Where are Bob & Chris in Japan February 8

Bob and Chris were at Kyoto Lutheran Church in the beautiful cultural city of Kyoto Japan. They arrived in Kyoto after a month in Kamagasaki in the city of Osaka, Japan. They stayed in one of the rooms that the church has available for guests. Arrival early on Saturday left time to visit a museum run by a Franciscan brother that displays many items of interest in the history of Christianity in Japan. It chronicles the first missionary Francis Xavier who landed in Kagoshima in 1549, the banning of Christianity in 1587, the martyrdom by crucifixion of 6 foreign missionaries and 20 converts on February 5, 1597 at Nagasaki, and the hidden Christians discovered when the country reopened and rescinded the outlawing of the Christian faith after the Meiji Restoration. They saw many artifacts depicting how Christians kept the faith alive during the 200 years that Christianity was banned. They also visited other Christian sites in Kyoto. One of these was the Koryu-ji Temple that belongs to the Shingon sect of Buddhism. This sect some have speculated may have brought Christianity to Japan long before Francis Xavier through contact with Nestorian Christians in China and Korea. The idea is intriguing; but to this date in history it remains speculation and is not accepted as historical fact. On Sunday Bob preached his last sermon in the West District. On Sunday Frbruary 8 the congregation of Kyoto Lutheran Church heard the good news of forgiveness that healed the man let down through the roof by his friends in Mark 2:1-12. In his last opportunity to preach in the West District Pastor Bob encouraged the members of Kyoto Lutheran Church to receive the healing power of forgiveness in Jesus Christ in order to move their ministries ahead in confident faith. After a warm worship service in Kyoto and a comfortable ride on the Shinkansen the exchange of the South Carolina Synod and JELC now shifts to the Tokai District where Bob and Chris will be for the next month. There first stop is three weeks in the town of Shimizu. They will be living in the parsonage of Shimizu Lutheran Church.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben