Jastram_Japan_Nov-Dec2023.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. Serving the Lord in Japan: News from the Jastrams (Nov–Dec 2023) Dear Friend, Thank you so much for your prayers and support for LCMS mission work in Japan. You can read our latest news in our attached Newsletter. Thank you for your interest in our work! Wishing you God’s greatest…
Jastram_Japan_Aug-Sept-Oct2023.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. Serving the Lord in Japan News from the Jastrams (Aug-Sept-Oct) Dear Friend, Thank you so much for your prayers and support for LCMS mission work in Japan. You can read our latest news in the Newsletter attached. Thank you for your interest in our work. We couldn’t do it without…
Jastram_Japan_June-July2023.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. Dear Friend, Thank you so much for your prayers and support for LCMS mission work in Japan. You can read our latest news on the attached “Jastram Newsletter”. Thank you for your interest in our work. We couldn’t do it without you. God’s grace and peace, Dan and Joan Copyright…
Jastram_Japan_Oct-Nov2022.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. “Alleluia. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Alleluia.” (Liturgical Verse for All Saints’ Day, Hebrews 12:1a, 2a) Hidden Fruit Discovered Suddenly I found it! I had been searching on the internet at great length…
Jastram_Japan_Sept2022.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. “Alleluia. If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead. Alleluia.” (Liturgical Verse for Pentecost 16, Luke 16:31) From Home and Abroad “How can you speak English?” The preschooler had a puzzled look on his face. During a…
Jastram_Japan_July_2022.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. Dear Friend, Thank you for your prayers and support so that the GOSPEL light can shine in Japan. You can read this month’s news by clicking on the link below. Thank you again for all your love and support. With love in Christ, Dan and Joan This email was sent…
Jastram_Japan_June2022.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. Dear Friend, Thank you for your prayers and support for our work in Japan! Please enjoy our newsletter. Love in Christ, Dan and Joan Copyright © 2022 Dan and Joan Jastram Serving in Japan, All rights reserved. We are sending you our email newsletter because you have been a supporter…
Jastram_Japan_May2022.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. “Alleluia. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. Alleluia.” (Liturgical Verse for 6th Sun. of Easter, John 16:33b) Finnish Blessing in Tokyo “As an elementary school girl, I always thought I would some day visit one of three mission churches in my…
Jastram_Japan_Apr2022.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. “Alleluia. Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia.” (Liturgical Verse for Easter Day, 2 Timothy 1:10b.) From Death to Resurrection Holy Week and Easter rivet our attention on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His crucifixion and death save us from…
Jastram_Japan_Mar2022.pdf Click icon to open, read, download or print file. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (liturgical verse for the first Sunday in Lent, Ephesians 6:11). God’s Word Our Armor Lent is a season for self-examination, repentance, and growth in faith and life. Each year at…
Not Lost in Translation I will speak of your testimonies before kings, / [O Lord,]* and shall not be / put to shame (Ps. 119:46, Reformation Day Introit). With these words of the Reformation Day Introit, we join with Lutherans around the world in remembering and proclaiming how God accomplished wondrous things for his Church in the…
New Focus Based On Tried and True Patterns During the past several months I have been shifting into a new direction and focus under my new title and responsibility: Asia Lutheran Resource Coordinator. This came about in the process of careful consideration with our Asia regional director, when it became clear that, with a surge in interest for Lutheran…
In Season and Out: Overcoming Barriers August — the month of summer holidays in Japan — is normally full of festivals and travel. But this was not a typical August. Festival gatherings were canceled. Tokyo residents especially, who would normally travel to ancestral homes to visit relatives and family gravesites, were discouraged from doing so. Despite…
“Masks of God” to Unmask His Word Children are back to school in Japan. And the teachers are facing challenges. I watched a recent TV news segment that showed a Japanese teacher of English asking his masked students, “Do you have colored pencils?” The students’ response was a muffled, “I have many colored pencils.” The teacher commented later that, without visual…
From Afar, But Close to the Heart “I am not living in America right now, but not a day has gone by these past 3 months that I haven’t felt a strong physical and emotional toll about what is happening and I continue to pray so much for our country and for the world…” I (Joan) read these…
EYES FIXED ON JESUS Dear Fellow Sojourners, I was sorting through Japanese Christian postcards today and ran into this verse: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 ~18. That seems like a tall order these days; and yet, as Dan explained to me…
Dear Fellow Sojourners, Our spirits groan. What words can convey how deeply we feel about the challenging days that you now face and that lie ahead in the coming weeks during this pandemic? Our thoughts turn constantly to our country, the United States, the church, our loved ones and you, our supporters and…
Serving the Lord in ASIA News from the Jastrams Spring pays no heed to viruses. Plum blossoms: a beautiful Japanese prelude to cherry blossoms Dear Friends, A lot has been happening here in Asia since last we communicated! Of course, the coronavirus, or COVID-19 has loomed large in it all. Thank you…
Serving the Lord in Asia The Jastrams Dear Friends in Christ, Thank you for your continuing love and encouragement as we work to expand our network of support. We are very thankful for last month’s extra gifts as well as new partners who have joined us. In fact, we are humbled and grateful! And…
