Kyushu Christian Mission, Kanoya, KagoshL^na, Japan

Year In, Year Out

Year in, year out, it's always the same. Seeing out the
old year is one mad rush. And seeing in the new year is

In U.S.: Box U9, North Vernon, Indiana 47265

Linkletter No. 180

January, 1969

Another New Year is here. As you read the

editorial to the right you will understand that Jan

uary 1 is a very special day in Japan. In the cycle

of the Zodiac, this is the year of the Fowl and
therefore a year of Peace, Prosperity and Productiv

ity. That's quite

an order to lay on all the hens

and their strutting spouses.

peace!

like a leisurely return to normalcy.

New Year's Day is our favorite holiday. And more so
this coming year because the accident of the calendar will

be giving many of us eight days' vacation. This is the day

that the smog over Tokyo clears up as if it had never been
there. It is when congestion disappears from the city
streets and taxi drivers suddenly become courteous.
Until then, however, it can be a hectic month. The

bonuses with the up-to-the-dead!ine union negotiations in

jecting a note of suspense. Shopping for Christmas and
oseibo gifts. The succession of bnnevkai, with their toll
of furry tongues and bleary eyes. Fights with taxi drivers.
And the rising tempo and tension which seem to be whip
ping us into an ever fusler pace as the old year runs out.
Government offices and the slock exchanges usually close
on the 28th. And this year, most business houses closed

Japan has had 23 years of it while with them. Then the bustle is transferred to the home as

the U.S. has fought wars to the west and south of

her. Japan spends 1% of her income on defense. For
the rest of her security she depends on the U.S.

This relationship is spelled out in the Security

Treaty which comes up for renewal in 1970. Nation

the family cleans out the dust of the outgoing year, and
the women prepare the New Year food. And since most
stores used to close for three days, it meant lots of food.
Then on New Year's Eve, the final bath to wash off the
dirt of the old year, the temple bells ringing in the new
year (brought to us by courtesy of TV), the tosJiikoshi soba
to bridge the gap from the old year to the new.

! Then it's New Year's Day, our favorite day of the year.
alism is the new order here and many Japanese want
The kadomatsu at the gate. The hataumode, the traditional
out of the treaty. Some radical groups want out bad first visit to the shrines and temples. The morning otoso,
enough that they are
own country to bring
from Okinawa is also
are heating up right

willing to make war on their

it about. The U.S. withdrawal
a prime topic. These issues
now and the next 20 months

will be crucial in the relationships of our two

countries. Christians of both nations can hardly
do better than heed the Apostle's advice to pray
for "all who are in high positions."
prosperity! Japan has it as a nation with the highest foreign currency reserves ever.
As a people - nobody exceeds the Japanese in put-

sweet and slightly alcoholic. And the moclii. Suddently,

for the first tiine, all the tension and care of the past year
seem to drop away. It's a day of laughter and relaxation

Of the family inlaying together at battledore and shuttl.

cock or the card game called karuta.
From the second day, the pace begins slowly to catc i
up, as the courtesy calls begin. And many car owners,
with their new-found mobility, escape to the country and
the hot-spring re.sorts.
In the streets, young girls blossom out in their bright
kimono anrl men in their Sunday best begin swarming to
the amusement centers. But the best thing about it is the
feeling that a year which starts out so well can hardly be

bad.japan Times Editorial, December 30, 1968

ting money aside for a rainy day. Also no people anywhere plans, saves and works harder to edu
cate their children than the Japanese. This, of course, is the basis for future prosperity. Whe
ther the present young people will get a college education or not is now a cause for concern.

Radical, revolutionary students have seized physical control of several campuses shutting down
classes and cancelling graduations in the spring. I have no doubt Japan will solve this crisis
in its own time and in its own way

but today's college youth are making the sacrifice.

productivity! Japan can hardly improve on its record in this field. It already has
an impressive number of firsts and seconds in world manufacturing. Half of all ships now being
made in the world are made in Japan, for instance. I remember a ship's captain telling me it
took a month to get his ship loaded in Pakistan but on the return voyage he got the same amount
of tonnage loaded in Kobe in 24 hours. That's the secret! The Japanese know how to work hard and
are willing to do so.

Christians will recall that the Cock has long been a symbol for the Apostle Peter.
Christ had told him, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." In our own times
the crowing of the cock could stand for our day of judgment for our frequentdenial of our ob
ligation as Christians to evangelize the world. If so, the New Year brings no cause for rejoic
ing. In Japan at least, Peace, Prosperity and Productivity leave little desire for spiritual
seeking. Joseph Hunt, Catholic missionary and friend since our army days here wrote me: "We
have hard times in Japan now. So hard to get converts... People are interested and pleasant to
meet, but the 'but' is still there. Patience and keeping at it, prayer and kindness (are needed.)
This transition must be gone through but the seeds of work sown during it (will bear fruit later.)
Another missionary told me, "We have reached a cul-de-sac, a blind alley, in our evangelism in
Japan and nobody seems to know where to turn." For myself, I've been doing a lot of thinking,

praying, listening and studying. I don't think I am going to be satisfied to keep on doing what

I've always done but I'm going to keep on doing just that until I am sure going off in another
direction will have some hope of success.

To pick up the thread of activities. We have had three

foreign visitors: Verney Unruh, former missionary neighbor and now

with the MennoniCe mission office in Newton, Kansas; Capt. L.W.

Swanson from the Coast and Geodetic Survey in Beltsville, Md. He

was back in Kanoya to talk with city offLcials about retaining the
satellite observation site for future use. I was able to assist

him in this. And the Major McDonald family from Itazuke Air Base.

We have had preacher's meetings October 28 in Kagoshima

November 25 in Kushikino at which I preached and December 30 at the

jW

..

Christian Center in Kanoya. Four family birthdays have come and

gone: Hope was 8 on October 4; Faith was 13 on November 13; Paula

3y||K*

JS

was 25 November 29 and Greg was 17 on Decmeber 30. We send our

thanks to their living link churches

helping make them memorable

p^y^INE YANAGIMO:

MEGUMI PAULINE YANAGIMOTO

days: Farmdale for Hope; Vandalia for Faith; and Newtown for Greg.
i
Pauline and I completed 27 years of married life December 29. (Has it been that long?) And 18
years ago this year-end we moved into the mission house where we still live. (Frankly I didn't
think it would last this long.)
In "Noveniber we visited Cahdadian Academy where Faith and Greg;"attend, had confer
ences with their teachers, participated in the Dorm Parents meeting and saw Greg in the role
of Cardinal Wolsey in the play, "A Man For All Seasons." The whole cast put on a masterful per
formance. We had two days in Nagoya with Paula and Kiyoto. Pauline had her physical exam at
Kyoto Baptist Hospital. A specialist at Kyoto University Hospital looked at the cataract on my
left eye and said, "Wait Awhile." Two years is what he meant. I'm driving with one eye now so

it looks like it's going to be a long two years. I attended the Councillor's Meeting of Osaka
Bible Seminary and led the music for the Friday night session of the schools annual evangelism
rally called, Tane Make Kai. Faith and Greg got home for Thanksgiving week end but they have to
spend just about as much time on the train as they get to stay at home.
The climax of December is the 25th but before that there are the Christmas sermons

and programs and fellowship at all the churches. This year I detect a more spiritual interest
on the part of non-Christians in what Christmas really means. I gave a ten minute talk at the
Kotary Christmas party on the meaning of Christmas. Kiyoto and Paula Yanagimoto arrived the
19th with daughter Megumi for 10 days so our Christmas days were blessed with a baby in the house
and the joy of being grandparents. Faith and Greg got home the
COME TO THE
20th and the next day a local surgeon. Dr. Kawahara, operated on

t,

^
NVENTION

OF THE

CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN JAPAN

TOKYO

3,4,5, , 9

Greg for hernia. He has recuperated at home after the third day and

ready to return to school. To Kanoya church on the eve of the

24th for Family Christmas night; helping to chauffeur the carollers

afterwatd ending up at our house for cookies and hot chocolate;

up stockings at..Z a.m.; famil_y_Chris.tmas at 7 a^m_.to._the

leper colony for Christmas worship services by 9 a.m.; Christmas

orphanage at noon provided by the church at

East Orange, N.J., the Kanoya church women and our own family;

A UNIQUE GATHERING

Pauline's Christmas dinner at 3 p.m. ; and the day brought to a

.
A SUPERB FELLOWSHIP

close at the Christmas service and party at Kushira church at 7.

r,
u
a
^ c t t a
ju
j
r
December days were full days made happy days in the company of

FOR MORE DETAILS

TOKYO MISSIONARIES

Japanese who have come to share the same faith in Christ; and made
happy by the cards, letters, boxes and remembrances that many of

Thank you I

IN HIS SERVICE,

U. S. POSTAGE

KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

North Vernon,

Indiana

47265

PAID

Louisville,

mission Servieet
ioiiet

Kentucky

Permit No.

box 968

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MNKLETTER

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thoughts and prayers.

60434

537

A monthly report by the fiAark G. Maxey family tu the friends

fUhft<i.GTrG:nk
of the Kyushu Christian Mission Kanoya, Kagoshiraa, Japan

Linkletter No. 181

.^
-

Dear Christian friends,

February,
February, 1969
1969
-

A sure sign that it is dead of winter here is;

the appearance on the market of the giant Sakurajima ra
dishes.

I passed out seeds for these all over the U.S.

last year.

Did anybody have success with them?

If yours

didn't get as big as the one Hope is holding, don't worry.

This size can only grow in the volcanic soil of nearby
Mt. Sakurajima. Hence the name: Sakurajima Radish.
Saying it is dead of winter sounds like it

has really been cold here. It hasn't. On the contrary,

January was the warmest in 14 years. The birds, the bees
and the blooms got all mixed up and came out too soon.

I'm afraid we'll be paying for this too-soon-spring the

next

HOPE WITH AN ARMFUL OF RADISH

two months.

Like everyone else I began January filled with get-up-and-go and promises to myself
of all that I was going to get done. It didn't turn out that way . Some kind of bug hit me. We
had a good fight and the bug won. After laying in bed for several days with a fever, I decided

I needed some help. My friend, Dr. Kinkawa, came up, brought me some medicines and encouraging

words and a few days later I began to come around. I have never been so sick or so weak after

it was over. I tried to get up and go as I have in the past but found I had to lay down and
rest every hour or so. Pauline stood by with glass after glass of fresh fruit juice she had
squeezed out. It was the only thing that tasted good. Generous man that I am, I passed my
fever on to Pauline but she got-well much quicker than I. We are both feeling fine again now.
The Hong Kong flu is just now sweeping Japan. We think we have already had it once and that it

Hularmetings are onawekday. Itoldhimtha Ienjoyed

will pass us by.

When the local Rotary Club was organized ten years ago I was a charter member. I
have always done my part on the committees but they have never been sure what to do with me

otherwise. This year, however, I am serving as Vice-President. In the natural pecking order
that means I should become President this July. Last week. Club President, Mr. Iga, waited on

me.

He wanted to know if it was true that if I were elected to higher office that I couldn't

work for Rotary on Sunday. I assured him that was true. He pointed out what I already knew ,
that all area assemblies, forums, conferences and conventions are held on Sunday. Only the regbeing in Rotary and a part of the community in this way

but that Rotary was not first with me and never would be,

Sundays would find me in the churches of the area. Thus

ends my chance for "higher office" and no regrets.

Japan is a land that enjoys ceremonies and I

appreciate being invited to them even t"hough it means a lot

of time, a lot of tea, and long hours of sitting on the
floor. One very enjoyable occasion was the birthday cele
bration of the Taneguchis when he was 88 and she was 77.

Aside from being a ripe old age, these are years which
are lemembered in an extra special way in Japan. This is
the time when both family and community bring gifts, con
gratulations and wishes for more years to come. Bro. Taneguchi is the elder & mainstay of the Sueyoshi church. In

spite of his years and a case of Parkinson's disease, he

faithfully leads the service, conducts the Lord's supper

each Sunday and preaches twice a month. I preach the other

MR. & MRS. TOYOJI TANEGUCHI, 88 and 77

Sundays.

U in the
. Another
interesting
occasionAbout
was 500
the Japanese
of were
a Newinvited.
England The
town Governor
meeting
held
city auditorium
recently.
leaders ofversion
the area
of our prefecture and his staff sat in front and offered to answer questions put to them by the

audience. "Kagoshima Prefecture in the Next 20 Years" was the theme of the meeting. One young

man, hot and eager, jumped to his feet and wanted to know why, 100 years after Japan had become

a modern nation, Kagoshima Prefecture was still at the bottom of the list nation-wise econom
ically, and almost every other way. That set the tone for the meeting and I sat back and en

joyed watching the officials juggle this and other hot potatoes. They promised that our penin

sula would have an international airport, a fine harbor, more paved roads, increased traffic
safety, more ferry service in the bay, new factories, more employment, prosperous farmers and
improved income for all.

Does any of that have a familiar ring?

Not so pleasant was the funeral of Shigeru Shimoshige, 56, who died suddenly of a

heart attack. He was the optometrist who has kept my eyeglasses in repair all these years. At
the house, as the body was brought out to the hearse, the wife and women of the family followed
and stood at the gate. At the moment the hearse began to move toward the crematory, the wife
took her husbands favorite rice bowl and threw it to the pavement where it broke into pieces
with a resounding crash - a symbol that he would not be returning to his home again. It was the
saddest thing I have ever seen at a funeral. As she burst into sobs, I could not help sobbine

with her.

"

Each place has its own kind of problems. Let me tell you one of ours. In 1955 when

Isabel Dittemore and the Kagoshima City Christians bought land for the church there, somebody
missed registering a strip of land exacly one foot wide running down the side of the property
next to the side walk. The owner sold the front half of his lot to the church. Later he sold

the back half to another man who built his house there. A few years ago this man told the church
that he had purchased a strip of land alongside the church but that he would trade it for an
equal amount of land next to his fence. Surprised, the
church checked city records and found that this land was

not in the books. Nothing to show it belonged to anyone.

It was 'no man's land'. Since the church was positive
they had bought and paid for this land also, they de
cided the man's claim was without merit and took no ac
tion .

Two years ago the man suddenly put up a sign

board on this strip. We appealed to the police and city

officials. They said it was not their problem. A ty
> h y >

phoon last year blew the sign down. Bro. Doyama, the
minister picked the pieces up from the church yard and
"threw them away. In a few days a signboard twice the

size of the former one appeared. It half conceals the

church.
The church is in bad repair, inadequate & one
--oux---priorities this term is" to" see a new building
on this prime spot. But nothing can be started until
this problem is settled. Court action would take six
years and cost a fortune. The neighbor has a bad heart

and his wife fears he will die if the matter is brought

up again. His son is an unreasonable as his father,
IS IT A BUILDING OR A SIGNBOARD?

strong as a bull and not above threatening. Both refuse

now to sell or trade. Solutions anyone? IN HIS SERVICE,

JO'
LINKLETTER

Non-Profit Organization

Monthly Publication of
KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

Box 49, North Vernon,

Indiana 47265

U.S.POSTAGE

Miseioa Services
Box 963

'i'oliet Illinois
return requested

PAID

Louisville, Kentucky
Permit No.537

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family tu the friends

Linkletter

March

No. 181

1969

of the Kyushu Christian fAission

Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

Dear Christian friends,

Christ reminds us that "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his

possessions," (Luke 12il5) We had learned that truth from childhood. For the Christian,
life is made up of everything that touches him, especially the world of people *diom he
blesses and who in turn bless him. People enter our lives here in many ways.
BY TELEPPIOKEj From the Kanoya Naval Air Station. The duty officer calls that a U.S.
air crew must stay overnight but they have no money of any kind, I lent them $^0 to take care
of the hotel bill. Later from Okinawa the p0.ane commander sends me a check. Even later another
crew lands in Kanoya and brings Pauline a gift of a case of mayonnnaise, I told her, "We cast
our**lettuce"on the waters,
and i t came back covered with
salad dressing," From
Osaka. Kenji Niro on the wiret
"I'm taking my first
step back to Kyushu. I'm
I'
leaving
company in
^
Totyo and moving back to
Osaka," Osaka is still

/r

but I am glad that aftei^^li't I

to return to Kyushu ^ 'H'*' '
alive.
/
/
BY MAIL; /
y4'{
deliveries in Japan/

'H -/Jr. 1

a long step from I^shu

10 years his promise
to preach is still

irii

mail seems to
I >1^
the week-end it {

ful way to begin ^

|ii; m _

Shirley Smith,
ters she gets.
encouraged.

I
\

of, Hayatot Prof,

if I will teach English

/'

OUR ,WOiiLD IN JAPAN

College, Sorry, it can't

send $20 of Japanese noodles,
fine crop of big,big radishes,
someone to visit my parents in

is a wondering. North
report from

the day - and

Also the l e t -

We are always

O^

this week, A very \

it is, Montanai
\

Since
foreign
collect
over

'
m .
\
5^ A
f
KUSHIRA (Mr. limure)
^

Indiana* A member \
and wife Barbara
\
Steven Mark - another \

No more Sunday

L TARUMIZU (Mr. Doyama)

shoot the morn-

Vemon i Weekly

T \ batch early
- ^>J\

kindly brings our

Monday morning,

/ Bethany Church.

praying for us

/ special blessing
/ Capt. Tom Poston
/ have a new son,

IB

name sake to be proud

/Saroji
wants to know
in Jiagoshima Technical
done, Kansasi Ilease
Can do. THinoisi Had a

Californiai Please send

Kumamoto. They are not ghristians

and I want them to be, Bro, Tanijiri, the nearest preacher went immediately, Hiroshimai Please

visit my Father, He doesn't know how sick he is, I am concerned about his soul.. Bro. Yoshii
and I both do this. Yokohama. Foimer Bible class student, Koichi Toyozume, has moved north.
He writesi "Your lessons will lead me all through my life,,,You gave bread to me. It's the

bread of life and I walked one by one to you and God." Thank you, Koichi. Sometimes the teach
er needs to know that the seed he plants is taking root. So the mail puts us in touch with the
world of people,

VISITORS I The fourth delegation from the Rotary Club comes to ask if I would be

President the coming ysar. In Japan one refuses politely three times and accepts the fourth,
I refused three times fiimly and accepted reluctant3.y the fourth - on my terms. A local barber
comes. His young son has congenital heart troub3.e. He can not get the owner to sell him the

land he dearly loves so he can relocate his shop, T.B, has crippled his leg (and Japan is not
kind .to the deformed. His wife would like to go walking with him but he is too ashamed. His

world has collapsed and he wants to know the way out. We spend a long time studying to

gether about the Way, the Truth and the Life. Bro, Yoshii is following it up, Helen and Way-

greeting wayful jew family at station

TEACHER

STUDENTS - AT CHRISTIAN CENTER

ful Jew of San Jose stop by en route to Hong Kong to begin missionary work, Helen is able to
visit her father's people in Kinaamoto, Wayful is returning to coimtry of his ancestors. The
Yoshii family joins us for supper as we ;rtth them Godspeed.
TEACHH^'Gi English Bible classes is a means of teaching the gospel to an untouched
group in a neutral setting. The students want JSnglish, I .want to teach them about Christ, The
students understand I will do
very best to satisfy both wants. I have written the Biblebased texts niysGlf. Each student also has an English-Japanese New Testament vriiich we read from
each class. Biggest classes are on Saturday afternoon from 2,30 to 5.30 at the Christian
Center. During February 137 students attended the Basic and Advanced classes there. Other
English Bible classes meet every Thursday night at Kagoshima, So far this class is the least

successful in numbers and most demanding physically - 32 hours of travel for l-J hours of
class, I consider it a challenge. Every Friday night at Koyama from 6 to 7 p.m. Twice a
month on Sunday mornings at Sueyoshi from 9.15 to 10,30, And once a month at Kajiki, In
these classes I meet eager minds and young hearts and have a chance to mold both. Also every

Friday night we have Bible study (now it is the Book of James) at Koyama from 7.15 P.. It
meets in the upper room of Bro, Shigemoto who has a filling station there. Once a month on

Thursday I teach a Training for Service class at the leper colony from 1 to 3 P.oi.
PREACHII'JGi "Preachers make poor listeners," they say. It has to be true because
every preacher worth his salt wants to be telling the Good News himself, I am no different,
Sundays are long days but happy days. First Sunday: Sueyoshi at 10,30, Lunch on the road at

a scenic spot, Kajikiat 1,30 follow^ by a Bible Class, Four hours o.f driving. Second Sim-*
dayI 9.00 a.m, leper colony, 10,00 at either Kanoya church or Kushira church, 4 p,m. Teach
the orphans at Osumi Gakkusha,

7.30, and 1-^ lecture with slides of our trip under the title,

"God's people around the world," Fine attendance. Third Sunday: Again 9.15_Bible class and_

10.30 preaching at Sueyoshi. A very long drive arriving exactly at 3 p.m. for the service
at Kushikino, Supper and visit with the Tanijiri family before leaving for home. Six hours
of driving for the day, all of it hectic. Fourth Sunday: 10,00

,m, at Kagoshima church.

Sometimes to preach. Sometimes to listen. English Bible class from 11,30 to 12.30, Ferry
boat ride to Tarumizu for 3 P.m. service. On the way home stop in Takasu for Lord's Supper
and prayer at Yamashita's house. He is an invalid. Back to Kanoya for a quick supper and

down to church for the slides and lecture, I drove II50 kilometers 0^ tMs circuit last month,
God blessed us with safety and good health.

IN HIS SEiTOCE,

I INKLETTER

Nun-Pro t i t 0rgani7.a t ion

Monthly Publication of

YTJSifii cmaSTiAN MISSION

Box 49. North Vernon,

6erw,. e.' '

9^^

' paid

Louisville. Kentucky
li i inou: i604.H

RETURN REQirESTED

U S POSTAGE

rermit ino. oj/

Ill.SlilERI

Kyushu Christian Mission, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

In U.S.: Box 49, North Vernon, Indiana 47265

Linkletter No. 183

tvM 3

April, 1969

Dear Christian friends,

John and Jane Hill invited us to come to Korea

to teach and practice evangelism. We worked out a date so

we could do that, attend the annual convention in Japan
and bring our two school children back home for spring

f^liOUL (Taylor, Patten

H ..;;T "ChoU^c^hae)
T^JON (Hill)

\
f:...,.

J no ^
_./mii.E8 aft

BiTCAkt//*!
elm.
* PUSAN(Chang
&

.n*

^ISEHARA (
p:SEltARA(S^"'
/r

(ConvenCion

& Greg)
(It azSt. Air Base)

vacation all in one circuit.

The plane left with our baggage but without us

at the Fukuoka airport on Saturday, March 22. Since our
whole family was on one passport , the immigration people
decided we could not just take Hope and leave the other
two. Lt. Col. Dell McDonald and wife, Betty, of Itazuke
Air Base extended their superb hospitality to us for 3
more days till I could return to Kagoshima for more pa
pers. On Tuesday, the officials were kinder to us and
in less than an hour we touched down in Pusan.

The feast prepared for Saturday had long gone

but Melba Lash on Tuesday night and Mrs. Chang on Wed
nesday morning showed us by their good meals that all
was forgiven. Wednesday morning I taught for two hours
at the Far East Vocational School that S.M. Chang and
Dick Lash have founded. We attended Rotary meeting to
gether. After the meeting an American there told us that
the briefcase I had left in a taxi the day before had
been found. Since it contained my passport, tickets,
Bible and notes, this was very welcome news. We picked
it up at the radio station, left a reward for the dri

WELCOMED TO TAEJON, KOREA - BY JOHN HILL

ver, and departed for Taejon, 150 miles north, on the

2.30 p.m. train.
At Taejon we were welcomed with flowers, a
delegation of students, the glad hand of John Hill and
the first of very many delicious meals by Jane Hill. By
7.30 we were on our way to our first meeting at San Yung
Dong church. We preached five nights and two times on
Sunday with 31 responses. In the mornings Pauline gave
two lectures on teacMng and myself 3 lectures on evan
gelism to the students at Korea Bible Seminary. This is
the Hill's main work. Also on Sunday afternoon, Pauline
spoke to the area ladies at the Sun Who Dong church.For
the vrfiole week, Bro. Kim was our faithful translator,
standing by us hour after hour, delivering word by wordand blow by blow.

AT KOREA BIBLE SEMINARY - TEACHING

The praying and singing of the Korean Chris

tians was invigorating. Their zeal made us ashamed. Their

hospitality, even in poverty was heartwarming. (And their

well-peppered
'kimchi' warmed the insides in a way that
water wouldn't quench.) Living conditions are hard and
the constant threat of communism is a very important fac
tor in the life of the nation. Great progress, though,
has been made in every factor of Korean life the past
few years. Except for the country roads. They are just
like they were 1000 years ago

COLLEGE QUARTET - PRAISING THE LORD

4m9

sAm

Harold and Ada Taylor were our gracious hosts

in Seoul on Monday. We had a good visit with Gordon and
Sharon Patten, too. Tuesday morning we spoke in chapel
at Korea Christian Seminary founded by Soongook Choi and
Yoonkwan Chae, tbe present president. Afterwards they and
Bro. Ahn took us to the airport at noon to return home.
Harold Sims was a welcome sight at Tokyo's Haneda airport. He and Lois killed the fatted calf for us
at Isehara that night and mixed us with their bags and
baggage for the trip to the convention site Wednesday
a.m. The 17th missionary convention began that after
noon. The Tokyo missionaries made all the arrangements
and A1 Hammond prepared an especially fine program.Paul
ine gave a devotional talk. I took part in a panel on
"Recruiting National Leadership" and gave a lecture on
"Changes in Missionary Thought and Method Since World
War II." Believe me, there have been some changes made.
'

I"

liii'i

GoDVCutof-

Churches &-

Christ began on Thursday and continued through Resur

rection Day. Stephen lijima and Peter Kobayashi of the
Minato church of Christ took the lead in preparing an
outstanding fellowship. Bro, Yoshii and I shared a panel
discussion on "Leadership in the Church." My side of the
problem was, "Weakness in the Japanese Church Leadership
and How to Solve i t . "

CHRISTIANS FROM KYUSHU - PAST & PRESENT

MISSIONARY SERVICE TO JAPAN -

20 YEARS-^

Easier said than done.

To my mind, this convention showed maturity.

18 years ago I was given a drubbing for suggesting we

drop the special title 'Sensei' (teacher) in favor of

the more biblical 'brother'

but

utation used at this convention.

'brother' was the sal

There used to be a

clear distinction made between Japanese Christians and

'gaijin' (foreigners) Christians. That word with its

attached stigma was little used at this gathering. There
was a time when missionaries could not be sure either

that they were wanted or their services appreciated. At

this meeting, the Japanese brethren on their own ini
tiative expressed that appreciation by words, a gift

SPRING IS HERE - HOPE AND FRIENDS

and a scroll to 11 missionaries -wdio have served 20 years

and more in Japan. (There are 10 more missionaries in

the wings with 19 years service.) Direct support mis
sionaries have adequately demonstrated both continuity
and responsibility in Japan. This has not been matched
by some of their supporting churches.
The convention was made full for us as a

fam

ily by the presence of Paula, Kiyoto and Megumi. And

Faith and Greg who came up from school on Thursday. We
all took the train back to Kyushu on Saturday afternoon;

had Resurrection Day services with the Sueyosh.f church

on Sunday afternoon; and reached home that night assured
that He Lives and that w^ toc^ shall Live. IN HIS SERVICE^

HIDEO YOSHII - BAPTIZING INTO CHRIS'i

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication of
KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

Box 49, North Vernon,

Indiana 47265

Mon-Profit Organization
U.S*. POSTAGE

Misbion Sei'i/icGw-

PAID

Box 968

Joliet Illinois 60434

Louisville, KentucKy
o

5?

RETURN REQUESTED

Permit No.537

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey famil^

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoshima 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vernon, Ind. 47269
Linkletter No. 185

June, 1969

Dear Christian friends.

When Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their

dead," he gave us a basis for deciding which is most impor
tant; to serve the living or the dead (spiritually and phy

sically.) I had never had to make such a decision until Sun

day morning, June 8, 1969.

Pauline, Hope and I were already a full day's

journey from Kanoya to Osaka Bible Seminary to lecture on
evangelism for a week. Also to bring Faith and Greg back home
from school for the summer.

We were attending church at the

town of Saeki when we got a message from Kanoya that Bro.

Shigemoto of Koyama had died. It is the sort of news one
finds hard to believe.

For over five years I have conducted a weekly I

SHIGEO SHIGEMOTO

Bible study at his house. He was in good health and good spi

rits at the last class on Friday night. He was just 39, had never known ill health and the only
Christian in his family, (Though his wife and two young children had always made me welcome in
their home.) In fact, he was the only Christian living in Koyama, the others having moved away
or gone off to school.

After church, I called Bro. Yoshii in Kanoya and got the rest of the information:

that Bro Shigemoto had a heart attack and died in a moment's time at 6 a.m. Sunday; that the
funeral would be held on Monday; and that he had already told the family I could not be present
since I was on the way to Osaka. I told him we would return immediately. He said it would be
good if we would. After enjoying the hospitality of Philip and Wilma Visser briefly we started.
We got back to Koyama, a small town about ten miles from Kanoya, after 9 p.m. I
put on my coat and tie and approached the house. I heard a voice and I despaired, "The Buddhist
priest is here first and reading his sutras. A Christian funeral will not be possible. What a
shamed" These were my thoughts as I went around to the side of the house and peered through a
crack in the sliding doors. I was reassured. Bro. limure was preaching a sermon on life after
death.

This was Shigemoto's Father's house, a large, old-style building with adequate
room. The dividing doors had been taken out and about 50 of the neighborl'iood people were sitting
on the tatami floors listening. Pauline and I took our places at the back. In the front Bro.
Shigemoto was laying on a large double bed as if asleep. A handkerchief covered his face. His
wife and children sat by the side of the bed. His parents and relatives sat in a row on the
opposite side of the room. In a moment Bro. limure asked me to say a few words. I inquired if
this was the funeral and he said it was only a meeting to talk about the dead. I was happy to

recall our long friendship, our fellowship as Christians and our business dealings - since I
always filled my gas tank at his station. After comforting his wife and family we went on to
Kanoya, phoned our children and Mr. Clark at Osaka Bible Seminary that we would be two days
late in arriving and then fell in bed completely exhausted.
Since embalming is seldom done in Japan, disposal must be made of the body on

the day following death, at the latest. The funeral was set for Monday noon. The women of the
neighborhood were on hand to prepare food for the mourners. Men of the community were assisting
in the funeral preparations. Women of the family were dressed in solid black kimonos with a
single crest on the back. The men were in black suits. Members of the Kushira Rotary Club to
which he belonged were there as a group. Bro. Shigemoto's body was in a plain wooden box resting
on the floor. Two of his nieces brought in a wooden cross just made at a nearby carpenter shop
and placed it against the wall back of the casket. The house was filled to overflowing and
latecomers pressed into the garden and pathways alongside the house and looked in the open doors.

Kindly but firmly insisting on a Christian funeral, the doors were closed on
the family Buddhist altar. Bro. Tamaki of the Kushira church picked up the bowl of rice and
other offerings to the dead and carried them out. An organ had been brought from Kanoya. Mrs.
Yoshii began to play a hymn and the first Christian funeral ever to be held in this town commen
ced. Bro. limure conducted the service.Mr. Shigemoto's daughter played a song on the koto ( a
13 stringed musical instrument). I preached the sermon. I asked Bro. Yoshii to interpret for

me so there would be no possibility of misunderstanding. (The average funeral in Japan consists

of prayers which even the Buddhist priest himself does not understand, to say nothing of his
hearers.) As I began to speak, work in the kitchen ceased and the women leaned their heads
through the door to listen. Mourners in the yard pressed in closer. I had a compelling oppor
tunity and obligation. My message had three points: (1) That we assume immortality when we
think that other people will die but not ourselves. (2) That the number of years a man lives
is only one measure of the goodness of one's life. And, (3) that nothing can be done for a man's
soul after death. We were there to comfort the family, rejoice in the fact that Shigemoto san,
though young, had prepared to die by his obedience to Christ, and to testify to all that life
is given us as an opportunity to prepare for life eternal.
It may have been the most important
sermon I ever preached. Bro. Yoshii told me- later that the message was worth the effort I had
made to come back and give it.

As the funeral drew to a close, Bro. liraure asked the people not to pray to nor
to- -thedead Insteadth^lidwas taken off the coffin and those
wished - filed past leaving
a flower on the coffin. A neighbor helped the older brother nail the coffin shut. It was carried
out and placed in a small bus. The immediate family and friends got in and went with the coffin
to the crematory in Kanoya.
After a hymn and prayer at the crematory, the casket was rolled into the oven and
the metal doors noisily closed by the caretaker . Some of the men went around to the back where
the fire would be lit. This lighting is usually done by the eldest son of the deceased - who in

this case was only 8 years old. They called his name out loudly several times but mercifully he
didn't come. The elder brother lighted the wick with a match, the wick was stuck through a
hole in the furnace door and the fire began. The family retired to a waiting room. In two short
hours the span of "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" was completed. The family gathered the ashes
with long metal tongs, placed them in a small urn, wrapped the urn in a white cloth and made
their way homeward - a silent, sad and lonely journey.
Is that the end of the story? Not yet! At the Kanoya Rotary meeting last Wednes
day, a member asked if anyone had heard about the funeral of the Kushira Rotary member. No one
had. He then told that this man was an earnest Christian; that his funeral had been an inspira
tion to the whole club; and that at the last meeting Mr. Maxey's funeral message had been re
ported in full by the club president.

One more paragraph and I am through. Last Sunday afternoon we were preaching
at Kushikino which is just about as far away' from Kanoya as one can get and still get back home
by night. Bro. Tanijiri said I would be getting a phone call from Kanoya after the service. I
was_not looking forward to_that._ When the phone rang, however, Bro. Yoshii's first words were;

"Don't worry! It's good news this time. Mrs. Shigemoto confessed her faith in Christ this morning
and wants to be baptized tonight. Can you get back to Kanoya in time for the service ?" I told
him I could.
That night after Bro. Yoshii's sermon, I baptized Mrs. Shigemoto into Christ. It
was an emotion-filled moment for us all. At the prayer meeting afterward, Mrs. Shigemoto said,
"I'did not know I could have such joy so soon after such sadness."
Now, there is still one Christian living in Koyama
IN HIS

""-r
Non-profit Organization

LINKLETTER
1 1, .

Monthly Publication of
KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

li."

6 im

Louisville, Kentucky
Mission yerviceiJ
Box 968

'/ollet Illinois 60434

RETURN REQUESTED

U.S.POSTAGE

PAID

Box 49, North Vernon,

Indiana 47265

SERVICE

Permit No.537

Kyushu Christian Mission STUDY PACKET $5:00

1. Offering bag - Japanese style
2. Pair of chopsticks

7. Large Picture; A Christian Church

8. Large Picture: The Christian Center

3.
4.
5.
6.

9. Folder: Kagoshima City

10. Folder: Parlez Vous Japanese?
11. Sample: Japanese Sunday School Lesson
12. Sample: Sunday School Attendance Card

Return Envelope
Course Outline - One page, both sides
Buddhist Scroll - See Lesson. Outline
Song Sheet: "Others, Others."

13. Sample: Japanese Book Mark - Ten Commandments

14. Scripture Portion: Sermon on the Mount - Japanese and English

15. Sample: LINKLETTER, monthly publication of the Kyushu Christian Mission.
16. Word Set: 13 Religious Words in English, Japanese (Kanji) and Japanese (Roman letters).

17. Story Set Booklet: "Everyday with Kenii and Michiko"

18. Story Set Booklet: **Meet the Maxev Missionary Family"
19.
20.
21.
22.

(Bought seperately: 50c) 11 pages

(Bought seperately: SOc)^ 16 pages

Wall Poster (folded): Large Map of Japan with Pictures of Mark and Pauline Maxey
Picture Sheet Poster (folded): 25 pictures to illustrate the lessons
Booklet: Background Notes: Japan , 12 pages
Booklet, Japan Missions - 1968, 28 pages

USES:

DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. The Story Sets and other materials have been designed
to provide the missionary emphasis at Vacation Bible School for two weeks - five

days per week.

A minimum of 30 minutes, preferably 45 minutes, should be allotted

for this purpose in the morning program. This could be at the opening exercises;
mid-morning assembly; closing exercises; at departmental assemblies; or class by
class with the teacher visiting each class by turn throughout the morning. Whatever

works best for your own situation, building, space available and class sizes is the
plan to follow.
While there is enough material here to fill up an entira morning
if used correctly, yet its real purpose is to supplement your regular Bible study
courses by a period of missionary teaching to point up all the rest of the study.
2.

BIBLE SCHOOL OPENING EXERCISES. For the \Aiole group, by departments or classes.The

application would be as above. If

used every Sunday, it would be a 10-12 week series.

Xf used once a month, it would cover a year. Probably this is too long to make an impact.
3.

YOUNG PEOPLElS MEETINGS - SUNDAY NIGHT OR WEEK NIGHT.

This study set can be used very

effectively this way to provide a series of missionary teaching once a year. In this
case the entire period should be allotted for the lesson. A night or two during the
series

could be used for slides on Japan and of the Kyushu mission in particular.

See address below for orderirng slides.

4.

ADULT MISSIONARY MEETINGS - There is amply lesson material, background information

and display items to make either a single presentation or a number of presentations

about Japan, its j)eople, its religions, its customs and its missionaries Since the
lesson stoms are written with a young audience in mind, the information in these
stories would have to be adapted by the teacher for the group to be taught.
5.

DISPLAY FOR MISSION FAIRS, RALLIES, CONVENTIONS AND FAITH-PROMISE CAMPAIGNS. Scissors,

paste, thumbtacks, a wall or tack board, a table, a borrowed Japanese vase,"-parasol,

kimono and lantern

and the materials in this packet and you have all that is needed

to make an eye-catching, informative display. Small placards and explanatory notes

underneath or alongside the display items will be helpful & appreciated by the viewers.
6. RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR TERM PAPERS, CLASS REPORT, GEOGRAPHY CLASS OR MISSIONARY LESSON.
Do not throw this material away. It can be used again and again. Try to keep all to

gether in this packet. Make one person responsible for it.

Non-Profit -drgai^l^ation

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication of

KYVSHli CHRISTIAN MISSION

Box 49, North Vernon,

Indiana 47265

RETURN REQUESTED

U.S.POSTAGE

t,,.

PAID

cnAnA

Illinois 604.14
-)

Louisville,
Permit

Kentucky
No.

537

AN OFFERING.

Since we have 1-luded an o ferxng

Kiao anrl a return envelope it

an offering is in order. That is tru .

the hearers

practical method at

efeLive. It has missed a chance of getting a committment,

hand - money-has not been

young people have been for many their

sst :;:f v;sr/^rr

the mlssionap^
r""""s pro 1

would seem that

which does not give

ui.u.........

s t;resources

at hand. DVBS offerings in the summer time are

especiaUy helpful because this is the time of least missionary giving during the year.

e::~ s ;
sing if the offering given is joyous, firee and spontaneous.
. 1

an nfferine bae like those used in the churches in Japan. The offering

rid^rerbarinn^rs^in 5apa"' S^'thrLo^ntlfoffering given

rr^:"urit^:rrLtt:

your group wouldT enjoy trying the Japanese way.

Lrhaps

Areturn envelope is included if you want to write us here directly in Japan. Or you
iana 47265. In either case you will receive a receipt and a letter of thanks. If you will
tell us how many children you had in your DVBS. Bible school young peoples meeting or
other group you will be sent from Japan a Japanese paper book mark for each person.

can wtitfto our forwarding secretary, Mrs. Cecil Smith Jr. Box 49 "h Vernon Ind

SJif^:^ffpMark G. Maxey. Kyushu Christian Mission. Kanoya. Kagoshima 893, Japan

In the U.S. Mrs. Cecil Smith, Jr., Forwarding Secretary, Kyushu Christian Mission

Lx 49, North Ve^on, Indiana 47265. Phone: (812) 346-7302

Slides. Display items, and Books:

Johb Miles Baker, 147 Avenue Cota San Clemente.

California 92672. Phone: (714) 492-1333

(Study sets and books can also be ordered from Mrs. Smith)

^^r-f^^TOR^A^^^ear subscription to this highly readable monthly account of the

lives of the Maxey missionary family in Japan.

$1.00 - CMF - ITS FIRST 15 YEARS. A case history study of the problem of
centralized, organised missionary organizations among free churches.

$2 00 - SECOND THOUGHTS. Anew book by Mark Maxey. Twelve chapters on men and missions
as they relate to Japan. It will give you some new viewpoints to think about.
$5 00 - KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION STUDY PACKET as described on this sheet. Awealth of
material and information gathered at considerable expense

JOHN
MILES BAKER
147 Avanue Cota

San Clemente, CA 92672

ORDER OR BLANK

PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

TOTAL:

COST:

MRS. CECIL
SMITH, JR.
BOX 49

NORTH VERNON, IN 47265

MAIL TO THIS ADDRESS:

CHECK ENCLOSED ( ) PLEASE BILL ME ( )

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey famlb

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoshima 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vernon, IN.47265

Linkletter No.

186

July, 1969

^ .ife

Dear Christian friends,

I have never been one to pray about the weath

er. Twelve years as a newsboy taught me to accept the suti

FOURTH OF JULY GUESTS

and the snow, the wind and the rain as a natural part of

life both to be accepted and enjoyed. It has never oc-

curred to me to change plans because the weather had

changed and, accept for those who sail ships and fly the
skies, I have always wondered \diy other people did.

I
I

Our rainy season this year came early and

stayed late. We had 29 days during which the clouds lift

ed only three times. Our yearly rainfall here is 7 feet,

9 inches but during one week ervd we had a foot and a half ^
and 3% feet in the 29 days. This is equal to a year's
rainfall in Indiana. As the days wore on, I confess I
began to talk to God about the weather.

1
IBRO. YOSHII (1.) WELCOMES "DENDO" TEAM
Bros. Turner, Honmori. Oda & Nakaninri

The hills, cliffs and subsoil of this area is

a light rockCxdiich actually floats on water.) It absorbs

a lot of water but as it does so it loses its consistency,

It can collapse at any time. The resulting landslides

killed 51 people in our prefecture. Two weeks after the

^
i

rains, a huge cliff back of the Kanoya church let loose

J
at 4 a.m. fracturing three buildings next door. The church
escaped damage but the incident added new urgercy to their
plan to relocate and rebuild as soon as possible.
Every Fourth of July is open house for the for
eigners at this end of Kyushu. The invitations always
read, "Rain or Shine." Most of the time it shines. This
time the heavenly spigots worked overtime all day long.
Only the hardy came but we had a good time, good food and
an amazingly varied group. Besides our regular friends

BRO. TAMAKI ADVERTISING THE MEETINGS

there were Americans passing through from Kansas, West

Virginia and Pennslyvania? and 80 year old Grandmother
from Iowa making her home with missionary children in
Kagoshima plus two Canadians, one Frenchman and one Aus
tralian.We flew the flag & all joined in our patriotism.
"Dendo" is the Japanese word for evangelism.
It is an easy word to say but a harder word to do. Once
a year for a full week, Osaka Bible Seminary sends out

its entire faculty and student body for 'dendo.'The teams

are selected months in advance so that they can- pray and
BRO. NAKAMORI TEACHING BIBLE SCHOOL
prepare together. We always welcome these teams here and _
try to match their preparation with our own. We printed
55,000 tracts that Bro. Oda had written for distribution
by hand and in the newspapers. Bro. Yoshii planned a
three day meeting at Kanoya; Bro. limure three days at
Kushira and Bro. Daikusono two days at Kajiki. While in
Kanoya the team stayed with us and ate breakfast with us.
Other than that the local churches took care of their

entertaiment, incidental expenses and planned a very

full schedule of calling and speaking in addition to the
meetings at night. We provided printing, advertising
travel expenses to and from Osaka plus seeing that the

BRO. HOMORI TEACHING MEMORY VERSE

CHRISTIAN STANDARD For July 9, 1949-

team and their equipment got to each place on

Mark G. Maxeys to Return

to Japan as Missionaries
Battle Creek, Mich.Mr. iinrl Mrs. Mark

fnith.

time. I was the driver for that project. Bro.

Tamaki, Christian store owner in Kushira spent

(5. Mnxey announce that they are completing

work in Japan, their unquestioned faith and

plans to rclurii to Japan as missioniiries,

devotion

They

Christ, should enable them in

plan

to

estaMish

New

Teatameut

tn

our Lord and Saviour, Jesus

do a commeadablc work In that needy field.

gregfttions alrondy established there at Ea-

worthy of your cossldorBtion, and heartily

commend them to you.
Sincerely,

uoye and Kokura.

Harold Cole and Paul

ostablish a

new mission and work in

new

terrilory, but will co-operate fully with missioanries in Jnpnn.

Mr. Mn?:ey is a graduate of Minnesota
Bible College and The Cincinnati Bible Semi
nary with the degree* A.B,, M.A., and B.D.
He h:iB held located pastorates at Truman,
Minn.; and North Vernon, Ind.; in addition
to student pastorntes at Madclia, Minn,;

The team itself was the very best:

I believe Mark and Pauline Max'uy are

Koichi Homorij second year student from Kajiki,

Kagoshima; Atsushi Nakamori, 5th year student

OeoME Mask ICujott

from Hokkaido; Akira Oda, Prof, of Greek and

To Whom It May Concern:

Chaplain Mark Maxey and his wife are
planning to go to Japan as missionaries. It
might well be said that they are planning to

New Testament and Bill Turner of Osaka and the

Seminary.

return to Japan as missionaries, for during

his term of service in .Tapan with the Amoncan Army, Chaplain

Maxey

found

decided

that

this

the Held

is

which he would spend his life. Even though

Paula contracted infantlie paralysis during
their stay in Japan, these intrepid messengers
of the cross are determined to go back. There
is a spirit of pioneering in this Maxey family,

humidity in good grace and gave a good account

of themselves in every way.

which has made itself manifest. Mark Maxey's

loyalty and ability is too well known to need

commendation.
this

family

The attendance was good and on Sunday,

Only the announcement that

of

Christians desire to

go

June 20, five people were baptized into Christ.

Three by Bro. limure in the Kushira river and
two at the Kanoya church, one by. Bro. Yoshii
and one by myself. The latter was Kazuhiro Shi"^m^o,~a nephew of"the man"I wrote about in my

10

Japan with tbe message of salvatloa shou'.d

raise up supporters throughout America to
furnish the necessary funds for a new inisskm

station in Japan.

They took turns preaching, giving

their testimonies of faith and singing praises

to the Lord. The bore the oppressive heat and

tbe op

portunities to speak far Christ to the Ja]>anese and

advertising with his

car.

the Lord tn

churches on the island of Kyushu, the southommo8( island

Japan. There are two con-

Nielsen of the Osaka Misaioo are presently

assisting *thesc churches. The Maxeys will

several hours each day

Their background, their eagerness t<i

R, C. Foster

last letter. He had attended my Bible classes for a long time but finalTlie

Mstk tlur)Mark.
ud

Piil,

Waltr Muk.

pMlin*

Hollowtown, Highland County, 0.; New Holl.md, O.; and Circleville, O. At prescDt.be
is ininwtefing Sunday evenings to the con
gregation at Vendalia in addition to the
Dlckman Boacl Chapel, Fort Cueter, Mich.
During ber husband's absence, while over-

seaK, Mrs. Maxcy, a graduate of The CIdcinnatl Bible Seminary, was instrumental in
establishing the Laurel Home Church of
Christ, CutcinnaCi, O.

Mr.

Maxey has served live years as an

Army chaplain In the United States, Philip

pine Islands, and Japan. His family was

witb him In Japan, where they had oppor
tunity to become acrinainted with the people

and to observe the great opportunities for

the gospel there. They returned to the States
early In 1945, so that their daughter, Paula,
could receive additiunal treatment fur polio
nt Percy Jones General Hospital, Battlu
Creek.

Mr, Maxey is requesting release from the

y the spark of faith was kindled and he began his walk with God. The
ten days of 'dendo' were exhausting

but exhilirating, too.

Probably not many of you will remember this news item in the
Christian Standard of 20 years ago. In one way it seems like a long
time. In another, it seems like yesterday - there is still so much to
do. One thing about it still stands out in my memory. On Saturday,

July 9, when this issue was reaching its readers. Curt Hess, minister
of the Sciotoville (Ohio) Church of Christ, sent me a telegram asking
if I would consider being their living link missionary. I was happy to

accept.

They tQok partial living link support of $50 a month, a com

mittment which they have more than maintained for 20 years. Steadfast

supporters like this make for steadfast missionaries on the field.

Army the last of August to begin a tour of

the churcbes la order that they may return

to Japan in the summer of 1950. They may

be contacted (or speaking dates at 29 Wen

dell Street, Battle Creek, Mieb. Forwarding

agent is Mrs. Gladys Auerswald, Box 102,
North Vernon, Ind.

Centra! Church, Battle Creek, has assumed

living-link support of Paula to become the

Other living link support soon followed so that by the time

we left for Japan in August, 1950 it was all promised. The amazing thing
is that most of those original supporters are still with us. They are:

mission's first regular stipporters. Livinp-Unk

19-20 YEARS; Alberta Church of Christ, Portland, Ore.; Brownstown, Ind.;

still needed.

Ladies Aid, Jamestown, 0.; Loyal Friends Class, Clifton church, Louis

sapport for other members of the family is

and

There are two childrenPaula

Walter Mark.

Letters of recommendation are printed below:

Gounci-l~Xeiild 0;

To Whom It May Ooncemj

It

ville, Ky.; Madelia, Minn.; Medora, Ind.; North Vernon, Ind.; Women's

a privilege to have this opportunity

YSAJIS: Newtown church, Battle Creek, Mich.; 14

YEARS: Vandalia, Mich.; 13 YEARS: Mt Byrd church, Milton, Ky.; 7 YEARS:

of saying a word eonceming Mr. Mark

Maxey, who Is wholeheartedly committed to

Miles Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; 2 YEARS: Bethany Christian, Anderson, Ind.;

tbe canse of New Testament Christianity,

1 YEAR: First Christian, Columbus, Indiana.

and his wife, Pauline, who is of like precious

Page Four
(436)
This is only those who provide for our family's living. We
have an equal^ impressive list of those who have provided working funds for this mission since it

first began. For all these and the more recent supporters as well, we thank God
Non-Proflt Organization

LXNKLETTER

Monthly Publication of

U.S.POSTAGE

KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

PAID

Box 49, North Vernon,

Indiana 47265

Louisville, Kentucky
Missaion Services
&OV 968

'oXiet Hliucis 60434

RETURN REQUESTED

Permit No.537

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey fetellj

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoshima 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vernon, Ind. 47269
August, 1969

Linkletter No. 187

Dear Christian friends,

After Bro. Yoshii and I had concluded a memorial ser-

5E7

-V ^^^1,

^^

vice at Bro. Shigemoto's old family home, he leaned over to me

and said, "It looks like it's going to be a very fruitful year."
I was bound to agree. And a

full year as. well.

Our annual Christian service/camp'was one of the fin-

est we have ever had. (Of course, in qur shortened memories,the

last is always the best.) We had a total of 60 campers. The

camp ground is the buildings and lawn here at the mission. The
faculty wffi the preachers of the area plus Lonnie and Coral Ming^

i^gUMI
PAULINE - ONE YEAR OLD
MEGUMI PAULINE - ONE YEAR OLD

of Osaka Bible Seminary. He was camp speaker and she the song leader.

Paula and her baby were

with us during camp, too. She taught my class twice and played the organ. The camp courses were
built around the theme, '*Hear the Voice of God."

For the first cime ever, no rains or winds spoiled the outside activities. At night,
movies of the Life of Christ were held on the front lawn. Many of the neighbors came to see
also. These combined with Lonnie*s sermons had a powerful effect. Thursday night was stunt

night. Our group decided to stage the battle of David and Goliath. Little Kyogu Fukunaga hurled
his stone at me, the mighty Goliath.

My job was to fall over dead at the right moment and

clasp my forehead with a handful of catsup.

Our stunt won first prize - a watermelon, (Hope

was voted best actress in all the stunts for her portrayal of Sisera, the king who got a tent

spike driven through his head while he slept.)

The climax came Friday night at the closing service and around the camp fire.^i^fixtee^
of the campers chose Christ for their Saviour. Three of them were minister's children includ^
ing our own Hope, 8.

Also in the group was Kazue Shigemoto, daughter of Shigeo Shigemoto, the

man I wrote about two months ago.Three of his family have been baptized since he died. 'He
being dead yet speaketh."

August has always been an Important month for our family. Pauline's birthday is
the 2nd; my Mother's was the 8th; grandaughter Megumi was born last year on the 9th and my day
is the 10th. This fell on Sunday, the day after camp ended. It became, then, the spiritual

b^thday of many of the young people as they were baptized into Christ at their various churches.
It was my own joy to baptize Shigemoto San and Hope at the Kanoya church that day.
August is also an important month in Japan. The Budhist festival for the dead, 0 Bon,
falls on August 15. This is vacation time, family reunion time and gift giving time. In fact,
the store sales, the new clothes, the gift business almost reminded us 5f a Christ-less Christ
mas. August 15 also marked the 24th anniversary of the end of the war here in Japan. I attended
the memorial service sponsored by the city for the 1934 soldiers from this area who died during
that war. There were only 20 mourners, 20 representatives of various civic groups and about
20 other people in the large hall. It was rather sad and certainly a commentary on the shortness
of human emotions and memories.

Our home has been blessed with many guests this summer.

Charles and Nancy Miller

and daughter spent a week with us from Guam where they are school teachers. Paula and Megumi
were with us for two weeks during which we had a joint birthday party. The house seemed pretty

empty when she went back home (to Nagoya) with her mother. Lonnie and Coral Mings and son stayed
with us during camp. Many, many Japanese friends and students, back for a summer visit, also
came to call reminding us of times past and of lasting Christian influence. Now the summer draws
to a close and Faith and Greg return to Canadian Academy in Kobe. Greg is a senior now and will
return to the U.S. next summer. There is a touch of sadness as the family grows smaller but also
a touch of pride to see your young people reaching out to fill their place in the world.

IN HIS SERVICE,

-T)

19th

ANNUAL

SUMMER

CAMP

t'l, f
r
PUTTING UP THE TENT

83-8.

FACULTY

CAMP "POSTKR

OUTDOOR MOVIES

DAVID AND GOLIATH

sis I;

LONNIE MINGS

CAMP SPEAKER

"^ti.

Sl

i
MR.IIMURE BAPTIZING - KUSHIRA

SIXTEEN WHO BELIEVED IN CHRIST

LINKLETTER

Non-Profit Organization

Monthly Publication of
KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

U.S.POSTAGE
PAID

Box 49, North Vernon,

Indiana 47265

Louisville, Kentucky

Permit No.537

terVicei.

RETURN REQUESTED

HOPE IS BAPTIZED - AUGUST 10

ixtx 96M

'oliet

Iliinois 60434

Pyontfyan

A monthly report by the Mark G. Max^ famll

Seoul

to the friends of -the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoshima 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vemon, Ind. 47269
/

Linkletter No. 188

iTaipei

October, 1969

-IjTar
ITaiwan

Dear Christian friends.

ongkon;

The weather people promised us a real typhoon and

, ^^Nntippir

we got one at the end of August. It left us with several hun

dred dollars of damage to roofs, fences and trees. But the Ka-

jiki church was wiped out - song books, Bibles, furniture, the
minister's study.Nothing was left but the floor.(Special of
ferings to help rebuild should be sent to Polly Wilkinson
23769 West Edison Road, South Bend, Indiana 46628).

's V \

Isabel Dittemorehad asked us to teach a leader's course

in Taiwan. Tickets, visas, innoculations, teaching materials,

arrangements for our responsibilities here - at last we were

ready. We enrolled Faith (Freshman) and Greg (Senior) at Can

adian Academy at Kobe on the way with generous assists by the
hospitality of Martin & Evelyn Clark, Claude & Evalyn Likins.
We arrived in Taipei on September 2, Isabel put her

house, a good bed, a lamp and study table at our disposal and
we began the class the next night. We taught the BETHEL SER
IES, a disciplined Bible study requiring hours of study and
memorization for^ each class by the student and may more hours

of preparation by the teacher.Frequent quizzes and tests in

sure serious Study. Usually the course is taught 2 hours once

'

awm aisrjrr
fcjw.e-ir

KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS

a week. We went after it 2 hours a night, every night. At the

end of 14 sessions we had covered the Pentateuch - or 9 les

sons and four tests.

Since I was away from home and its sch

edule I could read the Bible for hours at a time. I learned

more than the students did and came away with a new appre
ciation for the Book of Books.

It was an interesting class: 7 Chinese, 1 Japanese

and four missionaries including Pauline. Each had his text in
his own language but the teaching was in English. We had fun

along the way. A coin bank was soon full of fines for tardiness
and failure to carry memory cards. On test nights the students
bribed me with gifts of bananas for better grades. Since I

dearly love bananas I happily accepted the bribes and gave

ISABEL DITTEMORE & BROTHER

1/

THE BETHEL BIBLE STUDY CLASS - AFTER EXAM #4

INTRODUCIN(

them five extra points on their scores. On the last night

we all had a Chinese feast together in Isabel's front

yard.

She will continue the class week by week.

Besides taking the course herself, Isabel

kept us well fed and took care of all the details. Thanks
Honey! It was a privilege to work with you again. We al
so enjoyed the hospitality of missionaries Alan and Jan

et Bemo, Ted and Beverly Skiles and Mrs. Lillian Martin

who are also working on the island.

On our last day, Paula and Kiyoto came to Tai

wan for their vacation. We had a fine day togelier before

going on to Hongkong. Helen and Wayful Jew took care of

us there, showed us the city, introduced us to the de
lights of Chinese cooking and kept our coffee cups fil

SHU CHEN LI 6e WAYFULL JEW - HONGKONG

led as we talked late into the night about concerns of

the Kingdom. They are deep in language study, already

using it very well and making friends everywhere.
Brb7~Li invitedus to preach on Sunday. It was

a pleasure. Mandarin, Cantonese and English were used

in the same service but each heard in his own language
and was edified. That night we visited the classes con

ducted by Paul & Susan Palmer and Ben Reese. On Monday

M/M Bollback of the Alliance mission had us to lunch. We
carried on an intense conversation about the field and
its needs between bites.

Then it was time to go.

We left Hongkong at 6 p.m Monday and arrived

in Fukuoka, Kyushu at 10. We went through customs twice

in Japan, twice in Taiwan and once in Hongkong. The in

spector looked me in the eye and asked, "Any whiskey?
Any tobacco? Any gold? Any firearms?" I replied in the
negative, they passed our bags without inspection and we
were on our way.Last off the plane,1st out of the terming.

BRO. IKEDA WELCOMES CONVENTION GOERS

We set up all night on the train to Kagoshima.

Pauline and Hope went directly home. I took a ship five
hours south to Tanegashima for our annual area convention.

Finally I was safely home late Wednesday night. To preach

and fellowship in other areas gives one the spiritual
strength to come back to the realities of his own field.
Truly, we received a blessing from each person and each
place we met on the way< October first we began againour regular schedule of teaching and preaching. Pauline
has begun third grade for Hope. She just had her 9th

^'n^ppy Birthday on October 4. The next tw^g^^^ftftnths will

po. the most difficult days since the war for Japan mis-

^sionaries: Inflation, Viet Nam, Okinawa, Security Treaty^

renewal & Anti-Americanism. We all ^eed your flayer

KAJIKI MINISTER & HIS RUINED BIBLE

IN HIS SERVICE,

Non-Profit Organization

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication of

U.S.POSTAGE

KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

PAID

Box 49, North Vernon,

Louisville, Kentucky

Indiana 47265

Permit No.537

Sisslcn Services
Box 968

Wiec Ulinois 60434

RETURN REQUESTED

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoahlma 893, Japan - Box 49, North Vernon, Ind. 47269
Linkletter No. 190

December, 1969

Dear Christian friends,

JA: 1 2 61970

Tanabe is a delightful seacoast town, 100 miles south of Osaka on

the Kii peninsula. Surrounded by citrus groves, its narrow, winding streets
were laid out to hinder invaders in samurai days. We were warmly welcomed

MORIKAWA FAMILY.

there, not as invaders,-but as Christian friends in mid-November,

Heisuke Enomoto, an officer in the

Tanabe

church and a Rotarian

had asked me to come speak to the Tanabe club on the various issues conf

ronting Japan and the U.S. at this critical time from the viewpoint of an
American, a Christian and as President of the Kanoya Rotary Club. I discus
sed the issues and their causes at the regular noon meeting and that night
after supper in a local Japanese inn I discussed the possible Christian
solutions using Romans 13 as a basis. A vigorous give and take on political
and religious issues followed. Several earnest Buddhists stressed that their

own religion offered the same, if not better, solutions. I felt it was a
very rewarding evening for all of us.

^tviap Xemmon first came to^ Japan 39 years ago making her the

oldest in'years^'of any of us and surely in-service. After the war, she re

VIVIAN LEMMON

turned to Japan and settled in Tanabe. Her work there since that time has

made her one of the respected citizens of the city. One good way for a mis
sionary to measure his work is to see how many disciples he has influecDced
to go out and preach to their own. By this measure, Miss Lemmon has done
very well indeed for year by year young people have gone forth out of Tana

be for training and Christian service.

and good food as well.

We had sweet fellowship in her home

When we preached her many students were there to

listen. At her invitation, Pauline spoke one day to a women's group in her
home and another day to the mother's of the kindergarten children at church.
Sueyo Morikawa was a Kyushu boy who found Christ while serving
in the Kanoya Naval Air station about ten years ago. Now tthe minister of
the Tanabe Church of Christ, he and the Christians worked themselves to the
limit getting ready for our three day meeting there. The result of their
prayers and work was evident - the church was filled with interested listen

ers for every service. That made preaching easy. People remained to talk
and ask questions after the services. Sunday night at the invitation a kin
dergarten mother stepped forward; also a young high school boy whose two

INTRODUCTION BY BRO. ENOMOTO

THE HIDAKAS-JUST MARRIED

MEETING ADVERTISING

BAPTIZING INTO CHRIST

small sisters

had brought him to the meetings; then, a third, Mrs. Morikawa, the minister's wife.

She had been sprinkled and a member of another church. Her husband had the joy of baptizing her
into Christ along with the other two. Many in the church had been praying for this for a long
time. After the baptism, we gathered for prayer and remained to talk of God's working. The hour
grew late and some one said we should return home for sleep. I asked, "Who can go to sleep with
this kind of happiness in his heart?"
On Monday we took the long way around the peninsula and visited Mikimoto's Pearl Farm.

Tuesday, to Ise Jingu, the national Shinto shrine where important events are reported to the gods
by the Emperor, the Prince or the Prime Minister. Tuesday afternoon we called on Fr. Joseph Hunt
at Matsuzaki. He was 52 years old when he took care of the Catholic services for me when I was
Regimental Chaplain of the 35th Infantry at Otsu, Japan. I thought he was old then. Now I am 52

and he is 74 and still going strong. He showed us the home for deformed children he has charge
of as we recalled old times together. Wednesday was a happy day in Nagoya with Kiyoto, Paula
and grandaughter Megumi. Thursday to the Baptist Hospital in Kyoto for our annual physical. It
looks like our problems are the same as everybody else - not enough hours to do the tasks we have
set our bodies to do. When the body rebels, we wonder why. All day Friday attending the Council

lor's meeting of Osaka Bible Seminary. Friday night and Saturday attending the annual preaching
rally (Tane Maki Kai) of the Seminary. The preparation, preaching, attendance and fellowship were
outstanding this year.- Martin and Evelyn Clark shared again their bountiful hospitality and
got-us-tQthe airport foi^the 7:00 A.tf; plane to Kyushu Sunday morning.

By 10 A.M. we were preaching in Sueyoshi. After the sermon, Miss Ueda tearfully and
joyfully accepted the invitation to believe in Christ. She borrowed a kimono and I took a change
of clothing out of my suitcase and we all went to the river that same hour. Returning to the
church, we had prayer together and all of us went on our way rejoicing. Happy days like this one
and the meetings at Tanabe can carry one through many a dry spell.

The Homori family of Kajiki asked us to be guests at the wedding of their eldest daugh
ter to Tameyuki Hidaka. Son, Koichi, is a Christian and a student of Osaka Bible Seminary but
the rest of the family is not; We have enjoyed the hospitality of their home many times. The
wedding was held at the Kirishima Jingu, an ancient Shinto shrine of the area. It was our first

time to be seated inside a shrine for a service. There are no idols but prayers and foods are
offered to the spirits. The marriage ends as white-robed priestesses carry the three ceremonial
wine cups and wine kettle back and forth to be drunk by the bride and gioom seated at opposite
sides of the shrine.
At the wedding feast, first friends of the groom and then of the bride

give speeches praising them and offering suggestions for a happy marriage.

I was happy to speak

in praise of the bride and to leave with them both the words of Jesus from Matthew 19; 4-6. For

a wedding gift we left a Bible marked with the passages about marriage, a matching hymnbook
and two small books about Christianity. During the feast the bride left once to change from her
wedding kimono to a second kimono and then a second time to put on her going-away dress. She never
got to eat a bite of the feast, nor was she expected to.

One of the wedding guestvas a Japanese lady, 70 years old. She went to the U.S, when

she was 20 and this was her first return to Japan. She could hardly believe it was the same place.
En route to Japan she had toured the world.

She_s^d, .'^After seeing. them,_I ..know .that the U..S.,

is truly a wonderful place to live. There is none better. I wouldn't want to live any other place."
After all the breast-beating I've heard about the U.S. and its alleged shortcomings, It made me
feel warm all over to hear these spontaneous words of praise. In these days of Thanksgiving and
Christmas joy we could well include thanks and praise for the country which has blessed us all

our days. May the joy of Christ be personal, vital and lasti^ is our Christmas prayer for you.
IN HIS SERVICE,
LINKLETTER

Non-Profit Organization

Monthly Publication of

U.S.POSTAGE

KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

PAID

Box 49, North Vernon,

Louisville, Kentucky

Indiana 47265

Permit No.537
Misiiion Services

iiox 9(58

ElETURN REQUESTED

'.'oiiet

I l l i n o i s 60434

J:AN 'i. 61370

If
I

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!. i j j I Sa u

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