Seedtime and Harvest

VOL. 9 MARCH 1961

NC.

"And the Lord said, Go quickly to the streets and lanes ofthe (village)... and to the highways and hedges.. .that my house may be filled." Luke 14:21-22 (adapted)

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BYUKYU ISLANDS

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ESTABLISHING SELF-SUPPORTING. SELFPROPOGATING NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES

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Bnto "Che Xcast f lS.obt

It is late Christmas eve and everyone is asleep in this big foreign house and in most of the other houses of Kobe.There is the chiming of bells as the

moment of midnight passes into morninga heavy but melodious clanging

that heralds the Advent.

Today my sister and I took our seven oldest children on a Christmas er rand. Lastead ctf receiving many gifts for themselves, they bought the salty crackers, chewy candies, and small oranges so loved by J^anese children; put them in brown paper sacks with a tiny toy in each andmarked with a pen ciled G for a girl and B for a boy. Senko San, a little J^anese woman who helps in our home, knew where we could find the children of the very poor.
Our children had been impressed by the story of how Kagawa helped the poor
of Kobe many years ago.

We made the five or six mile trip by bus to Minatogawa Koen,r the oldest section of Kobe. Here we saw a big area, resembling a city square in the midwest of America, only much larger. The long, narrow markets strike out from this place like the spokes of a giant wheel. As the area is approa ched on the left, there stands a big cement platform;perhaps a stage for the

performance of "shibai" (plays) at one time. Onthis stage is a panorama of

human life so miserable, so pitiful as to be imbelievable. Here the homeless of Kobemen, women, and children, live.They spend their days begging or

scrounging for food and at night come back here to sleep. Actually thereis no shelter here, for the portion of the structure that is roofed is fenced off with an entanglement of barbed wire to keqp "them" out. It's only virtue is in being off the ground; day and night surroimd it in the same way. We are told not to help people like this: that it only encourages their conditiomthat they, after all, receive an allowance from the government. There is every
reason to doubt that that allow

ance would be enough to buy a

"sho" of rice or a'tame" of

noodles. Maybe thesordidworld of Scrouge is not so long gone after all. "Arethere prisons ? And the union work-

. ,

.r

our, then?"

the Poor Law are in full vigBecause it is near"0-shogatsu",the J^anese NewYear

houses?

The Treadmill and

^ ^f

If fl
f.-'

season,/ when the business of

begging and scrounging for
food and trash is a little br isker than usual, the stage was deserted when we arrived. We

were'disjointed and afraid

we would not be able to

eat, but not for long. In a few moments, from the side of the building opposite us, a ragged man
shuffled out into the open with two dirty little girls holding tightly to either hand. They headed toward a little market area. We

deliver our sacks oftr-

-". Iiijjr/

J/Si \'j ^'' Jf"V,

^f

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moved to the end of the

ofrubbish until It finally ';^-:

assumed the sh^e of a littleleantoaboutthesize

' -;

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, > '

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of a large dog house, cov ered with a dirty straw mat,We couldhear the voices of other children. We

waited and before long the man and little girls returned, evidently with one ^ple, for it appeared later cut up in painfully small pieces in a plastic dish.
The two girls saw us standingthere andran toward what we must call a house, I guess. There was the soimd of excited voices and then back they came for
another look. We walked slowly toward the house.

The father had the unmistakable appearance and mannerism of the simpleminded, with his dull, heavy-lidded eyes and thick-tongued talk, but it was he who made the little children bow and say thank you. The mother was a large, smiling woman with a baby in her arms. If she felt apologetic about her home, she didn't show it. There was no pride here, but what incentive would there be to ke^ dirt clean?The children had one play thing; a puppy and that little dog, so carefully tied to his rope was the only sign of that br ight, sparkling something called "fun" that we saw. The pup wriggled with pxire ddight at the least bit of attention from the children, for, of course, little dogs love little children - dirty or clean, rich or poor, yours or mine. Another woman, perhaps a sister of the father, was so deformed, so ill-clo thed that it was painful to look at her. When she understood why we were
there, she ran somewhere as fast as she could and in a few seconds returned

with another ragged little girl, pushing her forward to receive a sack, too. Fassers-by began to make a detour on their way home until finally there was quite a little crowd. Some faces were pleased; some puzzled. Among them were several of Kobe's char-women in their baggy trousers and white aprons, who do every type of low, hard work for so pitifully few yen a day women who wear identical masks that cover up pain and fear and lonliness , and make them all, no matter how young, look old.
The children's eyes were big with wanting what was in the sacks, but this wantir^ could not match the hunger that was in the eyes of the parents and the other woman. We offered them the sacks, too, and they did not refuse.

As we left,Senko San explained that our gifts were in the name and honor of

Christ, the Son ofGod, the Saviour of the world. The family listened in

longer,but there was no more time and perh^s Senko San didn't know any
thing more to say.

tently and the crowd moved in a Uttle closer. They would have listened

We went home to Christmas eve. The door shut out the cold of this win

ter night. The children turned their thoughts to other things thelight and warmth ofhome holds on the night before Christmas, but I went back in sp irit over the road we had taken and saw what we had seen again, and more, ofhuman sufferinga play with a terrible ending, unless they find Christ.
because now with nightfall, the cement stagewould be fllied with the drama

lEnERS
We receive many encouraging letters from which excerpts takra from the
following are typical:
Dear HucMns family:

For a long time now Tve-been intending to write, but I just never stopped and took the time. Every time I receive one of your news letters, I think ril sit down then and write, but so far I haven't.... The gift which I'm enclosing isn't as large as I would like to send, but I'm sure it can be put to good use as you continue to work for the

Lord. I will also continue to pray for you as you do His work. May
God bless you.
Sincerely,

Friends, it isn't the size of the gift that matters, because if enough, send
small gifts,they total iq)to enough.to meet our needs,and that is all we ask. However, iqpon our r^um to the Islands, about the first of June, our needs

will be.increased,if we are to carry the Word to the many who have not
the opportunity to hear it. We do thank you for your concern, and covet your prayers. Send all money gifts to: Ryukyu Christian Mission,% Lloy d Sapp, lb25 S. 8th St.Other correspondence or packages may be sent to our

address: Mel & Marguerite Huckins, 2-2t SMnohara-Honmachi Nada-Ku,

Kobe, Japan.

This paper is-published quarterly in the interest of Mel and Marguerite

Huckins, missionaries to the Byul^u Islands. All communications are

to be sent to Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Sapp, 1G25 So. 8th St., CouncU Bluffs,
Iowa.

SECOND CLASS MAIL PRIVILEGES AUTHORIZED AT COUNCIL

BLUFFS, IOWA

School ags
Con, Tim, and Deanne are weU along intheir second term atthe Canadian Academy. They have worked hard to keqp their grades inthe upper bracket, knowing that this is their last year for a long time to enjoy a public school.
Their next schooling will beat home with none ofthe sideinterests thatmake
been i-aised up to teach them at home, but we are stiU praying for one. Un til one is provided, we will do the bestwe can along with our other duties.

"going to school" what it really is. As yet, a "teacher-missionary" has not

We andthe children are so grateful for the special school gifts that you

have sent in to help pay the staggering tuition costs at the C.A. Tuition for the school year is $975.00 for the three children. Of this amount, $177.1
has been received. We are attempting to meetthe remainder frompersonal funds. The amount is high, but we hope andpray that this investmit in our children will some day result in additional workers in the Lord's harvest
field.

Upon our return to Okinawa, the Calvert School correspondence courses will be used, and thesewill require fees also,but not as muchas at present. We trust that help will continue to come in for their future education. It

seems strange we know, to be subject to income tax, stateside taxes, and

localisland taxes, and yet not be able to benefit from them, but it is for this reason that the schooling of our children is an additional expense for which we must request help. Thank you so very much for your help thus far.
There is at least onegroup of childrenthat havetaken our children's sch

ooling to heartthe children ofthe Bible Study Group of South Side Christian
Church of Council Bluffs, Iowa. They make the need a standing prayer re

quest attheir weekly prayer time. They have also helped to supply the ans
wer to their ownprayer appeal. Will others join with these?

Christmas Joy
Thanks to each of you who sent us Christmas greetings, letters and spec

ial gifts. We are so grateful for such personal indications of your thoughtfulness and care. We are unable to write each of you at this time due to our

heavy study load,but please know that yourextra efforts were greatly appre
ciated. God bless you.

Do you know
It will soon be time for Vacation Bible School, and we would like to remind

you that we have free, for your asking, stories written by Marguerite Huckins which make excellent Missionary lessons. Also,included are patterns

you may use for fiannelgraph pictures, or for handwork for the students. If you would like them, please place your order now. Ask for the mission ary stories and send your request to: BYUKYU CHRISTIAN MISSION, 1625
So. 8th St., Council Bluffs, Iowa.

 >

Goal

In

Sight

A year ago, our language study goal seemed a long way off, but now it is

in sight. Only three months remain of the ^timated fifteen months allotted
for language stu(fy.This cbes not mean that the language has be^i mastered, but it does mean that the language usage and grammar have been studied enough to enable our return to the islands. We will continue study there as
we engage in fiirther evangelism.

The Lord willing,! will make another trip to Okinawa during March to make necessary r^airs on the Nakijin house and prepare it for our return in May. I plan to be back in Japan in time for the J^^an Christian Convention of Jap anese Christians and Missionaries of the Churches of Christ at the end of

March. Then will follow a final six wedcs of language study and we will move the end of May. Our stay in Js^anhas been very rewarding &om the standpoints of language study, fellowship with fdlow missionaries, and oi^ortunities to study the
Japanese people and their religions to a greater extent. We will return to

our island work with greater understanding of the people and problems in volved. Your prayers have been a wonderful help to us both spiritually and physically, and we will continue to need them. Only as we have strength from God can we prepare for and do His work. The goal is in sight, our stay is nearly ended, but we continue on "standing in the need of prayer."

6od iVill Supply

The mighty promise of Phil. 4:19 has always been our strength and it shall continue to be. We can look back at the fulfillment of this promise accord ing to every need. Our requests have been made known unto God and to you, our co-workers. As we have agreed together about the needs and asked in prayer for their fulfillment, they have been fulfilled. Thanks and praise be to God through Ifis Son, Jesus Christ IWe thank you for helping us with your gifts and trust also that God has supplied your every need.
tt is always amazing what God has supplied when we look back at the ful

fillment of a need. Looking ahead, the same needs often seem im|>osslble of being met, but as we labor together in prayer, giving thanks continually,
the need is supplied. Otir needs have been small compared to the needs of some, and as a result,the small requests are often overlooked in the sppeal of big requests, but in the sight of God, surely all needs are the same. The continual rise in prices and costs of evangdism necessitates increa sed mission eiqienditures. We feel the need to mention this, but at the same

time, we are confident that all will be siq)pliedas we pray and labour together for the increase of God's kingdom. Thank you for sharing with us.

Seedtime and Harvest

Frepc.
VOL. 9
2

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set up...their graven image and

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RYTJKYU ISLANDS

CSTABLISHINO SCt-F-SUPPORTINO, SCUr.

phopooatino new rerrAMCNT chumcnbs

VILLAGE

OF

TI4E

J0$4-ll

Chapter 4-"Ye Weary, Come Home"

I hope you won^t loose interest because of the sporadic tell

ing of this story of our village. There have been several de

viations from the text (if there is one) and this chapter is going to be another for we have finally ccub haiBtired in body
and mind, but already refreshed. We have ccxib back to the house

on the hill to the people we have written about, and those of

you who have longed with us for our return will want to hear
about it.

The Ukishima Maru came within sight of Tomari Port and

dropped anchor at three o*clock on the morning of May S4th. The

passengers were still sleeping and the ship was momentarily
still, as though pausing at a respectful distance to look in silence at the brilliant string of diamonds the island of

Ckmawa appears to be against the blackness of the early mnrni'ng sea. I couldnH help thinking, how extravagently costly this jewel has beensiq)posedly paid for in full sixteen year ago
but not quite paid for yet.

iWbout four hours later, we cams into the port. Only a snail
crowd of people had gathered at that early hour but the beloved

faces we looked for were there-ny parents, and o\ir two youngest boys, Itobin and Ronley who had been visiting them, as well as an
old friend, Mr. Ccntose. Taking care of business matters and

waiting for our freight to be unloaded tock mast of tte day. It

was late aftenooon when we finally headed north in tiB new Micro Bus-the first car our entire family baa been able to ride in comfortably. Hew much we appreciate it! Things looked much the
saiTE to us as we made our way up the islanda few new houses

and other buildii^, a new s[3ear mill, patches of freshly turned earth far up on the green hillsidesbut little other signof
change. The children picked out many familiar landirarks which we

supposed they had forgotten. Then-finally, down a little rolling

hill and suddenly the Village of the Joshi was all around us* Hfe
turned \jp the old castle road and we were hone.

We have been gone three long years. By all the laws of na

ture and the way of time this house should have deteriorated:

rats and roaches and termites should have taken possession; ty phoons should have destroyed the trees and plants; little bqys

should have broken the windows and tran^led the flowers. But,

none of these things were so. Almost everything is as it was

trees and nearly eveiy green thing we planted has grcwn tall and
strong until there is somsthing of the mountain here in our bit of this valley. The San has planted and coaxed into luxuriant

unbelievably, the house has mellowed ratter than mildewed, the

g^h an amazing variety of flowers and plants, the spiritual field that we left has also been cultivated-seed planted; young plants watered and nourished: each year a harvest brought in. The Christians are still few and the pagan worshippers rrany, but
the challenge is greater than ever!

The service Sunday night was a welcome msetii^ with singing and Scripture, speeches and games and refl^shments. The young
er children gave \jp ths day's battle before the evening was over ^ collapsed in little liir?) heaps, but ths rest of us enjoyed
it to tlie last late hour. The Scriptures Ifeshiro read were significant-Matthew 12:46150, with those wonderful words of Christ that break down the barrier of race and culture ani lan guage, "Star whosoever shall do ths will of iry 'Father which is in heaven, the sams is my brother, and sister, and Btother." And

Romans 10:13-15, which asks and answers the vital question,

"How?*' and ends with the words, *Ucw beautiful are ths feet of

them that preach the gospsl of peace, ard brirg glad tidings of
good things!"' The observance of the Lord's Supper followed ths
welcome meeting. This circle around the Lord's Table was much smaller than the large one which had foimed earlier in the eve

ning and included \mbelieving friends among the villagers. Vte

watched these go out into the night without the Li^t.
I must bring this meandering chapter to a close. The blue

hills are gathering dusk, and it is time to light the lanps.

This is sonething of a little ceremonytouching match to wick

in the tall Allad-in Msl's folks had wten he was a boy, turning
up the little kerosenfe lanps with their soft glow. Cur house is Hired now and once in awhile we turn on ths generator and have

electricity. The flick of a light switch is so easy, yet the bright, harsh light reveals so much that is unlovely; cracks and
barewalls, wom furniture and worn people.
entered as SCX)ND class
MAIL IN

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA

A VolksMagon For

The IlKork

"God will si^qoly.." and how many tiinss this pranise has been kept over the past months and years! The nost recent provision
is that of the new Micro Bus for use in our mission work.
Ibr sometime previous to ny trip down here from R)be last Eebruary, we had prayed for a vehicle. While here I looked over

the used market as well as the new available vehicles, and dis

in the states. Upon hearing of the need, one contact, wlr> pre

cussed the need both with ftiends hsre ani by letter to friends

fers to be anonymous, provided a loan of $1,800 withDut interest

or time limitation, toward the purchase of the Volks wagon. The

dation of Bro. Gerald Downey, sent This amount along with a $66.66 gift from a family in Japan irade vip the balance for the
Volkswagen inclusing a SC^ duty charged by tte governnEnt.
Brethen, God has provided the needed vehicle, one church has provided nearly one third the cost. Now, to honor the faith of

Christian Chureh of Joliet, Illinois, acting on the reconinen

t hese who have given, will you all join with us in liquidating

the debt that is outstanding on the loan?Althou^ the Christian

Brother freely loaned the $1800 without interest or tine limit,

the least that can be done is to honor his faith in God and in

you who si5)port us by quickly repaying the loan. lyfeiy God bless
you as this vehicle beccjiBs entirely debt free and is used to
the ^ory of his son, Jesus Christ.

At this call the great game cf b^eball ccnmences on fields

MIL

all over the land, with undivided attention being given by both players involved and the fans who watch. It has been our privi lege to neighbor with one of the narre players, Joe Stanka, who at the present tine pitches for the Ifenkai Ifesdos of Osaka, Japan
Joe is not cnly a professional ball player but he and his family also play the "game of life" as they testify of the Christian
faith and practice.

Not long ago, the Stankas presented us with a fine Spanish guitar and an electric Ifewaiian Guitar coiplete with anplifier

and speaker to be ijsed in our work. Then just before we left

Kobe, they gave us the equivalent of $66.66- to be applied ai the Volkswagen. The reason? Joe said they believe in tithing and
ttat this part of their tithe was to help us to do the Lord's work in the islands. It is juat that. siii?>le---if tEe ruies of ths gams are followed its a great game for all, and, if Christians "play ball" with God acccording to the rules the "Gams of Life" can be played by an ever increasing multitude .who will iear tte Gospel Call and obey ths rules of life.

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse..and prove ins now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the window of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be roan enoi;gh to receive it." (ft/felachi 3:10). There
is no lack and will be no lack for financing the Lord's work When Christians play the game by God's rules.

labourers together
"This is the Lord's doing,: it is marvellous in our eyes." (Ifealms 118:e3)
Tfen years ago a young man of xny own age began attending the Bible class in the mountain village of Izijmi. His interest was

keen as his heart longing began to be realized. As time went by

the classes in Izumi were turned over to Brother Carl Fish who

finally had the joy of witnessing the conversion of Seiken Nashiro. Later, through the help of Brothsr Fish, Bro. lifeishiro
went on to Tokyo Bible Seminary, graduated and returned to

Okinawa. TWo years ago he worked with Bro. Downey and then \jgon.
the latter's return to a stateside ministry, Seiken assumed the leadership of the Ifekijin and Izaini work.
Last year we wOTked together in Simmer Canp aijd this year we will continue to help each other in village apd island work,
suimer canps, and other projects that open to Us. Bro. Ifeishiro

and wife will continue their ministry here in Imadomari and all present village Bible classest He has requested that we take tiums preaching at the church and that I help whenever needed.

This is a new and joyful experience for both of vb and a thing

which I have long advocated-^the quality of the missionary and

the national leaders wherein they work together as fellow minis ters and evangelists.

Brother Kashiro is supported in part by Brother Downey and

the Anti-C&int Class of Texhnma. Qdahoma. Ife .does not work for

me, but rather works with me. This is good and ri^. We are un
derwriting the remaining part of his salary b\it how wonderful it

would be if sams church or group would taks up the reaiaining $25

per month and make him a living Innk evangelist. The ideal, of course, is for self-supporting churches and that is our mutual
goal, but for now his s\;5)port must cane from you. He and his well trained wife and faithful and energetic workers. It is a privilege to work together with them.

A total of ^223.10 was received in response to the plea for

help towards the children's schooling. We thank each of you for
your gifts and your prayers. With God as our teacher, your con cern for their education will one day provide more helpers in the Lcrd's vineyard. Along with this word of thanks, we would also thank all who made our language study possible in Japan. We are much better equipped for the furtherance of the gospel in the Islands now, and will continue to study to advance the know ledge of the language thus far gained. Thank you.
PROPOSED MONTHLY BUDGET

t^clk^

Due to continual rise in costs the following estinated budget is

prepared to enable you to pray and give in a substantial manner.

A total of $325 pr month is needed for operating expenses, evan gelist, proierty upkeep, office supplies, postal chaises, print

ing, furlough fund and minimum loan payments of $75 per month.
The furlough fmd is required by our government. We hope and

pray that the loan can be paid off quickly without the nee(i of
cumbersome monthly payments.

Our personal expenses are above this amount and are presently adequate. JJLease p^y together with us that this portion of the
Lord's coirmission may not bft hindered in being fulfilled, but

rather may be speeded on toward fruition.

Seedtime and Harvest

VCL.
CCTOBEH-1961 NO. 3

"There

is

way

that

seemeth

right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"
Prove r b s l 6 : 2 5

aoA
IN THE

oVud&oi

RTUKYU ISLANDS
CSTABLISMINO SCLraUPPOflTINO, SELF. PROFOOATINO NC TBTAMCNT CHUnCHO

VILLAeE |j|

OF

THE

JOSHI

Sound of Battle*

chapter 5

It was the hoijr before dawn. The brilliant morning star and
the full Aijgust moon hung suspended invisably, in the northem sKythe one lil a lanp with a burning, steady glcw; the other a huge, round ^obe of li^, defining in detail the foim of flat
top pines igpon the hillsboth created by a Great Interior Decor ator to enhance the furnishings of this world.

Only hours earlier, the obon worship celebration ended in a drizzling rain with the returning of the wet, weary dancers to their homes. No sooner had the worship rites ceased than the clouds dispersed, revealing the glorious moon and the morning
star; the smile of God li^ii^ the hills and valleys once again.

One can expect strange things to happen in a village like this when Satan has his holidays and holy-days. This year the obon worship was prefaced by an incident that has had far-reachring significance.
Ifeshiro San and his wife, Toshiko, live in two snail roans of

Sansan ya, a large house in the center of the village where a bit

ter little old woiran and her iKird, middle-aged dauber live. The
old woman's grandson returned hone for obon, and went suddenly, violently insane, tearing up the house and badly frightening everyons. The old wonan innediately hobbled to the fortune teller

to find out why it happened. The verdict was, "You have Christ ians living in your house !" When the Nashiroes were infonnsd this
bit of divination, they tried to testify that the living God was not responsible for the evil thing that took place. The old waran listened; unmoved, unbelieving. Nashiroes thou^ they would be asked to move out, but the power of God intervened.

Vfe began to pray and God answered quickly With opportunities

for Toshiko San to talk to the woman; to tell them of her faith in God. The old waiBn and the daughter began to ask questions; be

gan to be aware for the first time of a Ibrce and Power beyond

anything they had ever known in their pagan worship. There was a
noticable softening in the voice and attitude of the old woman, the daughter, and a third wcaiHn relative. Nothing was said about the Nashiroes moving out. The young man was taken to a mental hospital for treatment by a Christian doctora Myako convert.

Finally, Satan was forcibly opfosed; suffered a severe set back in this village at the very gate of his stron^old at the bottcm of the sacred mountain C^anii, when the hard, bitter women of Sansan ya asked for the Christians to pray with them. The
Ifeshiroes, two other Christians and ourselves, together with the
women, net in Kashiroes part of the house. It was an unforgetable ex

mbA

perience as we listened
telling of thestcoy

5^

of Jesus Christ in the

. 1 1 words of the old island

I
F?

language, as the Christea^rly stared their

would shake their hsadsin

amazeirent say, "Aina!

knowledge of Him. Ih^ery once in awhile the womsn

MeL'Don Rickerson-clair Boulton

The Christians handled

this prayer meeting in their cwn way. There was tea and peanuts ar^ much laughter during the first part of the evening, but the lau^ter died away dxaricg the singing of a hynn and the beginning of the time of prayer. The prayers were brief but they went straight to the heart of God, who is touched by the feeling of our infiimities, as we prayed for the young man's healing.
The old wonBn sat next to ire, wrinlded and bent almost to the

flocsr; Icaig, tatooed fingers smoothing the rough folds of her ba nana cloth kimono. She looked up at me and smiled. "I am very

happy to be sitting by you for the first tims," she said.

I couldn't help thinking, "Except for the Grace of God this could be my grandmother, and yet, how different this bitter old tyrant raised in heathendom corrpared to my lovely, soft-spoken graiximother, raised in a Christian bans and in a Christian nation Still, the softening was there; a faint light coming back into the faded eyes, a softer tone to the old voice, a more frequent smile that rounded the comers of that square-cut face. She men^ tioned our children, to whan every Okihawan is a friend, and I re rtiembered the day the two little boys, Robin and Itonley, trans-

fered some very treasured, very sticky candy fl'om their grimjf
hands to the old woman's bony, tatooed haM. Nd one told them to;

It was their own gesture of friendliness and it surprised and

pleased her. I like to think it had a tiny bit to do with the
softening of her heart.

Sunday night the old woman's daughter and the other woman
relative came to church. It was a battle won. Kot tte Battle in

its entirety, but a winning of the initial skinnish. We graised the Lord. Whoever reads this, Pray. Pray that the young nan will
be healed and that there will be no doubt that the Power of God

accomplished it. Pray that a conviction stronger than all the

bonds of pagan belief and custom will take hold of this family
and that they will be saved. The Village of the Joshi lis starding behind the lines watchingwatching with the many eyes of men; interested, curious, wondering, troubled, cynical, skeptical,hopeful. None of them sure which side is going to win.

Answers

To

Pra/er

XJ|)on our return to Okinawa we prayed constantly for open doors to teach, for open hearts and ears to receive the Word, for
open mouths to confess the name of the Lord, and for open lives of bomr-a^in believers to exemplify the Gospel message. Each of these prayers has- been answered! Not completely, for to be so would limit the Lord's Work^ but in a continuous manner. New people are hearing the Gospel; new services have been started; one young woman has been bom again into the family of God, and others are studying and asking questions. Sunnier camp attendance was more than doubledei^y six, here in this area. We telped in the beginning of the first Christian suraner cairp in Miyako Island, which resulted in four conversions. Meetings in Imadomari, Gushiken and le Shima averaged 250 ni^tly. The Christ ians of Imadcnari are launching into a church building program,
as are the Christians in le Shima. New classes have been request

ed flTtd are being worked out. The summer has flcwn by; we have been overwhelmed with never-ending things to be done. Our linkletters and correspondence has been delayed, but the result of spending ourselves in the work along with the faithful pastorevangelist, Ifeshiro San and the others, we feel makes up for the

few things delayed.

Thank you for praying for us all and thework

The acccoi^lishments are ours together for the Glory of God.

uAAiiad ^To
Since the beginning of the
Church here in 1952, there have been 67 conversions. At times only six of this number have been in the village, as the rest
went here and. there in search of

r-il

work to help their families. Presently there are 12 Christ

ians living in the village who faithfully carry on the burden

of. the Lord's Work, while Sunday

School niinbers over IQQ students

attendance or missed only one

time during the surriTEr vacation

period of twelve weeks, which is indicative of tteir interest ani

of the abilities of their teachers during this difficult period.

The church has been using our home and the gara^ unit as a meeting place, but now desires a building of their own. They are working on plans now, but they need help. As we all went to pray
God began to answer. To date, we have received three abandoned

quanset buildings fron the U. S. Air Force, from which we hope to salvage enough material for walls and a roof of a meeting house. Money is needed for cement, luriber, some labor costs, ard proper^ tyr-this is the problem. The Christians are doing wfet they can. We believe this is right; that it is not the responsibility of the Amsrican Christians to build corpletely for them, but we also

believe they need your prayers and help. The Church is willing to work. Will you help them? We thank you in advance for your responce which should be designated for this project.
God bless you!

This paper is published quarterly in the interest of Mel and Marguerite

Huckins, missionaries to the Ryukyu Islands. All coniniunications are

to be sent to Mr. &Mrs. Uoyd Sapp, 1625 So. 8th St., Council Bluffs,
Iowa.

SECOND CLASS MAIL PRIVILEGES AUTHORIZED AT COUNCIL

BLUFFS, IOWA

Mom Huckins and IvfeL

Rxm early youth, it^ mother, like rtBny if not all young peo ple, dreamed of traveling to far away places; but, unlike most people, her dream had to do with missionary work. This dream seemed fantastic. As tte years moved alciig, marriage, horns and

children occi:5)ied her full tims and strength as it does mast peo ple. Still the dream never vanished,- and even seemed to be par
tially fulfilled when one of her sons entered the field of over

seas missionary work eleven years ago. Then Worn, hoped more than ever that, even though she could not go as a missionary herself, she could perhaps soneday at least visit the mission field.
The years passed by and the dream grew as travel across the world became ccmron and less expensive. Finally on July 18th, Van
sailed on a passenger-freighter fran Seattle, Washingtonstepped

in Yokohama and Kobe, Japan, rusan> Korea, and then, with a prayer of thanks and praise, she watched her ship tie up at the

pier in Ifeha, Ckinawa on August 4th. ]tan wesn't the cnly one who
was excited. It was a wonderful reunion as her six. grandchildren, Varguerite and I cliufced on beard her shipa dream cone true.
Man thougjit she could never do missionary work, but the ques

tion persists, "Oust who is a missionary, and what is missionary work?"'The answer is quite siirple. Our Lord and Saviour said to
go and teach; that He would be with us; and that o^ur bread cast upon the water would not return to us void. This means You, and

and the promise is for you. This means us and it rreans Ifan. Iter-

haps not by teaching in village meetings, and so forth, but by her Christian life and actions she will be teaching ttese people
who have received her in a wonderful way. Beyond this, Iton offer ed to help teach the children in our home school, and what a blessing and help this is to Warguerite and myself. The Lord ful filled her dream and although she came to us as a visitor
guest, she is a missionary and labourer together with us.

The Volkswagon Keeps Rolling Alon^ !

In our last paper we told of a professional Christian baseball

player and his family in Japan who "played ball with God"-, and told how they helped our work. Since then they have sent another

JlOO. 00 to keep the Volkswagen fund rolling, besides sending ma

terial and clothes for the children.

Brethen^ how is the "game"' caning with you? The Volkswagen

loan has been reduced to tl,55CL(X) in three months. let's finish

it off so that the mission can be relieved of this burden.
Thank You.

1. With the Imadomari and Is Shima Christians for their needed

house of worship.

2. With us and Bro. Ifeshiro for adult leaders to be raised up,

and for conversions.

3. With us for the liquidation of obligations against the mission

fund.

4. With us for adequate funds to meet the necessary budgst. If you are interested, you will pray.
Gerald Rude, cne of the strongest msn of God whom we have ever

known, didbi't give 1:5) the fi^t on July 2, 1961; he finished it.
Wany of you will remember the name and letters of Jerry Rude, who with his wife, Hslen, served as our forwarding secretary from

1SB8 to 1956k As you knew, Jerry had been confinsd to his bed for

tvrenty ei^t years. Chly a few close friends ever knew the degree of sirffering, or the amount of courags required by both Jerry and
Helen for the living of each day. Ifcw Jerry*s battle is over and he is with the Lord. Ibsre is no more pain, ife lis whole again. Ife will be missed by many and especially by Helen, but now it is ours to long to ireet him again along the way. ftfey I request your prayers for Hslen, who for twenty ei^t
years was his devoted help-meet, in this time when her labors

have been fulfilled? Pray that new avenues of service will open
up to her and that she will be comforted knowing she has done
well,

inawan

Impressions

A twenty-four day sea journey ended at Naha, Ckinawa. It seemed to take ever so long to dock the ship when I could see loved ones waving ftxam the pier. It was wonderful to see them all again and to mset baby Ifenette for the first time. Ihe trip to their mountainous home took two hours and fortyfive minutes. The last part is a narrow, pitted, rough roadbed and often the Volkswagen slows to ten miles an hour. I had heard a great deal about Okinawa in the past eleven

years and had seen irany colored slides, yet I was unprepared for its northern beauty. Here the trees, all year round, seem greener the sea takes on colorful shades of greens and blue and I'm cer tain the sun is much, much hotter than in my Ihited States home
land.

As I sit in Iitel's study, gazing out the window, there is a

lovely view. First I see sugar cane and sweet potatoes on the sloping hill to tte rice paddies in the small valley below. Next is the village, conpletely hidden by tree hedges and windbreaks except for thatch; roofs showing above the hedges. Hsre and there
I can see a modem structure of tile roofing. Then, over the top

of ths village is a view of the China Sea and far into the hori zon, great billowy clouds meet the sea. It is truly picturesque.

Daily, from sunrise to dark, the field workers pass by the house. Some are preparing rice beds, some are ready to replant.

It takes imny days of hard physical laboE before it is ccnpleted. Others are harvesting their sugar cane or sweet potato crops. This
means cutting sojgar cane with a hand cutter and carrying it bundle

by bundle on their backs with the aid of a shoulder pale. Wcsren go

by carrying huge basket-loads on their heads, large carts full of
sugar cane and sweet potatoes are pulled along the roads fran ths

fields to their village homss for the final stages of harvesting. As one watches the feiming scene, it is rruch like turning back the
pages of early American history to the days when our pioneers
struggled with crude instruments to get their food fran tie soil.

The long hours of toil are written deeply in thsir faces and nany
are so bent from years of hard labor that they cannot stand erect. Women, especially, age quickly; the daily trip to the river to
wash, packing basket-loads of wet clothes on their heads is no

easy task, yet they seem to be a happy people and accept hardship
as their lot in life.

I have been blessed by the church services and by visiting tte sumner cairp evening services. I was fortunate to have ths oppcrtunity of listening to blind Mr. Isena from le Shima feland. AL-

thou^ I cannot understand a word that is being saii, sorrfihow tte language barrier is bridged by the Spirit leading forth with God's message, and I sense the power in the spoken message and its effect T:5)on those listening. I shall always remember their sweet voices singing praises to God, whom they can know and trust, and who draws them fran a hopeless daikness into the light of His Woid

You would all enjoy Nashiro San and his wife, Toshiko. They are a fine looking young coiple, very deeply spiritual, and study very hard to prepare themselves to spread the Gffipel to tteir peo ple. They are in charge of the C^domari Church and are doing a good work. I'm inpressed with their gracious manners and cheerful smiles, even when their faith is being tested. Pray far this young couple that the Lord will give them victory throu^ Christ over the fortune-tellers, Satan's chief worker, here in this village.
Okinawa is a land of beauty, but it is also a land where Satan has control; where odl^ a very few know Christ, yjuch woik must be

done while it is still day. Lst us pray earnestly and faithfully for our missionaries and the Christians of Okinawa to be strength ened and guided as they sow the seed, and that Christ will reap a bountiful harvest in the hearts of the Okiwawan people.
Mrs. Melia Huckins

Budget - -

se
by Uoyd & Loretta Sapp

No church, business or hcnie can operate successfully without a budget. As forwarding agents, we are budget-wise. The following is the budget set up by Mel & Marguerite. What would "YOU do if
you were the forwarding agent and unable to send them all that is needed to meet this limited budget?

Minimum lean repay

Property maintenance & improvements

$'?5.00
50.CX)

(iicliding mission teaching equipment)

Field operations Salary for Ifetive East or
Office & Postal service

75.CO 50. OC
10.00

Printing Seedtime & Ifeirvest

30.00

(About f 9a 00 per issue) Furlough Fund (pro-rated over five years)

45.00

Receipts and disbursements for the last three months were:

July: Service-link receipts

Service-link disbursements

|322.93
384.31

Living-link receipts Living-link disbursements Aug: Service-link receipts

493.10 350.00 333.32

Special for cai'

Service-link disbursements

100.00
442.45

Living-link receipts ^cial for children Living-link disbursements

462.96 33.15 383.15

Sept:

Service-link receipts
Service-link disbursonents

217.09
250.2 C

Living-link receipts 445.95 Living-link disbursements 350.00 At the present tine Mel & Marguerite are taking only |350.C0 of their living-link and are applying the rest to the service-link.

The special receipts for tijo children's schooling are included

in tlB service-linic as is the money received especially for the

Native paster. The furlougb fund is required by the gpvenanent, but as yet we are unable to start it.

^adln'- ^itin'&/^thmetic
Our children live in a far-away little village of the Orient, but they are kith and kin with nest of the other children of the world in that sooner or later vacation is over and they have to go
back to school.

Due to their inadequacy in the Japanese language, Con, Tim, and Deanne are now attending the local (kinawan school only part time for language instruction. They are keeping 1:5) their respective grades at hone with the Calvert Home Study School of Baltimore, Hferyland. Iifoin Huckins teaches geography, history, and science; Marguerite teaches English and related studies, and I teach arith metic. Besides this^ the children are learning sons agriculture and have started their own small gardens which include the raising of sweet potatoes, sugar cane and pineapple thus far. They also have nine chickens, three ducks and two newly acquired puppies which are

their full responsibility. School? Yes, this is all a part of their schooling and it keeps than busy and happy.

The foiroal schooling under Gsiaivert system requires |2S5.00 per year for the three children-^nuch less than the cost of tmticn in Eobe, Japan. Your response to our school fund request made this possible. Ihank you. This continued sharing with in their schooling needs is wonderful and will prepare Christian labourers
in some field in due season.

HEASE MCOE: (EfiNCE OF AEDIESS

After having served the Southside Christian Church in Council Blufffe, Icwa for the past 10 years, lfr and Nirs. Sapp have resign ed to accept a positicn with Ifebraska Christian College at NDrfolk Nebraska., where Mr. Sapp will be Director of Development. Ihe new forwarding address for the I^yiikyu Christian Mission will be 407 Frairie iWe., Narfolic, Nebraska, effective iuinsdiately.

"

in due season we shall

. " Galatians 6:9

reap,

Here's Why Ii/Kich of Our Church Program Fails!

5% of reported members do not exist

cannot be found

20^ never pray

never attend church

4C^ 5,(^0 6C^e 7C9&

never never never never

give to a church cause go to Bible School go to church on Sunday nights give to missions

never attend prayer meeting

9C^ never have family worship in the home 95% never win a soul to Christ

OK 'uftdop
e?3noD IQie iiaBzO