Eddie and Bonita Harper
Konichiwa (Japanese for Hello), we wish each one of you could have enjoyed the wonderful experience we had on our recent trip to Japan! It is a beautiful country and the Japanese are wonderful people. Words could not explain the different ways they showed their appreciation. They showered us with love and attention from the time we arrived until we said sayoranna (good-bye). We did not know until just before we left that they were paying from $4.75 - $6.00 per gallon of gasoline to drive us all over the islands of Japan. When we arrived at the Kagoshima airport, Chieko had three car loads of people who wanted to meet us. One precious Japanese man, Ichoro, took off work four days to drive us around. Our new Japanese friends invited to us to a “foot spa” immediately outside the Kagoshima Airport and bought Japanese towels for us as souvenirs of the occasion. Then, Ichoro took us to his home where his wife, Noriko, prepared a wonderful meal for us that night as well as the next three days. They drove us around in two cars so that we could travel together. They also took us out to eat, sight seeing and treated us to a scenic, ferry ride from one side of the island to the other. We intend to sell all we have to move to Japan. Following the sale of house in Tulsa, we will pay off all of our bills and use the rest of the money to repair the house that Chieko is allowing us to live in as long as we are missionaries in Kagoshima. Chieko and her husband, Richard, have volunteered to pay for the repair of the roof of the house. Since some of you have expressed a desire to help with the financial expenses, we would like to share with you information about our anticipated living expenses, once we eventually move to Japan. Please keep in mind the cost of living is much higher in Japan. We sincerely appreciate your prayers and financial help and know God will bless the seeds you sow into this Japanese harvest of souls where only approximately 1% are Christians! One-time Expense Approximately Compact automobile $12,000.00 Structural repairs to the house $13,000.00 (not including the roof) Monthly Living Expenses Approximately Gas $100.00 Food $500.00 Utilities (electric and water) $250.00 Phone $ 50.00 Insurance (car, house and health) $500.00 Eddie and Bonita Harper
Bonita giving her testimony with aid of a translator at a Church in Sapporo, Japan
Chieko's house in Toshiro, Japan. Chieko and daughter at her Daddy and Mother's grave
site. They were both saved at a late age, through the
diligent, earnest prayer of their daughter.
Dear Friends and Family;
Of the different cities and homes we visited, there would typically be one room in the house with an air conditioner – that was always the room they put us in to sleep. They were very hospitable and made us feel welcome. It often seems in America, that people tend to spend most of their time in a conversation trying to get the last word or thinking of what they are going to say next. In Japan, people seem to work just as hard to be respectful and get the last bow. Our brother-in-law, Ernie Plott, who had been to Japan several years ago told us before we went to Japan that the Japanese people are extremely humble; we found that to be true. The Lord tells us He exalts the humble (Luke 14:11). However, we also found that the Japanese are hungry for something but they do not know what or who – they are hungry for the Truth and that Truth is Jesus Christ. They want to know, praise and worship God, but they serve the only god they have been told about – Buddhist or Shinto and they do it with all their hearts.
Two airline tickets $ 3,000.00
We thank you in advance for your love, support and prayers.
In Jesus,
