Dennis Peters... Missionary to Japan

2-10-31 Sakuragaoka
Seika Cho, Kyoto Fu 619-02
Ph/Fax. #077-472-2144
E-Mail: dennis_peters@msn.com

January, 1995 Newsletter from Japan

Life in Rural Japan!

We have moved from our Karuizawa home to an old farm home/church near the Maruko church where we are helping out till April. So much of this town, including this house, is a throw-back to a Generation ago. At the same time, it is representative of the many towns in Japan. Once you get out of the big city, this is often the situation you will find yourself in. Let me share with you a little about the way we live here.

This house is probably 100 years old, and definitely not built to keep the cold out. In fact, while sitting at our dining room table you can see outside, not through the window, but through a crack in the wall. This house is so old that in the downstairs "big" room, most of the doors either don't fit anymore, or won't slide shut because the beams are sagging! Hope we're not here when they finally give all the way! No central heat. Just smelly Kerosene heaters. We wear Long Long Johns all the time to stay warm.

At night time it gets down well below freezing....inside as well as out! For a while we were tempted to have the kids all sleep in our room with us. When we had to get up in the middle of the night to answer one of their cries, just getting out of bed was a trial because of the cold. This is the way it used to be for us in Toyama...just as cold inside the house as it is outside. Only thing is, here it gets colder than it did in Toyama, plus, in Toyama we didn't have toddlers!!!

The other day I noticed it was 30 degrees in my office. Try working on the computer in that weather.

Country living in modern Japan, not all that modern!The facilities don't quite meet USA Governmental standards either. Indoor outhouse for a toilet (love that smell), very low doorways, & not enough wattage to power 3 electric heaters at the same time. No shower; just a bath that you fill with cold water, than heat that water, and dip the bath water on you to wash up before you get into the bath to soak. Don't dare get the bath water dirty, cause everyone in the house will be using the same water after you! The only hot water in the house is in the kitchen.

Welcome to Life in Rural Japan!

Detour Niigata to Nara

We have been asked to go and fill in for Brian and Sally Snider while they are home on Deputation. 2-3 years ago they started a church on the outskirts of Nara City. So, our plans for Niigata have been put on hold for now. We are Scheduled to go to Nara the beginning of April. We shall plan to be there until June, 1996. Do pray for the work there in the Snider's home. The Lord has really been blessing them recently and the church has grown from 1 to about 8-9 just this past year. We'll do our best not to run everybody off while the Sniders are home in the USA! We'll write more Later.

Giving Birth - Japanese Style

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to give birth to a baby somewhere outside of the good ole USA? Here's what it can be like in Japan: One of the rules they adhere to very closely in Japan is that you must not gain more than 22 lbs. Well, Dennis failed miserably in that department. Every time you visit the Doctor they give you an ultrasound. Our Doctor was hesitant to tell us whether we had a boy or a girl because he was afraid we would be displeased with the fact that it was a girl. Our Doctor would not allow us to go more than a week after the due date before he induced Labor. At first they would not allow Dennis into the "Labor" room, and then as well into the "Delivery" room. They want you to lay on your back through out labor. And, on top of all that, catheters, enema's, and episiotome's are absolutely required (at our hospital). You (the Mommy) are expected to maintain your composure and by all means, don't work up a sweat. You see, you don't get to take a shower for several days, and to make sure, they keep you in the hospital for a week. In most cases, the only time you get to see the baby during your hospital stay is when you go to the feeding room with all the other moms, at the appointed times. These customs vary from town to town, but none are uncommon in Japan.


Now, about the Family!

Cherisse, you read about on the front. Desiree is now 4, talks more than ever, and what's worse, has learned the art or "teasing" quite well. (got it from her mother I'm sure!)

Jesse is two, but is more than happy to let his sister do the talking. He's gotten to be almost as tall as his sister now, and has a wicked right hook. He seems to have a magnetism for DIRT!

Jon Julienne didn't get much time off after having the baby, as we had to move. Thus she is struggling some physically. Her arms especially. She has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. We're praying for the Lord's touch. However, one very positive note 7

Yippee!!!

Jon Julienne has finally finished her course at the Language School, and just in time to have a baby. Now come the real tests of the Language. Using it where you live. She is very glad to have her old jobs back (wife, mommy, etc... OK, drop the etc.) And, we are very glad to see her more too!

Did you know...

How can we begin to say thank you to all of you who have given special Christmas offerings, and those who have sent special gifts. We don't have room to mention everyone, but I feel we must give special thanx to Aurora Heights A/G and Anchor Point A/G, both in Alaska. You blessed our socks off with all that you sent.

This was a rather difficult Christmas for us in some aspects. Two days before Christmas we discovered our dog, Spunky, had been hit by a car. He was a special dog to us as he had been a Christmas present 5 years ago, after having just lost our first baby, Dennielle.

About our Finances;

Since our last newsletter, much has happened. Shortly after writing, we received our next statement. The deficit jumped to over $12,000! We felt like we had to do something. So, we did....and YOU DID TOO! JonJulienne quit school 6 months early. ( She graduated from the basic course but didn't go on further with her studies.) That saved thousands of dollars there. Plus, since she was no longer in school, we took the opportunity to move into the place we wrote about earlier in this letter. The rent alone saves us over $500 a month. We have also reduced our salary by several hundred dollars a month.

On top of the things that we have done, there has been a very good response from many of you who have sent in offerings/pledges, or promised to do so. DFM also sent a sizable cash offering to help curb the deficit. This month we were back up to $8500 in the red. That's a step in the right direction and we praise God for it. We believe that with your help, our determination, and God's grace, we will get back to zero. We can't thank you enough for your prayers, and help! Do keep it up, and we will too!

Any donations should be sent to our name and account # 2902351 at:

Division of Foreign Missions
1445 Boonville Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802

One more thing for those of you who decided to read through the whole letter: This March we will be making a trip around the entire northern half of the main Island. We will be ministering in several of our A/G churches there and basically spying out the Land for future ministry (After Nara). We will start in Fukushima Ken, on the East Coast, and then work our way North, all the way to Aomori Ken, the place they had the recent Earth Quake. Then, on down the West Coast as far as Niigata. This entire area is very unchurched, and we go seeking God's specific guidance. We don't know why the Lord put Niigata on hold, and we aren't sure when, where or if we will get back to the area. We go with open hearts, and open minds. Pray for safety on the roads too. Lots of snow that time of year!

Just one more thing! Starting April our address will be:

2-10-31 Sakuragaoka, Seika Cho, Kyoto Fu 619-02

Ph./Fax. 077-472-2144

Dennis has grown his winter fur (otherwise known as a beard). Despite that, they let him preach at the Maruko Church twice a month still. He was blessed with another golf game, just before the first snows fell. A friend paid his way, and the Lord gave beautiful weather, and even a decent score! (You'll just have to trust me, when I say it was decent)

Please Pray for:

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