Seedtime

JANUARY 1958

VOL. 6
CHRISTMAS

NO. 1
BYERIVBERE?

g>rop0rty ofi

But out where no one's heard

And do not think and

Christmas, Christmas everywhere

q2JARa^

^
Jopliii

^^

Hen plow their field and keep their store

And beg and buy and steal
seldom dream

And do not know,

A star shown down

A shepherd saw

A Wiseman came.

Christmas, Christmas everywhere

But out where no one loves

Men fear and hate and grasp

And hold t h e i r 'treasure to their heart

And weep and curse when it is gone

"^nd do not know,

God gave Bimself And men must give And love will triumph last, Christmas, Christmas everywhere But out where one knows fear

Men bow and scrape the dust of sacred hills

And cry in anguish to their gods who cannot hear

And have no hope except for time to heal
And do not know.

The Refuge from the storm The Shadow from the heat The Bindeiup of broken things:
God's Son.

Marguerite

Huckins

^'^^KINAWA
ESTA&UISHING SELF-SUPPORTING, SELFPROPOGATING NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES

tttmn

ntountains

Today we took Christmas to 'the least of these'* in the village of Oigawa

and the surrounding mountain and country-side, five miles north of our vil lage of Imadomari. We left at three o'clock this afternoon and just returned home at ten o'clock tonight. This will always be the most wonderful of Christmases for us, for the small group of Christians here, and for the 29 Junior Bible students who each provided a gift of rice and went along to

sing carols. For those to whom we went^the poor, the sick, the dying, the feeble-minded, the insane, the blind and deaf in forty homes scattered over the green hills and valleys, it was a first Christmas for they had never heard the joyous news before.
' We went so far and saw so much. I hope I can tell it just as it happened, especially for you who had a part in it. The gifts from the Vacation Bible * School children who had "Christmas for Okinawa" went to twenty-five sick children: the toys and crayons, pencils, candy, gum, and, along with these things, a colored picture book of the Christmas story in Japanese. Each of the adults was given a big wicker basket (made by the Christian woman who lost her house in the typhoon) containing a package of rice, a few Jap anese oranges, a can of fish, a can of meat, several yards of flannel sentfrom the Church in Selah, Washington, and a tract telling about the birth of Christ. Those of you who read, "Little Silk of Unten" will be interested to know that we found out about all these people through our doctor friend who took care of Little Silk. He was so happy to tell us about them, and sent his nurse along to help us find their homes. It would be impossible to

take you to every place we visited, but we will try to tell the story of a few
that high-lighted the day.

It was the doctor's special request that we take something to a little half-American child, so we went there first, as it was near the hospital. The child, a brown-haired little girl about four years of age, was playing outside in the street. She shyly received her gift and listened to the chil
dren sing, but her mother in the house behind could not be roused from her

business of harlotry to see what was going on. There is hardly a village, even those most remote, where there is not a child, conspicuously fair and
button-^ed, being cared for by relatives while the mother works. On down the village street now to the house of an old, blind grandmother who felt wonderingly her basket of good things and then clapped delightedly
as the children began singing their carols. Haru San, who made the bas kets, wept as she watched the old woman. Trouble and sickness have been

close to her since her husband left her and six young boys for another wo man several years ago. Soon after the last typhoon one of the little boys nearly died of polio. The other Christians prayed for her and helped her

during that time; now she was returning the kindness to someone else. behind the village
proper were many

other homes, and we found

apart from the others, down

could hardly be noticed for overhanging growth and its

our way to one tiny house

ifih^K_5y

belowthebankoftheroad.lt

basket was to go to a sick

grandmother.
tight. After

very smallness. Here the

calling and

|H^^H|L

.#'

"llIU
-'"^H

The sliding

doors of the house were shut

knocking and calUng again,

they finally opened a crack

^he old grandmother who received

which gradually widened to frame the big, sour face ofScrooge in a ki mono. He grunted something in a gruff voice and grudgingly pushed back the doors the rest of the way. We choked on the thick smoke that filled the house from the open fire in the kitchen part, but no one thought anything of
it, for it is common to warm a hoxise in this manner. The interior was so

dark we could see nothing clearly but the old man's face. He greyed for a small kerosene lamp and touched a match to its tiny wick. It threw a fee* ~bl-4ight across the bare floor and there, almost in front of us, lay the old woman under a pile of roiigh wool army blankets which covered her com pletely from head to foot. Nothing stirred under those blankets while we were there. We could not even notice the rise and fall of her breathing. The Christians explainedthat it was the birthday of Christ, the Son of God, and presented the basket to the old man. He still sat, unsmiling, and when he finally parted his lips to speak, I expected to hear "Bah, humbug!" In stead he said, "Aregato gozaimasu'^-thank you - and it seemed to me hi s
voice was softer, but the sadness and disappointment and bitterness of years without this Hope was still in his eyes.

From here we wound oir way iq) the first of the many mountain roads we followed today. Not more than half-way up the hill, we stopped again where another sick grandmother lived. We found her locked and barred in a crude structure resembling a chicken coup in the yard, her mind gone.
We Inquired if she were able to talk or understand and the old man, her

husband, shook his head and said, "Yes, she can talk but she is very str ange. "We left the basket with him. Not a sound came from the tiny build
ing.

Farther up the mountain with a gift for a sick boy. This home, in con trast tomostof the others we visited, was in a verypretty place with twisty, gnarled trees screening the house from the road. As we approached, we heard the blare of the loud speaker radio system that has in recent years

brought music and news into Okinawan homes. I thought, "Oh, good. Here is something cheerM for a change from the other miserable places we have been." The wide, sliding doors were open; an elaborate god-shelf and a big grandfather clock on the wall caught our attention. A young girl came forward and greeted us in a friendly way, but it did not take long to see that there was heartache here, too. A small, pale boy in a worn kimono sat at a desk in the comer of the room, sick and unable to go to school. On the other side of the room, lying on a thin mat on the cold floor, was

the father with several days growth of beard on his face not just resting;
as we at first supposed, but having been imable to move for five years. And this home, having some things others lacked, lacked something others had, and so was the poorest of all we visited. It had no mother, and so did not have that warm, vital something that wraps and binds and holds close a
home.

From here we went down the other side of the mountain and across the

rice paddies to the house of a crippled grandmother. She was not there,

but as we crossed back through the fields to the road, we s^ her coming a tiny old woman, crippling along with a knotty cane. V.e stopped her there in the road and explained what we were doing. While she stood there trying to understand the meaning of it all, the children gathered around her and sang their Christmas songs. She looked so small standing there with the big basket in her old kimono with its padded winter jacket, and a little bewildered at what had befallen her on the way home.
We walked along with the old woman as she returned to her house, for in that same direction we would find a little girl whom the doctor said had neither fother or mother. We had not gone far when the child was' spotted playing in the road a few yards distant. The nurse called "Fumiko!" And a pretty, slender little girl answered and came running to where we waited.

She listened closely to what was said and then received her package, clutch ing it to her as if to keep it from b^ng snatched away. She stood looking at
us with big, wondering eyes. Then she looked at the little Grandmother with

her big basket and the Grandmother looked at her. It was a picture I will nev er forgetthe tiny little girl and the little old woman, standing there in the dusty road looking first at us and then at each other, wondering whatkindness
this that singled them out; a child without parrats and an old woman without
children.

Nowwe followed a narrow road through a vall^ wedged betweenthe moun tains , until it narrowed to a path through the rice fields, and finally meandered its way up the rocky mountainside. As we climbedthis rough foot path, the air grew sharp and cold as only mountain air can whenthe sun goes down. At the top of thesteqp hill we found the home we were looking for, perched al
most on the very edge of the valley side. Here a deaf woman eared for her

family of small children. We gave her the gift for one of the childrenwho

been sick. She tried so hard to make us understand her gratitude, smiting
and bowing the thanks she could not e}q)ress in words.

Dusk crept fog-like over the hills as we went back down the mountain side. I looked up at the darkening sl^. A new moon and the evening star

hung over the valley* making a silver shine on the flooded rice fields that
descend here almost to the edge of the Sea. This slip of a moon and the star-filled night must light our way to yet many more homes.

In the lamplight now of another open doorway, sat a middleaged woman with the common, yet dread, disease of these islands, tuberculosis. She' could not believe the basket of good things was a gift, but thought we were trying to sell it. The Christians explained that we had heard she was sick and because we were remembering the birth of Christ, we wanted to give somethii^ in His name. "But, for me? Is it for me?"she asked. Whenshe realized the children had each put somethii^ in the basket, too, she could only shake her head and exclaim, "Asaiyo I'the familiar island e:q)ression of amazement. The woman's questions gave the Christians more than the usual opportunity to tell about God and His Son, Jesus Christ. As we left,
she said, "This is the first time I have heard of the Church."
y

From here we climbed a very rocky path up the roadway, picking ott safe footstqss by flash light. No one seemed at home exc^t in thekitchen N part of thispoor home on its knob of a hill. Here a girl, straggle-haired and ill-dressed, tended the supper fire. She looked vp dully when we spoke at the doorway and seemed unable at first to comprehend the purpose of the visit or the gift. When we mentioned her sick father she finally appeared to jisderstand and accepted the basket, apologizing that he was not there. Just as we were leaving, however, the father shuffled iq) the path into the yard, dragging one foot, a useless hand hanging limp from his wrist. His speech was thick and hard to understand;neitber did he give any indication of under standing what was said to him. Then the girl showed him the basket. He looked down, then jerked up his head in disbelief, his mouth hanging open.

Slowly an understanding smile lighted his dull eyes and spread across his foolish face. Bowing low he said, "Thank you". His simple mind couldnot
comprehend spiritual things, but it could understand love and kindness, which
is after all what Jesus came into the world to teach.

Li the last home, tuberculosis was soon to take the mother of three chil
dren. The nurse seemed reluctant to turn in here as she knew the woman

was dying, and the fear of death is strong in the hearts of these people. "The mother is esqpected to die tonight or tomorrow morning", she whispered as

This psqper is published by the 20th of every other month in the

interest of Mel and Marguerite Huckins, missionaries to Okinawa. AU communications are to be sent to Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd

Ssqsp, 1625 So. 8th St., Council Bluffis, Iowa.

SECOND CLASS MAIL PRIVILEGES AUTHORIZED

AT COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA

we neared the house.

But after we had entered the room, we could see that

the dying in this woman was a bitter struggle to live. Defying the custom of the partitioned corner of the room that is the death alcove, even defying the prone attitude of death itself, she sat in plain view of the entire house. It
was not the first time I had seen the death mask of this disease that, more than any other, can blanch and draw and leave unrecognizable a human face, but never before like this. The woman painfully moistened and parted her fever-parched lips to whisper "thank you", then leaned over and buried her bead in her arms. Anguish tore at our hearts but there was nothing to of fer exc^t the homemade basket, that now seemed so inadequate, and the comfortless farewell, "Become well soon, Aunt, and God help you." So late to hear there is a God who helps. If only the Great Physician walked again the villages of men, or even if there were more of us to walk there
for Him.

The slender pencil beams of light that pierce the night through the illfitting doors of the houses of Unten, finally disappeared, leaving the valley davk. The mountains were one with the sky; truck and station wagon headed for the road toward home. The children on the truck were cold and hungry, A but they still had spirit left to sing and their voices were clear and beauti ful on the still night air. "Joy to the world!" To the island of Okinawa, to the village of Oigawa, to the mountains of Goga, to the Valley of Unten!

' ...Abmip All atlfal

Ask r Sljink..."

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. '* Surely this promise has been MfiUed to the glory of God in the recent typhoon emergency. In the middle of the typhoon season with other storms brewing, our great need was made known to you, and God st^)plied through you even beyond our limited foresight and estimates. Our first ^peal was only for enough to rq>lace our roof and windows. After we had time to ascertain theextoit of the other damages it was neces sary to make a somewhat higher estimate, based even then purely on a guess of probable costs. As funds poured in and rqpairs and replacements were made, we realized our estimates were short of what was needed, but because of the deep concern of all of you, our needs have been stqjplied far above what
we anticipated.

Your letter, your prayers and your contributions have been a great source

of joyandencouragem^tto us as we haveseen the work of Godin andthrou^^

you all. Because there are so many who have helped, we are unable to write^ each of you a personal word of thanks. We are so grateful, though, and do thank you from the dq)thsof our hearts even if our workclasses, repairs, language stucfy and other correspondence does keq> us from writing person ally. We know you have heard from Mrs. Sai^, too, so please accqptour thanks in this way.
.s

You will be interested in knowing just what your contributions have ac complished, so we will try to give you a general idea of the vast amount of

work and r^airs completed. The roof was completely r^laced and is now finished, with the exception of painting and securing strips. All windows of
the new garage and stu(fyunit were rplaced; storm shutters constructed for our home, and the garage unit; new doors built for our home and the other unit. Some equipment r^lacements have been made, but we have not used

any fimds to replace personal losses. Because so many sent th^r offering

in^cating personalinterest in our home; we took the liberty ofputting run

ning water in the house and built some kitchen cabin^s while the carpenters were still available. How wonderful it is to have running water and a sink with a drain installed! The sink had been in storage so long and the same battered dish pan in use for five years. In addition to this,new screens were made for all windows and a covering for the front room floor was laid.

There is enough left in the fund to cover the kitchen and dining room floor at a later date, and also to build book caises to protect the remainder of my
books.

As you can see, so much has been accomplished by your fine response. God has blessed us. Thank you again for 8l^)plying all our needs.

$nntmr2ttn0 i'frrrtarg
Sometimes people wonder just what a forwarding secretary is, or what one does, so we are taking this opportunity to answer such questions, and
to ejqpress a word of s^preciation for those who have labored with us in this
work.

First, we might say that a forwarding secretary is one who assumes the mammoth task of receiving, answering and forwarding (to the missionary when necessary) most of the vast amount of correspondence that goes with
mission work. Each contribution is received, a receipt written and a letter of thanks sent to the remitter. Records are kept iq>-to-date on all financial
transactions, receipts, and expenditures. Business contacts must be made

on behalf of the mission work. Newsletters are received, printers secured, letters addressed and mailed. Display material, colored slides, DVBS ma terial, tape recordings, etc. are kept available for their personal use and

to send out upon request. Sometimes a forwarding secretary travels many mi.les to present the work personally to a Church or study groiq). Then, of course, thereis always much correspondence between the missionary andthe
secretary that takes much of thdir time.

Yes, the task is tremendous;hours tqaon hours of work is required and this is where the heart of the forwarding secretary is revealed, for all the time and the effort is at a personal sacrifice as they labor in love for the cause of Christ. Because the forwarding secr^ry assumes this great am-^ ount of work, the missionary on the field is freed from the same burdens to

give his time in greater quantities to his commitment - the task of winning souls. And, so we say, thanks again to you Mrs. Fendall, to you Jerry and Helen Rude,and now to you Lloyd and Loretta Sqpp,foryour labor and sac
rifice.

Sunday school picnic

As you know, there are Sunday School classes in seven villages with an
average overall attendance of 320 Qach Lord's Day. For some time we had

discussed the necessity of getting these pre-camp age students together, but their number made it a difficult matter. Finally, the workers decided that a hike and picnic would be the best arrangement. The date was set, and 180 second year through sixth year primary students of the Sunday School gathered at our home from five villages and the hike b^an. We took them on a roundabout hike along the sea shore, ending up at the camp property two hours later, where they were all well reacfy for their picnic lunch. After lunch they gathered around one of the teachers who gave a Bible lesson. Then to the beach to play at low tide for a while before returning to camp for re freshments and the hike back to the main road for transportation back home by bus. It was a big day for them and the teacher, too. Now we must plan
a similar excursion for the four Junior High School classes.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT
October balance $ 339.74

Total Nov. Receipts (not emergency) Total Nov. emergency receipts

TOTAL
Total Nov. Disbursements

1040.87 418.78
$ 1799.39
1311.22

(including ^ergency)
BALANCE $ 488.17

Total Dec. Receipts

(not emergency) Total Dec. emergency receipts TOTAL
Total Dec. Disbursements

$ 1169.40
38& 45 $ 2046.02
1491.95

(including emergency)
BALANCE $ 554.07

NOTICE: This wonderful balance is due to the many Christmas offerings which were sent, and for which we wish to thank everyone.

TYPHOON EMERGENCY RECEIPTS & EXPENDITURES

JANUARY 1 TOTAL
EXPENDITURES ON FIELD:

1437.86

Window, door & screen materials

Cement and tile

120.25
24.97

All lumber & saw mill

190.67 246.17
22.26
99.23

Roofing and flooring

Hardware

Water pipe, drain & fittings

Equipment repairs Equipment replacements * Trucking Salaries (carpenter)

34.17
284.94

11.67

147.42
40.37

Misc. (bldg. tools, parts, bank)

TOTAL

-$

1221.92

BALANCE ON DEPOSIT WITH THE

AMERICAN EXPRESS CO.

215.94

Christmas packages and gifts

Even though we did not buy family gifts this year, the children still were

able to enjoy that certain thrill of opening a present because so many of you
sent wonderful packages and gifts.

Thank you so much for everything; the food that was sent, the clothes that were made, the toys, household items and other supplies. Much time and thought and expense was involved in these gifts and how we do s^preciate them!

THE QUESTION

BOX

Many questions have been received since our last newsletter, butbecause

there were so many of them, we cannot take the space to answer them all her^. Most of these questions were contained in two questionaires received

fr'om two different Churches seeking a better understanding of the mission

0work. We do appreciate these questionaires that were sent and feel that if

more churches would put the matter of mission support on a personal and

business basis ratherthan on the unsound basis of merely liking or disliking

a missionary's personality, missions would be carried out in a more efficient
manner.

Many of the questions were to do with the missionaries attitude toward

the people among whom he works, his attitude toward the home churches or sponsoring churches; what he would expect of a sponsoring Church; how he

conducts business transactions on the field as to purchase of property and

construction of Churchbuildings; how the missionary and sponsoringChurch

can have closer ties of fellowship and responsibility, etc. These are all per tinent questions and we believe that if every Church would think through on such matters and discuss them with their missionary prospect before any
commitment is made, there would be a much more wholesome and under -

standing work accomplished both at home and on the field. We would then

see all churches supporting a missionary whom they hadpositive personal knowledge concerning, setting up a working fellowship with mutual respon sibilities for the missionary and sponsoring church. We are open to ques tions from any of you about our work - please ask them. Thank you.

Larrv Allen

vi^ons literature ooittee

Ozarlc Bme College

chairman

Joplin, Missouri

--

Seedtime and Harvest

JUNE 1958

KI ^
6 % 2

" 'l-*

I" ^

""

Okinawan Display at Missionary Fair

First Christian Church, Council Bluffs, Iowa

wUfi

and <^\l[ax^iuxii:e. czMuaHim.

in OKINAWA

ESTABLISHING SELF-SUPPORTING. SELF.

PROPOGATING NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES

frtl

nf

Clittiliiatnn

It is always so good to be back in the States where the daily toil of life is eased by countless inventions, which are far too often just taken for granted. Coming from- Okinawa where we do not have such helps
and conveniences, we enjoy them all the more. But, you know, along

with their enjoyment there is quite often a danger involved for the ones
who are unfamiliar with their use. For example, Conrad saw some boys

playing on a set of "Monkey Bars" and tried them out only to wind up on the ground with both bones of his left arm broken just above the wrist joint. Well, he v/as justg^ing used to thecast when a large "friendly" dogdiscidedto make sport of him and wollowed him around on the ground. Then, to top it all off. Con was watching another boy mow the lawn with a rotary power mower, and came in the house to exhibit one of his ten nis shoes that had been chewed by the mower. Fortunately his foot was

imd'amaged. Well, Con is a muchwiser boy for his e:q)eriences, but

he is all boy, so I guess we can just say, "have your fim but remember the perils of civilization."

COMING UP TO

DATE

Since our return to the States the first of April, we have been busy contacting our living-link churches in Washington and Idaho, visiting a little with relatives and spending much time trying to find a place to live. We were unable to contact any churches in Oregon due to lack of time, but will be doing so this summer. Conrad and Timothy were en rolled in the Boise, Idaho schools and there completed the school year, but due to difficulties in school adjustment, it is necessary for Con to attend special Summer School for help in his grade next year. Conse quently, we returned to Boise and have located an apartment for temp orary use until school is out, and then will try to find a more permanent place for the family. Since we are still tired out from the past years of labor and concern on the field, plus the much traveling that has been done already, it will be best to have a place that can be called "home" for awhile. The family will remain in the one place as much as possi ble and I will be traveling alone or with one of the boys. We will be contacting many more of you as an itinerary can be worked out.

This p^er is published by the 20th of every other month in the

interest of Mel and Marguerite Huckins, missionaries to Okin

awa. All communications are to be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd

Sapp, 1G25 So. 8th St., Coimcil Bluffs, Iowa.
SECOND CLASS MAIL PRIVILEGES AUTHORIZED

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA

cessity
Of necessity,we had to sell many of our personal items andmission
equipment in order to make this important trip back to the States. There

fore, it will be necessary to replace the many items before we can re turn to the field. We will have to take at least a year on this behalf and that of the school problem for the children, so please continue your fine support as you have done in the past. Through our combined faith, prayer, and efforts all of our needs have been supplied in the past, and we know that the needs of the present and the future will also be sup plied. Thank you for all that you have done on our behalf and that of the people and the work of Okinawa. We will make every effort to thank as many of you personally as we are able to work out a schedule.

Ou/L

So/tj^dic/k^

During a very brief trip East to meet with our forwarding agents and living-link churches in Williamsport and Veedersburg, Indiana, we had a very fine visit with Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ferguson of Longmount, Colorado, and Mr. & Mrs. H. W. Laybourn of Denver, Colo rado. These people are the parents of Lt. Col. John and Mrs. Laybourn of Okinawa, with whom we enjoyed such a fine fellowship in Ok
inawa.

While at Longmount, we visited with several others of the church there who "adopted" Deanne and sent her gifts and also met Brother Pace, the minister of the Church. Then we went to Julesburg, Colo rado, where we were well received by the brethren and showed slides of the work in Okinawa as we fellows hipped once again with them. Trav eling on to Council Bluffs, Iowa, it was good to be with Bro. and Sister Sapp who have done such a fine job in handling the secretarial and for

warding work for us, I spoke in the Southside Christian Church Sunday
morning, at the Old People's Home in the afternoon, and showed the Okinawan pictures to the Christian Endeavor in the evening. It is so good to see the great growth of the Church here in South Side since our
last visit.

The rest of this month, June, will be filled with visits in Lidiana, with the Christman's in Wisconsin, summer camp in Iowa,two or three other speaking engagements in the lowa-Eastem Nebraska area, and then go out to Oregon for summer camps and a few engagements which will carry over into July. We will be publishing further news of out speaking tour later as it can be worked out. Any of you who desire to hear more of the work and leam of future work, please send your re quest for engagement to Mr. and Mrs. Sapp. We shall endeavor to work all requests into a later speaking tour.

We regret that you have not been aware of the reason why we were forced to return, but we do know that you will understand when all is ex plained to you. Bi just a word, it was necessary to withhold the reasons until Scriptural example could be fulfilled in attempting to solve the grave problem at hand. It has been our contention and that of Bros. Ush,

Christman, and Down^ that Scriptural precidentbe followed in problems

among missionaries, even as among fellow Christian brethren. For this reason, after previous attempts to solve the matters, all of whichfailec^
it was decided that we would return to the States and represent the Fish*s,

Christman's, and Downey's in the final attempt to gain our brother whom we believe in all sincerity to be erroring in life, practice, conduct, and teaching, as he carries on work in Okinawa.
A meeting was arranged by the Okinawa Christian Mission Council which Would be attended by the Elders of the living-link churches direct ly concerned with the missionaries involved. As a result, the meeting was held in Newburg, Oregon, with elders from theWest Seattle Christian Church, the Newburg Christian Church, and the Okinawa Christian Mis sion Coimcil present, along with Bro. Woodruff, to hear the matters pre sented in person, although they had been fully informed in December of last year, I was accompanied to the meeting of May 31st by an elder from two of our living-link churches to witness and verify all that took place.
Due to lack of time, only portions of the problems could be discussed,

so after eight hours of deUberation, the meeting was adjourned without

positive results. Since I attended the meeting as the representative of eight missionaries and could not achieve a definite settlement, I could

not make any commitments for them but could, only acc^t the closing motion on my own behalf. In closing it was agreed by Mr. Woodruff and myself in front of all those present that a year would be taken during
which time all efforts would be made to resolve the situation. As we

await the results of this period of time, we will continue our labors and preparations on behalf of the Okinawan people. Pray with us that this matter will be recognized and solved to the glory of God for the sake of a united church in Okinawa. With so many denominational divisions among those people already, a strong, united, indigenous Church of Christ is an absolute necessity. Pray that the other missionaries on the field will have the wisdom and understanding and full guidance of the Lord as they labor on in the face of the many difficulties.

Many churches are using our stories and materials

in their Daily Vacation Bible Schools. You may obtain these Iqr writing to our forwarding agents NOW.-

A ifmltatt'B SwiiDnjBp to Olnrrwttmi

Some time ago it was necessary to give Scriptural correction to
Brother Izena on le Shima, concerning personal weakness in yielding

to the temptation of taking up the habit of smoking which he had forsaken when he became a Christian. This weakness was affecting his testimony and life among the people, so I wrote to him in brotherly love, admon ishing him, along with encouragement. The following letter is his reply which could very well serve as an example for Christians everywhere,
"Dear Brother Huckins:

I send you this letter in the name of Christ who loved us and gave His life to save us.
I'm thankful and excited to read the letter in love I received

from you the other day. As you are a good servant of Christ for the sake of the church on le Shima and me, you show me the teaching of such great love and a tender heart that I had tears of gratitude. As I read every sentence of your letter, I was impressed by your great love in this
matter, I read the letter several times and understood well the

brotherly love which united you and me by the Power of God. I remember the Junior school groimds where we met seven years
ago, the small hotel by the port, your house in Miyasato (Nago) where we talked, and the wonderful Summer Camp, As I remember such great fellowship with you, I made a new decision now, and I
will continue the work of God more and more.

By your help, the people here in le Shima were very happy and
are interested in the Church, Please continue to come to le Shima,

as you have done before. I am too small to continue the work, but I want to do this work for the sake of the Glory of Christ, Thank you for your helpfulness in many ways during such a long time. Now, my heart is too full of thankfulness for words. It is too difficult to explain what is in my heart by writing this letter, so I want to talk with you when we meet together by the leading of the
Lord.

Now I must put the pen down. every Christian in Imadomari.

God bless you, your family, and

Signed: Noburo Izena"

Tragedy Strikes Again

The tragedy of war took the lives of brother, sisters, and father
of Mrs. Izena of le Shima, as well as taking the sight of Brother Izena. It has been a long hard struggle since the war days to care for their growing family and the aged parents on the salary of Mrs. Izena, a pub lic school teacher, and the amount Bro. Izena received for his labors.

Several months ago, it was necessary to discontinue Bro.lzena's salary

because he was unable to overcome |;he problems that had been heaped
iq)on him as a result of discouragement, for he was not doing effective
work for the Lord. After couns^elling with him, it was advisable to

let him prove himself and to lead the church into self support without
continual American support.

Brother Izena accepted the challenge in the same spirit as he showed in the letter published in this paper. Then, a few weeks ago, a great tragedy struck, when sister Izenawas attempting to rescue some small children out of the path of a run-away bicycle coming down a steep hill. Mrs. Izena was hit by the bicycle and died shortly afterwards. This sudden death leaves Bro. Izena with four preschool children and his
aged parents to provide for. This was a terrible shock to him and is a most trying time for his faith. Please pray for Bro. Izena that his

faith will grow even stronger as a result of this happening; pray that his needs will be fully met;that his testimony will abound for the glory of God among his people. If any of you can help him, please send your gift with a note designating it for Bro. Izena and we shall be most happy
to send it on for him.

March Deficit

59.07
673.63

April Rec^pts April Disbursements

April Balance
Less March Deficit
BALANCE

603.04
70.59

59.07

11.52
597.38
446.00

May Receipts May Disbursements

BALANCE

151.38
11.52

Plus April Balance

BALANCE

1S2.90

unnoo aan.q.'BJaq,';'! auoissfp^

Seedtime and Harvest

NOVEMBER 1958
NO. 5

txrU^

and
in OKINAWA

ESTABLISHING SELF-SUPPORTING, SEUFPROPOGATING NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES

OVJR
Eight years ago last month. Marguerite, Conrad and I took up our la bors for the Lord in Okinawa, Atthat time we entered into a working fel
lowship with you, our supporting churches and friends, as we labored in

Okinawa and you labored with us in upholding our physical and spiritual need with your offerings and prayers. U is with grateful hearts that we lookback over those years and see whatwas accomplished byyour faithful provision. We well know that it was not without sacrifice that you kept your committments on our behalf. Because of this it has meant a great deal to us. To simply say "thank you" hardly e3q)resses the gratitudethat
we feel.

We do wish there had been opportunity to talk to each of you personally since our return to the States. We have had to depend to a large extent up on correspondence, which at best is a poor substituted The faith you have
shovn in us and our work has been a great encouragement. We havework ed faithfully and hard on Okinawa for the establishing ofChrist's Church in

all its simplicity and purity. We were hindered in many ways; we had to
contend with many things that are as yet untold. It is true that we made no

great reports nor baptized a great number of people. We could have, but refusedmany timesas weare of theconviction that anuntaught person can not know Christ as ffis Savior, and onewho has notgiven up his idols and false worship is unfit to wear the name of Christ. We will not make fur ther defense. We simply say, we have kept the faith; we have labored for theMaster tothe best of curability andstrength; you have notbeendefrauded
in us.

We knowthat you wonder what plans are ahead for us.and what we are

doing now. Through this school year, the Lord willing, we will remain in

Lincoln, nUnois where I am enrolled in Lincoln Bible Institute taking fur

ther studies in preparation for a greater work in the future. In addition to my classes, I am now working full time in order to remain in school and
siq)port my family.

We still hope to return to Okinawa, but we cannot saywhen that will be, as there are many factors involved, outstanding ofwhich is theproblem sit
uation on the field that necessitated our r^ura to the States. We do know

thatwe will not begoing back toOkinawa until the one year period, proposed by the Oregon meeting, has terminated. We still standtog^her with the
other missionaries: The Carl Fishes, Cloyd Christmans and Gerald Dow-

neys, in the compilation of charges against our brother missionary. We do want to make it clear, that we have not given up our work, but because

of not being actively engaged in it, are providing our own personal support
while in the States. We are waiting on the Lord to lead us~if not back to Okinawa, then perhaps to another field. We request your continued prayers on our behalf and for the Christians

in Okinawa, that they will remain faithful and that their number may be in
creased. We cannotthink of Okinawa, which in the truest sense of the word

is home, without eaqperiencing the deQ)est longing to go back; to continue sowing the Gospel seed in that hard soil, to care for the young life plants
we nurtured, and to someday see a harvestThe Church of Jesus Christ.

CONCEmim MISSION

fUMDS

Since we are in the States, and because our plans for the future are un

certain at this time, we will not be receiving any more living-link support after the first of the year. We do request that you continue to send in sup port until then in order to meet the outstanding mission ejqpenses. Any of ferings for general support that comein after that time will be placed in the bank to be used when we continue our missionary work.

Rosiley Jay
Lincoln on S^tember 5th.

Huckins

The little Stranger in our family picture is Bonley Jay, bom here in

@v&SI&bh @T $peGking
We would still be happy to show colored slides and tell about the work in

Okinawa, for the sake of missionary education, anywhere within reasonable traveling distance of Lincoln on Sunday's. We may be contacted at 420 Wil
liamette (Rear), Lincoln, Illinois.

This p^er is published by the 20th of every other month in the in

terest of Mel and Marguerite Huckins, missionaries to Okinawa .

All communications are to be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd S^p at

1625 So. 8th St,, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
SECOND CLASS MAIL PRIVILEGES AUTHORIZED

AT COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA

/t lETm
(Mi/

QAaUUcuv
Dear Teacher Huckins:

I decided to write a letter; please accept it. Since you havebeen so nice to us so long, we are cherishing fond memories of you since you left us, I

often think ofyou. We all feel weak and lonesome, but we are always glad
to hear from you and we rejoice hearing about you. We have the promise of God that He will never forsake us, so we pray to ffim to receive strength and
joy.

We hope that you are having a wonderftd life in the States as well as in

Okinawa, We hope that we all can forget the hardship we have gone through and can renew a happy lifeaccording to the will of God. Our fellowship in
God will never be changed, but will be continued forever! We, of the Imadomari Church, are praying for your good health. Please remember the

Imadomari Church in your prayers that we won't go astray but will keq)our
faith.
I

Congratulations onthe arrival of the new babyJ We heard thatMarguer

ite San had a new baby.

Sachiko's mother says hello to your family.

I had better stop here. We will be looking forward to having you back
are. Please tell Connie, Timmy, and Deanne "hello".
Sayonara (Good-bye)

Hanako Tamashiro

cuMiE

anil |ts|is9f
Before we left Okinawa, the village officials as well as the Christians

of Imadomari, offered, in appreciation for our work among them, to take care of our home and property during our absence. The following are ex
cerpts from a recent letter from Masahara Uyema,high school teacher and
one of the village leaders.

" Well, I want to write a little about us. I can hardly find any remarkable change in our village. Your houses are k^t as safely as ever. The trees you had planted before you left for thelMted States are growing,but I'm sorryto say thepalmtree
is dead.

I hear the Christians hold an eveningmeeting once a week,

when Mr. Fish or other leader comes to teach them.... Chie Sensei is keying up the kindergarten with a girl named Yoshiko

of Aza Nakijin,who is a graduate of Hokusan Senior High School.

Some days ago, I happened to meet with Yoshiko-san and Hanako-

san walking along the road by your house, but I had not enough
time to talk with them..... When I told Haru-san, Chie Sensei

and others that I had got a letter from you,they were also very
glad. I think th^ will soon write to you in Japanese
Yours truly, Masahara Uyema

"

Seth Wilson

Ozark Bible College

Joplin, fi!o.

CHRISTMAS

B7ER7VESRS?

Christinas, Christmas everywhere

But out where no one's heard

Men plow their field and keep their store

And beg and buy and steal
And do not think and seldom dream

And do not know,

A star shown down

A shepherd saw
A Wiseman came.

Christmas, Christmas everywhere

But out where no one loves

Men fear and hate and grasp

And hold their treasure to their heart

And weep and curse when it is gone

And do not know,

God gave Himself And men must give And love will triumph last.
Christmas, Christmas everywhere But out where one knows fear Men bow and scrape -the dust of sacred hills And cry in anguish to their gods who cannot hear And have no hope except for time to heal
And do not know.

The Refuge from the storm The Shadow from the heat The Bindeiup of broken things:
ffod's Son.

Marguerite

Huckins