THREE SCORE YEARS OF MISSIONARY SERVICE

During 1946 God called me, Neil Verwey, from the lonely Kalahari desert to the crowded, narrow streets of Japan. I arrived in Japan at the end of 1951.

January 1st, 1952, Peggy Davey arrived from England. She just recently graduated from a Bible College and went to Japan as a missionary.

September 9th, 1954 we got married and unitedly reached out as missionaries to the lost. We trust that our combined 93 years of missionary service in Japan meant something for His Kingdom in the East.

We are far from retiring, but every morning we dedicate ourselves afresh to God's work. Together with the Japan Mission staff, we reach out beyond church barriers in a ministry to help bring in the lost. The ways of God in the inner heart of needy human beings are still absolutely amazing to us.

Recently, Mrs Yasuyo Oku visited us. She was baptized in May and is overflowing with the joy of the Lord.

We still remember our first visit to her dimly lit night club. She offered us something to drink. There was not much to our liking there, but not to offend her we ordered Coco-Cola, which we regard as one of the most awful tasting soft drinks ever invented. We can just bear the taste of something that loathsome if business for the King requires it. So while sipping that dreadful stuff, we talked to her about the wonderful, good tasting Water of Life.

That was not the last Coco-Cola we sipped with her. She wanted to visit the USA and needed to brush up her English. We regarded this as bait to get her into the Kingdom and whenever we could we dropped in at her popular night bar. She also started visiting us and our staff at the Japan Mission HQ. Soon she left for a visit to her parents and accompanied them to church. There a desire was given her by the Holy Spirit to seek God. She came back to Japan but God has transformed her. She now prays and keenly reads her Bible. Also, we keep her supplied with sermon tapes, to which she listens every day.

When God worked in her heart, she changed her occupation and is now working in a spa in the mountains. She invited us to visit her, and we enjoyed the hot springs and the food she served us. By the time she prepared everything she wanted us to taste, there were about twenty sorts of of delicacies on the table.

We were still eating when she got her Bible out of her bag and started to ask questions. We had wonderful fellowship in the Lord.

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."(Mat 18:20)

What is more wonderful than to give your life, your entire life, to serve the King of kings?

Your missionary in Christ,

Neil Verwey