A monthly report by the Mark G.

Maxey family
to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Linkletter No.

122

Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

January, 1962

Dear Christian friends,

This is the year of the Tiger and we already have it firmly by the tail. We are
afraid to let go and almost afraid to hang on. It promises to be a very interesting
year.

I don't kn^w-=why'Christmas and New Years have to'come at the very busiest
time of the year but such is the case.

We were limp with fatigue before they had

passed and haven't recovered yet.

Here, in brief, is how we went about telling the Good News of Christ's coming.
In four towns where we have churches, Christmas tracts with an annovmcement of

the church services were placed in the morning newspaper on Christmas day. Twothousand tracts telling the Christmas story were given us by the Japan Bible Society.
These we passed out to every home in our neighborhood. The ladies of the Kanoya
church stood on the main street corner for a day passing out these and other tracts to passerbys, trying to give them an
idea of what the Real Story was. (Surprisingly, one person asked the pastor's wife "Is it His Birth or His Death you are
trying to remember"). A large display window on the roadside in front of our house showed the nativity scene with ex
planatory scriptures. People stopped to view it at all hours of the day and night. A new slide set with Japanese so\ind
track on tape was purchased and shown 17 times. One of these was the Kanoya Rotary Club of which I am a member.
They asked me if I wouldn't have my family sing some carols, give a talk and show pictures. This I was very happy to do.
For the first time this group of leaders of our community and their families heard the story of Christ's birth. They were
deeply impressed. Later a newspaper reporter who missed the meeting came to interview me. He said he had heard from
his wife about what I said and wanted me to tell him again. He wrote it down and it appeared in full in the next issue of the
Rotary bulletin.

For eight nights in a row we

there were two for each person.
really family-type gathering that
vance at the church, the singing,

went to Christmas meetings. For each Pauline prepared a huge tray of cupcakes. Usually
They ate one with their tea and carefully wrapped up the other to take home. This is the one
the churches have here. Very little is done at home but the Christians find their obser
the pictures, the preaching, the tea and cakes, the unhurried exchange of greetings, and
the giving of some small remembrance to their teacher or leader - one of real joy. We found this Christmas to be more
meaningful than any other as our lives have become increasingly entwined with those of the Japanese Christians.

On Sunday, the 24th, I urged those listening to personally consider what they might give to Christ rather than receive\\
him. It was real joy to see our son Gregory step forward to give himself to Christ. That afternoon, at the Osumi

J1

/ Gakkusha, three of the orphans made a similar decision. 1 guess these decisions are what really made Christmas for
V^^auline and I,
Svmday night, the 24th, was the very wonderful Sunday School program and none of the credit belongs to me.
tirely arranged by the pastor's wife, Mrs. Yoshii and the teachers.

It was en

We were proud parents of course, to see Faith as an

Angel, and Greg too, in the play. The meeting ended happily with all the youngsters receiving one of Pauline's cupcakes
with a lighted candle in it. Previously the ladies of the church had spent a day in Pauline's kitchen as she helped them make
cookies for the childrens treats.

That night, we had about 35 young people as we went in two cars and a sound truck to the hospitals, old folks home,
shut-ins and on the main street corners to sing the old songs ever new. They all ended up at our house for a midnight buffet
of Christmas eats and sweets which Pauline had fixed. What a grand time we had together.

As we were taking them home, however, the old Chev. stopped. Nothing would make her go again. I waited an hour
for a truck to come and pull me home. Then I spent till 4 a.m. Christmas morning putting on a new fuel pump and coil.
The battery was run down so I couldn't check my work that night. After a couple hours sleep I was up with Pauline to share
in the childrens happiness as they opened their gifts. (Thank you again, for all of you who shared with these so far away
from you). Then Markie helped me push the car out the driveway and down the hill. I got one backfire and that was all. I
had failed my mechanics test this time. Chagrined, I had to hail a taxi for the long ride out to the leper colony, to preach,
for their early morning Christmas service.
The Rotary Christmas party that afternoon and a Christmas program again at the leper colony that night left no time for
a Christmas dinner. However, on Wednesday, we invited Miss Ouraslaa from the Christian Center, Mr. Shimoda, (my
doing-everything man) at the Mission and Mrs. Yoshii to gather with our family. We counted our blessings, enjoyed the
food, were happy to have our family and Christian friends with us and ate slowly enjoying the food. Afterward, we listen
ed to Christmas music. It didn't matter a bit that our Chri_stma&-dinner was two days late.

The 24 hours from 4 p. m. Saturday, -qpftfTrthpr |^C). till 4 p. m. Sunday, are ones that I will probably never forget. At
4 o'clock the phone rang.

It was Mrs. Yoshii at~th'e church saying that one of the elderly members, Mr. Yamaguchi, had

died suddenly.

The car was being worked on so 1 started out by bicycle to find his home out in the country.

When I got

there I foxind the house roped off eind the police and the coroner making an examination. They explained that Mr. Yamaguchi
had no relatives and they asked if the church would take the responsibility and provide a funeral. I assuredhim that we would.

At 7, we met with the church officers and one city official. We decided to hold the funeral the following afternoon, to
keep the body for the night at the Christian Center, and to ask Christians to come by two's during the night to sit with the

body according to local custom. I left immediately to prepare the Center and ask people to come help. At 9 p.m. they
brought the body. I signed a receipt and the night vigil began. Between preparing for the funeral, taking people home, and
bringing others back, precious little sleep was gotten that night.

Sunday morning after the sermon, Faith came forward tojconfess her faith ii^

Alqf Bro. Yoshii's younger bro

ther and sister, Faith's friend, Shizuka Nafcamur^ and tw6'other yomig people fronTthe orphanage. The baptistery was pre
pared and from 11:30 to 12:30 these ten were baptized, made their first prayers and began their New Life as Christians.
The church was very cold, the water not much warmer, but our hearts were very warm with joy at this service.

The church was re-arranged, and at 1 o'clock Bro. Yamaguchi's fvuieral was held. It was a service of quiet assurance
rather than sadness for Bro. Yamaguchi was an old maJti who had been a faithful Christian since he was baptized ajid he had

died naturally in his sleep without suffering. Immediately after the service, we all went with the body to the crematory a
couple of miles from town.

(Shimoda-san had had to spend all morning and all my available yen getting liie death certificate

and certificate for cremation so the services could be completed by Sunday afternoon).

At the Crematory, a Shinto silter was opened above the casket but I closed the doors carefully but firmly before conductJLng_the-service. Then-and only-then^did the Christians return to th&ir-homes, They had eome to ehurch-at 10:30, stayed
through three services plus a fourth at the crematory and didn't get back to their homes vuitil 2:30 in the afternoon.

No

one went home ahead of time and no one complained even though this was the coldest day we had had and for the Japanese the
busiest day of the year - the day before New Years when every bill must be paid, vast amounts of food prepared and the
house and grounds thoroughly cleaned.

As the attendant was preparing to put the body into the furnace, the lady in charge of the hearse presented me with a
bill for her services. I was both surprised and nonplused. I told her that I had not one yen with me and couldn't get ajiy till
January 4th since the banks would be closed for three days at New Years.

When she heard this it was her turn to be sur

prised. She said it was both the last day of the month and the last day of the year and that she needed her money right now.
I allowed that was too bad since I had no money, we had had to wait an hour for the hearse, that she gave me a receipt in
stead of an itemized bill, that I thought her charges were rather excessive for the services rendered and I didn't understand
what sill the hurry was about. This phased her not one bit. She still had a big smile on her face and her hand extended to

ward me with the receipt.

At this point, a stranger stepped forward.

She said she was Bro. Yamaguchi's landlady and

that the police had turned over to her the money in his pocketbook to meet any expenses.

So I asked one of the church mem

bers who used to be the Chief of Police to go with me and we all went down to the Police Station. There after suitable pal
aver and tea the police authorized the landlady to pay the funeral lady and also to reimburse me for the certificates I had
bought.

The fvineral lady left pleased as c6uld be.

I went back to the crematory and waited there with two other men from the church.

pleted.

The doors were opened and the remains brought forth.

At 3:45 the cremation was com

We were given em urn and each of us a long pair of chop

sticks. Beginning with the feet, each of us in turn, picked up a portion of bone and placed in the urn until it was full. Then
the urn was tied in a white cloth and we returned with it to the church where it was placed on a special shelf with another
urn to await the day (we hope before furlough) when our Christie mausolem-will be completed. Mrs. Yoshii served us tea

and our task was completed a little after four.

'"

New Year's Day we gathered at the church at 6 a.m. to begin the New Year with prayer and Bible reading.

That after

noon we drove to Miyakonojo to visit with friends and to take Paula eind Markie part way on their return trip to Kobe and the
winter term at school. Their stay with us had been entirely too short but full of happy memories.

So ended the old and begins the new.

time next month.

Look for the next installment of the story of 1962, in your mailbox about this

May every blessing be yours till then.

In His Service,

Non-Profit Organization

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication of

Kyushu Christieui Mission

Box 139

North Vernon, Indiana

U. S. POSTAGE

Mr. Harold UcFarland

Missions Services
Box 968

Joliet, Illinois

PAID

North Vernon, Indiana

Permit No.

't'

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

rjLSBi!

Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

February, 1962

Linkletter No, 125

Dear Christian friends,

See that picture on the right! That's 28 pounds of pure radish. For those who think they
have seen eveiything, take another look. You may not believe me, but radishes double this size
are not uncommon. They grow in the volcanic soil of Mt. Sakurajima. They come in season about
mid-January and are highly-prized by the Japanese for their flavour, texture and health-giving
properties,.-_J.us.t_aiiQher one of. the things that-make, life-interesting in. our neck, of the world*

Last month and this were full of very interesting things, beginning with the 7th Leader's

Training ..Cjfeurse held at the Christian Center from January 8 thru 17. We have had sorfe^^i^ ii;ne
'courses soffar but this one seemed to us to be the best one in every way.

JohnliMuto, graduate of Tokyo Bible Seminary, writer, teacher, preacher of that area was our

guest let^urer. His subject: "The Christian faith and the Old Testament". He was thoroughly pre
pared anf a,s a result the class was thoroughly enjoyed.

The United States and even the English

langueg^is thoroiighly saturated with the thoughts, names, and histoiy of the Bible. Not so in
Japan, ^ittle, if anything, is known of the Bible, Bible lands and Bible times. When I ask some
of my s^^dents if there is such a land as Palestine and such a city as Jerusalem, they are apt to
say th^ they do not exist.

Since much of their own ancient histoiy finds its source in fairy

tales ylhey naturally conclude that Christianity finds its source in the same.

Thus you can see the

importance of the subject.

A.'

/'Ve had a total of 45 different students, two of them came from a distance (Tannegashima and a
Sueyo'shi) and stayed through the entire course. There were twelve who successfully completed the
course and were given certificates.

During two days of the 2nd week we had the bi-monthly preacher's meeting.

children, missionaries and guests made a total of 26.

Preachers, wives,

We ate our meals together in the Christiarj

center including a sukiyaki supper enjoyed by all on the first night.

Bro. Muto's lectures and

sermons provided the spiritual sustenarjce for the meeting. On Tuesday morning we gathered our
chsirs in a circle and had a frank discussion about some of the problems facing- us and cur relation
ship together as individuals, as ministers and as churches, Evspecially from some denominationallyipinded Japanese pastors in the Tokyo area, we are under strong pressure to adopt rules and regula

tions, which would completely negate our historic pleas for a return to the simple unencumbered,
midenominational Christianity of New Testament times. In that age freedom in Christ was prized
and fellowship was based on loyalty to Him and His Word.

YDuring this session and several personal ones that followed we opened our hearts to one anoth

er. Vwe did not reach complete agreement but we did come to a grea'ter understanding of one another
and
the task we are trying to do together. Two or three nights, Paul Pratt, John Muto and I
spent most of the night talking together. As a result there came .ideas which we believe will turn

a corn^ for_new-4)rogress in the Lord's work not oni^.4Ji=.Qu-r-'^eetion-^ but-thraughoui Japan,

Wewei^ mentioned in two newspapers recently. The Kirisuto Shimbun, a national Christian
weekly, carried a testimony about one of the aged leper Christians at the Leprosarium near Kanoya,
This lady began her story by telling how I had baptized her eleven years previously. Since that
time her physical condition has deteriorated greatly. Though blind and fingerless, she maintains
her faith by reading the Japanese Bible in Braille with her tongue. Letters she writes with her
feet.

The Minami Nippon, our area newspaper sent a reporter and photographer for several interviews.

Since Japanese reporters are notorious for taking intei^iews and then going out and writing up the
story to suit themselves and what they think their readers want to hear, we were very pleased to

find an accurate and f l i v e s and work in a subsequent issue of the Su,nday

Here are some

projeo^^^^^have recently completed or started. (l) Reprinting- of

10,000 "bookies, "Gi^^,gtoGjj^^^?la^ityThis is the

re-printing since we first produced it
here in
10
(2) Reprinting of our "Twelve Week Coura:g"To!r-Si^ish Bihle Studies".
This couz>^ has gone into edition after edition during the past 6 years and is u^&d widely through
out Jap^. (3) Starting of a Christian children's libra.ry at the orphanage that w^help. (This
projeo^ was possible through the help of the church in East Orange, N, J, and Minoo chfevrch, Osaka),

(4) Re-doing the film strips "Visualized Bible Study Series" and "Kow That I am AChr^tian" in
Japanese. All charts, scriptures, and titles were re-done in Japanese, photographed an^new slides
made. Scripts and tapes in Japanese were prepared. This required a tremendous amount oAwork for
all ten sets, each about 45 minutes long, (5) Preparation of special books for personal i^angelism for all the pastors.

These books consists of clear plastic pages in which 7 x 10 photographs

of each pastor and family, the missionaries, the churches and charts of eveiy phase of Christian
teaching.

Again much time, work and expense involved in a project that we think will produce good

-"'results. (6) A series of 15 Japanese-type scrolls featuring important sayings of Christ, feese
scrolls were especially-made to fit the large display window in our rest house by the roadsiJe.

I Each will hang one week before being changed,

(7) Remodeling of the kitchen in the Kanoya ihurch

^with the church paying for the materials. (6) Work resumed on the Christian mausoleum by ^o.
! Shimoda, This was about half-done last fall when work was halted for lack of funds, Bro, ^imoda

has just returned from Tokyo where he was helping Bro. Hammond build his home and work cej^er. (9)
I Re-publication of our booklet, Christians in Japan, which gives a summary, past, presenl^nd future
of the work in Japan.

(IO)

Printing of C, J, Shai'p's Training for Service,

We had p^auced two

. mimeographed editions in the past but now it is being produced on good paper in a thojpughly read-

>^able and permanent fonn.

Both of these editions have been made possible by the rea^mable-priced

^Christian printing ministry of Harold Cole in Osaka.

We take this occasion to thar^him.

''\_Jhe biggest project of all, of course, is getting ready to return to the U. S, this summer.
Winding"up-the work of a six year term and transferring responsibilities is not a job that can be
done in a few days or even a few weeks. Every day we are doing something to ease the transition.
Pauline is pushing school work very hard trying to get two days lessons into one day as much as

possible.

The clothing problem looms large.

Changing sizes, changing climates,changing countries,

changing styles - results in frequent mind changing and head shaking.

As you can well imagine the everyday schedule, the weekly teaching and preaching, current
projects, and future planning constitute a burden considerably heavier than the giant radish
pictured on the other page. We ask your daily prayers for both spiritual and physical health.
In His seivice,

Mark G. Maxey

rZTFwZerTeRj
A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family
to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
Linkletter No.

124

THESE THREE WERE BAPTIZED

April, 1962

Dear Christian friends,

You may have forgotten it by now "but we are still "basking in the warmth of Col. Glenn's
successful orbit. I couldnH hold my eyes open long enough that night to listen to the launch
ing "but I was up early the next day to hear the good news. That day at Rotary meeting the mem
bers spontaneously rose and gave three hearty ""banzais" To Glenn, the U.S. and the successful
flight.
The speaker said he has listened to the event "with tears of joy." It suddenly hit me
that this event was meaning more to the Japanese than it was to me. The following days as I re
ceived the congratulations of my Japanese friends I glowed in a new pride of my country and its
achievements.

Far from orbitting myself, I got the flu "bug and went to "bed. First hitting Tokyo,we
watched the accounts in the paper as it slowly worked its way south. I knew well enough when
it got to Kanoya.
I went to "bed for a full week.
It has "been some time since I was sick that
long and missed so many appointments.
Recovering from that I took my family to Kobe and Osaka for four days.

We stayed with

Isabel Dittemore and all of us went over to the Kyoto Baptist hospital for our annual physicals
and innoculations. We attended the Councillor's meeting at Osaka Bihle Seminary and spent a long
afternoon and evening listening a lot and talking a little about the affairs of that vital in
stitution. Several of the missionary families gathered that night as guests of George and Ethel
Beckman for an excellent meal and fellowship.
Returning home for a week-end of teaching and preaching, I had to leave home before dawn
on Monday to make the journey "by ship to Tannegashima for the regular preacher's meeting. This
island which is noted for its foul weather and incessant winds presented its better face this
time. We enjoyed "both delightful weather and fellowship. We took time out from our meetings to
go down to the sea shore where Bro. Ikeda_baptized, a young lady who had made a long journey from

the other side of the island for~that purpose.

The day after I got home, we had a similar happy experience at the sea shore near Kanoya.
For a long time I had preached at the leper colony without results. Last month,
con-

jfessed their faith in Christ,

fto the bay.

A day was set and the Christian lepers hired a "bus for the trip

There in a lovely setting in the cool, clear waters I "baptized the three men you

see sitting on the rock in the above picture. (The man in the middle wears a mask not "because
he has a cold "but because he has no nose.) A fire was built on the sand so they could dry and
warm themselves. We joined in singing ajid praying and then we had a delightful picnic together
before returning.
It was a lesson in sharing what few people have a chance to see. Some of the
sick have obvious wounds from their disease.

""^ther.

Others have no visible results.

But all share to-

Where eyes or legs or arms or hands or fingers are missing, those who have them provide

tn5-^eded assistance.

At Kanoya, too, that week we had another baptismal service at the regular prayer meet
ing hour when two middle school_,sj;.uiients from .the...orphanage .were-!b.a.tiLlz_ed. These decisions for
Christ and committment to Him provided the spiritual stimulus to keep going even when the body
was rebelling at the grueling pace.

The first day of Spring, March 21, is a holiday in Japan,

On that day all the churches

in Satsuma peninsula (on the opposite side of Kagoshima Bay) gathered in Kushikino for a con
vention and farewell meeting for our family. Of course, it was three months before our actual
leave-taking but since it was a convenient time for everyone, there was no harm done in having
it early.
I preached at the morning service. After lunch together, we talked together about

the missionary's furlough and what it meant in travel, and work, and worry. The brethren could
see it would be no picnic. We were three hours on the road each way plus five hours at the meet
ing so the day itself was no picnic. In fact, it put Pauline in bed for several days. The roads
of Japan are slowly improving but mostly they are still wagon trails.

The last of the month brought Paula and Markie home from Kobe (7OO miles north) for
spring vacation. Since they will not be able to return to Kanoya before we depart for furlough,
this was their last visit home. It was a busy time as they went through the things in their
rooms deciding what they would take or leave.

Friends came to call and they made farewell calls

in return. We had their special friends for supper and an evening of games together. We spent
a day with them in Kagoshima visiting the Pratts, getting cholera shots, and shopping for the
return journey.

The first Sunday they went with me to Matsuyama and Sueyoshi where Bro. and Sister
Tanneguchi had a Japanese feast for them. Mrs. Yoshii had them for supper Wednesday night. On
Friday, the brethren of Koyama, Ozaki and Kushira gathered together at the Kushira church for a
Christian farewell service. There was a small gift for each of them, a devotional service, and
tea and cakes, Sunday after church at Kanoya,60 of the members and friends remained for a similar
meeting, both for them and for our family. It was a happy time till we stood to sing "Blest Be
the Tie that Binds" at the close of the service. In the middle of the hymn, Pauline and I broke
down and we could sing no more.

Sunday night, we journeyed to Tarumizv church. The friends from

"Kallgata also^^e and the rinal73fare;5^1JL

As^b^cah^dedu^Y^leave-taking in
Japan is not simple. If'Ts'a special ceremony all in itself, time-consuming yet meaningful. For
Christians it is even more poignant.
En route back to school, we invited all the preachers and their families as well as the
Pratts to join us for a noon meal at a Kagoshima restaurant before they took the train back north.
Now they are gone, the house seems half-empty again, and we face the last two months of our stay.
They promise to be hard and long.

On March 27, Jlr^-Pratt -got word that her mother had died suddently in Indianapolis. Her

^xfamily asked her to cbm:e home -fco be with her Father at this trying time, so she and the oldest
'.son, Paul, flew home. We share her sorrow. Missionaries leave their homeland knowing full well
that they may never see some of their loved ones again in this life and sometimes this knowledge
adds to sorrow when they pass.
Sometime back when a friend from a nearby country was going to visit he had the problem

of how he was going to pay for it. So he wrote me a letter which began, "Now let us speak light
ly of money." I thought it was the most delightful way of introducing such a tender subject that
I

had read.

We, too, are going to make a journey and before we leave all bills must be paid and funds
left on hand to meet obligations as they become due. At least two times a year direct support

Ihissionaries, including ourselves, have an extremely difficult time meeting mission expenses.

i^They are Ma^ch.^d..Apr41. - income tax time and Jjaly_and Au^st - vacation time. Both these times
xai^Jitnies of busy ml^si0Tr~W0rk ~ajid unusual e^ens^^on~t^^japirnTni^i~oh""field."'

Pardon us for this reference but we thought you would like to think about this problem
ever so lightly with us.
God bless you all.
In His service.

Mark G. Maxey
LIWKLETTER

Non-Profit Organization

Monthly Publication of
Kyushu Christian Mission
Box 139
North Vernon, Indiana

U.

S.

POSTAGE

PAID

North Vemon, Indiana

Mr. Harold McParland
Missions Services
Box 968

Joliet, IlliriQis

Permit No.

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
LIMLETTER NO. 125

May, 1962

Dear Christian friends,

Oliver Goldsmith said; "HOPE like the glinmiering taper's light,

Adorns and cheers our way; And still, as darker grows the night, Emits a
"brighter Ray."

If Goldsmith had had our little girl Hope before him as he

wrote these lines, he couldn't have said it better,

cheers our way' every day.

she ^adorns and

maypv

ir MnAirmq

HOPE MAXEY - 18 MONTHS

Only one tiny little cloud in her sky and she doesn't even know it. She has no living
link support. We've never mentioned it before but it seems a good time to do so, now that we are
about to head for home again.

$50 per month till she is six and $40 per month thereafter will establish a personal
supporting relationship with this wonderful girl and make her a part of your missionary family. If
interested, let us know.

Soon after you get this we will be leaving Kanoya (June 12) to return to the U.S. after a
six year's absence. En route we will attend Paula's high school graduation in Kobe and the annual
missionary convention near Tokyo. Ve expect to depart from Tokyo June 20 taking the long way home.

By gettir^ together a large group of other missionaries going to Europe, we were able to

form a charter group to fly to Europe at considerable savings, Ve intend to spend a month camping
there and visiting our missionaries in Italy, Germany and England, arriving in New York on August 5
Ve are grateful to our living link churches for their help in providing a furlough travel

fund. We figured economy airline fares from Tokyo to the U.S. midwest and came up with a budget of
$2880 for our family of 7 This is the amount we will use from the furlough fund on the journey
home. All expenses in excess of that will be borne by ourselves. Needless to say, we are looking
forward to the experience very much.

After ve get to the U.S. we will be visiting family, friends and living link churches for
a month before setting up housekeeping in Louisville, Kentucky at the same place we lived before.
In case you want to write us, call us up or come see us, here is the address:
Mark G. Maxey

The phone is:

Box 98 (7421 Brown's Lane)

Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

92I-2765
(This is on the new direct dial system
from almost anyvhere in the nation.)
We expect to be at the above address till August, 1965* Meanwhile, be assured that any
mail sent to us in Japan will be forwarded to us promptly. Also our permanent U.S. address: Box 139>
North Vernon, Indiana, will always reach us.

Bro. Yoshii returns from his year of study in the U.S. June 2. Ve will have just a week
or so together before we leave. The Christian Center and Book Store will continue to operate under
the direction of our fine Christian manager, Miss Syoko Ourasaka. Mr. Katsuo Shimoda and his young
bride will live on the property and see that it is maintained and repaired. His father, Benzo
Shimoda, mission carpenter who has been with us since the very beginning, will go to Tokyo for a
year to help the missionaries there with building and repairs. Summer camp and other activities and
gatherings will continue to make use of the facilities here. Bro. Paul Pratt, co-worker in Kagoshima
City, will work with Bro. Yoshii in carrying on my responsibilities.

Even though separated by the miles, we intend to maintain our spiritual and financial re
sponsibilities here to the limit of our ability.

What news here in the past month? One, very special event was a trip to Korea from April
to preach in the first Southern Christian Convention in^Tulan^^Bro, Chang, energetic pastor

of the Dai Kyo Church of Christ had invited me.

Physically the trip was punishing, "but spiritual it was rewarding. En route to catch the
train the car hroke down and I had to get out in the driving rain and hitch-hike a ride the rest of

the 65 mile journey. In the course of a week I spent two nights on the train, two nights in the
hold of a tiny thirty-year old ship that bov;ed to every wind and wave it met, and two nights with
the Korean "brethren at the convention talking late and up early for the 500 a.m. prayer meetings.
Highlights of the trip were: the opportunity to preach to the convention itself three
nights; an interview over Radio HIKP; speaking to 800 students at the chapel period of Pusan Voca
tional College; a quick trip to visit Jchn and Jane Hill, 200 miles to the north, and to speak to

the 35 students in their training program; the refreshment of listening to the joyous singing and
fervent praying of the Korean "brethren; and the joy of baptizing four of the people who attended
the convention in the icy waters of the Korea Strait just before departure.

A.^a6fisd special event was the revival meeting held at the Kanoya church May 19 - 22.
Claude Likins made the long journey down from Tokyo to preach for us, 9OOO handbills were distribut

ed. Comiriunity loudspeakers and radio systems announced the meetings every day. The original "King
of Kings" film was shown in three installments. The young people of the church on their monthly
meeting n-ight -made 40"~large posiiers by hand. After they had hung in^fhe" chur"^ "for a week"they put
them up around the town. The big day of the week was Resurrection Day which began with a sunrise
service at the leper colony and ended with the final service of the meeting that night in Kanoya.
We had good crowds to hear Claude's excellent preaching. No committments at the time of
the meeting but since then several new faces at the regular services and at least two new people
that have never missed a service since that time. Nothing soul-shaking about that you might think
but we are very happy with even so little.
special event was another afternoon at the sea shore with the Christian from the

leper colony when I baptized four of the ladies from there. Pauline and several of the women from
the Kanoya chui-ch went also. It was especially meaningful to Pauline who has taught the women at
the leper colony so faithfully month after month and year after year. These decisions for Christ
were the fruits of her labors.

Until the next time then, remember us when you pray,

is ours to see you all again.

You cannot imagine the longing that

In His service,

Mark G. Maxey

Non-Profit Organization

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication of
Kyushu Christian Mission

U.

S.

POSTAGE
PAID

Box 159

North Vernon,

North Vernon, Indiana

Permit No,

JUN
Mr,

7 ^62

Harold McFarland

Missions Services
Box 968

Joliet, Illinois
RETURN REQUESTED

'

Indiana
1

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
LINKLETTER NO.

July, 1962

126

Dear Christian Friends,

Once again it is time and past time for a report of our stewardship,
ember, 1959 through April, 1962 - Thirty-two months.

This report covers the period from Sept-

Recently one of our national periodicals carried a statement by an eminent man to the effect that he had never
seen a satisfactory missionary financial report. As far as this man goes - no doubt that is true. I doubt, however,
that he has seen all missionary reports, nor ever will see them all. The nvimber of missionary financial reports
that any person sees will depend upon the number of missionaries that he is supporting.
Personally, I can honestly say that I am not satisfied with any financial report that I have ever prepared. The
actual listing of dollars and cents seems pretty far removed from the day to day life and work which we carry on here.
Also, when I have pulled the crank for the last time on the adding machine and have checked and rechecked the figures,
I am appalled that it has cost so much to do so little. . I say so little because looking at it from the human point of view,
preaching the Gospel cannot seem to be a very successful enterprise when measured in dollars and cents, per convert
made. Certainly not in Japan. I am gald to take, indeed, I am forced to take the position that what is insignificant in
man's sight may be very important in God's sight. Having done our very best, we leave it in His hands.
From a business man's point of view again, this is an unsatisfactory report. It will not pass the accounting
procedures required by public accountants. We do not have a system of double signing checks nor of purchase orders
and vouchers for every item spent. Our simple system of daily entires in a ledger with a balance struck each month
and a typewritten monthly report sent to our forwarding secretary must suffice. Even this amount of arithmetic takes
an appalling amount of time and energy. The figures that you see below are just about right. I can tell you exactly
how much was taken in, how much was spent and how much is left. However, if you were to go through my books and
convert money from dollars to yen and from yen to dollars, you might come up with a few figures different from mine.
In this sense, then, it is not a satisfactory report. Otherwise, I submit it to you as a reliable report and as a fair
accounting of how the money sent to us has been used. This is of the kind of report we will continue to send. I hope
to receive a more charitable reception to my figures than you would give to the monthly statement you receive from
your bank. To simplify, we will try to arrange all expenditures under the headings listed. Sometimes we strain a
little bit to fit the entry into one of these headings.
EDUCATION

Education;

1959 - $168. 10

Mark, Gregory and Faith from Calvert-Schools ^nBaltimore, Maryland and

also tuition fees and travel for Paula and Walter Mark for two years in Cana

1960 -

831.53

1961 -1,257.33
1962 -

dian Academy in Kobe, Japan.

892.05

SPECIFIED

1959 - $311. 10
1960 1961 1962 -

These funds paid for tuition and book expenses for Paula, W^ter

575.05
70.00
0.00

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

1959 - $116. 10
1960 -

490.67
1961 -1,268.43
1962 - 261.10
EVANGELISM

1959 - $357. 58
1960 - 405.17
1961 -

332.71

1962 -

444.08

AUDIO-VISUAL

1959 - $ 96-37
1960 1961 -

496,62
211.85

1962 -

26.88

Specified: A number of funds was transmitted to us for the Kindergarten

building in Tannegeshima. These specified funds were forwarded. A few
other specified items are included.

Leadership Training: Seven Leadership Training Courses have been held

(twice annually) in the Christian Center Building. Books, special teachers
and other expenses are included. Also included are the travel expenses for
Brother Hideo Yoshii for a year of study at Cincinnati Bible Seminary.

Evangelism; Everything we do is evangelism in one way or another but

these funds are those actually spent for evangelistic campaigns such as
advertising, speakers, follow up, travel, and other items incidental to
these meetings.

Audio Visual: A complete set of audio visual equipment is maintained and

tapes, charts, and film strips are added to our library regularly. These
funds also include purchase of two recorders and the preparation of slide
sets of this Mission for the use of churches in America.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE Building and Maintenance; We have large grounds of three and one-half

1959
1960
1961
1962

- 1,076.88
-4413.15
- 1,873. 20
- 811.37

acres. On this ground we have the mission house, garage, guest room,
Japanese house, work shop, storage shed, two bicycle sheds, Christian
Center building and a large out-side toilet. A man is employed full time
to maintain these buildings and grounds. These funds have also built a
parsonage, helped raise and move two church buildings and built a new
cement Christian mausoleum.

MINISTERS SALARIES

1959
1960
1961
1962

- $740. 23
-1,948. 13
-1,208.37
- 344.94

Ministers' Salaries: In cooperation with the churches we helped support

ministers through the church treasurers. There is no support directly
from the Mission to any pastor. Each church is working on a plan of selfsupport with deminishing support from the Mission year by year. This is
working in all cases except one.

BENEVOLENCE

Benevolence;

1959
1960
1961
1962

indicated are those sent directly to be used by the orphanage nearby. This
orphanage is run by the Prefecture but on such a low level that we help it as
we can. Other benevolence we try to do as our own personal Christian work.

- $113.44
11.11
6.93
-0-

We do not do much benevolence as a mission.

The funds here

PUBLICITY

Publicity:

1959
1960
1961
1962

ing list, the preparation, printing and mailing of the monthly Linkletter.

- $241.84
-1,050. 99
-1,198.26
- 497.71

If you

have done any printing, you know that these costs have been climbing year by

year.

I regret the size of this expenditure but we think that ifis a worthwhile

one. We know from your letters that you think the Linkletter is something that
you want coming into your home regularly, as well.
Bookstore: Our bookstore is not self-supporting and probably will never be.
Our location is too remote and our volume of business is not large enough to

BOOKSTORE

1959
1960
1961
1962

The charges at the left are mostly for the maintenance of the mail

- $208.88
-1,265. 01
- 784.83
- 233.63

make it so.

Booksellers receive a discount of 15% to 20% in Japan. Recently

postage rates have been raised in Japan and since we are so far from Tokyo,

the publishing center, each book is now sold at a loss. Through the bookstore
we are able to do a large amount of literature evangelism and to provide Bibles
and books and a regular library for the use of the Christians here and others
who need to receive them.

MEDICAL

Medical:

1959 - $ -0-

pays half of the medical expenses that may come.

family receives a complete physical check-up.

1960 -

104.80

1961 1962 -

270.58
29.36

Once a year, the entire

Bank Charges: As the fortunes in the U. S. rise and fall, it is the value of the
dollar. If you are used to the constant purchasing power of the dollar, you may
be interested in knowing that we receive different amounts of yen for the dollar

BANK CHARGES

1959 - $ 3. 64
1960 60.52
1961 1962 -

Following the practice of many missionaries in the East, the mission

according to the quotation being offered day by day.

79.12
16.55

The basic rate is 360 yen

per one dollar but usually we receive less than that, plus the transmission
charges from the foreign exchange banks to our own local bank. This accounts
for Bank Charges.

Missionary Family: Again the largest single item in the budget is for the
migsionary family. EUrr\ijaaJteJ3iejnis..^oriary_and yOU eliminate the greategj:
single expense in evangelizing in foreign fields. Personally we would like
nothing better than to be so successful in this task as to work ourselves out
of a job. However, such a prospect doesn't yet appear.

MISSIONARY FAMILY

195.9 - J,6Q0^Q

1960 -4300.00
1961 -4,800.00
1962 - 1,600.00

TELEPHONE-TELEGRAPH Telephone and Telegraph: Time saved is money earned and this expenditure is
well worthwhile. While the telephone system in Japan is not nearly as efficient
1959 - $ 87.31
as that in America, still it does serve in a valuable way for instant contacts and
1960 188.24
in making arrangements which would cause much time and delay otherwise. A
1961 - 212.98
telephone is rated as a luxury item in Japan and the charges are higher than
1962 77.80
normal in the U.S. Besides the basic rates, we pay so much for each call made.

Office Expenses: This includes the salary of Miss Ourasaka, who works both in
the bookstore and helps with my office work. It also includes the inevitable
supplies necessary for an office; paper, pencils, ink, etc. Compared to office
expenses in the U.S. , this is quite nominal.

OPFICE

1959 - $193. 26
1960 - 534.93
1961 696.77
1962 - ^33.62

Freight and Postage: I suppose we could call freight a kind of postage. This in
cludes all supplies carried to and from this mission center by Japanese railways,
by truck and by the Japanese Postal system.

FREIGHT-POSTAGE

1959 -

$194.96

1960 1961 1962 -

583.89
570.27
290.24

1959 - $588.45

Travel: This is an essential item in the missionary budget. The missionary's

desk work is never done, but still to accomplish his task, he must leave his home

1960 -1,498. 69
1961 -1,083.34
1962 - 720.88

enance of the Mission Carry-All, and travel near our area and other points in Japan
and for Christian work by car, by bus, train, ship and occasionally by airplane.

TRAVEL

and get our where the people are.

These travel items includes the fuel and maint

SUMMARY

From last report:

$231.75

General Fund

Tent Fund

Tent f'und was'comisuied'wixn tjenerai Fxaidr

Repatriation Fund

$256. 69

-Ti?rrt-T'Trnd-waa

$781.58

ac<

pairing them, equipping them with tent poles and trailer to haul them.
CASH ON HAND

$488.44

1959

RECEIPTS

(4 mos.)

868.98

1960

BALANCE

EXPENDITURES

$6,856.24

$6,776.70

$868.98

19,002.19

20, 573.97

-702. 80

Emergency and Repatriation Fund was put in General Fund ($781. 58)
78.78

1961

17,466.33

78.78

1, 382.49

16,162. 62

Emergency and Repatriation Fund began again with $1000

1, 382. 49

1962

(4 mos. )

6, 289. 64

6, 331.43

340.40

Special gifts for Repatriation Fund January-April, 1962

April 30, 1962
General Fund
$340.40

1, 855. 97

Repatriation Fund 2, 855. 97

In His service,

Mark G. Maxey '

Non-Profit Organization

LINKLETTER

Monthly Publication of
Kyushu Christian Mission
Box

North

139

Vernon,

Indiana

U. S.

REQUESTED

POSTAGE

PAID

Mr. Harold IdcFarland

Missions Services
Box 968

Joliet, Illinois
RETURN

North

Vernon,

Permit

No.

Indiana
1

HJfmLMttEm

vvr.

A monthly report by the Mark G. Maxey family

to the friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan
A\igust, 1962

LIMLETTEE NO. 12?

Dear Christian Friends,
"Breathes there a

man with a

Who never to himself hath

soul

so dead

said

.'This is my own, my native land'?

Whose heax-t hath ne'er within him "bum'd

As home his footsteps he has turn'd

From wandering on a foreign strand?

I may have altered the above quotation a little but the

sentiment is unmistakable.

Our hearts were stirred to set foot in

At dedication of

Christian

Mausoleum in Kanoya

the homeland again.

To go back a couple of months, we ended our work in Kanoya on Sujiday, June 10. A big day
in every way. Brother Yoshii, the Kanoya pastor had just returned from the United States the week

before. He asked me to preach that

of us walked up the hill to the new
dedication service and at the close
ceased members of the Kanoya church

Sunday morning. Afterwards there were four baptisms. Then all

Christian mausoleum just completed. Bro. Yoshii conducted a
the ashes of our two little boys and the ashes of two other de
were places in the buildiiig. We felt that this event was a

fitting close to our second term of service.

That night at the church we had one more important event, however, as we conducted
ordination service for Bro. Yoshii the officers of the church participated in the laying on of
hands. We left many of our responsibilities in the hands of Bro. Yoshii and we did so with complete
confidence.

All day Monday and all night, too, didn't get the packing complete but we finally walked
out of the house with our suitcases at least. Seeing people off at the station is an important social
event in Japaii, If a person means anything at all to you, this is the final respect you can pay him.
So there was a large delegation on hand at the Kanoya railroad station - Christians from the

churches, business friends, students, and a busload of Christians and friends from the Japanese
Naval Air Station, including the Admiral himself. All said their good-byes and waited to wave as
the train left. For ourselves, we were too choked up to say anything.
Some friends went with us as far as the ferry in Tarumizu and said good-bye there. At
Kagoshima, the Paul Pratt family carried us to the station and many Christians and friends greeted
us on the platform. At Kushikino, Fukuoka, and Kokura other friends were waiting as the train
stopped.

Each farewell made it more difficult to leave.

At Kobe we paused for three days to attend Paula's graduation ceremonies at Canadian Acad

emy.

Naturally we were proud parents.

One night while we were there, we had open house at Isabel's

(Hittemore) house and invited our friends in the area to stop in for the evening,

John and Annie

Brady, our former neighbors in Kobe, kindly opened their home to us during our stay.
Sunday we spent with the Howard Davis family in Nagoya enjoying both their fellowship and
the opportunity to preach and worship with the brethren there. Monday, on to the town of Ajiro
nearer Tokyo for the annual missionary convention - the highlight of any year in Japan, There were

over 85 missionaries, families and friei^s on-.hand to enjoy a fine program prepared by the Tokyo

brethren.

It would take all this l^tter^and -some"'mori~"t'tTO>sio tell you all about it.

One thing we

remember especially was the humorous^return ticket to__Ja^an-prepared by Bill Walker and signed by all
the missionaries.

This was presented" to- paullire^arrd I the last night,

Wednesday, June 20, arrived all too soon. Claude and Evalyn Likins helped us get aboard
an early morning train to Tokyo, Harold Sims had gone ahead previously to see Janet and Isabel
Dittemore off since they were leaving Tokyo the same day,
Tokyo's Haneda a,irport the final farewells were said. Cdr. Desbrow, our Kanoya
neighbor, was also leaving Japan, He and Lt, Col. Lisney had come over by helicopter to see us off.
Finally at 11;30 a,m, I had turned over my final headaches and list of items forgotten to Harold
Sims, herded the other 85 passengers aboard our charter airplane, and we were on our way.

2500 miles and 9 hours of flying time brought us.,,to-.ii,ong Kong.

days.

Here we stayed for two

We took a trip up to the'Wmboo curtain'^ visited the school and church operated by our

friends, the Anthony Bollbacks, on top of one of the huge housing projects built for the refugees
and treated ourselves to a real Chinese meal.

Next hop was 8^ hours and 2250 miles to Calcutta flying over the troubled lands of
Viet Nam, Laos and Burma, Fuel and food -and we were on our way again, 5^ hours and 1450 miles_to
Karachi.

We arrived at midnight and had a fine and unusual meal beginning with mutton stew and

ending with mutton meat rolls.

Then another Ions hop - di hours and 1200 miles to Damascus - arriving early Sunday morn

ing. After "breakfast, we re-arranged the chairs in the teIraiinai i^hy and joined together in
prayer and praise.

Naturally our thoughts turned to the conversion of the Apostle Paul en route to

this city so many centuries before.

The weather was "beautiful for the final f 1i g h t - 6 hours and 1500 miles away.

We

could see clearly the islands and countries "bordering the nor^^n edge of the Mediterranean Sea.
At Rome two thirds of the group went on north to Frankfurt and Copenhagen. "Mac" Coffey
of the Mediterranean Mission was on hand to meet us. Also the-^MJcswaaon "bus we had rented to carry

us over the countryside was there.

After a day in Rome, Bro. Coffey led us as we drove down and

ac^a^s the peninsula

center of the mission work.

The next day to their

where preparations were "being made for the weeks of Christian camp. We spent a full week here
getting our camping gear together and enjoying the fellowship of the Coffey family, Charles and
Mary Francis Phipps, Evelyn Jones, and the Charles Troyer family. We had one enjoyable Sunday
visiting the churches with Bro. Coffey. It was with real regret that we left to continue our jour
ney.

The following five weeks took us j^-^ugh-Ptal.v - ^ples. Rome. Pisa. Florence. Milan,
setting up our tent each night; buying fruit and food in the market places, each member of the
family doing his own wash and wear laundry each night. How we enjoyed the rich treasure of Italian
art and architecture and the friendliness of the people. Tr^tn Switzerlajid - a jewel of a country
with another beautiful vista around each bend. Luzerne, Beme, Tnt^erTachen, Zurich, and Basel.

iptn P,PTmflny^

First a delightful week-end at Tubingen with the Earl Stuckenbruck family,

the James Crouch family and also Mr. and Mrs. "V. G. Gilbert, who happened to be visiting at the
same time. It was a joy to worship with the German brethren at the church in Tubingen. Erankfurt

was the next stop where we picked up our mail and had a fine visit with Ed and Mary Fausz and ' ^
Illabelle Henninger, carrying on radio evangelism in Europe.

The fellowship of Christian brethren

is a real joy wherever you go.

Through Hoi 1and and Belgium, across the channel

T^hi^land where we spent the first week
end with the iesan WegiMt. family, a^d the church at. S.tockport. This was very meaningful to us as
we were able to sing and preach in our own tongue and to converse freely with everyone we met. We
felt that the Wegwarts were the right people in the right place serving in a needy mission field.
Cambridge, Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of
London - more to see but time was running out.

Back_o^ttaer.::i5flaijQeat.f^

a three day visit.in

"^'wQ~aaypi J.n~we^tern France with" our friends, M/Sgt. and Mrs. Winstead, whom we had'known in

Japan, up to' Yer^ua_passing en route ttopu^_ two towns named Maxey where we stopped for pictures and

visits with the people living there. "aF"Verndiin^we were welcomed by the Chaplain McNally family
whom we had met while camping.

Here we spoke to a small group in chapel and visited the battjLefield

where World War I raged.

ri^i&^^i^lkswagon at the
August ^.^had-uaome. We hastene^Jt^^toembg^^ _where
had just
airport, checked our baggage and had^JJajj&e,Jioux^-Sisit with Guy and
arrived on the Continent from the U. S. the day previously and had c^ -S^enidio-=^]ja^embourg to visit
and see us off.

At 5sOO p.m. we were on our way. At midnight we had supper at Reykjavik, Iceland, as the
sun still lingered on the horizon. At 4:00 a.m. we were at
qi;,, Hpwf1 rn.^, and at 8:00 a.m.

we landed at Ttew_ yfirTc Oity^ having completed safely a seven weeks' journey o^_18,50Qj^i^s. We felt
that we had received God's care every mile of the way.

Tibbs and Norma-Maxey- were on hand to welcome us back to the -land we love. . Through the

cooperative efforts of Ed Hoist Motors (Pierre, South Dakota), Roscoe Adams, minister at North
"Vernon, and Joe Kearns of Louisville, a Plymouth station wagon was at the airport ready to carry us
on our way. After 24 hours we continued our journey westward eagerly looking forward to reunions
with family, friends and Christian brethren. One of these days we hope to be seeing you personally,
too.

In His Service^

Mark G. Maxey
LINKLETTER

Non-Profit Organization

Monthly Publication of

U. S.

Kyushu Christian Mission

Box 139

POSTAGE

PAID

North "Vernon, Indiana

North "Vernon, Indiana

Permit No.

Mr, Harold McFarland

Missions Services
Box 968
RETURN REQUESTED

Joliet, Illinois

A monthly report by the Mark G, Maxey family

to the friends.of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

Liinkletter No.

128

October, 1962

Dear Christian Friends,

Sitnl Dtnntt

It is just two months now, since we got back to the U. S. and it

is difficvilt to describe the tremendous emotional experience this
has been. Especially in revisiting the people and places which
have so many memories for us.
CSCCNWQSD RO

To tell you about it briefly. We left Japan on June 20 and arrived

in New York City August 3 after a trip that took us to Hong Kong,

PARK

Calcutta, Karachi, Damascus and the major cities of Europe. (For the record we want to mention that we received from the mission
the amount it would have taken to bring our family home directly across the Pacific. We borrowed money on our life insurance to
pay the additional cimount required for the longer journey. No cost to the mission was involved).
After a reunion with my older brother, Tibbs Maxey and family, in New York City, naturally we headed west. First week-end;
Berwick, Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Ringold, Maryland. Then to Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania for a few days with
Pauline's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Pethtel. At the same time speaking in her home church at Wind Ridge and neighboring
Wayne sburg.

The next week-end at Copley, Ohio for a reunion with Pauline's brotliers, Allan, Boyd and Roy and their wives and families.
And at Weston, Ohio for all day Sunday with my young brother Bryan and family.

The next week took us to Michigan; Detroit with Dr. Schaeffer and feimily, (He has watched Paula's progress since she had polio
so many years ago.) Newtown, Gregory's living link church. Battle Creek, Pavda's living link and Vandalia, Faith's.
A long hop brought us to Storm Lake, Iowa where we relaxed at the home of my younger sister and husband, Mary and Alvin
Giese.

That-week-end up into Minnesota to Madelia, the church where I began preaching-25 year-ago, and to Truman, Minnesota,

my second pastorate.

Both of these churches provide Walter's living link.

Then down to Claremore, Oklzihoma to my mother and husband, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Elrod. Now 79, eyes a little weaker, a
little bit thinner, a little bit whiter, Mother still has the wit and wisdom with which she raised her tribe of youngsters.

A long 750 mile drive brought us back to North Vernon, Indiana the last Sunday in August. North Vernon is one of my living
link churches. We preached here from 1941-1944. This is where Pauline and I began our married life 21 years ago and where our
oldest daughter, Paula, saw the light of day. We left here in July, 1944 to become an Army Chaplain. From the chaplaincy we went
directly to the mission field. So we have never been back there to live but it still remains our legal address: where we bank, vote,
pay our taxes, and get our mail when no other address will reach us. This is also home for the Kyushu Christian Mission, incorpohere under the laws of the state of IndicUia.

We reached journey's end August 28, when the faithful Plymouth station wagon nosed into the driveway of our home at Pleasure
Ridge Park, just south of Louisville, Kentucky, (see map above). We had lived here on furlough six years ago.

One of the happiest surprises of the entire journey was to find the house newly-painted, floors sanded, and the house furnished,
ready for housekeeping. This was the summer's work of the Loyal Friends class of the Clifton church in Louisville, one of Pauline's
living links. Naturally, our first Sunday in Louisville was spent with them. We tried, but words failed us as we tried to express our
thanks for what they had done.

At Pleasure Ridge, the neighborhood had all cut their lawns at the same time so that the whole area looked like a park. Next
door neighbors, Mary and Roy Burkhead, who had watched over the house in our absence, had put food for our first meal in the
refrigerator. The church at North Vernon had fixed up a money tree for us when we were there and this was enough to buy all the
other essentials around the yard and house. My living link church in Sciotoville, Ohio bought Pauline a dryer and one of my other
living link churches in Milton, Kentucky gave us a food shower.

Surely, "our cup runneth over".

Labor Day, brother Victor Lee Maxey and family, also living in Louisville had a welcome home picnic for us and sister, Mrs.
Isabel Dittemore, who with her daughter Janet had just returned from a term of service in Japan as well. This completed re-unions
with our families. So for this year four members of the Maxey family are living within a few miles of each other in Louisville, Ky.
Our Father, R. Tibbs Maxey, was born and reared in central Kentucky, so it looks like we are drawn irresistibly back to the place
of our beginnings.

September 6, Walter entered the local high school as a Junior. Gregory began grade 5 and Faith grade two. September 14, I
drove Paula to Milligan College where she enrolled as a Freshman. (Her address: Box 254, Milligan College, Tennessee.) So
begins her step out into the world and we are already bejginning to feel)the loneliness we will know more keenly when we leave her
here next year.

Pauline has picked up the thread of homemaking American style and I am visiting the churches giving a personal report of the

past six years in Japan. So far I have spent four days in a missionary rally with our supporting church in Streator, Illinois; spoke
for the cornerstone laying at the College of the Scriptures; reported to the Fellowship Class at South Louisville church and at near
by Shively church where Pauline and the family attend; held a Week of Missions at my living link church in Sciotoville, Ohio, and
spoke for the Fifth Sunday Rally at Clay County, Illinois where the brethren there presented the mission with a check for $500 to
apply on the purchase of our furlough vehicle. Seven years ago these 13 churches were the ones who bought the Chevrolet CarryAll used throughout our last term. Speaking dates in South Jefferson (KY) Christian Church; Old Bethel Christian Church (Clay
County, Illinois) and Fairfield, Illinois completed our schedule through October.
It is impossible to-mention all the wonderful ministers and friends we have met and all the wonderful experiences we have had
with them.

To each of them who reads this letter, "Thanks again" from our whole family.

Here are some items to note:

1.
2.

Lord willing we will sail from California in mid-August next year in order to arrive in Japan by September first.
The work in Japan continues as do our spiritual and financial responsibilities there. Each month we are assisting on pastor's
salaries, evangelistic efforts, literature work, and necessary maintenance of mission buildings and property. Miss Ourasaka

is running the Christian Book Store on a f\xll time basis.

Bro. Shimoda lives in the Japanese house adjoining our home, taking

care of the property there and helping with repair on church buildings. Bro. Yoshii, pastor of the Kanoya church, reports a
fine summer camp and Daily Vacation Bible school progreim. We are in rgprnla-r
-iMnna vath the brethren there by
letter and tape recording.
3.

Due to the serious condition of her Father, our co-workers, PauL^jjd^athleen Pratt came home at the end of August. They

had been home only a few days when herg"dYWi,^y. ^fwas visiting them on the night he died. Her mother had
died suddenly just six months before.^ Remember them^ wh^en you pray;
this year.

Also,-the work in^Kyushu left without missionaries

4.

After 13 years of sacrificial work, Gladys Auerswald has asked for a vacation from her labors as forwarding secretary.

5.

Another faithful member of the North Vernon church has come forward to help out. She is Mrs. Christine Deiotte. So in
the near future your receipts will be signed by her.
*'
'
Because of this chsuige, we have a new box number. It is Box 49. So address your mail to: Kyushu Christian Mission, Box

49, North Vernon, Indiana.

6.

Because the Linkletter is printed here near Louisville, we have decided to mail it out here.

cind speed up mailing by a day or two.

This will make for some economies

So this address: Box 98, Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky will be the address for Link-

letter requests and changes of address.

7.

Our own personal address for the remainder of this furlough will be 7321 Browns Lane (Box 98), Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky.

8.

For you who are receiving the Linkletter (some perhaps for the first time) we'd like to hear confirmation from you that you do
wish to receive this letter. At the same time, give us your correct address. It cost us 8 cents every time the Post Office

Phone 921-2765 (area code 502 for direct dialing).

tells us for you. Also the subscription price is $1.00 per year when mailed out to individual addresses. A small charge for
this little paper on which we expend a lot of effort and considerable expense trying to make it one of the best of its kind.

So much for the business. Faith came in the house a little while ago. "Monrunie" she said, "when do you want to go back to
Japcin." "When the time is up", Pauline replied. "I want to go right now", said Faith. Big tears began to stream down her face.

"I want to see my friends so much. I'll just have to pray for them" This she did right then. (Her homesickness is shared by
us all).

Why not add your prayers to hers. The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Rome: "For God is my witness, .how uncreasingly
I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered by the will of God
to come imto you.

For I long to see you...

Pray for us that we may be prospered to go to our Japanese brethren again. We long to see them.
-

In His service.

Mark G. Maxey

'

LINKLETTER

Non-Profit Orgamization

Monthly Publication of

U. S. POSTAGE

Kyushu Christian Mission

PAID

Box 98

Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

Permit No. 15

Ivir, Harold McFarland

Missions Services
Box 968

Joliet, IHinpis

CHRISTMAS, 1962

erriej?
A monchly report by the Mark G- Haxey family
CO the friends of the

Kyushu Chriilian Million

Kanoya, Kagoihima, Japan

Box 98

Pleasure Ridge Pork, Kentucky

Dear Christian Friends:

Frankly, if one sits at home and contemplates the world solely

as it can be seen and heard through the newspapers, radio and television, there
seems to be very Uttle, "peace on earth, good will toward men" this Christmas.
Yet it has always been so and sometimes this has caused men to

be cynical about Christ and His promises. "Pretty words", they say, "but there is
nothing to it."
There lies the problem. We are waiting for peace and goodwill
to be shown throughout the world and in the lives of others. After it works for

them, then we'll have a try at it ourselves, we think.

God's promise was first of all to individuals. When people
like us, one by one, begin to believe what Jesus said, then will begin to come
"Peace on earth and Good Will toward men" In our own small worlds.

There is a

good chance, too, that it will be caught by the great number of people who come
in contact with us.

Our Christmas wish for you is that this month through Christ you

will receive a full measure of "peace and goodwill". The real thing, not just tinsel like the merchants
hung up for us the week before Thanksgiving.

One of the blessings of being on furlough, is the chance to be

in homes all across the land where genuine peace and joy is found and to be the recipient of the good will
these kind of homes have so much of.
We have made a number of tours since we last wrote.

One in

early October took us to a smorgasbord and evening of missions in Columbus, Indiana; three days at a
Missionary Rally with Woodvlew church, Grand Rapids, Michigan; a kick-off banquet for Central Church,
Harvey, Illinois; then all night by train to Mt. Byrd Christian Church, Milton, Kentucky for a visit with
this living link church.
The next tour took us to the mission fair at Clinton, Illinois; the

grade school and church at Wapella, Illinois; chapel at Lincoln Christian College, all day in Chicago
trying to find relatives of one of the leper ladies near Kanoya; church supper and mission meeting at Ancona,

Illinois; Sunday morning with the churches at Ambla and Tab, Indiana; that night at Burlington, Indiana;
on to Jennings Church, St. Louis, Missouri; West Side Church, Columbia; College Chapel at Central
Christian College of the Bible In Moberly; and Prairie Hill Church, Salisbury, Missouri.

I had barely gotten home on Friday, October 19, when Pauline

received word that her father, Charles L. Pethtel, had died of a heart attack as he walked up the lane to
the mail box. We left the next day for the sad Journey to Wind Ridge in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania
All of us were thankful that we had had a good visit with him the first thing after we had arrived home in
August. So we are reminded that "in the midst of life we are In death. "
The following week was spent close by since Paula was going

to be home a few days from college. We went to the Wilkinson, Medora and English churches in Indiana and

South Louisville Christian in Louisville. Then two days at Cincinnati

Bible Seminary where Prof. Winter put me through the paces at his missions
class. Northern Hills Church and the following day for the monthly meeting
of the World Missions Volunteers group - an organization originally founded
by my sister, Mrs. Dittemore, and in which Pauline and I were charter

members over 20 years ago. That night Nephew, Brian Giese and Lydia
Shigenobu, (Kanoya Christian, Isabel's helper and nov/ student at CBS)
went with me back to Louisville.

So ended October.

November began with the annual

Wide-World Rally my brother Tibbs holds at his College of the Scriptures in

Louisville where colored preachers are trained. Pauline and Isabel spoke
to the ladies meeting. I spoke one night and at the youth banquet. At the .
youth banquet. Rod Cameron of Rhodesia was supposed to appear with his dummy and entertain with his
ventriloquist' act. Rod could not come so that left me as the dummy. Pauline came to the rescue. She came
up with the idea of using Faith's large Japanese rag doll. We hid Shigenobu-san behind a screen. I talked

to the doll and Shigenobu-san made with the replies. We fooled the people for a few minutes but we
continued to have a lot of fun together even after they found out that I was no ventdloqulst. (See picture).
The third tour took me to Omega Church, Calvary Baptist in

Indianapolis, Jerome Church, Etna Green and North Liberty all In Indiana; Hatfield Church way up in
Michigan, three days with the Missionary Rally at Newtown near Battle Creek; Coats Grove near Hastings,

Michigan and Parkview Church of Christ at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, en route home. I waited over on Monday
and attended the preacher's meeting there so I could visit with brother Bryan and his wife Kathryn and meet
their new little baby boy they brought with them from V/eston, Ohio, not too far away.
The next trip took me to Cincinnati to attend the Conference on

Evangelism where I heard many good sermons and met many old friends. Friday night to Hollowtown Church

in Highland County, Ohio. I preached here in 1940-4] while studying in Cincinnati. My mother also
preached here at one time driving out from Hillsboro in a Model T Ford over the dirt roads. Sunday morning
at Sardinia, Ohio and Sunday night at Hillsboro, Ohio. My father preached here 35 years ago. Naturally
there are many precious memories in places like these.

I spent Thanksgiving week with my family and we had as our

special guests on that special day, Paul and Kathleen Pratt, our co-workers in Japan, now on furlough
making their home in Indianapolis. Meanwhile our three daughters have had birthdays - Hope became two
on October 4," Faith became 7 November 13 and Paula became a young lady of 19 on November 29. All
three are a joy to our home.
I wish I could tell you in detail of the homes visited, wonderful

meals and church suppers eaten, old friendships renewed, places of sacred memory revisited, the hours of
conversations, and the many who have shown kindness to me and mine. To each of these and to all of you
wesayagain, "PEACE AND GOODWILL." "HAPPY NEW YEAR, TOO!" This from the whole Maxey
family.

In His service.

LINKLETTER

Non-profit Organization

Monthly Publication of

U. S. POSTAGE

Kyushu Christian Mission

Box 98

Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

PAID

Pleasure Ridge Park, Kentucky

Permit No. 15