Testimonies:       Introductions and Testimonies - Day 1 | Testimonies and Q&A - Day 2

Testimonies and Q&A
Sunday, May 4, 2003

Tatsumi Katsuno San
• Very much appreciate Kindig San and Alexander San. Appreciate their personalities at first but then realized that they were a by-product of their faith. Kindig San told me to just keep putting the scriptures together and you will understand them. A fig tree grows fast and breaks easily but an olive tree grows slow. Kindig San tells me that I am like an olive tree.

Kayoko Katsuno San
• Most of the part which I want to say was spoken by Tatsumi. Recently, about a year ago, CUSeeMe was started. That seems to me like a big gift from God. If computer was not born at my home, this miracle would not have happened. We would not have this convention. I feel God is ruling over us and I am very thankful for that. This lovely flowers, thank you very much, we love those beautiful flowers. These flowers show us your heart very much, thank you.

Noriko Fukuzawa San
• I am not very good at speaking but I have been away from studying Bible for a long time. I wanted but I couldn’t read or pray for a long time. Some time ago, Junko asked me if we could have a CuSeeMe installed on my computer. She installed it. At first I thought it would not be very good and we would not be able to study Bible using computer. When I started it, I realized that it was very very good and almost felt like I could be with the brethren and see their faces. Now I am thankful that I have been helped by many brethren and many people. I wanted to do something. I knew that I had to do something to study Bible but didn’t know for sure what to do. About a week ago, I received a copy of Todd’s talk. When I read it, I was very impressed and as Bro. Todd said in his talk that we need a tomato stake, I want to grow like that.

Michko Fukuzawa San
• When we studied on CUSeeMe, I was very excited and I couldn’t wait for next Saturday to come. After I attended a few times, sometimes I wanted to know more about scriptures but the meeting went on and on and couldn’t stop. At that time, I thought it might be better for a face-to-face meeting. I have to see. I only attended a few times so far so I would like to keep attending and would like to see what is happening in the future. At this convention, it is so nice to get together like this. I saw Todd and Marilyn after almost 10 years. In such a nice place we can hear Birds singing and breeze. I wish we could have another convention here. Like Tatsumi San said, the Bible is the word of God. I want to study more.

Harumi Ishikawa San
• I attended Bible study for first time. Since I have been married to Hideo, we don’t study very much but we pray on Sundays. This time we study scriptures at meeting and I am very thankful. Since I know that the Bible is the word of God, I would like to keep attending these types of meetings in the future.

Hideo Ishikawa San
• First of all I would like to thank everyone for this opportunity. We usually just get together with my wife on Sunday and pray. But today I had a strange experience hearing my brother explain the scriptures. His voice resembles my father very much and sounded like my father was talking. I was very much impressed. Talking about my father. He was retired at age of 57 from public service. He was very happy then because he said that he could study what he liked from then on. Then, he was studying to attending Bible Study meeting with the Hamlins which was held in Zushi every Sunday. Sometimes he asked me to drive to Zushi but I didn’t attend the class, I just drove him there. At that time, my father didn’t go to Church but my mother did every Sunday. I lived at home then and was very close to my father and had many opportunities to hear my father. Today when I heard my brother speaking, I thought that he had studied much more than I did and I feel that I am much behind and a bit ashamed of myself. Today, I feel very nice good experience feeling like my heart is growing and almost touching to my hear and a tear comes to my eyes. I am thankful for this opportunity and would like to attend this kind of meeting again if I have the opportunity.

Noriko Ishikawa San
• Our two children have grown and live away from us and we are alone. Our life since Takeki retired, he used to walk in the morning about 10,000 steps every morning. Since we started CUSeeMe meeting, everything has been changed. Takeki was not very good at using computer so he didn’t sit at the computer for along time but since CUSeeMe started, he sits at the computer every Saturday. He started to study Bible. Before it was his habit to take a walk every morning but now he can not go to take a walk unless he studies Bible first. Conversation between us has been changed also. Especially toward this convention. He has been working so hard, listening to all of the tapes, typing all of the time and working so hard. We have had joy of learning the scripture. We feel we have lively now rather than before.

Shinsuki Ishikawa San
• I am retired now so I stay at home all the time. I always think that the Lord is with me. Every day I read a daily devotional. I try to live the life to please the Lord. It is difficult to study Bible by myself so I appreciate this opportunity very much. Thank you.

Emily Crisan
• Peg sent some pictures from previous gatherings and pictures of Owen before his stroke. Thank you, it was very nice to hear the discourses. I appreciate it.

Mitsko Minami San
• I was very happy when Mariko San said she would take me to the convention. I couldn’t wait for the convention to come. I was so happy to see the Kindig and Alexander children and grand children. At same time, I am sad because I can not see them anymore. I have so many memories of them. We had many meetings and I have many wonderful memories. I would like to tell you one think that I remember very well. One time, I asked a question to either Kindig San or Alexander San, I asked a question about the account of Genesis regarding Adam eating the apple. God created man so God knew if he told man not to eat the apple, God would know that man would eat it. I asked why God said to Adam not to eat knowing he would eat it. Owen said, the answer was God knew that Adam ate it and disobeyed God’s word. As a result, all the sinful things came into the world. That answer impressed me very much. I had expected a different answer. That answer changed my mind and since then I wanted to learn scripture very much and I have many many things to say but just wanted to say I am very thankful for many opportunities in the past. I hope I will be able to see Kindig San and Alexander San again sometime in the future in the Kingdom.

Mariko Isoda San
• I am very happy to be here after so long. When I was baptized, through the years I have learned many scriptures and I have learned from the scripture to willingly endure and to grow myself into the likeness of Jesus.
o 2 Cor. 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Takayoshi Nishimoto San
• I have never studied Bible before, there are many things in the Bible we can apply in our daily life. It makes be think that Bible has a certain power because many good things originate in scripture. My impression of American brethren is that they have a broad mind and I believe this originates from a Christian background.
• I am a student, one of my professors majoring in physics went to America after WW2. He became leader of a big project. The project needed funding and required a big budget. He prayed to God to give him a big budget and when he got the money, he felt that Americans have a very big heart and a broad mind. I believe that the influence of the background of Christianity makes people more broad-minded.
• My professor was surprised to be accepted by Americans immediately after WWII. He was accepted and placed in a position of responsibility and it was a big surprise to him. Mr. Kosuba probably thought that American people have broad mind because they have the background of Christianity.

Tim Alexander
• I am very glad to be here. I consider it a privilege and a gift from God to be able to be here. I thank those that made it possible for me to be here. I was very impressed at the things I hear the Japanese brethren saying about Bro. Owen Kindig and my father Bro. Bob Alexander. From hearing that, I learned that the relationship between them and the Japanese brethren was not only the giving of information but a close hear-felt relationship. It makes me think about what I remember from when I was young and I realized that I hear the same kind of heart felt comments from my parents about the brethren here as I do from my parents about the brethren here. I remember it causes me to remember the comments my father used to say about Bro. Ishikawa San. I remember him being very fond of Ishikawa San and him having a strong love for him.
• I think that your parents left you and me a very important heritage. Most of my life, I feel that I am not good enough to make the challenge. I like the story in John 9 about the young man who was born blind. When the disciples saw the man, they asked Jesus who sinned that caused him to be blind, him? Or his parents? Jesus’ answer was, it doesn’t matter who sinned, the reason that this boy is blind is so God’s work can be shown in his life. Sometimes, I feel like that and I don’t know if you feel like that sometimes too, we are all imperfect and not good enough. That is the kind of person that God is looking for. He can do a miracle in your life and that experience can be used as witness to His power. That is why it is such a privilege to be here with you.
• I think it was Michko San who said that sometimes she has a question about a scripture but by the time she is ready to ask it we have already gone to the next scripture. Please ask the question and it is perfectly fine to go back and review what we read. Most of the time, when we are at those meetings, I am looking at my Bible and trying to think. I am still thinking about the previous scriptures too.

Lydia Kindig
• I am very happy to be here and I am privileged that I was able to come and see all of you. Before I left, I talked to my Grandmother Peg San and she sends her special love to all of you. For the past several years, she has been telling me about all of you and I am so happy to meet you. All of you make me feel very at home here.

Marilyn Alexander
• I am very happy to see you again after so many years. I am happy to see the new people here and a young person interested in learning about God.
• I want to thank all of you for your many sacrifices to make this convention possible. Those who found the convention site, prepared discourses, translating, the food, transportation for us, take us sightseeing, provided funds. Thank you very much to all of you.
• Even though I haven’t seen you for many years, you have been in my thoughts and prayers daily. It is very difficult to be isolated as a Christian. We receive much encouragement and support through fellowship and you have not had that.
• I was so thrilled to see how God blessed you with CUSeeMe. I prayed for many years that your faith would stay strong and not fail. I just want to tell you that unlike Todd, I did not grow up as a Christian. As a young person I made many mistakes in my life. I had pretty much given up hope. God revealed himself to me and turned my life around. My life is proof of the power of God, what He can do, how He can turn your life around. I owe my life to Him and I thank Him and praise Him. Thank you.

Ellen Alexander
• I really like your country, it is really friendly. I am very happy to finally meet you because I have heard so much about you from my Grandma and parents. I feel very lucky that I get to come to a far away country and experience a different culture. I appreciate how you have all been so nice to me.

Todd Alexander
• I first came to Japan in 1991 and came again in 1993 and I am sorry for not doing more to help you in the past ten years.
• I am glad to see that you are still together as brethren.
• I am happy to be hear and to see the growth of the brethren.
• I am very impressed with the heart attitude and the knowledge of all of the brethren, especially Takeki Ishikawa San and Tatsumi Katsuno San.
• You have very good leadership and I would encourage you to encourage them in their roles.
• You have excellent mature women in your group.
• Each one of you are precious in our hearts.
• Each one of you are precious in God’s eyes.
• My prayer for each one of you is that you will realize what God’s plan is for you.
• You will know it through prayer and fellowship with the brethren.
• My desire is that we will be better able to help you function as a group.

Takeki Ishikawa San
• After hearing your testimonies, I feel we have a responsibility to continue this group. I am very glad through CUSeeMe online study that the group is more active. My hope is that in a few years, Hideo will be retired and will have more time. Then all three brothers will be retired. Hideo has a lot next to Takeki’s home. Hopefully, he will build home on lot and the three of them will have home meetings together. Also, want them to join us in CUSeeMe meetings.
• And also he wants Mariko San to join CUSeeMe meeting too because she has a lot of knowledge. She always has good questions and comments.
• CUSeeMe meeting will be a lot more active with those additional brethren.
• We believe in God’s Divine Plan, that is why we are studying God’s Divine Plan. If we stop it, what we have done in the past will have no value.
• I always think that our time is short because of Psa. 90:10.
o Ps 90:10 - The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
• I always think that beyond the veil, Kindig San and Alexander San will be watching us.

Sunday Questions and Answers Meeting

Mariko – How long have the children of Israel been blind?
• Tim - explained that blindness started gradually during the Jewish Age.
• Takeki - Matt 27:25 - Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
o They wouldn’t have said this if they were not blinded.
• Tim – Very good, explained Matt. 27:26
o Matt 27:26 - Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
? Jesus goes into death so Barabas can come out of death. The name Barabas is Bar-Abba. Son of father. There were only two sons of the father… Jesus and Adam. That story is a picture of Jesus going into death so that Adam can come out.
o Blindness different than disfavor

Takayoshi Nishimoto San – The original Bible. Greek is the original language of the New Testament and Hebrew is the original language of the Old Testament. Do we have the original scripts of the Bible?
• A good reference.