THANK YOU! Your Prayers Matter!

On this thanksgiving week, we just want to let you guys know that we are so thankful for you! Your prayers really do matter! God does the heart work that we cannot do when we ask - and you have! Here are some ways God has answered your prayers since our return in March. Let's …

Please pray THIS weekend!

As you read this we are hosting a Fall Retreat for MTW MK's across Japan. Together we're considering the question: "What's going on in your heart?" as we explore how the gospel relates to our emotions, sin, relationships. Please pray for: Deep relationships to be forged among the students and staff The gospel to go …

Prayer Need

This week all of the MTW missionaries in the Americas are gathering together in Mexico for a week of reconnection and refreshment. Brooks, along with our Next team will be running the tween, youth, and college program for the missionary kids. In the 48 hours prior to the retreat we heard from two Next families …

A web of workers

While I was studying the Bible this week with my friend she asked me if I knew a young boy in this city who has a biblical sounding name. “Come on, we live in a huge city! Why do you just assume because he has an English name we would know each .... oh wait. …

GOD did it!

August, 2018 is a monumental month for us! Aside from the exciting change in our family that we shared with you recently,* there are a couple of other things that God's been doing that we want you to celebrate with us! FIRST SEMINAR COMPLETELY IN JAPANESE! I know many of you guys were praying for …

“I never thought that something I couldn’t understand could have such an impact on me.”

This past month we had the privilege of hosting Next Asia Pacific's first summer intern! Emma raised support and flew halfway around the world to come serve the Japanese youth and our ministry team...did we mention she's only 16 years old?! We were amazed to watch her humility, boldness and independence as she pursued high …

“Wow I didn’t know Christian culture and Japanese culture could overlap!”

Sometimes it seems like Christian thinking and Japanese thinking are like oil and water. The culture, although beautiful in many ways, is completely void of historic Christian values. Yet, some of it's symbols are pregnant with Biblical meaning. As I (Riva) read through the Jesus Storybook Bible weekly with two different Japanese friends,  one of …

What are the odds of that?

Did you know you are more likely to meet identical twins in America than to meet a Christian in Japan? Our neighbor stopped by the other day bearing gifts and asked for a favor: Would I meet weekly with her 35 year old daughter to practice English? Of course! Did I have a book in …

Do you think all Japanese people go to Heaven?

I wasn't sure what to say. Obviously I new the answer, but I didn't want to lead with a firm and insensitive "no." I wanted to understand the emotions behind the question. Was he asking for himself? Someone else? What was the question behind the question? How could I help him to see the good …

Kindergarten Time!

This is just a quick note to ask you to pray for my girls. Quinn and Marley are off to their first full day of Japanese Kindergarten today and Riva is facing her first day with the girls in school. Prayers for faith and peace would be appreciated all around!