Where are Bob & Chris in Japan? March 3

Bob and Chris were at House of the Way; a facility begun in the ministry of the late Rev. John Bowman and his wife Verneda Bowman. This is a ministry that brings care to mentally disabled adults. It is a great service of the Church to Japan. While at House of the Way Bob & Chris saw a mosaic and heard its story. In a real sense they met Rev. John Bowman in the process. I would like you to know the story. “This is a picture of the marble mosaic on the wall of the dining room at the House of the Way. It is eight feet tall and thirty feet wide and there are about 50,000 pieces of marble to this work. This is a piece of work that normally would not be in an institution for people who need special care. The cost of such a work would usually be out of reason and would be impossible to have in an institution. Why do we have it at the House of the Way? During the oil shock a young artist, Mr. Yabe was without work. He had been working for a marble company, but when money is scarce building are built without expensive mosaic pictures. Mr. Yabe had made the mosaic picture at the Bullet Train Station in Hiroshima. The Chairman of our Board of Directors, himself an artist, was a friend of Mr. Yabe. He knew that Mr. Yabe needed work and that we at the Institution needed workers. He started working for us and is still working for us. Some years later when we made plans to build The House of the Way, No. 2, he asked if he could have space to make a mosaic picture. We chose a full wall in the dining room to be used for his picture. The marble company he had worked for donated the marble needed and the work of breaking the marble into small pieces began. I suggested that Mr. Yabe be freed from his other duties so he could spend more time on the mosaic. He refused saying that his first work would be the clients and after work and on holidays he would work on the mosaic. Often late at night he could be found working on the picture. Our chairman of the Board was a Christian and he explained the story of the lost sheep to Mr. Yabe. They both drew pictures and Mr. Yabe’s was chosen. Shortly after the work was finished, I asked Mr. Yabe why the shepherd was not in the picture. His reply was that the workers at The House of the Way were the shepherds. We are to go out into society and find the hidden handicapped people and bring them out so they can become a part of society. I thought this was a wonderful answer. Over the years we have been able to bring many hidden people out of their homes. Jesus living in also searches for the lost souls to bring them into God’s Kingdom. The way to the house of God is to be found in His Word, the Bible. Matt. 7:7 says,’ Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened.’” Rev. John Bowman.

Through his words you have met Rev. Bowman. His ministry continues today through his wife Verneda, the members of Ogaki Lutheran Church and the incredible care givers of House of the Way.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben