Let it shine!

(“Easter March” song, 1989, Graham Kendrick)

We’ll walk the land with

hearts on fire and every

step will be a prayer, Hope

is rising, a new day dawning

the sound of singing

fills the air!

Two thousand years and still

the flame is burning bright

across the land! Hearts are

waiting, longing, aching,

for awakening once again!

We’ll walk for Truth, speak out

for love!

In Jesus’ Name, we shall be

strong!

To lift the fallen, to save the

children, to fill the nation with

Your Song!

Let the flame burn brighter in

the heart of the darkness

turning night to glorious day!

Let the song grow louder

as our love grows stronger!

Let it shine! Let it shine!

(Graham Kendrick)

It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around

can warm up in its glowing! That’s how it is with God’s Love, once

you’ve experienced it, you spread His Love to everyone! You want

to pass it on! (“Pass It On,” 1974, classic campfire song)

If this lamppost looks familiar, you might have read

C.S. Lewis’ beloved series about the enchanted land of Narnia and recognize it as the connection between mod-

ern London and the magical kingdom where Aslan rules with power and grace. This series of allegories are a favorite of our family’s, as well as Megumi

& Isaac’s English-speaking friends. With five other students from their home-

school fellowship group, Megumi & Isaac have been preparing

a drama presentation to perform in the spring. With only seven actors, there is much changing of costumes and characters,

and happy mayhem back stage!

What started as a fun school project has grown into a fuller deeper study of the many facets of this tale, resulting in a seri-

ous ministry opportunity to share the love and sacrifice of Jesus. Watch for more dramatic news in coming newsletters!

pinterest.com

A Scout is:

Trustworthy

Loyal Helpful Friendly

Courteous Kind Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean and Reverent.

eastcoaststories.com

“Be strong in

the Lord

and in His

mighty Power!” (Eph. 6:10)

Pray for our

HOPE that the concept of

“Service

Learning” will go beyond the

Elementary School into the

Junior High to affect young

lives to make a

difference in their world, not

in the future, but starting now!

Pray for discern-

ment in the final

decisions to be made for our

mission trip to Jakarta in March.

Pray that our

contacts and

former co-workers will be guided by

the Holy Spirit to

connect us to schools &

churches where we can do the

most good!

Please pray

for our family as we travel at

Christmas to

see LOVED ones in

California.

Please pray

for quality time at the

end of the year with

Debi’s father, who is strug-

gling with

Alzheimer’s, and her

brother, J.D., in San Diego.

Please pray for

JOY as our family

tries to be a bright light in our apart-

ment complex.

Pray with thanks

for our excellent health this last

year!

ULS has a need

for another full-time native Eng-

lish speaker for next year. Please

pray wisdom for the interviews &

search process.

Praise God with

us for former stu-dents who have

sought us out,

some who have been baptized or

are going to church!

Please pray for

PEACE and PATIENCE as

we continue to wait for the ULS

desks & chairs

that are still in storage in a

warehouse at Yokohama Port,

awaiting ap-proval to be

sent to Indo-nesia!

Pray for non-

Christian co-

workers at ULS

and friends in our neighbor-

hood to open their hearts to

the PEACE of Jesus!

Pray for con-

tinued peaceful,

loving , and adventurous

homeschool days at home!

We each began writing these quarterly newsletters long ago, Tom with his “Going Concern”

in 1990, and Debi with her “Burning Bush” in 1993. Over those almost 30 years, YOU who read these have been a vital part of our story – our work and ministry here in Asia! You have faithfully

lifted up our very specific needs to the glowing Throne of God. He has listened to your prayers and been our Guide, Coach, Caretaker,

Healer, Counselor, Teacher, Protector,

Advisor, and Friend. He has responded to your prayers as specifically as you

have prayed them! Thank you!!!

Below is a list of some of our latest prayer needs

and praises:

Tom & Debi Going serve as educational missionaries in Japan for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod with their 11-year old twins, Megumi & Isaac.

They served in Japan from 1990 – 2006, then in Indonesia from 2008 to 2013 and returned to Japan in 2013 to teach north of Tokyo at Urawa Lutheran School.