BARBARA COURTNEY

248 Sakai Machi

Ibaraki Ken
Japan
Forwarding Agent:
Mrs. Edith Courtney
17104 S.LaSalle
Gardena, California 90247
U.S.A.
MARCH 1970
PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL!
Dear Friends in Christ;
7
As we approach the time when we remember our Lord's resurrection, it is a time when we all
want to praise God for the wonderful gift of salvation through His Son. This year, I have many
special reasons for wanting to sing praises to God. The love of God has become very real and
personal to me during the last few months.
I came to Sakai in August of last year. At that time, I was essentially without support. At
first I wasn't sure it was the Lord's will that I come, but a Scripture came to-mind that seemed
to be directly from the Lord. I'm sure you all know it Matthew 6:25-33. The last verse
was especially meaningful. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be yours as well." To make a long story short, I came... and the Lord certainly has
kept His promises, even down to the smallest details. Everything I have needed has been pro
vided, sometimes in a startling manner. I needed a bicycle so that I could go out to help in
children's meetings each week. Soon one was provided by one of the Japanese Christians
The part that increased my faith was that 1 had told no one about the bicycle except the Lord
in my prayers. Another time, I was in need of^a camera^^nd the funds for it came from
a totally unexpected source. The Lord certainly does know our needs and provides for them.
Since my last letter, much has happened. Please forgive me if some of the news seems a
bit old. The week before Christmas, Julius Fleenorcame to Sakai and performed a baptism
in the river. Nishikawa-san, the man baptized, had been attending Church for some time, but
without making a decision for Christ. Please pray for him as he begins his Christian life.
The Christmas vacation was spent in Karuizawa working in English Bible Camps. The Lord
worked in many hearts while we were there. There were three decisions made at camp and
several others show a definite interest and seem to be near decisions. Please remember them
in prayer too.
The schedule here in Sakai is as busy as ever. I am still in very much the same schedule
with only a few minor changes. Kakinuma-san stopped studying English, but her sister is now
in the Sunday afternoon Bible class and is attending church regularly. We are praying that
she will come to know the Lord.
Being a Christian in Sakai is very difficult as we are such a small minority of the population.
I know that I'm repeating myself, but please pray for the Christians of Sakai. It is so easy for
them to become discouraged.
February was a very exciting month for us here in Sakai. For some time we have been
praying that more Christian homes would be established. Our prayers were answered in a
rather unexpected fashion. Watanabe-san, our Japanese kindergarten teacher, has met a Christ
ian young man and they have decided to get married. The formal engagement service was held
on March 15th. They plan to be married in May.
This Friday, March 20th, is the end of the school year, so we are all quite busy. The child
ren that "graduate" are quite excited and eager to go to elementary school. The school year
in Japan runs from April through March.
Next week marks the beginning of Spring vacation. I plan to spend the first week in Osaka
visiting with our missionaries there. Time permitting, I hope to visit Expo too. I will be back
in Sakai for Easter Sunday and will leave again on the next day. The second week of vacation,
f will be working in a Vacation Bible School of missionary children on the northern coast of
this island. I'm looking forward to it for several reasons. It will be another opportunity to
teach the Bible, this time to English speaking children, and I also will have the opportunity to
see a new part of Japan. Watanabe-san will be leaving Sakai in May. I will be leaving too, but
only temporarily.
In June, I will be returning to the United States for a year of furlough. I have several good
reasons for choosing this time for a furlough. As of now, I have a teacher's visa. This visa
must be renewed every year and is rather difficult to renew. I want to apply for a missionary
visa, which is good for a much longer period and is comparatively simple to renew. In order
to change visas, I must leave the country. There is the added possibility of a replacement for
me while I'm gone if I go now. There is a lady who would like to come to Japan for a short
time. She possibly might take my place here in Sakai during my absence, the Lord willing.
I have now been here in Sakai long enough to know what is needed and hope to be able to
present some of these needs to the Churches in America.
N
I will be arriving in the United States on June 16th, and willbe available for speaking dates
any time after the first of July. While I plan to stay in California during most of my time in
the States, I am planning a trip to the Mid-west during the Summer. I would be happy to
present the work here in Sakai to any church, women's group, or young people's meeting. If
any one is interested, please contact me directly or my forwarding secretary, Mrs. Edith
Courtney. For those in the LOS ANGELES AREA, the phone number is DA 9-5239. Please
call after 5:00 p.m.
Please continue to pray for us, particularly during this time of changes in our staff. God
bless you all!
After Christ was revealed to Mary Magdalene, she could declare, "I have seen the Lord."
Pray with us that more Japanese will be able to say the same thing here in Japan.
Sincerely,
~TOj2AAz/ia^
Barbara Courtney
(^pril 17, 1970
News of His.
Barbara Courtney, who serves in Sakai, Ibaraki ken, Japan, plans to
return to the_states for furlough in mid-June and to be available for speaking
appointments after July 1, 1970. Forwarding Secretary: Mrs. Edith Courtney,
17104 S. LaSalle, Gardena, CA 90247; Phone 213/429-5239 after 5 p.m.
Miss Courtney went to Japan to teach in a Christian school, and then began mission
work, and will be getting a new visa to cover her changed status. . .