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for the
"...the man, CHRIST JESUS..."

ADDRESSES:

January 1, 1982

Japanese
2709 Kuruma

Higashiura-Cho

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL FRIENDS OF FULTZ MISSION FOR THE

MASTER!!

Tsuna Gun, Hyoga Ken 856-23 Telephone: 079974-2199

.... U.S.A.

Frank and Hazel

Conner

67 Lanaghan Dr. Fairview Heights, IL. 62208 Telephone; (618) 398-5095

New Year's Day '82?

Were you - could you have been - as happy as I this

The sun shone brightly; the sky and the

sea were so very blue and, of course, no snow.

I was alone on

the ridge (except for the two dogs, Noah and Cindy, who were treated to an extra walk, not just because today begins the
Year of the Dog in Japan, but also because they have been so

neglected through the busy days of Christmas).

that reigned throughout the day seemed majestic.

The.quietness
Even the

sounds of usual village activities that float up to the ridge

were silent as the citizenry rested on this most important of Japanese holidays. I was alone but in no way lonely. Noah, my poodle, woke me about A:40 a.m.
protest at times, I really don't mind waking early.

Though I

want to miss, the dawns!

God never disappoints.

Even foggy

I don't-

and rainy dawns are exquisite. And what a wonderful time to delve into God's Word. Later, then, to walk. I have deter mined that sheer happiness is to sometimes leave all the world

behind and to walk alone with God along a ridge road.

the day - except for breakfast.

As other women of the area, I did not have to cook for

Unlike them, I had not prepared

my food beforehand but was remembered by a mother whose three

daughters attend classes at Cords-of-Love Bible Place. Yesterday

she sent two of her daughters up to the ridge with an adequate supply of tastily prepared Japanese foods to last me through
Only five other people - so far as I know -

New Years Day.

have been on the ridge today.

The first was the paper boy.

cycle move away in the dark before going out to get the paper. Later I saw from my dining room window, a young man wearing
a red blazer speed by on his motorcycle. The sounds of a third motorcycle came around noon. It stopped. I heard the mailbox

I waited until I heard the mailbox door shut and his motor

door open and close. The postman! He had brought New Year's Greeting Postcards - considered important enough to be deliver ed on New Year's Day! Again, I waited until the sounds of the motorcycle faded as the postman descended the ridge road before

stamped with the figure of a dog, for the year. One thought ful lady, remembering the two members of the canine community were pets here, had stamped two dogs on her card. One young
mother s|iared with me one of the great thrills of growth in

going out to get my little bundle of cards.

They were all

her family the past year with the words, "My little daughter
is walking." Sometime during the afternoon someone walked his dog by the house. I saw neither man nor beast, but was informed

this most exciting event by the yelps and barks of my own

dogs. Then there was a car - or was it a small truck? - that drove past. How blissful the day!

...at COROS-OF-LOVE BIBLE PLACE, Awaji island, Japan.

people" event.

Christmas, 1981, especially delightful, was a "with

Elementary school age students (first through

sixth grades - with one kindergartener) had their Christmas

program - party here at the house on December 20, the Sunday before Christmas. Including mothers and guests, there were

a'bout 30 present.

We were all proud when our lone kindergarten

loud and clear. "Love"

lad said his piece, "God is love." pronounce.

just isn't that easy a word for a beginner in English to

He also-quoted the yerse in Japanese,

The garden nativity scene - new this year - was

enjoyed by both mothers and children. All Santa Claus tradi tions have been eliminated from activities at Cords-of-Love Bible Place. It's such a joy to be free of them! It had poured rain on Saturday, December 19, but dawned clear and cold

on the 20th. I remember especially the cold. After the program the children played in the garden and around the house fanning
in and out of the doors.. Often they would come in from the

garden arid politely remove their shoes before entering (with

the door open all the while) then pick up their shoes and carry
them through the living room to another door, put their shoes back on and exit by that door. It is possible to go around the outside of the house but passage through the living room provided a short cut. I didn't light a fire knowing that almost all winter long the Japanese on the island use heat only
in the evenings.

Wednesday, December 23, was Christmas worship at Kareysi Church of Christ followed by the annual sukeiyaki dinner. This was prepared by others. I went to worship and
fellowship with them.

Tuesday, December 22 and Thursday, December 24, the Martin Clarks of Osaka Bible Seminary, recently back from the U.S.A. were over to get a supply of wood for their wood-burning stove that they brought from America. [I heat with propane

gas.

It's high but clean and convenient.

And on sunny days,

I usually don't need heat. sUfTTcTeiTt'. 1 ~

The sun on my window wall is ~ ^ '

Christmas Day a luncheon meeting for my eight (4 boys and 4 girls) Jr. Hi students was scheduled. It also, was held

here at the house. It was a Japanese meal, and I arranged for them to sit on the floor Japanese style, only to learn that two of the boys never sit in that manner when they eat in their own homes and were a bit uncomfortable. The luncheon meeting was to be from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. They ate, played games, sang
some carols and read of the birth of Jesus from the Japanese Bible - and didn't go home! I brought out the scrabble box and they stayed until 7:00 p.m. I don't recall a single lonely
moment on that day either!

The most time consuming task of 1981 was editing (along

with Norma Burney) a book of devotions written by some of the Japanese missionaries. Work on the book is not yet finished
but about summertime do look for the book, "Gleam of Dawn ..

Light of Day" to appear in print in the U.S.A. The cover design is being done by one of our own preacher-artists. It will not
be a day-by-day devotional book, but one for anytime, anywhere.
A good l i t t l e book to carry with you on your travels.
With excitement I look forward to 1982. New students

are entering classes. New books have arrived from America. I must develop fuller programs of study for the students. I would like to begin collecting more detailed information about Awaji Island for a book so that outsiders may know more about
own little known island.

In all these activities may our Lord Jesus Christ be praised and honored!

To you, faithful ones in the U.S.A., who have loved and prayed fox me, I want to be in closer contact in 1982. You are remembered on this New Year's Day.
In His Love,

Exie

Fultz