Hi from Tokyo!
We hope you are all doing well! As some of you know, Cody and I moved from Osaka to Tokyo the end of last year and we wanted to give you all an update on what we have been up to.
- Graduated from Japanese Language School
- Moved to Tokyo
- New Friends and Connections
- Church Plant (launched!) and Outreach
- Prayer Requests
- Partnering with us
Please let us know how you all are doing too! We love you all and miss you.
Ok, let’s get started… 🙂
Graduated from Japanese Language School:
In September, we graduated from the YMCA Japanese Language School, completing their two-year program.
We feel so blessed to have been able to attend the YMCA for two years and are so thankful to all our teachers and classmates who helped up along the way. Thank you to all of you as well, who prayed for us, encouraged us, and helped contribute to our tuition. Through our time at the YMCA, we were able to share God’s love with our teachers and classmates from all around the world.
The YMCA not only helped us improve in our Japanese but also better understand Japanese culture, traditions, and values, something we believe is imperative in helping us build a strong foundation as missionaries in Japan. When Japanese people hear that we have an interest in their culture and language, they have been so excited. Our prayer is that as we share God’s love in Japan, we aren’t just Americans bringing American culture and mindsets, but instead are able to teach about the Kingdom of God in a way that is culturally respectful and relatable.
Moved to Tokyo:
In our last post, we talked about visiting Tokyo and scouting out the area. After praying together, we felt God leading us to move to Tokyo. Initially, we weren’t sure exactly what it would look like, but we trusted God had something good for us and took that next leap of faith. And we are so happy we did!
But of course, moving is always bittersweet, and leaving friends behind is the hardest part.
Saying goodbye to our wonderful friends in Osaka.
And to the lovely couple who own the Bakery near us.
One of our favorite things about our Osaka apartment, was this cute little bakery next door to us. On our way home from school, we would regularly stop at their shop and chat with the store owners, the sweetest husband and wife. We became such good friends, that when we moved they gave us a goodbye gift and a bag full of freshly baked pastries from their shop.
We are truly grateful for their friendship.
New Friends and Connections:
Shortly after moving to Japan, God connected us to some amazing people who we are now doing ministry with! During our scouting visit to Tokyo last year, we met the Abes for the first time. Long-time leaders in a well known church here in Tokyo, when we met they were trying to figure out what the next season would be for them. Cody and I instantly felt a connection with them and when we left, Cody and I looked at each other and said “I think we’ll be doing ministry together.”
After moving to Tokyo, and being able to spend more time together, it become clear that what we felt was spot-on. The more time we spent together, the more we realized we had in common and officially decided to team up in ministry together, leading to a church launch (more to come later) and various ministries.
The Abes and us enjoying American style hamburgers together
Ministry Team
Our team continues to grow! We have been so blessed to be working together with each one of these people. Thank you Jesus for good connections and friends!
(We should also mention, everything we do on the team is 100% Japanese!)
From left to right: Tatsuya, Kinta, Michitaro, Rie, Miyuki, Danielle, and Cody.
Since this picture was taken, two more people have joined, Shouji and Haruko.
Church Plant (launched!) and Outreach:
CHURCH PLANT: Bayside Church
Bayside Church!
For the past six months, Cody and I have been helping our good friends, the Abes, start a church plant in Kachidoki, Tokyo (right in the center of the city!). Our team has been praying and meeting weekly in preparations for this.
And we are thrilled to announce that in May 2022, we officially launched Bayside Church!
Please pray with us that we would be able to share God’s love and reach the unsaved in this community.
Worshiping Together
Cody leading worship with Haruko (vocals) and Rei (piano).
Sharing the Word
Ministry Time
OUTREACH: Dinner and Bible Study
In addition to our Sunday Service, we have been doing a neighborhood outreach twice a month using the app “Meetup.” Every time we get to see new faces and meet new people from all over Tokyo, Japanese, foreigners, Christians, and non-Christians. We all share a meal, read the bible, and discuss what we read together.
Through these bible studies, people who have never prayed before have learned how to pray, those who have never read the bible have been able to openly ask questions and learn, and those who have felt lonely have been able to make friends.
Eating Together
Reading the Bible Together
Discussing the Bible Together
Prayer Requests:
Here are a few prayer requests we would love for you to partner with us on:
- Church plant and current outreach ministry
- For those we minister to feel loved and welcomed, and for those who are not saved to know Jesus
- Wisdom and insight on new outreach ministries God wants us to start
- Our ministry team
- Monthly support for ministry: we currently have two monthly supports and are praying to increase our support team
Please let us know if we can be praying for you as well!
Partnering with us:
Please consider partnering with us and joining our support team, either through monthly or one-time contributions, or joining our prayer team. We currently have lots of room for growth! We would love to be able to increase our ministry and outreach budgets to be able to better reach and bless those around us.
Please let us know if you want to chat about how you can partner with us or have any questions.
Whether you read our updates regularly or are new to our posts, thank you for taking the time to read this update. We appreciate every single one of you.
Love and blessings to you all!
In Christ,
Cody and Danielle