-a recent prayer letter by Dr. Lavern Rodgers, missionary to Japan

Dear Prayer Warriors,

I know many of you are wondering about the health of your missionaries with this Coronavirus crisis. As for me, at this point I AM DOING GREAT! Although I’m fighting my normal annual hay fever, and battling itchy eyes, so far I have no fever, sore throat, cough, etc.

This winter has been very mild with only occasional snow – less than an inch. So the pollen is out and it seems like Spring has already arrived early. We’ve had a little rain; otherwise we are having beautiful days up here in the mountains with chilly nights.

Pastor Fujita comes three days a week, and he and Pastor Tanii are chipping away at projects to improve our Miyota Grace campus so we will be ready for camp season. At this point we have a green light for full speed ahead with our 2020 plans for camps this summer.

Although the Tokyo Olympics has been postponed until 2021, the “Sacred Olympic Fire Torch” has just arrived in Japan. All schools around Japan are closed; the Grand Sumo Tournament is on, but to an empty house. The bouts are on TV but not a single fan will be in the stands. Japanese people all wear masks, everybody! They have always been in the habit of wearing them all the time, long before this crisis.

I have heard from many people who are concerned for me, and for that reason I regretted cancelling my trip to the Philippines. At Bro. Greg Lyon’s BBC Asia Graduation ceremony they were planning to honor me. I also agreed with Pastor Tei to postpone the Missions Conference this month in Takiyama Bible Baptist Church. We have also decided to postpone the 30^th Anniversary of the Kofu BBC with Pastor Fujita until the fall.

We have set the following “Impossible Goals for 2020,” since with God nothing is impossible:

• 500 campers this summer
• 30 churches participating
• 50 for salvation
• 10 full timers surrendering their lives to serve God
• 2 new staff members added

I know you will be joining us in prayer for achieving these goals.

We are praying for you there at home during this crisis also. The Lord is surely sending us a signal, loud and clear. It is a great opportunity to share the Gospel. We are planning to sanitize our facilities, wear masks, wash hands vigorously, etc. We continue to plan ways to keep our camp open.

Thank you for your prayers at this critical time. We are concerned and praying for you at home as well.

Lavern Rodgers   

(Jeremiah 32:17,27)