35 YEARS OF SERVICE TO JAPAN; 19501985

6th FURLOUGH REPORTMARK & PAULINE MAXEY

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE KYUSHU CHRISTIAN MISSION

KANOYA, KAGOSHIMA 893, JAPANBOX 417, NORTH VERNON, IN 47265

LIGHTING LAMPS

REVEALING THE WORD

BUILDING BRIDGES

KAQOSH

iSX t PAULlttf HW ,

PACIFIC
ASi ch;xa sea

AREA

the

SERVED BY

kyushu

CHRISTIAN

MISSION'

ON THt ISLANC

O OF TAHEGflSHIHA

OCEAN

JAPAN ADDRESS
Box 14

Kanoya, Kagoshima
893
Japan
Tel. (0994) 42-2374
FORWARDING ADDRESS

Kyushu Christian Mission

Box 417

North Vernon, IN 47265

Tel. (812) 346-3226
A Religious Incorpo'dlion of the Slate ol Indiana.

Your gift 10 ihjs missitin IS ta*-<ieductibie

This brief history will be our

1985-86 furlough report. The
Lord willing, we will spend the
rest of our days in Japan. Thank
you for your fellowship in this
workpast, present and future.
Mark and Pauline Maxey

The Maxeys first saw Japan when he came there from the Philip
pines as an Army chaplain and Pauline joined him at Otsu, Shiga
Prefecture, with their two small children, Paula and Walter. That was
1947.

They returned in September, 1950 and went directly to Kanoya,

at the extreme southern tip of Kyushu. They bought a piece of land
in an undeveloped area near the air base where all crews for the
Pearf Harbor raid were trained.

Chaplain Paul Cook and his wife, Helen, were at this air base for
about eight months. Cook baptized twelve people in December of
1947 and January of 1948, just before they returned to the U.S.
These and other believers continued to meet twice a month in

the home of Mrs. Ai Taniyama. After this group was organized into
a church of immersed Christians in the spring of 1951, they bought
the Taniyama home (but not the land) for their meeting place.
Paul Nielsen and Harold Cole visited the Kanoya group once each
in the 1949-1950 period. The present Kanoaya minister, Hideo Yoshii,
was baptized by Paul Nielsen.
One of the leaders, Sadahiko Motoyoshi, heard from Harold Cole
that the Maxeys were coming to Japan. Mr. Motoyoshi wrote them
a letter asking them to come to Kanoya.

Meanwhile the iVIaxeys had decided to go to Kyushu and to an

area where no missionary had gone nor was likely to go. Their
decision was matched by Mr. Motoyoshi's invitation. Kanoya would
be the place for their life's work.
The pre-fab house the Maxeys built in 1950 still stands. Here
Pauline has raised and taught her five children and sent them forth
into the world. It is the home from which her blessing and influence
has spread through the hundreds who have enjoyed her hospitality,
talked with her through the long hours of the night and listened to
her teaching both there and in the churches.
It is because of her presence and unwavering commitment that
her husband was able to spend fulltime at the missionary task in
the Kagoshima area.
The goal from the first has been to establish completely indigenous
churches with Japanese leadership. That goal has largely been
reached, though there are three churches that have missionaries
as preachers.
These are the Kagoshima area churches: Kushikino, Naganori
Tanijiri, minister; Kagoshima, Koichi Homori, minister; Yoshino, Walter
Maxey, minister; Kajiki, Junko Daikusono, minister; Nishinoomote,
Tadayoshi Ikeda, minister; Tarumizu, Takeo limure and Koichi Homori,
ministers; Sueyoshi and Kushira, served by Mark Maxey; and Kancya,
Hideo Yoshii, minister.

The ministers and missionaries meet monthly for prayer, preaching

and planning. The Kagoshima churches have an annual conven
tion every November 23. The churches have a small but fine camp
ground which is used for the annual youth camps in August and
year round for smaller groups. The 35th summer camp will be held
August, 1985.

There are additional ministries at the Kagoshima prison by Walter

Maxey. And by Mark Maxey at the leper colony near Kanoya, and
at the Osumi Gakkusha, a prefectural orphanage in Kanoya. Three
churches operate kindergartens.
Next to the mission house in Kanoya stands the Christian Center.
One part of this is a Christian book store. The writing, printing and
distribution of Christian books, booklets and materials representing
the New Testament plea is a major, but not self-supporting, ministry.
The Christian Center also has a large classroom which is used
as a lending library, for English Bible classes, and each year in
January, for a lectureship on a book of the Bible or a Biblical theme.
The 23rd lectureship was held in January, 1985.
During the last 35 years, the Kagoshima work was been ably
advanced and assisted by these missionaries (in the order of their

coming): Isabel Dittemore, Aland

Eleanor Hannmond, Paul and
Kathleen Pratt, and Walter and

Mary Maxey. In August of 1983

Al

and

Rhonda Juve

were

welcomed. They will work in the

Sueyoshi area.
Osaka Bible Seminary is a part
of the outreach also. This in

cludes financial support, serving

on its board of Councilors, and
sending students. All but one of
the local ministers were Osaka

trained. Kagoshima students

who have graduated from Osaka
are serving the Lord in many
parts of Japan.
The Kagoshima churches
have

their

own

land

and

buildings which they maintain

themselves. One more church

building will soon be debt free.

Kagoshima churches, for the
most part, will survive and grow.
Without leadership developing in
the near future, however, at least

two of the churches may have a

difficult time.

The challenge now is to break

Books and Materials by MARKMAXEY

*0n the display table OR order from:

GO YE BOOKS:
147 AVE COTA,
SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

Phone: (m) 492-1^, ,

Attn: John Miles Baker

PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE

PLEASE SEND CHECK WITH ORDER.

(We are not set up to do Wling and/or bookkeeping.)

HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE MISSION

From 1901-1941, the historyof the people and principles

that guided organized work. And "how" and "why"
direct support missions began and grew.Afundamental
history for anyone who would know our people. $8J0
WAY DOWN HERE

The Joys and sorrows of preaching the gospel "way

down here" insouthem Japanas lived ^ Mark and

Pauline Maxey since 1950. A must for your home and

church library. 495 pages

$11.00

24 WEEK COURSE

for English Bible Classes

A text for introducing the Bible and the basics of the
faith to the Japanese in your community. Every line of
English text has the meaning written in the Japanese
beneath. (Other texts availabia Write for complete list.)
ESSAYS

that first appeared in Horizons magazine. Provacative

reading!
WHO IS A MISSIONARY? If everybody is a mls-

slonary, is anybody a missionary?

$3iI0

THREE BOOKLETS

to Enlarge \bur Viewpoint

$1.00 each
1. ESTABUSHINQ THE CHURCH ABROAD. As it was

done then and as we try to do it now.

2. TRAINING NATIONALS FOR THE MISSIONARY

ENTERPRISE. An extended treatment with viewpoints

from all over the world.

out of the mold of an establish

ed church into the mold of

3. THE MISSIONARYAS AN EVANGELIST. His office,

message, method, life, power & biblical basis.

evangelism, outreach and new

church planting.
Brethren, rejoice for what has
been done! Pray that, with God's
help, we may do what needs to

A column that discusses missionary issues, principles

be done!

ONE MAN'S OPINION

and practices. Published each month in Horizons

magazina Informative reading forevery missionary and

every mission-minded person.
$8.00 per year
PO. Box 2427, Knoxville, IN

HORIZONS

37901

SECOND THOUGHTS

Essays about men and missionaries as they relate to

the local church and to yourself as a concerned Chris-

tian. Written from a Japan viewpoint.

$5.50

PREACHING THE GOSPEL IN RESiSIANT HELDS

A Viewpoint from Japan

The other side of the argument which suggests that
"ripe" missionary fields should have priorityover "reslsPLEASE TAKE TIME TO VISIT OUR DISPLAY.

tant" fields.

$2.50

MY STORY:

LOOK OVER THE BOOK LIST ALSO

for your personal use and for the church library. These
books will increase your knowledge of Japan, the mls-

sionary lifa (Your personal check o.k.)

From HERE (Kentuclty) to THERE (Japan)

The people and ^aces, backgrounds and influences

that led to my commitment to missions and to Japan.

With pictures. Vbu'll like it.

$4.00

A Report by Mark and Pauline Maxey

/uNKLerrefi/ ^

To the Friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission

Kanoya, Kagoshinw 893 Japan-Box 417 N.Vernon IN 47265

(*Tl

lll-J

LINKLETTER m i

JANUARY 1985

THE YEAR OF THE OX

Dear Christian friends.

This year the Oriental Zodiak points to the Ox, but don't be
"cowed." If you were born in 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961 or 1973,
your time has come again. The year of the Ox is supposed to be a year of
action and contentment.

The newspaper said that "people born under the Ox are very pat
ient, endowed with perserverance, say little and can be trusted. However,
they have many likes and dislikes and are inclined to be stubborn. When
angry, it is hard to calm than down. " Take it or leave it.
One thing that has been hard to calm down in 1984 is our neigh
borhood volcano, Mt. Sakurajima. It erupted 332 times last year, including
59 times in December alone. The cold,grey ash either drifts down from the
sky or is swirled in our faces by the wind. Either way, it's misery.
Lucky are the people driving cars painted metallc.grey,.. They are right in

"WE'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS"

style every day.

Christmas comes but once a year and I say, "That's good." I also
say it comes sooner each year and lasts longer. Maybe that's not so good.
At any rate, we had a good Christmas. Together, Pauline and I participated
in or had responsibility for 15 Christmas gatherings.

One of the nice things about Christmas this year was the number
of people who shared it with us. Fiona Brown of South Australia was with

us for two weeks before Christmas. A1 and Rhonda Juve down from language
school and Paul and Faith Axton from their teaching in Meikei Gakuen,north
of Tokyo were with us for two weeks. Walter and Mary, Shelley and Trent
were with us for half that time.

Special guests on Christmas Day were two other foreigners now

living in Kanoya: Sophia Shang, Hilmette, Illinois, English teacher at our
new College of Physical Education and Patricia Stengle, New York City,
anployed by Kanoya City as an English teacher and consultant in the city
schools. There were twelve of us for the delicious Christmas dinner that

SURROUNDED-AT KUSHIRA CHURCH PARTY

Pauline prppared.
Before that we all attended the 8.30 A.M. Christmas service at

the leper church, Bro Yoshii preaching.Then in the early afternoon to the
Osumi Gakkusha orphanage for a Christmas service and sharing of gifts. By
then, we were ready to eat heartily and to linger longer at the dinner
table.

We do want to thank everyone who remembered us at this time of

year in so
many special ways. We may be far away but we know that we have
not been forgotten. Thank you! Please know that one of the major aims that
Pauline and I have in life is to pass our blessings on to others.

Well, let's back up a little bit. Since leaving the hospital at

the end of August, we have been back to see Dr. Tdeta three time. He re
ports improvement in the eye each time. I have gotten new glasses and got~
ten used to a new way of seeing - one eye sees things larger than the

CHRISTMAS CAROLERS-LED BY HIDEO YOSHII

' 1.

YOSHINO CHURCH HOSTS KAGOSHIMA CHURCHES' 31st FALL RALLY

-^^^TING PAULINE'S ENGLISH BIBLE CLASS

other eye.

I resumed my preaching and teaching the last of September and recentlii began driving at night again.

No problem so far.
I have been able to keep up my monthly articles in Hon'zons magazine and to write a lesson each week
for two books for English Bible classes. One is for Juniors, "All About the Church" and the other for adults, a
re-write of "Guide to Christ, the Church and the Christian Life." I teach these materials to three classes on
Friday night and five classes on Saturday afternoon. I have a lively and interested group of students for each
of these classes.

Pauline maintains her work in spite of marginal health. One of her joys is teaching an English Bible
class to a group of keenly interested women twice a month in the Christian Center. Each of the class members has
a pen pal in the church of Christ at Pierre, South Dakota.They can all find Pierre on the U.S. map even if they
can't locate Chicago.

October 31, Pauline was the speaker for the joint women's meeting of the Kanoya church and the ladies
of the leper church, held at the leper church. Her subject was "Love." She prepared a list of 135 references on
this topic to share with each of those who attended. It was a tremendous time of teaching and fellowship.
November 1, 2 .&-3 we.traveled to Osaka to attend the board meeting of the college and their annual
"Tane Make Kai"- a preaching convention. It is always a time of blessing and renewal. We left before it was over .
in order to lattfend the fall EBC (English Bible Class) Camp that Walter has held twice a year for many years. Six
of my students joined Walter's group for this week-end of stuc^and recreation. Mark Pratt had two lessons on "Are
We Here by Chance?" Then the three of us led discussions for smaller groups after his lessons. We enjoyed perfect
weather and a splendid camp.

Our annual rally of the Kagoshima churches is held each November 23, a national holiday. This year,
the Yoshino church, where Walter ministers, hosted the convention. They planned and prepared a superb convention.
Each church was represented and most of then had special music or some other part on the program. Prof. Saito of
Osaka Bible Seminary was the special speaker for the morning and afternoon sessions. Katsuo Shimoda from the Chris
tian Center Bookstore brought a book and Christmas display.
The bookstore has been an active supplier of materials this fall, especially at Christmas time. One

project has been publishing the book, "Workbook on Christian Doctrine", for Bill and Betty Turner. It will be sold
through our bookstore.

This year I have had the added responsiblity of being on the Board of Governors and Chairman of the Inter
national Committee for the Kanoya Rotary "Club.This has taken a lot of time and preparation. Six more months to go.

So far, so good. I challenged the club to give a $1000 offering at our Christinas party (Dec. 26) to dig a well in
India.

We missed the goal by $150 but I was satisfied.

Our furlough begins sometime in June this year. We are anticipating the joy of seeing many of your faces

again. At the same time we are sad at the thought of leaving Japan for^ye^s' ^e. It has become our land and
its people our people.

Keep us in your prayers. IN HIS SERVICE,

^ tnaiifi
E.B.C. EVENING BONFIRE-NOV.-WALTER'S PROJECT

AN UNLIKELY TRIO - DRYING THE SOUP BOWLS.

iOrUSHU CHRISTIJU^ mission:, . BOX J4', :k^0YA,, KAGOSHIMA 893 JAPAN

A "TEA. PAR-TY'^ LEmR

March 1985

Please ceme in and sit down/.I w.ili heat

It's
late and: quiet, a good time tb talk, if
areh:*t too tired from travel.

Two or three times a ^

I go with Mark to Osaka when he attends
-the Osaka Bible Semiriary Cbur.cilors meeting. We alw^s stay with Martin and
ahead to this time for Evelyn and I have one night to

.. visiU

talking into tjie wee hours of this morning. There is always the

stiaring of joys and sorrows, the prbblemk and victories, the hope and dreams
for, the future and our needs for physical arid^spiritual strength. And, with;out :fail, we excha^ recipes and new ideas for hand ^c^^
I always feel
refreshed for;it is spiritual therapy to talk and listen and be listened to.
The w^ter is hat now -r we wn have our regular green tea, grown

: in this arM^^^^

tea^ and lenion tea. I n

or lemon is added. T have some herb teas and flower

make what ypu think sounds good and then we can talk.

Firsty let me thank you for coming to visit me in your letters,

your thoughts, and gifts of loving concern. T always feel God sends His love,
comfort, strength and encouragement through you9 my Precious Sisters in
Christ. What a miracle that words written on paper can travel thousands of
miles and can lift you up and give strength for the task; greater still the
intercessory prayers that brings power and guidance of God's Spirit for daily

work,

i^ty deepest thanks for your love.

Forgive me if 1 weep a little as I share with you for this is both

joy and sorrow. We were near the close of the worship service in the Kushira
church when a man opened the church door and said, '/Mr. Maxey, call Kanoya
church.". Everyone sensed that something had happened but hoped for the best.

When the service was over and the ladies Were preparing.tea, Mark went out

to make the call. He returned saying that Maeda San (my-da) of the Sueyoshi
church died that mprhing. If you remember in my last Tetter we visited her
in the hospital where she had been for many months. Each Sunday we went to
visit her, taking communion, singing and praying with her,. A few weeks
before this I had taken her a Bible verse written in large Japanese charac
ters. We framed it and hung it by her bed so she could see and read it any

time. It was Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not for I am with you. Do not be dismayed.
I am your God. I will strengthen you: I will help you with My Victorious

Right Hand." She got up on her knees in her bed and read the words aloud,then
bowed her head and said, "I believe, I believe."
We changed our plans for the rest of the day and drove to the home

of the niece and her husband where Maeda San had been living. Her niece'was

also in the hospital but was permitted t.o come home for the funeral. We were
greeted by the family. Maeda San herself had never married so had no immediats

family. But she made a home for many children of relatives and had, through
the years, taught great numbers of children piano and organ. They were a part
of her loving concern.

As we entered the room, her body lay on the tatami (thick straw mats)
floor on her futon (a thick cotton-filled pad) and was covered with another

futon. As I knelt b| her side I was thankful to see a look of peace on her
face as she slept. Yes, asleep in Jesus.. The Bible verse from Isaiah had been

brought from the hopsital and was displayed near the body. I could hear again
her words when she first read it: "I believe. I believe."

-page 2-

Mark and Bro. Yoshii from Kanoya helped the family, niake^

for

the service that night and the following day. Tea was served several times.

We then weint to the church where the Christians were gathered and waited with

them until the.evening service. The family had supper sent to the church for
all of us. Tea again was oart of tJfisr fellowship. It is a custom for a

Christian funeral to have a service the night before the funeral with the

family and church family attending. We all went to that service at seven
o'clock. We sang several hymns and Bro. Yoshii preached. Afterwards we had
tea and talked until late with the family.

We returned the following day for the service which began at one

o'clock. Everything had changed. The room and the entrance were completely

curtained in white. One end of the room was covered with hundreds of white

chrysanthemums.The body was now resting on a casket made of wood and her^
picture was in the center of the flowers.

Mark 4)reached the funeral sermon. Every one was given a program
with the hynihS -arid" s
for many non-Christians were present. I was
'asked to pTay^^t^^^^
for the service. I hesitated knowing that there
would be marly more talented than I. But they said it would have pleased
her very much. Then.I remembered each time at church after^she could no

longer play she would ask me to take her place and she never failed to thank

me, I knew, too, that she would truly want me to play this last time.
Not every one who came could get into the small room of the home,
so a tent covering was put up in the yard (for the rain was falling), the
sliding glass doors were opened so they al-l could see and hear the service
as they stood there. When the sermon was finished, tributes were given by
family and Christian sisters. Then came the time for each person present to
pay their last respects. The niece announced that this was a Christian fun
eral and there would be no burning of incense or candles which was Buddhist
custom. Each oerson took a flower from a basket and laid it on the coffin

while I played over and over, softly, "Nearer My God to Thee. I was the last
to place the flov/er - and as I held her cold, lifeless hand for a moment, I
thanked God that I had been permitted to enter into her earthly life in the

love of Christ and that she could call me

'daughter.'

Then the family and Christians followed the hearse, which looks

like a Buddhist temple on wheels," to the crematory. The coffin, made of wood,
was place on a metal rack. We sang a hymn and prayed. Then the rack was
push^ed into the oven, the door closed and the nearest male relative was asked

to push the button that started the oil-fire burning.(In former times, wood

was used for burning and that took many hours. The new way is much faster.
The most modern crematories use electricity.) This is all very hard for me
to experience.

We went back to the house to wait and had tea again.and some food

while we talked to the family and close friends. A Christian funeral

a good time to witness to non-Christians. The Victorious Hope of eternal life

and the joy of being with the Lord gives cause for rejoicing. But the Buddhists fear death and have no hope.

After two hours of waiting, the phone call comes that the cremation

is finished and we go back again to the crematory. This, to me, is the most
heart-breaking of all. There on the long metal rack are the bonc^ and ashes.
I can hardly bear to look at them^ The attendant has every one to line up first the family, then Christians and friends. Each one is given a pair of

-page 3-

long chop sticks. The attendant picks up special bones beginning

and gives them to each one in turn and they place

urn. I could not do it and turned my head away

the feet
Jherfppl

all the Les could be put in that small urn. Just the bones that they feel

are most important are used. (The Japanese feel thaf the the
votcr^x. i^the most important bone of all)..The remaining bones and shes
flrp left And they are place by the attendant in a special pile of ashes

whicJ Is no? to be disturbed. In one Christian funeral we witnessed however,

the family carrieda small,new bucket and in it they carried all the rema
ing bones home.

. j

-^.u

When the urn was full, it was placed in a wooden

person to get down into and place the ashes on the stone shelf

The shelf !s big enough to hold all the urns of one fami y^ In this^case.
the niece herself got under the monument and placed the asnes
there as her last act of love and responsibility.

I realize this is our earthly body; that our Spirit

God's Holy Spirit has used it
-th the incorruptible that

is corruptible but some day we

will not know suffering a"''

m%il?pr Haeda San, is in the Presence

' u^
not meet again

of the One who said, "Do not fear. I am with you we snaii
a
here but her face is photographea in my heart. I am thanktui sne
Manv times I have experienced with family members here the home

,.g
.f ."iKiKS.'i.m o, ^
God always for bringing us to this far av/ay place to sha
salvation with the lost.

. . i

Yes, this tea time has been a time of sharing a sorrow but also

the joy of victory in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:1-9)

"If just one soul has been enriched

Because you trod this, earth.

Or if one doubting heart can trust
And realize its worth.

And turn to Christ because you shared

Your joy to ease his pain,

^ . r.

You'll know beyond the slightest doubt

You'll not have lived in vain. Ccopied)

Thank you for listening as I have

peace""b"yours
feel free to share our "tea tine" with others. May Grace and Peace
y
in full measure.
^
"tV .
.

81-91 :S SS3H1 I

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/?/?

A Report by Mark, and Pauline Maxey

/LWi^LerreR/
To the Friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanova. KaRoshimfl 893 Japan-Box 417 N.Vernon IN 47265

LINKLETTER mi

APRIL 1985

'

!L

SOME ENTRIES FROM MY DAYTIMER:

January
SUN,13th. Naomi Omura, Sueyoshi church wantsto go to
Bible college. Rejoicing. M0N,14th. Lecture to preacher's meeting
on the book almost never used by evangelicals, the Book of Acts.
TUES,15th. Pauline and I have "arranged" a marriage between Atsu-

WEDDING:RUTH IWASHIGE S

ROY NISHIYAl

ko Iwashige of Kushira church and Toyoaki Nishiyama of Yunogo,

Okayama, Prefi.Audrey West, missionary.She named Toyoaki, "Roy".
Pauline named Atsuko, "Ruth." Today we are a part of the "yuino"
ceremony, the fomal exchange of betrothal gifts between families.
SAT,19th. Non-Christian family of Bro. Miyauchi of Kushira church
has a Buddhist funeral for him. Painful to be a part of. Buddhist
priest returns my greeting with a glare. TUES,22nd. Pauline speaks
to Kanoya church women. I join them for a delicious meal. WED,23rd.
Pauline meets with her bi-weekly ladies English Bible class. At
night, Bible study, Takenoshita home, Koyama. SAT,26th. Daughter,
Faith, comes from Tsukuba to spend a week.
SUN,17th. preached at leper colony, 8.30 a.m; at Kushira,
10 a.m.; baptized Noriake Harada, student at Osumi Gakkusha where

Christian services have been held for 34 years,at Kanoya church,

12 noon; at Sueyoshi church at 3 p.m. and attended Tarumizu church

COUNCILLOR BODY-OSAKA BIBLE SEMINARY

at 7.30 p.m.
Bro.Stephen lijima, minister at Minato Church of Christ,

Yokohamaand editor of his own magazine, Bokka. with a nationwide

circulation, has come to hold our 23rd Winter Training Session. His

subject, the study of I and II Thessalonians. He has already spoken

at Kagoshima church, Bro. Homori minister

and at Tarumizu.

I go with him to Tanegashima island by plane for 2 nights

with the Nishlnomote church, Bro. Ikeda minister. Then take him to

Kushikino church for two nights with Bro. Tanijiri, minister.Then

two nights at Yoshino church, Walter Maxey,minister.

February: SUN,3rd. Bro.lijima teaches at leper C(riony, Kushira and
Sueyoshi. M0N,4th, Preacher's meeting at Christian Center. Bro. li

jima gives us encouragement and teaching. 4 night session, 2 hours

each night, Monday through Thursday. Average attendance:40. Perhaps

KANOYA WOMEN'S MEETING-PAULINE SPEAKING

our most successful training session so far. FRI-SAT,8 & 9, Three

hours of English Bible classes on Fri. aft and four hours on Sat.
aft. as usual.

SUN,10th. Drove 60 miles,preached twice, showed film

twice, took conriunlon to three people in their homes.TUE,nth.Mon

thly Bible study at Tarumizu. WED,12th, joyful baptismal service
for Sophia Shang at Kanoya church. Sophia teaches English at our
local college. SUN,17th. Miss Kumi Maeda,86, long-time member of
Sueyoshi church, dies of heart attack. Prayer service at her home
that night. M0N,18th. Bro Yoshii and I hold funeral. Pauline plays
piano. Most beautiful Christian funeral I have ever seen. Cremation

followed. Then drove 5 hours to Kumamoto. All night with Andy and
Masae Ellis. TUES, 19th. Appointment with Dr. Ideta, eye surgeon.
All is well. Drove to Kanoya. WED,20th. To Sueyoshi for ceremony of
placing her ashes in crypt under Maeda-san's monument.
SUN AFT,24th, Attended wedding reception of daughter of
Katsuo Shimoda. He has worked for me for over 30 years.

March:

FRI,1st. Funeral of Shizu Shimago of Tarumizu conducted

BAPTISMS:SOPHIA SHANG S NORIAKE HARADA(L)

^ENES FROM TSUKUBA EXPO 85

FROM HERE TO THERE:MY STORY by Mark Maxey.You'll like it!

$4.00 pp.Go Ye Books,147 Ave Cota^San Clemente CA 92672

f
m

GOOD GAIS

GET TO

RIDE WHEEL CHAIRS

GOOD GUYS ALWAYS

WEAR WHITE

HATS

the funeral. She and her husband raised a Christian family. SUN, 3rd.
Miss Omura's father forbids her to go to Bible college. Pauline and I
share her tears. TUES, 4th. Attend baptismal service by Bro. Yoshii of
Yoshikatsu Nari and his friend, Kamada-san. Nari-san has been a faith
ful member of my English Bible class for three years. WED6th. Japanese
Navy pilot, Lt. Sato, comes to our house. He was a student of mine 12
years ago. Remembered I said I would spend my life in Kanoya. Comes to
see if it was true. Tells of taking his family to Disneyland (Calif.)
last year. An American approached and asked, "Are you from Japan?" Mr.
Sato said, "Yes." "Then do you know Mr. Maxey?" Mr. Sato,"I certainly
do." The man said, "He keeps at his task doesn't he," and walked on.

The chances of that happening again is TOO million to one (more or less.)
Sato-san has three burdens he wants to get rid of before becoming a Chr
istian. He can talk about two of them, but not the third. We tell him,
"Take your burden to the Lord, and leave it there." We teach, we pray
but he takes his burdens with him into the night. We will meet again.
FRI,8th. Dr. Suzaki says Pauline must have surgery for an ulcer and
varicose veins on her right leg as soon as possible. That afternoon to
the leper colony for Bible study. Afterward, they all bought copies of
my book, "From Here to There, MY STORY." Since they can't read English
they boughf if for the pictures. MON,llth. Pauline and I go to Osaka to
attend Councillor's meeting. The debt on the new dorm will be paid of
by Sept. WED,13th. Tibbs phones fran El Paso, TX to say his wife Norma
had just died. We cried together on the phone, 10,000 miles apart. I was
best man at their wedding almost 50 years ago. I flew there the next to
be with him and the families at the funeral, both sad and victorious.!
was back home in a week. SUN,24th. Miss Omura has bought new rug and
communion set for Sueyoshi church. Church preparing to modernize their

AFTER PLACING ASHES-MISS MAEDA'S TOMB

facilities. They are expecting A1 and Rhonda Juve to be with them fran
July.

M0N.25th. Beginning of a long car journey. At Kita-Kyushu at

tended a planning session regarding a Bible school for laymen soon to
begin. TUE, 26th, Drove to Okayama Christian Center. WED, 27th. Wedding
of Roy and Ruth in the Center. Keith Sunmers officiated. Pauline and I
sang and prayed. Reception in Japanese inn that aft. Then drove to Nagoya. THURS.28th. Drove to Tsukuba with stops to visit M/M Motoyuki Nomura
and Stephen and Rhoda lijima in the mountains of central Honshu. FRI-SUN,
29-31, with Paul and Faith, visiting their school, meeting their friends
and seeing
Tsukuba Expo 85. A wheel chair for Pauline rated iimiediate
entry to all exhibits so we saw a lot of pavilions in a short time. SUN,

FUNERAL OF SHIZV SHIMAGO-TARUMIZU cSS,

31st. Preached at Tsuchiura Church of Christ where Paul and Faith attend

and work. To Taipei that night. All airports provided wheel chair service
for Pauline right to the airplane. Grateful.
April:
MON,TUES,WED,1-3. Complete physicals for both of us at Adventist
Hospital, Results to be mailed to us. Got to see and eat with all our mis
sionaries there.and also old friends, the Unruhs, as well.Did some shop
ping at stores that carry clothing in American zizes at bargain prices.
Jenny Chien, true friend and helper of missionaries, invited us to meet
her parents and family. She is the only Christian. The parents speak flu
ent Japanese so we had wonderful time in their home.And hopefully left a
testimony that will be helpful for Jenny, Special thanks to Greg and Beth

tVNiJRAL OF

Johnstons meeting,&seeing us off and many kindnesses in between. THURS,4th.

Back to Japan. Overnight with Paul and Faith again. FRI, 5th. Drove car
on to ferry at Kawasaki port near Tokyo. 23 hours later off at Hyuga in
Kyushu. SAT,6th. Four hours of driving brought us home by 8 p.m. Total
driving: 1380 miles. Praising God for a safe and successful journey.SUN,
7th.Preaching at Kushira.Church is rejoicingin a renovation of its build
ing and grounds, all fully paid for. TUES,9th.Surgeons set APR 15 for
Pauline to enter hospital and 19th for surgery. We'll begiir there the

next time we consult the diary. God bless. IN HIS SERVICE,'*'^'^*^*^

UMKLCTTrR

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A Report by Hark and Pauline Maxey

uNKLerrefi/
To the Friends of Che Kyushu Christian Mission
Kanova.

KaKoshlnva 893 Jaoan-Box UM N.Vernon IN 47265

LINKLETTER m3
Dear Chri^lan_fri-ends,

JULY 1985
-- --

/
The last time we wrote we were on the way to the hospital with
auline. She became a hospital patient for the 13th time in her life on
pril 15. Dr. Tashiro, a specialist, operated on her right leg for treatent of an ulcer and varicose veins on April 19. As far as we can tell at

his time the operation was successful. She was in the hospital 25 days,
uring that time her rocwn was always filled with flowers, family, friends,

get well cards and gifts. The day she went home the patients and nurses on

DR. SUZAKI AND PATIENT

x-.m
>^P

FXAS

(25 DAYS)

f-ov MAfrK tFWJLiK MAKtr

l^er floor me to say good-bye, the cleaning ladies cried and Dr. Suzaki,
J\ead of this large government hospital, personally escorted her to the

froQt door. He has been a very^-good doctor to her indeed.

She has not attenped any long waTks but she is doing very.-weTl
with her household duties. There is one cloud on the hon'zon, however. Her
gall bladder is full of stones. We are hoping an operation can be delayed

CENTER
OF JAP/

till a more favorable time.

Meanwhile, Pauline had arranged the kitchen and the food so I

could find it and explained the hitches and glitches of the washing mach
ine and dryer. They agreed to cooperate in her absence. I cooked a little
and ate out a lot and managed to spend some time with her twice a day.
Older brother, Tibbs Maxey, arrived here April 20 from El Paso,
Texas. The state of Texas is twice as big as the country of Japan but Japan

A WELCOME VISIT FROM BIG BROTHER

S\

has ten times the population of Texas. Anyhow after a couple of days of
plane rides and bus rides he allowed that Kanoya was a 'fur piece" from his
city of chili beans and hot tamales. His presence here was a time of healing
for him and fellowship for us both.
Walter's semi-annual EBC Camp was held May 4 and 5. Paul and Faith
Axton came for that. Paul taught and Faith had some time with her mother. I
did my part at camp as discussion leader.
A1 Juve, his brother,Peter, a dentist in Denver, and his parents,
Bette and Leo, retired, of Lincoln, Nebraska were with us May 6-9. Tuesday,
May 7 was a big day for them. The Sueyoshi Christians had been praying and

looking for suitable housing for A1 and Rhonda

July. One of their choices proved to be ideal.
completed and we all had a joyful and thankful
home I showed them some of the beauties of our
beach where the allied landing was supposed to

SPEAKER FOR THE OPENING OF THE

LAYMEN'S BIBLE SCHOOL-NO.KYUSHU

when they moved there this

All arrangements were soon
meal together. On the way
peninsula, including the
have taken place 40 years ago.

Tibbs was a faithful and long-suffering companion on my preaching

and teaching rounds. Sunday May 12, we concluded the day by flying to Osaka,
He had fellowship with George and Ethel Beckman, Martin and Evelyn Clark,
attended the Seminary board meeting,and then Harold Sims accompanied him as
far as Tokyo on his way back home.

Preacher's meeting every month is an important part of our lives.

My turn to preach came in May, My subject, "Preaching with Authority,"! conNEW BOOKS S

JOY TO TEACH - SAT.AFT.ENGLISH BIBLE CLASS

REPRINTS OFF THE PRESS

PAULINE'S LADIES MAKE DOLL.BOOKMARKS FOR GIFTS.

eluded that it wasn't special clothing,vocabularly, tone of voice or assumed

priestly functions that made it possible. Rather it came from biblical preach

'-f'SB;
Kir.

ing and personal, Christian integrity.

Bro. Yoshii, Kanoya minister, has a younger brother who is a preach

er also

but in the northemend of our island. The last two years

'
,

TO

I have en

couraged him and two other ministers, Mr. Abe and Mr. Yamaguchi, in their plan
to start a Laymen's Bible School in Kita (north) Kyushu. On May 18 I went up
there by plane and bus to give a speech at its opening. The same day I also
spoke to 1000 girls at the school where Hideto Yoshii is chaplain. Also in
the morning I preached at the Onga Church which meets in his home. As always,
Christians from Kagoshima are a part of the congregation. Everywhere I visit,
i t is so.

Heading home by train on Monday I visited my eye surgeon in Kumamoto.

He said my eyesight continues to improve. Due to infection, however, I can not
keep a contact lense in it. A problem I must take care of when I arrive in U.S.
The older I get (and the longer I stay in the Orient) the more impor
tant family relationships mean to me.Our family is pretty well spread out over
the earth but getting together is still possible. I made a four day round trip

^.L JUVB WITH BROTHER (L) 5 PARENTS

to Taiwan, May 28-31, to attend the graduation of grand-niece, Beth Bemo, from

Morrison Academy. Her mother is my sister's(Isabel Dittemore) only daughter.

Beth's Daren.ts, Allen and Janet Bemo. are missionaries in northern Thailand.
Isabel was also present so a great family time was combined with Beth's school
functions.

If the last letter talked a lot about funerals tnen this one must

mention three weddings. All three are important because the three brides are
like daughters to us. April 29, it was n\y joy to perform the wedding for Atsu-

shi Otsubo & Nozomi Ikeda. She is the daughter

of Mr. and Mrs. Ikeda who serve

the Tannegashima church. We have known her since she was born. The church wed
ding was joyful and the reception the same. They planned it themselves includ
ing the menu. They sang themselves and had everybody else singing, too. Great!
The same week. May 3, Tibbs and I attended the church wedding and reception of
Masato Tobo and Junko Inamoto. She was a wonderful Christian girl first in Sueyoshi church and then in Kanoya. It was good to be a part of their new life to
gether. The third wedding was held at Nakano church, Tokyo, June 22. It was
a long journey for Pauline & I: but an impartant ane..Bo.thYasuo Fukudome and Noriko Kusumoto have been our neighbors for over 30 years. And Noriko was Faith's
childhood playmate. They have retained that friendship into their adult years.
So Pauline and I attended the wedding and reception as members of the Kusumoto
family. Christians weddings are different. They are joyful. They are full of
meaning. Faith and I both spoke at the reception. Pauline and I ahd Faith and
Paul attended Sunday A.M. services at Minato church, Yokohama, Bro. lijima min

WEDDING.-ATSIL^HT TOBO-NOZOh: IKEDA

f

ster, before heading back home. Bro. Oka met us at the train station to lead us
to the church. Special reunion there with Makoto Motoyoshi and his three sons,
one of whom is namec

Well, we are ending our sixth term of service in^Japan and heading to

the U.S. for a time..;We are bringing our teaching, preaching iS-classes-to-an-end.

ALSO.-YASUO fukudome-noriko kusumoto

Pauline's Indies,who meet twice monthly,have hand-.made paper dolls to serve as

bookmarks for Pauline to take home as gifts. I have been trying to get a lot of
things done that should have been done a long time ago. One of those things is
getting a new catalogue out for the Christian Center Bookstore. We have also
written or revised or reissued or reprinted 6 books and 4 other books in loose-

lea^jjiniLin the last month. The walking space there is now filled withJiookSi
We leave Japan June 18. We will be visiting family.inembers and churches
enroute to Pierre SD where we have "a car in storage. From September 1st till the
end of November we will be teaching at Minnesota Bible College, 920 Mayowood Rd.

SW. Rochester MN 55901.After that write us at Box 208, Amelia, OH 45102. Keep

your prayers.Both preparation &travel ace.very hard.In Christ.'^'W^^^

BETH BEMO GRADUATION PARTY:TAIWAN

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A Report by Mark and Pauline Maxey

/uNKLerrefi/
To the Friends of the Kyushu Christian Mission
Knnoya, Kagoshima 893 Japan-Box 417, N.Vernon IN 47265

Gia
7I01MGS!

"VO NOT BE AFRAIP, I BRING VOU GOOV NEWS OF

y ^

PAl/IP.

PEOPLE.

ASAl/IOUR HAS

BORW TO VOU. HE JS CHRIST THE lORP."^

^

LINKLETTER #244

DECEMBER 1985

Dear Christian friends,

1U

^ trust
the Iabove
the let
LINKLETTER
is correct.
If not,
know number
some oneof will
me know.

\U
\\\
U\

l\
\

-J^L
After a month of unceasing preparation, we
we able to leave Japan on July 16. A yard full of Christ' departure.
ians were
on hand
us and
us Walter
a tearful
It was
hard toto pray
leavefor
them,
our give
family,
and
Mary, and our new missionaries, A1 and Rhonda Juve.
Though extremely tired, the Lord has been with us through

out our very long journeys. We spent our first month visiting as many
of our family members as possible: PAULA and Kiyoto Yanagimoto and

I Mi

/// /

/ // j
/"V j
1/

four children in Millet, Alberta, Canada; FAITH and Paul Axton at

Phoenix, Arizona; HOPE and Nathan Reader in Houston, Texas and GREG

and Beverly Maxey in Amelia, Ohio. (They have a new daughter born Nov-

ember 18, Meredith Ann.)

We visited our family members: Alvin and MARY ELLEN Giese in

Storm Lake, Iowa; TIBBS in El Paso, Texas; my mother's grave in Claremore,

Oklahoma; ISABEL Dittemore in Tulsa, Oklahoma; VICTOR and Lois in Cincinnati,

Ohio and their children and families; my brother JOHN's (deceased) wife, Lois
and her daughter and family, all in the Cincinnati area and BRYAN and Kathryn
in Defiance, Ohio. We visited my father's grave in Circleville, Ohio where also on Aug
ust 24, Pauline and I attended the 50th anniversary of the graduation of the 1935 class of
Circlevile High. It was a memorable occasion of recollection and renewal of friendships. I
had seen only two of my classmates during that 50 year period.
We visited Pauline's family: GUY and Coleen Pethtel in Salt Lake City; ROY and
Margeret and ALLEN in Akron, Ohio and BOYD and Edith Pethtel in Brecksville, Ohio.
Also Pauline's niece, ROBERTA and Jay Longawa of La Moille, Illinois, where I also cele
brated my 68th birthday. The renewal of all these family relationships have been very
precious to us,as you can imagine. And the chance to spend some time with one's family is
one of the very important reasons for furlough.

m.
ELCO

Along the way we have spoken at these churches; King Edward Park church,

Ed

monton, Alberta; East Tulsa(OK) Christian, Second Christian Church, Houston, Texas, First
Church of Christ, Pierre, South Dakota; Christian Church, Ancona, Illinois; North Ridge
Church of Christ, Circleville, Ohio, First Church of Christ, Defiance, Ohio;

Church of

Christ at Defiance, Ohio and for the Loyal Berean Class, Christian Church, North Vernon,
Indiana. This was the occasion of the dedication of their new building. Three other former
ministers and their wives were also there. Pauline and I were there from 1941-1944 and North

Vernon still remains our legal address and home of the Kyushu Christian Mission. It was a
thrill to meet our young people of yesteryear still firm in the faith 40 years later. Rozanna
Hartwell, our forwarding secretary,saw that we were well taken care of. I also was able to
get at new Indiana driver's license. I had to take a driver's test because of my age and the
fact my old one had expired a few years back.

The 1979 Chrysler that Walter and I had used on previous furloughs had been in
storage at Hoist Motors, Pierre SD. Bill Hoist had it revived and ready to go when we
arrived there. So after a wonderful welcome at Pierre, that became our means of transpor
tation. It is a very comfortable and economical car.

I had promised John Cachiaras, Academic Dean at Minnesota Bible College, Roch
ester MN, that I would teach a missions course for the fall quarter. We spent a week there
in August_getting^the course, outline prepared ._ Also_the^feculty_wiyes .and frieads at the _
Meadow Park Church of Christ had furnished a two room apartment for us in the married

couples dorm. So we were able to set up housekeeping and get on with our work immediately
Getting the course prepared and teaching, day by day, has been far more work
than I imagined. I had no previous long-term classroom material in hand so it was a matter
of keeping ahead of my students every day. I exposed them to much of the material I have

written in addition to the text, A History of

Christianity in Japan by Drummond. I had 22

students and four auditing. As usual, the teacher learned more than the students. Pauline
attended the class every day . For Missions Emphasis Week, I preached three times and

Pauline gave the final message. 8 students pledged themselves as missionary recruits and

approximately $5000 was promised by the students to use for missions during the year.
Pauline also taught the class once but was prevented from doing more because of her health.
I was asked to give the address for Convocation so had a chance to walk down the aisle
with the other august professors in full regalia. Once is fine but I wouldn't want to make
a

habit of it.

Along the way, Pauline and I flew to Florida for the combined state and mission

ary convention. The four Maxey brothers with Isabel playing sang for a morning breakfast.
I had a workshop on "Life Time Committment" and gave an address to the Friday afternoon
session. Spoke also at the Pine Hills church in Orlando and the Eau Gallie

church in Mel

bourne. We spoke seven times for the Faith Promise Rally at the Wentzville (MO) Christian
church and have held three all day Mission Seminars at White Bear Lake, Redwood Falls
and on the college campus in Minnesota; three times for a missions fair in Wisconsin and

for 17 Minnesota-churches,- including Madelia tnd Truman, my first two ministries 47 years
While here,

Pauline & I had physical check-ups at Mayo Clinic and Pauline

had surgery for gallstones.lt was a rough operation for her but she is gradually getting
her strength back. Now we have moved to Amelia, Ohio

somewhat east of Cincinnati where

we will make our headquarters near Greg and Bev the rest of our furlough. Our mailing
address will be: PO BOX 208, AMELIA OH 45102. Our actual house address will be: BLDG 3,
APT 5, 1296 WHITE OAK RD, AMELIA OH 45102 and our phone number is: (513) 752-1799
May you be full of God's cheer at Christmas time and throughout the New Year!
IN HIS SERVICE,

UNKLrrTER

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