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.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

God's mercy poured out

We've had a long day.  Michiyo's surgery that could take from 1-3 hours ended up being a 9:00-5:30 marathon. Of course it's hard not to become fearful and full of doubts while waiting so long, not knowing.  Wayne was able to remind me not to borrow trouble, but to stay focused on the here and now.

Michiyo's tumor was malignant.  But thankfully, it was very small, the very earliest stage, and there are no signs that it had spread.  It was as good of a result as we could ask for with cancer.  The doctors successfully removed 1/3 of her lung, and we left her in the recovery room, conscious, but very out of it.

My phone rang continuously all day.  It is so heart-warming to see the love and concern people feel for Michiyo.  It's because they've all been on the receiving end of her love and concern.  Today was really a beautiful picture of the body of Christ working together to love, serve and pray for one another.  May her husband and everyone else 'know we are Christians by our love', and be drawn to Christ as a result!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain

Michiyo Sakai is a precious sister in Christ.  We've been friends a long time.  We've seen her come to Christ, raised our children together, worked together in service, seen our kids make professions of faith together, and shared many pieces of our lives.  This fall, we are walking through a valley with Michiyo.  She has a tumor on her lung; tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. it will be removed, and if it is cancer, they will also remove 1/3 of her right lung.  She is 45 years old.  She is a shining testimony of God's grace.  She is a leader of women and a servant of all in our church.  And so on this night before her surgery, my heart is filled with the question, "WHY, LORD??" Michiyo's asked the same question, of course.  But she doesn't linger there.  She moves on to truth:  "God tells us he makes us more like Jesus through suffering."  "I know that all things work together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose."  "If God is for me, who can be against me?"  etc...

People have been moved by her faith--they've praised her for her courage and strength.  Michiyo responds with a firm, "NO--it is Christ in me, nothing of myself."  Really, it's been a beautiful thing to see.  Oh, she's had tears.  We've cried some of those together, others she's shed in the dark when nobody else can see.  But in the end, the smile wins out.  She's been a living testimony of God's strength being perfected in weakness.

I hope you will pray for my friend and sister.  Pray for her husband Toshi to meet Jesus face to face through this journey.  Pray for her daughter Noel--far away in the States--and her son Leo.  Pray for us.  We love Michiyo.  And we pray for God's grace to rejoice in whatever tomorrow holds...