English Article　３

96 Years Old Active Deaconess in Japan

I was invited with the 8^th Golden Angels to hold a series of the evangelistic meetings at Tokuyama Church from May 30 to June 4, 2011 in the West Japan Conference of the Japan Union Conference.  By the faithful preparation of the church members, the effort was blessed by a good number of participants and we, visitors from Korea, were very satisfied with our services during the week in spite of quite busy schedules. 

After this event, I took a permanent return to Japan.  Then, I was again invited by this church to help the Sabbath School and Church Service on December 10, 2011 and on May 26, 2012.  Whenever I visited this church, I was always very impressed by the active work of an old lady.  She is Mrs. Misao Handa who is 96 years old.  In 2012 she is head deaconess of the church whose average number of attendance on the Sabbath is around 25 including children.  When I visited the church, I was so moved by her high tune voice with big smile at the time of her greetings as the Sabbath School Superintendent, and by her earnest attitude and wise question and answer during the Sabbath School lesson hour conducted by me.

Although she was born in Korea before World War II, she moved to Tokuyama, Japan by the help of her relatives when she was the 4^th grade of an elementary school.  Since then she has been raised up and married and stayed in Tokuyama.  She was able to get three children with her husband.  Though she was already Sunday Christian, on October 10, 1964 (the opening day of the Tokyo Olympic Game) she was baptized to become Seventh-day Adventist by the result of visitation of Ms. Takeko Kawahira, literature evangelist.  Unfortunately her husband died at the age of 78 years old, her current major prayer is salvation of her children.  Her favorite Bible texts are John 3:16 and 14:1-3.  The secret of her young atmosphere seems to be due to her strong belief in the God’s love and the soon coming of Jesus Christ.  In spite of that she is 27 years older than I, she wrote me with her good hand writings as follows: “Pastor, as you are also becoming old age, please work according to your body condition without hard work.  I wish that you will be able to live with good health until the time of God’s call.”  When I read this phrase, I was obliged to be astonished.  This phrase is just like the tender conversation from mother to her son, “You are also old enough now, so do not work too much.”  Is this an evidence of her loving and caring character?  1 John 4:8 says, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”(NKJV)  (Tadaomi Shinmyo, former NSD Adventist Mission Associate Coordinator)

Photo: DSCF5579 = Mrs. Misao Handa

Photo: 002(2) = Pastor Tadaomi Shinmyo, Mrs. Misao Handa and her daughter (from left to right)