Glory to God! This is the first praise report that we have the privilege of writing as missionaries on the field! We are so grateful for all of the continued support that has gotten us to this place, and we are excited to share with you the miracles that went into our permanent arrival in Japan.
Last month, we wrote our praise report to you from the airplane as we were aboard our one-way flight to Japan. God miraculously allowed the Japanese government to grant us entry permission for our long-term stay at the end of November, and we were able to get the official visa on the 30th. Within the next three days, God allowed us to pack all of our belongings, locate the correct rapid COVID test (after visiting three clinics)—with a negative test result for both of us, and book our flight, quarantine lodging, and quarantine private transport. Our flight left at midnight as the very first flight of December 3. Both the plane and the airport were unnervingly empty, and Danielle was one of the only two non-Japanese passengers on our flight.
We are so thankful for the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of friends and pastors who prayed fervently for what was to come: the immigration. Our 10-hour flight landed safely at the Tokyo Haneda Airport around 5:00 in the morning of the following day, Japan Standard Time. The COVID screening right before the immigration gates went very smoothly, and by the grace of God, we were miraculously able to enter the borders of Japan at a time when only a select few categories of people are being granted entry. What an amazing joy to know that we have a God Who still does miracles and that we have armies of prayer warriors interceding on our behalf to our great God!
The miracles continued as we checked into our required quarantine location. Airbnb bookings, like hotels, often do not allow check-ins until the afternoon. Our host, however, made a special exception for us, as our flight landed so early in the morning, and allowed us to check in at 7:00 a.m.! The next 14 days were a great time to nourish and prepare our relationship with God and each other for the work that was to come. Also during this time, God allowed us to finalize all of our lodging arrangements for the 2021 Japan Olympic Outreach, completing all necessary bookings for the trip! In addition, we received news that our Prius has been listed for sale, and four new churches have taken us on for support in Racine, Wisconsin; Riverside, California; Goodyear, Arizona; and Mesa, Arizona. To God be the glory for our increased financial means to do more for Him!
At the conclusion of our 14-day quarantine in Tokyo, we took the first 6-hour bus to Osaka, home of the Senri-Newtown Baptist Church, where we will be starting our ministry. Our first service there was their Christmas service, where a lady who had been away from the Lord returned to renew her commitment to Him, and her daughter got saved in children’s church. They have come faithfully since, along with new visitors in every service. We jumped right in by being a part of their Christmas cleanup. We met with Pastor Ogawa, and he committed himself and the church to helping us plant churches after our time of training and service there! Please pray now as we find a permanent place to live here in Osaka.
Your friends and co-laborers to Japan,
Go and Danielle Oishi
*We have sent out a physical copy of this letter to all of our supporting churches this month in case the email has not been getting to you. Please contact us if you have not been receiving our digital praise report every month in your email.
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- Bags packed at the airport
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- Passport holders
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- Deboning whole fish
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- Umeda Skybuilding
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- Map of our arrival to Japan
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- Danielle at church
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- Whole fish
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- First sunrise in Japan
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- Last meal with Danielle’s family
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- Watching Micah Bull’s ordination service live