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Pratt Paul Kathleen 1958 Japan
Pratt Paul Kathleen 1958 Japan
Paul Pratt
Missionaries to
Kyushu,
Japan
February 1, 1958
Volume II, Ko.l
Forewarding address
23769 West Edison Rd.
South Bend,
Indiana.
Bear friends,
Believe it or not, we've put 16,000 miles under the wheels of our 1956
Ford since beginning ovoc itinerary, October 1st. This traveling was done in
Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. We've enjoyed
it, too, thanks to the wonderful reception you kind folks have given to us.
In February we'll be in western Ohio and then move over to Pennsylvania and
West Virginia in March.
You've never seen anyone who could miss out on surprise parties like we
can. The Gosport (Ind.) ladies had a surprise all prepared for Kathleen and
we were slightly snowbound in Michigan. The gifts arrived on Christmas eve.
Sorry we were not able to be there. They couldn't be more appreciated, tho.
We salute our most recent Living-link churches. Since our last "Epistle"
we have received word that the Orchard Ave. Church, Shepherd, Michigan; the
ladies Missionary Society, Gosport, Indiana; the Old Union Church, Danville,
Illinois; the Christian Church, Wyatt, Indiana; and the Christian Church,
Attica, Indiana have joined the others in pledging toward our family's regu
lar support. Our sincere appreciation to each of you for your confidence in
us and for this manifest faith in our blessed Lord.
to
Kyushu, Japan
Volume II, Ko. 2
February and March have been spent with speaking dates in southwestern
Ohio, northeastern Kentucky and north western West Virginia. We also visit
ed a fev/ churches in Indiana besides our meeting at Bangor, Michigan.
April finds us moving eastward. V/e v/ill live at my ovrn home for the
balance of our time in the "U.S.A.
derbilt, Penna. Drop us a line. The children vidll finish this school year
at my alma mater, the East Liberty School. We will be visiting churches in
that tri-state area.
We have all
been imioculateT"for polio, small pox and the children have received the
triple booster for dyphtheria, whooping cough, etc. V/e need the typhoid,
para-tynhoid and tetinus as yet.
can Mail Lines (Seattle to Kobe) for late July. Our passport has been
applied for and when it comes thru we will make application to the Japanese
cons-olate for our visa. Many of our personal belongings have been packed
for freight shipment.
Mark has
acquainted \vi^ experienced missionaries. We saw Charles Troyer, Guy hayfield, Eugene Morgan, Ernest V/alden, June and Howard Growl and Barbara
HcElroy besides several zealous nev^ missionaries. Both were a soimse of
inspiration to us.
Have vou been aware that 93/^ of all the ordained preachers of the
world are serving English-speaking people. This means 7/^ are reaching
91'/^ of the world who speak other languages. V/hen we consider the pros
pect of studying Japanese, we realize this great, great need. It vdll be
worth what sacrifice is necessary since oirr Oommander has said "All the
world." Bray that we shall be courageous and ready to the task. Bray, too
that many may answer the call.
Still another
reward.
brother in Christ
m.
led home. He sioffered much but was faithful and patient thru it all. "And
us not be v/eary in well
'f-
Jl
'/ ''
1jS
10-26-1953
a lesson in obedience to
'oT^'iTs
of His promises
promises
West Edison
Road
guage School while the children attend the English-spealcing Canadian Acadamy and also study Japanese.
G-od has been good to ust Kis spirit has lead us, His grace has been
our provision, His love has protected us and v/hat vri.sdom we have has come
We ask that
I
Old Union Church of
Yanderbilt, Pennsylvania
(Paul's home church)
R.R. # 2
Danville, Illinois
10 0
Qciu
A special vote of thanks to Mr. Hz Mrs. Roger Quakenhush for the gift
helping us get things ready for shipping and to the Elvis Dyers for the
cooking range. Of course, mom and dad Farr and mom and dad Pratt have
contrihuted much to our planning and preparation. \7e appreciated it so.
Thanks, John DeV/alt, for the tools and tp.-all who have given S.S. supplies.
Indiana church.
James.
Frank Ritz
'Faithful Soldier'
Departed
'l-';--"
and then spend most of July moving tov/ard our appointment with the OAHAlifel
just to show that we will have a real need, please consider that besides
food, clothing and shelter for the family, we vdll need $140 a month tu
ition for schooling for all six of us. We do hope to carry on with a tract
ministry etc. while we are in school and this will take extra fLinds, too.
^en if it
PRAY FOR US! Pray for our faithfulness. Pray for our needs to be
supplied. Pray that we ydll readily learp^ and retain the knowledge of
er decisions.
these as a project.
An Elliott addresso-
"For
>J L-
Forewarding Address
Japan Address
79 Kamizono cho,
Nishinomiya shi,
Hyogo ken, Japan.
Orchard Avenue
Church of Christ
Shepherd, Michigan
Dear Friends,
A lot has happened since our last letter. We have traveled about 6,400 miles over land and sea and are
now in process of learning the Japanese language. Strange as it may seem, we are truly enjoying it. This may
be true mainly because of the holy end we have in view. But, we find it presents a real challenge to us. Please
do not interpret this to mean that '* we have it made" or that we do not need your prayers. By all means, keep
praying for us.
Both of the schools are in Kobe. Our home is about nine miles to-ward Osaka from the schools. Canadian
Acadamy where the children go is about a mile up the hill from Kobe Language School. We ride part of the way
together as a family, by electric train. The kiddies enjoy the school, too. They know many of the other missionary
children. There are children of all nationalities enrolled.
Many thanks to our living link churches and individuals for helping so willingly with your letters of pledge.
Thanks to the Mishawaka elders for their extra letters. Something unforeseen caused difficulty in our application for
visa. A final rush letter from the East Chicago elders got us the six months visa. We'll have to apply again here.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the men at East Chicago for the extra inconvenience we caused them.
Never let it be said that our American Christians are not hospitable. In a fifteen day trip across country, with
just five speaking dates, we only spent three nights in motels. Our hats off to Vaughn Elliott, Mr. & Mrs. Don
Augenstine and Mr. & Mrs. Tony Toledo. While Vaughn was caring for our furniture shipment on the east coast, the
Augenstines and Toledos were caring for us and helping with our things in preparation for sailing on the west coast.
These were trying days and you folks helped take the strain off.
Stop reading just now and pick up the Bible. Read Mark
4:30-32 and Matthew 17:20. The mustard seed which you will
The true value is in the application which our Lord made in the
scriptures. (1) The Church of Christ was very small in its
beginning and seemingly limited by what men called "unlearned
that as we were bringing mustard seed to Japan, so the church has been as the mustard seed in Japan. It seems
minute and insignificient, yet, by the grace of God it may someday be a strong evangelistic force returning many to
His side. (2) This calls for the mustard seed kind of faith. Great and difficult things have been accomplished by
just plain folk who had just a little faith. Let's learn of the true power of God and be encouraged to trust Him
more. Let us prove to ourselves what kind of mountains He can move thru us, wherever we serve. Let us say with
the disciples ot of old,"Increase our faith." (Luke 17:6)
The sea journey proved quite a vacation for us. Though we were traveling on a cargo vessel, we had excellent
service, delicious food and plenty of room to ourselves. There were no meals to cook, no rooms to clean or beds to
make up. We held services in the dining hall on the 3rd and 10th of August. The largest attendance was nineteen
including the five other passengers.
After eleven days, without a Monday, we anchoied at Yokohama. At 9:45 Monday morning, Mr. & Mrs. Stanley
Buttray and A1 Hammond met us at the boat dock. We spent the day visiting with their families and those of
Harold Sims and Claude Likens. It was truly refreshing to us. Before we left for the ship that night the Alex Bills
family dropped by. It was good to visit with them, too. We saw more of them at Osaka.
One more day's journey by ship brought us to Kobe, our destination. We were happy again to have Martin
Clark meet us at the dock and happier yet, after seeing the great metropolitan area, to receive a few days of orientation
from him and Mrs. Clark. They just turned their home over to us and directed us to markets, bank and means oi
transportation. Oh, yes! We also learned some key Japanese words, too.
We were lined up for the house of the Osaka Christian Mission which was vacated by the Harold Coles who
are in the states on furlough. However, our furniture was not due to arrive till late September. Mrs, Isabell Dittamore
helped by offering her small furnished apartment in Kobe till she returned from the summer's work at Kagoshima. We
appreciated this. We are grateful to the Harold Coles, too, for the use of some furniture.
With school beginning September 2nd, we took the opportunity of a trip to Kagoshima whore we plan to labor.
We visited a few days and attended the dedication of the new building for study classes at Kanoya. Then we got
our look at the real Japan. We saw the great need for the gospel, too.
Hammonds have done a fine work with the aid of their Japanese workers. The Kanoya Christian Center will be a
place for a Christian library, training school, book store, chapel and an audio visual materials library.
Well, I must let you go.
Our
' Uncle" has not increased the price of the 100 aerogramme.
That seems to be the fastest and best way to send mail. If you
change your address in any way, or would like to give us the
address of a friend who would like the "Epistle", please drop
a card to our forewarding address.
May God bless you each one.
In HIM,
p^Q.
Published
"
Forewarding Address
"Ti"^
Indiana
Dear Friends,
Japan Address
Y9 Kamizono Cho,
Nishinomiya Shi,
Hyogo Ken,
'
iK'
,[ Jll} 1
L
HUlMu
i m\Wf A
!W
Japan
We thought it beat to make good use of the back side of our greeting
to you. Everyone is well and happy at our house. We are settled in some
what of a 'schooldays' routine. We attend classes, study, teach a few
English Bible Classes, carry out family chores, eat and sleep. At times
we have cut down on that latter item because of extra work with the Japan
ese language. The kiddies school at Canadian Acadamy is very similar to
Vaughn Elliott
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