Missions Corner-Walking with a Faithful God

Schmidt Prayer Letter, March/April 2015

Twenty-six years ago this month a young Swiss/American family arrived in Sapporo, Japan with their three daughters ages 5,3 and 1! They started Japanese language school and their new life of ministry with OMF International. We have been walking with our Faithful God, and He has been with us all these years! Our life verse in Isaiah 55:12a says, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” This verse represents how God has guided us, through thick or thin. We praise Him for being so faithful to our family! And His faithfulness also extended to us through all of you, by your love, prayers and support. Thank you for walking the path with us too!

Appropriately, the theme for the Ladies’ Conference Shelley went to in March was “Walking with a Faithful God.” A Canadian OMF missionary, with over 40 years of service here in Japan, spoke. Up to 50 Christian women from around Hokkaido gathered in Sapporo for a time of fellowship and spiritual refreshment.

Our church, Sapporo International Church, is walking through a time of transition. We are thankful, that the interim pastor and his wife (they are in their 70’s) have agreed to extend their time with us. Please pray for unity in the church and God’s will to prevail. We know that God will be faithful to our church and will provide the right leader, at the right time.

We are looking forward to some new internationals to walk through the doors of our church on April 18, to join the International Welcome Party. We are praying for leaders to emerge from the ESF group to be able to plan a fun and meaningful evening. Please pray for the ESFers to invite and befriend the new students that arrive on the Hokkaido University campus in April.

As God walks with us, we need His strength to take care of the many guests that will be coming and going in the next few months. We need wisdom to juggle all the requests that continuously come in.

Praise…  

-for CIM/OMF’s 150 year celebration since Hudson Taylor founded the mission

-for 26 years of God’s faithfulness since we first arrived in Japan, Feb. 28, 1989

Pray…

-for the ongoing search for a capable pastor with a heart and vision for internationals

-for planning and holding of the International Welcome Party on April 18

-for energy and smooth running of the Guest Home during the coming two months with many change-overs.

-for a profitable time with a UK pastor on sabbatical who will help with our ESF group April 25-end of May

-for Kevin in Nevada, seeking to begin a business with his uncle, while Rebekah remains in Jakarta to finish her teaching year

Rejoicing in the faithfulness of God,

Dieter and Shelley