Our Journey

We are Wayne and Amy Newsome, Mission to the World church planting missionaries in Nagoya, Japan. That's been our 'title' for 20 years or so...so this is not a new journey for us. But it never grows old, because God continues to surprise us with unexpected turns, beautiful vistas, interesting layovers and various happenings that keep us on the path, moving forward. Our purpose is to see His glory revealed through the church in Japan and beyond. We hope this blog is a place to ponder, report, muse and express our wonder in the Gospel in our own hearts and in the hearts of the Japanese.

Friday, September 10, 2010

So far away...

I think the last few years have brought us to a new place in our life in Japan...the stage where part of our family (and therefore, part of our heart), is no longer right here with us, but far away.  Katelyn's just starting her sophomore year at Covenant College, and we are thrilled with all she is learning and doing there.  BUT!  It's hard to miss out on special moments.  The first ever sporting event held under lights is one example--the women's soccer team inaugurated the new lights, and I'm sure many parents and families traveled to be there to share in the excitement with their girls.  It pains me to NOT get to be a part of special moments like that in Katelyn's life.  It forces me to keep an eternal perspective, summed up well in something Katelyn posted on  facebook:

'This world is where I breathe, let it never be called home'



Katelyn, #13, celebrates a goal scored by her friend and teammate Amy Dykstra.


Thursday, September 2, 2010

Pray and Plan

We are spending today and tomorrow as a team praying and planning for the fall.  It's never enough time to talk about all the things we want to discuss!  But I am thankful for each of the dear people God has put together on the Nagoya Church Planting Team--Bakelaars, Wilsons, Linda, Darlene and Jane.  Today I was struck by something Wayne said.  He mentioned that about one year ago, when we had just returned to Japan from the States, we decided as a team to focus on praying for God to add new workers to our team.  Since that time, we have gone from one family intinerating to join us, to FIVE families and singles who are now raising support to join church planting in Nagoya.  God has answered that prayer abundantly!  We can't wait to have the Carters, Sinks, Cravens, Gees and Kendrick join us.  And this year, we need to pray that God will add Japanese co-workers to our number, so that each of us can partner with Japanese to see God's kingdom expand in this place.      More than numbers, though, we need to be like Jesus in all we do:  "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.