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 Roberta’s residence and the bulk of her ministry is in Tokyo. She is starting a program in hopes of placing volunteers of all ages year round in Japanese Baptist Union churches and institutions.read more... |
Dear Journal friends, When Douglas McArthur fled the Philippines during WWII he had the audacity (or foresight?) to say “I shall return.” When I left Japan for cancer treatment I did not have the confidence to say “I shall return” because I did not have a sense at all about what my future would be. But due to prayers of so many people, good doctors and medicine, God has seen fit to send me back to Japan. Dear Tidbit Friends, One of the sustaining verses for me during this last year of illness has been Psalms 18: 1-2 “I love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” King David was often alone in his struggles, where it was just the Lord and he. In contrast I have been surrounded by capable doctors and so many people like you. I have struggled to keep the Lord as my rock, and this is the reason I return to these verses so often.
It has been a while since I sent out a letter in this form. I have had several International Ministry journals. We’ve just revised that list and I’m hoping that we won’t miss anyone in the next journal posting. As you know I have been back in the US for 11 months on medical leave. God has been so good to me in the midst of great frustration. My shelves have been filled with your cards and letters of well wishes and I’ve felt your prayers in a tremendous way. How can I thank you enough?
Thank you for your patience, prayers, words of encouragement and financial support. You do not know how much it means to me? Every day I do thank the Lord for you. I continue to miss being in Japan. But now I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have just finished part of my medical treatment and will begin the next phase with it all finishing June 30th. Give me a month to tie up loose ends on the medical end, and the doctor expects I can be ready to return to Japan in August. I don’t know yet if it will be early or late August but at least I can see that the end is near for this time of trial and learning. I have been learning so much from the Word, lately and have been applying it to my situation. I would like to share some of these things at another time. |
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Copyright © 2010 Roberta Stephens - All Rights Reserved |
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