カナダ、トロントの日系牧師吉田先生から、いつもの様に励ましのメール

Many thanks, Sensei, for this final Message of 2017. You have become an international Bible teacher by the use of your email Ministry. Please keep up the good work. Edward Yoshida

My dear faithful/praying friends: How are you faring between Xmas & New Year?

In the torrent ofbreakfasts, meetings, & appointments (medical), I finally adjusted to my "new desktop computer--especially with the help of neighbour 'computer Dr.--and now I can send you emails with photos (I have successfully figured out last night how to download the pics from from camera to the compute)

The photos attached show my relative height to the 'faster than weed'-growing 4 g/children, and the next two are from last Thursday Yee Hong Xmas Chapel. The one with a Nisei lady next to me is Mary Ichikawa, sister to Pastor Stan. It's amazing how g/children grow, change U mature once they're born! Starting from Nathan (19), & down to little Erika (6), the two in-between are Rachel (15) & Jackie (12). Nathan is now a 2nd -year Univ. of Toronto student in computer science. He has a girlfriend. Rachel now has a part-time job with Domino's pizza--but only if she keeps up her school marks. Jackie is a speedy leftwinger with the Aurora Panthers Hockey Team, & Erika played the role of a Grinch in Disney on Ice show.

the other 2 photos were taken at the end-of-the year chapel at Yee Hong Nursing home for Chinese-Japanese seniors. More than half of the congregation come out to chapel in their wheelchairs--many of them fumbling with the hymn sheets & the Lord's Prayer. But they all love to sing or try to sing. the photo with a Nisei lady is Mary Ichikawa (Stan's sister) & myself. Our chapel team is composed of Yamashita-san, Ogawa-san & myself. We were rewarded when two ladies raised their hands at the end of chapel to commit their lives to the baby Jesus, who came from heaven to become our living Saviour & Lord. All these little miracles make the pastor's 'Retirement Ministry' most rewarding & reverential before our Almighty God, who left the glory of heaven to become our baby Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea. Left all for our redemption & salvation. Like the 3 wise men from the far east (Persia)may we humbly bow before our Lord Jesus today. (Incidentally, 'two wise immigrant contacts made at Scarborough G. Hospital--M/M Dadras from Persia--are visiting our church this Sunday for the 1st time). We are thrilled!

Pastor Yoshida