James & Edythe Currie
Because of our need to keep abreast of Canadian Health Insurance regulations, we are obliged to spend six months of each year in Canada and, as we can, the rest of our time in Japan. This is a real trial to us as it means a return trip across the Pacific each year which we feel we could readily do without. We have by no means ‘retired’ although some entities have put us, arbitrarily, on their ‘retired missionaries’ list. The time we spend in either country is, as far as we are able, given to helping the saints of the assemblies where we are best known. Slowed down and not able to travel too much, it is a case of ‘faint but pursuing.’ We have just returned a few days ago from five months in Fuchu, intending to be in British Columbia for the next few months to satisfy the ‘powers that be.’
The year just past has been quite different to the average. This is the result of both Edythe and me being overtaken with bouts of illness. Some years ago Edythe damaged her ankle badly while we were in Bangor, N.I. The damage was well taken care of by the doctors but a couple of small bones were apparently overlooked. In due course they began to give much trouble, so early last year they were operated on and Edythe wore a leg cast for three months which limited her movements greatly. We thank the Lord that the treatment was a success.
Five years ago I had a serious bout of congestive heart failure, resulting in a period of hospitalization. For the past year I have been plagued by breathlessness, whether being active or not, so now I’m the invalid in the family! You’ll appreciate why we have been so curtailed in our service, both in the Gospel and ministry. Thankfully, we are not completely incapacitated.
Twice or three times a year we have a short series of Gospel meetings in Fuchu, when a special speaker is invited to preach the Word for a few nights. Preparation consists of door-to-door distribution of some five thousand specially printed pamphlets. Just before we left Japan such a series took place and the brother invited had an interesting background. When we were engaged in the commencement of the work in Yokohama, a group of young men and women began attending the Gospel meetings. They were from the Okinawan archipelago that lies to the south, halfway between Tokyo and Hong Kong. One of the young men had shoulder-length hair and carried a guitar. In due course four of them professed faith in Christ and have gone on well in the things of God. With an exercise about reaching folks in their home islands, they returned to Okinawa to begin Gospel work. The evidences of true sal- vation were soon seen and their efforts in the Gospel produced much fruit. Today about thirty-five are in assembly fellowship and the young man mentioned above (no longer so young) was commended to the work of God as a useful servant in the work of the Lord. He was our speaker this occasion and it was our joy to sit under his ministry.
While I am no longer directly engaged in translation or editing in the publishing work, I am still very much part of the overall picture. I am responsible for the financial well-being of the work and continue in the written ministry. My fifth exposition (Ecclesiastes & Song of Solomon) has recently been
printed in English and Japanese. The other four books, are Angels; Romans; 1st Corinthians and Revelation. The stairwell between the third and fourth floors of the assembly building is packed with books and we hope the fire safety examiners will stay away for another month. We have bought a small piece of property (1,300 sq. ft.) and ordered a small 900 sq. ft. pre-fabricated storeroom which should be in use by the end of the month. We have also cut down the number of books printed on each occasion but storage space and the ability to produce what is needed still present challenges.