lokyo, Japan

January 26, 1957

FEB 1 ; 1957
Dear Friends;

Grreetings for the New Year, Here in Mabashi vre are encouraged with the progress during the past few months. There is a gradual increase in attendance with some former memhers returning and new people coming. The meeting of the women on Wednes

day afternoons has about doubled in attendance.

were young people except for one woman teacher,

This is a worship service for many

A former deacon, Ifr, Haruta, vdio

of the wmen v;ho cannot attend on S\inday. We have appreciated the faithfulness of church officers and a group of members. Those who left with the pastor last May

had to enter a T B hospital last fall, has recovered and is attending the services with his wife. Some High School young people are also coming. We have a more dif ficult problem to get o\ir young people into church than you do in America. NonChristian parents want the young people to spend their time studying. They are
Atforried, too,-that,if-the young people-^00106- (Siristlan. .they tsonnot mafce^ good marriage for them. Most of the marriages are still planned by the parents.

We had our usTial Christmas celebrations.

The Sunday service was a message by

our earnest deacon, Mr, Saito, on salvation (the true Christmas message).

After

wards,a group of C^istians had lunch together. Each had his little box of cold
boiled rice. It tastes b:^ter than it sounds. That evening, there was a Bible School program followed ^3^.a film shovm by Julius Tleenor. We are able to borrov; these films from some other Mssions (Moody Bible Institute and Science and the Bible

films).

Much of the preparation for the children's program fell iq)on Mrs. Hongo as

the other two teachers had only Sunday off and I took the influenza two we^s before
Christmas. Mrs. Hongo took care of me, shopping and preparing my meals, and also had to shop for the gifts and treats for the children. We gave the small children Bible story books and the older children Nev/ Testaments. Christmas eve, I took a

group of High School students to sing^'^i^bls for some old people.

Because of illness

we did not get to the hospital until after Christmas. Mrs. Virginia ileenor went v;ith Mrs. Hongo and me. We visited every patient of the two hundred bed hospital giving out a Christmas card and a tract. Although v;e visit this hospital every tvK) weeks, we cannot see every patient because we take time to talk to some who are in terested. Our time is also limited as vre cannot go until their rest period is over
at three p. m,

I appreciated the response to my appeal for Christmas cards. We received eno\:^h for next year also. Perhaps we may give soae to some other churches. This year we used those sent by the Inglewood,California, church because of the excellent

job of pasting v^ich they do. They cut a picture or a Bible verse from one card to paste over the v/riting on another card. Their work is so neatly done that it is hardly noticeable. Some groups used colored crayon to cover the isrriting. Others used brown paper. This makes them all right for mailing but we like more attractive cards to give out to the patients so we shall ro-do these for next year. I suggest
that you sort yoair cards and cut the less attractive cards.

The home of one of our members living near the church burned to the ground Christmas day, Fortunately, there v/as no wind or the church building and my home might have burned, also. The fire department had been callod to another fire at the same time so was delayed in coming here. Very little v/as saved. The family are liv ing in the side rooms of the church vAiere the pastor used to live until they can find another place. The way the church people helped out in this emergency was a testi mony to non-Christians. It is considered a crime if a fire starts in your home so there has been much questioning by police.

I had two unpleasant experiences recently. I was sitting reading in the elecs^ trie car, A man pulled a hea^ sack of riceT from the rack above and it landed on niy head hurting my neck and back. The man said "Oh, excuse me'* and soon got off the train. No ons of those crowded around said a v/ord to inquire how badly hurt I was* Another time, I was vralking rapidly, as I usually do, when I came to a piece of broken pavement and fell flat. The man walking behind me passed vdth only a glance in my direction. I thought, "If he were an American, he would help me up and in quire if I were hurt." And yet, these same people are alvreiys kind and go out of their way to give you directions. I believe they do not vsjit to get involved in an

accident but it is partly that they have not the Christipji sympathy and helpfulness, I once saw a man with a load fall on a crowded stairway from a station platform. No
one offered to help him until I reached him and lent a hand,

I have attended t\io funerals recently. One was a Christian mmen but as none of the family were Christian, they had a Buddhist funeral. However, one of her sons

asked us to also have a Christian service at the church.

one son and two of her friends attended.

This v;e did but only the

The other funeral was of the mother of one

of our Christian young men. In both instances, the body was on a highly decorated stand w5.th a picture of the flec^^.asyd, A luddhist priest in beautiful embroidered
robes sat near by with the family. Only a few could enter the smll homes so there

was a place to burn incense just incsidc the open sliding doors. People filed past, bowed in prayer, clapped their hands, and lit a stick of incense or dropped some on some hot coals. Some had a special string of beads which they put over their liands

coffin, burned incense and then rang a tiny bell, I did not want to take part in
a Buddhist funeral.

as they prayed, family and friends inside the house went forward in front of the
bowed to the family.

There is no message of hope and comfort in

usually comes to see me about once a month and I sometimes go there but not on Sunday as I help at Mabashi, I share materials for the work,

Mr. Itagaki reports progress at Kashiv/a, They had a three day evangelistic meeting in the fall and some new people began to attend the services, Mrs, Itagaki

^ A recent letter from Mrs. Rickerson of Miyako Island speaks of the work of Mrs, Kuninaka. The Rickersons drive out to the near by tovms and hold meetings in the school building for children after school. About 200 children gather at these meet

in teaching about one thousand children a week. They have made sixty flannelgraph lessons which they use for this teaching. Mrs. Kuninaka also teaches a Junior High group at Hirara one evening a week. She has been working in Miyako Island over three years now. We knov/ that she gets lonely at times. Her husband's family live there
but her father and sister live near Tokyo.

ings.

Vkith a group in the church at Hirara where they live, Mrs, Kuninaka assists

Mrs. Kongo is trying to do as much of the pastoral work as possible. She does much calling and people often come to talk over their problems. She has always assists in some of my young people's classes. Her most important work has always been the work vd.th the women. They love and respect her and she has led a number to Christ. It means so much to me to have such a good dependable friend and co-worker, She has lived with me since the Matos moved out of the church because she knew that ^
played the organ for the services. She now teaches a class in the Bible School and

I would be lonely here. She had made her homo vdth a brother who has an orphanage as her only child lives in Hokkaido. If anyone would like to send good used cloth- , ing for the children of the orphanage, I am sure ili wouldibe appreciated. There are nh 1,1drea-^^f & 1 1 -American"agagr-people" used" to help but'gy" these keep changing not so much is received now. The Japanese government furnishes about half the needed amount. They also receive American surplus food supplies.
We are glad to have the Pleenors in Tokyo again. They are busy in the v/ork. They are starting special children's meetings in a poor district.

per month formerly sent by the Los Gat.os diurch.

Salem is increasing its offering. This will help to make up for the fifty dollars

I want to thank all vdio send offerings for the work.

The Oourt Street Church of

its offering to another foreign fie^-d but iis..using it to establish churches in near by areas. I feel like quoting the words of Christ, "This you should have done and

help in getting other donations, I was disappointed to learn that it is not sending

The Los Gatos church has offered to

not have left the other undone," There are many more millions vdthout Christ in the

foreign field than in the home field, I believe also that many churches at home could establish more churches than they do, Mrs. Allumbaugh, of Eugene, Oregon, whose heart is alvys with the missionaries, has pledged five dollars per month, I have spent some happy times in her home v/here missionaries are always welcome. I received boxes containing gifts of food and other things from churches at Court Street. Salem, Oregon; Canton, Ohio; and Hillsboro, Oregon; and also from
friends and members of my family, I usually receive tv/o or three cake mixes. I have eno\igh to share v/ith some of my Japanese friends. Now

There are many problems and evangelistic work is slow in Japan now. Remember
that v;e need your prayers, "The supplication of a righteous man availeth mach in its
v/orking." Your Missionary,

Grace Parnham.

P. S, We have received v/ord that Thelma V/icks of Dorena, Oregon, has pledged ten
dollars per month to the work here. Truly we are grateful to her and to the God
who supplies our every need.

- ^
GEACS iOiiPOHT

October 1st - recemtior 31st

1956
HeceiDts

Exr.enees

Oregon

Salem, Court Street

Salem, Court Street Jr. Teacher

$602.26
1^,10

Living Liiik Salary (3 months) Court Street, Salem, Oregon

JTirst Christian Church

$ 300.00

Mr, & Mrs. R, Miner ($5

Vfas Christiiis.s gift)
Eov; River Church

Los Gatos, California

Japanese Workers:

20.00
30.00

Mrs. Masuka iCuninaka(Miyako Is.)

Jr. Dept. Sr.lera, Oregon Church Row River, Oregon
Mrs, Fusako Hon^^^o

7500
50.00

Crahtree C. W, P.
Stayton Church Stn.yton Church Peter

15,00
-^1,00

(ChrisGniaa gift)
Mrc. L. E. Allumbaugh
Thelma Wicks Affie McOauley
Mr. & Mrs. H. Benton

20.00
5,00
10,00 10.00

Mrs. Greene, Georgia Mr. and Mrs, Itagaki(?eter) Stayton, Oregon

Rent for Kashiwa work
TOTAL EXPEi^SSlS Cash Received

75.00
33.00

(Christinas gift)
Joy Calavan

5,00
^,00

$ 533.00 $1213.36
137^.89

Total
California
Los G-atos

$ 777.36

Cash or; hand, October 1st

GRAM) TOTAL CASH

$2589.25
S33.00

150.00
150.00

Ej^enses

Total

BALANCE December 31st, I956

$2056.25

Michigan
Miss Mabel G-ould
Total Minnesota

1.00
1,00

Mrs, H, L, McMillen

(Chj triataac
Total Illinois

-3.0,00 10,00

5 Members of Missionary Society Fisher Church

5,00
5.00

(Christmas gift)
Total Colorado

Mrs. Robert G-ore

Total

5.00
5.00

Pennsylvania Bryn Mav/r Missionary So,

Total

25.00
25.00

Ohio

Women's Missionary So, First Christian, Canton

Total

50,00
50.00

Georgia
Mrs. Chas. J. Greene

(Mrs. Hongo)
Total Kansas

30.00

30,00

Sublette Chiirch Total

^5.00 45.00

Received in Japan
Mr. & Mrs. E. L. Farnham

($50 percjonnl)
Mr. & Mrs. M. H. Farnham

100,00
10.00
500

(Christmas gift)
Mr, W. A, Kuhn Total

115,00

TOTAL CASH RECEIVED

$1213.36

6 1957
Spring News Letter
1957

Dear Friends:

a week on the day that we make the long trip to the T. B. hospital. She only charges
fifty ccnts and it is very restful. ^ &

will consider this a personal letter. Several have inquired about my health after ^ little accidcnt on the train of Ixavii^s a "big saclr of rice dropped on my head. I have entirely recovered thanks to Mrs. Kongo's excellent massages. There is also a raemher of the church who makes her living hy giving massage, so I have her come once
a

As I would like to write to each of you individually, I hope that each of you

I had three severe colds during the v;inter but I found that many others had the samo eperience. As a Japanese said to mo one time, "Colds are available". Mrs. iiongo took such good care of me, urging me to stay in bed and doing everything she
lonely, also, beins alone but we have canj'- pleasant times together.
could for me. It certainly means everything to me to have her with me. It is

t missionaries at a hot first few days ofabout April av.-as conference of Church of Christ springs hotel tv;o ahour trip south of TokytJ. Some from a distance could not come but there were twenty-nine adiats and twenty-two children. Mr. Taylor came from Korea; the Hammonds from Kyushu, the southern point of Japan; and iAt, Taber from Hokkaido, the northern island. The Tokyo missionaries were all there and six from the Osaka Tanabe Okayama areas. The Downeys, Okinawa
old Debbie. She was red v/ith moosles the next day exposing all the little folk. As the conference vras held in a Japanese hotel, we sat on the floor, (of course, on big square cushions on the padded matting), but for Americans not used to sitting and ate at low tables. Before the meeting v/as over, half the group wuld line up leanii^ gainst the wall with their legs stretched out. During the last speech I
language in Tokyo, attended v/ith their little three year

for long Japanese style this was very tiring. We slept on .mattresses on the matting

program of speeches and joyful singing was inspiring and the fellowship wonderful.

went to Mrs. Sims and said, "Let mo take the baby outside, I need a rest." But the

back and head for the kindegarten on his bicycle.

On Sunday evenings for a month, thc\'e are special meetings being held at Kashi^ where the Itagakis are vrarking. They were delighted to receive a layette from the Stayton, Oregon, church for their little one e.^ected in July. Mrs. Itagaki is such a capable teacher that the kindegarten where she is teaching tell her to take a vacation but not to quit. Mr. Itagaki thiiLks he can take care of the baby during school hours, I tell him that sometimes he \till be tying the baby on his
The Sato family, v^OBe house burned on Christmas day, lived for four months in

they kept in mind that they did not v/ant to be too far from the church. The daughter
come back for church services.

the church building. They liave purcJiased a home but the mother and daughter, both Christians, continue to attend the services. In searching for their new home,

teaches in the Bible School, So often when Japanese Christians move away they do not The attendance at the Mabashi church has shown a gradual Increase. There were

not so ma^ children through the winter but now that the weather is warmer more are
School but the class entering High School in April is continuing to attend, Mr, Saito, one of the deacons, is the teacher and he gives an excellent message.
coming. Usually those entering High School do not continue to attend the Bible

On Easter Sunday in the afternoon Mrs, Kongo and m;y-self and three women of the church visited the T. B. hospital taking tracts and colored eggs for each patient. Because of new medicine for T, B.. there are many empty beds in the hospitals and'
hopital eight years ago, there was always a number in a serious condition and seldom did a^one pt well enoi;gh to go home. Anumber are reading the Bible and ask us
^^oee with a background of Buddhist thought and idolatry. Some have said that they had faith in Christ but ItZt baptized. man asked tohave sprinkle him. which, of course, we would not do. I said, One "Godyoung will forgive ifus you done all that you can but he v;ould not accept a substitute baptism."

very few patients are in a critical condition. When I first began to visit this

needy people. We got butter, milk, and beans for two sick people and for an old lady.

Me have been able to get some surplus food through Church World Service for

r have appreciated all the kindnesses shown my sister Mrs. Myrtle Sylvester during her months of suffering and wards of sympathy to me since she passed away in
March, It is hard to "be so far .way at such a time "but "We sorrov; not as those who have no hope". We know that v/e shall nieet again. It is sad to think of the millions here in this land v;ho do not have this hope of eternal life.

I want to thanjc those again who gave offerings to continue the work which Mrs.

Kuninaka is doing in Miyako Island, the Itagakis in Kashiwa, and Mrs. Kongo, myslBlft and others are doing in'Mahashi as well as for your prayers for evangelism in Japan*
Your Missionary,
G-race Parnham

GRACE PARMAM PINAHCIAL REPORT

January 1st - March 31st 1957

Recei-pts

Expenses

Oregon

Living Link Salary (3 months)

$ 30.00 15.00
429.80

Thelma Wicks Mr. and Mrs, R. Miner

Court Street, Salem

$300.00

Court Street, Salem, Oregon and friends in other places

Japanese Workers;

"

" Teacher

Jr.
^7,66

"

Street Loyal Friends 25#00

30.00
18.00
2*^.00

Row River Church

Central Point Mission

Mrs, Jusako Hongo Mrs. Greene, Georgia Mrs. Masuko Kuninaka

Jr. Dept. Court St., Salem, Ore.
'Churcn Rov; River

50,00

75#00

Circle
Mr, & Mrs. M. H. Farnham

Ma?, and Mrs Itagaki

;on, Oregon

75.00

Rent for Itagakis and work at

California Mr, and Mrs. Albert Holland
10.00

Kashiwa'
Offering from Row River D,V,B.S
Used for Bibles for Children

33.00
12.00
.

Total Ohio

10,00

for Christmas

TOTAL EXPENSES

$ 5i^5,00

Canton 1st Charch W. M. S. 1^.00

Total Iowa Mr, & Mrs, Leineman

15#00 Cash Received Cash on hand, January let, I957 GRASCD TOTAL CASH
10.00

$ 657.^^6 ZO'^6.2'^ $2713.71

. 00

Expense
10.00

Total

BALANCE March 31st, I957

Hawaii Edna Slake
Total
2.00

$2168.71

2.00 Christmas gifts of money ($90.00) from

relatives used for clothing and medical,

TOTAL CASH RECEIVED

$ 657*^6

6 iQc-y

Tokyo, Japan
July 6, 1957

Dear Prlendst

As I was late in sending the spring news we decided to include the material in
the July letter^

Mrs. MiakSi who is nearing ninetyi was able to have the meeting which she had planned to tell her neighbors about Christ* (Those belonging to a little neighbor hood club gave some money; one loaned the use of her homei and the women were going to cook the meal, but Mrs, Miake insisted on doing all of it herself even though she to have cooked the meal. Mr. Julius Fleenor brought his movie projector and ohotred
two Bible films after the meal*

is not so strong now. As her home is never clean, the neighbors would have preferred

church. Others had planned on going but v/ere unable to make the trip. All had"put
rooms which opened together where we all slept on thin mattresses,
container of hot rice,

I made-a. jfcrip

a hot Bixr.ings_ijajJunejf4Jbh_a_^pup of

women from our

aside a little money each month for eight months. At the Japanese Hotel, we had two
The meals were

served on trays placed before each one. The trays had legs so were like tiny tables. The waitress sat in the center of the room filling our rice bov/ls from a big covered
We were served raw fish and tv/o kinds of fried river trout

and leaves and sprouts taken fro.m the mountains, Pern sprouts are considered a del icacy, I ate heartily of everything even the lunch the next day when we made a trip

and bitter. When it is hot, they say that the plum preserves the rice, A bus ride over a dangerous mountain road gave us such a jerking up that I spent a couple of days in bed on our return, I had evidently strained my back and taken a little cold, There were such stacks of bundles of fern sprouts v/hich the people were bringing from the mountains to sell that we had difficulty standing even when clinging to an over head bar.' But the beautiful scenery, reminding me of Oregon, a boat ride, a hike along a roaring mountain stream and the hours of closer fellowship with these Japan
ese women; made the trip worth vMle,

vrrapped in dried seavreed. In the center of each ball was a pink pickled plum, sour

farther into the mountains.

The lunch consisted of tv/o balls of cold boiled rice

A pretty wedding was held in the church in June, wlien Miss Yasulgc) Okamoto
^beca.Tnft brirde of Mr. Takashi^^JjiSjaajni. - The groom's mother and sister are faithful

deacon and his wife stood up with the young ^couple. Although Mr. Saito had never performed a marriage ceremony, because of his earnest faith, he gave a very impres
sive service. According to Japanese law, only the registration is necessary but the service is usually a Shinto service v/here each drinks nine sips of wine. Of
course, Christians have only the church service.

Cliristians,

The ceremony was performed by a deacon of the Mabashi church and another

The Japanese Christian wedding ceremony is American with "variations".

All the

wedding party march down the aisle and so rapidly that the organist can play only a few bars of the wedding march. There is first the groom who is aficoaipanied by the
best man; then the bride and bridesmaid v/alking together. The young people always choose an older couple, supposed to be the "go-between", v/ho make the marriage ar rangements, The audience sings two or three hymns before the ceremoaiy. Immediately after the service, the young couple are seated v/hile a short sermon is given. Then
a member of each family gives a word of thanks to those who have assisted in the ser

vice and those vdxo attend,

speeches, witty and wise.

tilhile tea and cakies are served, there are usually many

The new couple is living in the apartment in the church. They are glad to have the use of these rooms and it is better not to have the building engaty. Neither is
a Christian but they attend the church service and we hope to lead them to Christ.

Mrs. Masuka Kuninaka, who was working vrt.th the Rickersons in Miyako Island, is now teaching public school. She plans to continue to do Christian work but,as she has her salary from the school, we ars not supporting her. However, v/3 gave her fifty dollars for her fare home and the usual ^ift of mpney v/hen leaving a vn>rk. She may return to Japan in the Autumn, We are planning to open up another Bible School in Tokyo and will use the funds provided for the Miyako v/ork but v/ith another worker. Mrs. Kuninaka has worked well in Miyako but is not so strong and has si^t in only
one eye. This has made the work difficult for her.

We celebrated flovrer day in June,

The Bible School children and teachers

brought flowers and then took them to the old and sick and to the police bo* and the guards at the railroad crossing, A group went to a nearby hospital. Por the first two weeks in August there will be missionary conferences in the mountains. This is an interdenominational conference. We enjoy the fellov/ship and ins^pirrtion of association with missionaries from all over Japan. I shall spend the
month of August with the Fleenors at our cottage.

summer using our summer house as a dornatory.

There will "be a number of Christir.j; young }jeople*s service canps duriiig this
it will be rather crowded but the

young people will sleep on thin mattresses on the floor.

Again I wish to thank all those who remember uS in their prayers and offerings.
Your Missionary,
Grace Farnham

GRACE PAHl^HAM FIHAHCIAL REPORT

April let - June 30th

Recei-pta

Eroensea

Oregon

Living Link Salary (3 months) $ 30,00

29.55
Court Street, Salem, Oregon Japanese Workers: Mrs. Fusalco Kongo Kr, & Mrs, Itagaki
Mrs. Masuko Kuninaka

Thelma Wicks
Teacher
Salem, Loyal Friends Court Street

Salem, Court Street if-10,44 Salem, Court Street Jr.

$ 300.00
50.00 75.00 50.00

20.00 Mr, & Mrs. R. Miner 15.00 Row River Church 30,00 Coquille Christian Church 20.00 Crabtree C. W. F. 20,00 Mrs. L, E. Allumbaugh 20.00
Total California

Jr. Dept. Court St., Salem, Ore. Church Rov/ River, Oregon
Rent for Kashiwa v;ork

33.00
12.00

Stayton Oregon Church Hospital Visitation

$ 60^1-. 99 total EXPENSES

Cash Received

$ 520.PO
$ 667.99 23.68,71 $2836.70
^^20,00

Mr, & Mrs. Andy Livacich

"Rttraey , Total

5.00
30.00

Cash on hand, April 1st

CASH

Expenses

Georgia
Mrs. Chas. J. Greene

balance June 30th, 1957

$2316.70

(Mrs. Kongo)
Totial
Hawaii

30.00
30.00

* Our trips to the T. B, Hospital have

been costing us about two dollars -per

month for train fare and a fev/ things to

Mrs. Edna Flake
Total

2.00

2.00

Michigan
Miss Mabel Gould Total l.QQ
1.00

^ive out to the patients. Mrs, Kongo in sists on paying her share from her small salary. Because of this, I iiave decided to let you help us out by talcing this amount from the general fund.

-TOTAL CASH RECEIVED

$ 667.99

SXOUXXII 'Q-9TI0f

96'xoa

^S6l 5

V N0D3d0

jl' d33)i

MO'OVO 'W31VS
\l -o 'Cyw .j;

iitiiiidii'iiiiiiiihiiiii

'-\-X ^

^okyo, Jap^
Fall 1957

Dear Friends:

It is fall and again time for a word of news and greeting,

I spent a month in
It was

the mountains v;ith the Fleenors at the cotta^-.e there v/hich we own to^^ether.

especially hot in Tokyo this summer so,though I had intended to go on July 30^^^ I was having frequent headaches, I went a fcv/ days earlier. We had a rest "before the
missionary conferences "be^^^an on tho first uf Au^^ust, There are two conferences

sponsored "by interdenominational groups. Several hundred missionaries gather in a large tabernacle built years ago for the pui*pose. The addresses wore given "by men of strong faith, some who have been years in Japan or China, This year one speaker
was a Christian business man from America.
little freedom for the church in red China,

He considers his main business his work

Dr, Hideo Aoki, an American born Japan

for the Lord, There were also a few Japanese paators who spoke. One had made a t^rip to China with a group of Japanese Christian leaders. He said that there was
ese, nov; a missionary of the Church of Christ in Tokyo, was one of the speakers. It is an inspiration to hear these men of faitii speak: and to have the oppor tunity to meet old friends. We had a gathering of pre-war missionaries. There are
not many here now, I met five or si:c who v/ere interned with me

Pour young people's camps were held in o'lr summer home. The Fleenors were in charge but I assisted v/hile I vra.s there.. Tiie house was almost bursting when thirtyfive of us ate and slept there for five days. All the classes were held there also.
It v/as an encouragement to notice the change in some of the young people in those

few days.

Of the first group, all made some dicisionto read the Bible, attend
However, only three made the decision

church services, invite their friends, etc.

to accept Christ as their Savior, But this is understandable when you realize that they had had very little teaching: before as they had only recently begun to attend
classes at the church, Tliat is, the majority were nev;, The second camp, ot three days, was a family camp from the Shimoochiai church where the Fleenors are. It was good to see even a fev; faraily groups in a Christian camp. One young mother who cam
with her husband and small son was a Mabashi Bible School child before the war.
were tv/o other former Mabashi members there with some of their families.

Ther

They now

live nearer to the Shimoochiai church. It was good to have fellowship with them again. . >

The following v/eek was for a group of poor children from the work v;hich the

Fleenors have opened in a slum district. An earnest Cliristian Japanese woman led this group very capably. She insisted thp.t they all pray and gave them earnest talks
about sin and repentance. This was especially important for this group lor some of them came from very bad surroundings. She also inqpressed upon them that they must
not v/orship idols nor talce part in the frequent festivals of shrines and temples. Some Japanese leaders neglect this teachinr. I wonder if it is because they are so

accustomed to idoltry that it does not seem so bad to them. In this camp eighteen were baptized. We can not help but be conc>:-:ied for fear that some were only doing what their friends did, but we loiov; that their teacher will do her best to lead them. The last camp was for college age, I I'lad planned to take both young women who
.teach in our Bible School but one could not ,^et leave from the office where she works*

This group wao intorcsting. There v;as a Chinese mother v/ith her three boys who had escaped from China after suffering much from the communists. She had come from a

Christian family of high class in China, aaid she gave a v;onderful testimony of how^
God had led and cared for her v/hen she was so discouraged tliat she thought that sui

cide was the only solution.

She is tryin>^ to educate her boys in the American sfchool

She has been
She has also taught Chinese cooking.

as she thinks there is more futiire for them if they knov/ English well.
teachers of Chinese as there used to be.

teaching Chinese in one of the Tokyo universities but there is not as much demand for

Through the assistance of the Fleenors she was able to get a position as cook in the
Christian Academy where the children oi' missionaries are educated, Her children will also attend there. We hope to have more from Mabashi attending camp next year.
The women's group are asking for a cainp,

A young man whom we formerly taught in the T, B, hospital was baptized here at Mabashi recently. Since leaving the hospi'al, he had been attending services near hj s home but they did not teach him cinythiu^ about baptism because the leader was of the no church group who teach that baptism and the Lord's Supper are spiritual only. We have heard of several former patients at that hospital who have gone to church
es near their homes and become Christians, One young woman has opened a Bible study

, class at the place v^here she works.

The seed which v/e were sowing through the months

in which we have been going there has begun to bear fruit.

I visited the Itagakis last month. The, have a strong healthy tahy as he is fed according to methods of feeding modern Rabies in Japan. Mrs. Itagaki is again
teaching kindergartisn and he caros for the ^-alsy during school hours. They have a good Bible school aid regular Sunday serviuBS in their home "but as the house is to be sold they will have to move in Warch. Mrs. Kuniaka, who has been assisting the Rickersons in evangelistic work on the

island of Miyako until last spring, visited ner home near Tokyo and the church at Mabashi, in the suirjner. She returned to Miyako in September. She is interested in
the evangelistic work there but she felt lonely at the thought of going again so far from home. We can understand very well hov/ she felt. She will continue to teach school for the present.

We are happy to have fellowship with Dr. and Mrs, Ao?<i and family, the new Japanese American missionaries to Japan, He is a Stanford University graduate and has been giving lectures in a stud;^-- course for American service men. Because of
this, they are allowed to live in the housing area for the arn^. His missionary work in Tokyo, so far, has been mostly with students. He teaches Sible in one of the biggest universities in Tokyo and has other contacts in a Christian student center. He gave a splendid message at the Mabashi aimrch recently. They also attended the missionary potluck dinner and prayer service. The meeting will be held in their home also by turn. They have been living out of Tokyo as they could not find a
house. We appreciate their hamble sincere attitude and believe that they will do a great vrark in Japan, I have been happy that since the war a number of Japanese Americans have come as missionaries to Japan*
Items of Interest

A new ten^le is to be bui].t, according to the newspaper, for the teeth which have been pulled. We are surprised at this i/i moaern Japan and what a waste of
money. But there is still mach superstition and always many schemes for making

money.

Some new religions have been started in Japan with the apparent idea of

making money.

Recently 3000 pounds of inferior pearls were "laid to rest" in the sea. They were dunked to keep the quality of marketed pearls high, A Buddhist priest conduct ed a service and prayed for the "eternal peaceful rest", of the pearls. The "sacri
ficed pearls" were placed on an altar with fruit and flowers; and Miss Saiga, the

pearl queen who was wearing a $10,000 pearl crown, dumped the first box.
A young man came wanting to talk with me. He had a visionary idea that if we built a big tov/er of peace we could help to avoid war in this atomic age. I told him that we must have peace in the heart first, I urged him to come to church but
he did not come,

Mrs. Kongo brought some dried sea weed from Hokkaido.

It is similar to the

long black rubber-like strands that you see on the Oregon beaches. We cut it in small pieces and she made it into a tasty(?) dish to take to the hospital patients to eat with their rice. Of course, we can only give special things to a few whom we
know well.

We have a concrete fence on three sides of the church lot but we thought it best
to leave the other side, which is next to the narrow street, with a bajnboo fence and

hedge, as the Japanese usually have around their homes.

This gives the people pass

ing by a chance to look in and see the flowers and know what it is like inside and we, also, do not have such a shut-in feeling. However, the bamb*o fdnce does not last so long as concrete.

Your missionary,
Grace Farnham

GRACE lARMiAM FINANCIAL REPORT

July 1st - Se^ *^(".fflber 30th

Receipts

Sxpensea

Ore^^oh

Living Link Salary (3 months)

$668,53
21,90

$ 300,00

Salem, Court Street

Salem, Court Street Jr.
Teacher

Court Street, Salem, Oregon

Friends

Japanese Workers;
25.00 15.00
30.00 30.00 30.00 " Kr:5. l\:cako Hongo Mrs. Greene, Georgia Mr. & Mrs. Peter Itagaki
Rent for Kashiwa work

Mr, & Mrs. M. H, Farn-'

50,00 75.00 33.00 6.00 5.20 7.95

ham (Birthday)
Salem, Loyal Friends
Court Street

Mrs. Thelma L. Wicks Rov/ River Church Stayton Church

Homital trips Ro -^;.' repair

Boiriboo fence

Coquille C. W. F.
Mr. iSj Mrs, R. Miner Mrs, L, E, Allurataugh
Total

I6.67
15.00 I'S.OO

Christian Service Camps (scholar

ships, etc.) Repair of summer house for can^js
$ 867.00
TOTAL EXPENSES

8.75
2^,00

$ 510.90 $ 901.^5
2-^16.70

Cj^lfornia Mrs. Ruth Livacich

Cash received

(Birthday)
Total Indiana

'i.OQ

Gash on hand, July Ist 5.00 GRAIID TOTAL CASH

Expenses

$3217.^5
'iio.go

Danville Christian Charch 29.^^

Total

BALANCE September 30th, 1957

29'M
$ 901 M
^

$2706.55

CASH RECEIVED" -

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