It’s Not Goodbye

By Larissa Soares and M. Catalá

“The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.” - Psalm 37:23

Both of our journeys to Tokyo Union Church began around this time last year. By last Winter both of us were here in person and fully welcomed into the TUC family. We gelled as a team and began fostering the spiritual growth of TUC’s children and teens. Plans for our “We Three Kings: the Celebration of Jesus Life” were immediately underway. We were blessed by the temporary addition of our brother Arne Kaeffer. At that Christmas event we proved we weren’t bashful, by dressing up as an angel and king respectively for the delight of our children - alongside a handful of tremendous volunteers, some in costume as well.

We continued to introduce new activities and make big strides for the benefit of this church’s young people. Larissa revived the whole 4th floor for the continuation of Sunday School. We had great presentations of Good News for Kids (by us and by amazing volunteers), we implemented Safe Church (our safety policy for children) as well as broke off our ten to twelve year olds into their own PreTeen class. To ensure that they experienced age appropriate engagement with scripture. Lastly, we carried out a successful Easter egg hunt.

Sadly, one adventure needs to end for a new one to start. Within a few months, God will take us to a new path vocationally but both of us will remain a part of the TUC family - just not as employees of the church. The relationships we have begun here at TUC are too cherished to leave behind. It’s not goodbye.

In the meantime we are still leading our children every Sunday school. We are crafting this Summer’s Vacation Bible School “Kids of the Bible,” where the children will be empowered to believe that they can also be chosen by God to do great things. And M. is still juggling his building manager duties and handling our social media needs.

Our intention is to leave behind a positive mark on the everchanging history of TUC. We are grateful to be a part of TUC’s legacy. One that stretches back a century and a half into the past. One that will hopefully stretch equally as long into the future.

Thank you for everyone’s support and love in our Ministries!