Dear Covienetters, Elder Sakai's operation took more than five hours. All of his stomach plus some related parts were removed. So far no further visible problem among other inner organs, but his doctor is quite deliberate now. Thank you for your prayer and please pray further for him. Please pray for Mrs. Tomoko Sakai, Pastor Sumito Sakai, His clinic staff, and Higashisuma RPC. Youth Conference of Japan Presbytery finished yesterday and was the blessing. 32 poeple gathered. Three good lectures about Biblical Covenant by Pastors Matsuda(KTH teacher: consistency of various Biblical covenants), Pennington (Covenant as the source of Confidence/Vision of the church and its mission) , and Kanamori(Both Creation and Gracious Covenant gives deep root for our marital relationship as the image of God ). Four hours were spent for congregational reading through the Epistle to Ephesians, with brief commentaries of its strusture and application by Pastor Takiura. Pastor Sakai led discussion about the Covenantal world view, specially its societal aspect. Especially our youth discussed about societal (not merely individualistic) aspect of the 4th commandment. There was a rich spiritual fellowship. Please pray for our youth's calling, dedication, further theological training and making christian homes. Okamoto Keiyaku RPC had about 27 new people stepped into the church through our various outreach activities since July 20. We praise God and continue to pray for his special leading to these souls. STMT and Korean team activities have been great encouragement for our church members and other regular members of our various out-reach program. May God use these spiritual encounters of this summer as initiation of their conversion to Him. We are bit tired physically and some caught cold. Please pray for the cure, too. STMT three members and three KTH students are now jointly visiting Hiroshima city area. STMT will host farewell psalm singing fellowship service this coming sabbath night pm7:00 at Covenenter Center Building 2F Chapel. All congregations in Japan are invited to join. KTH plans to have five new students for coming school year. Please pray for the preparation of the new school year. Sincerely in His service, Shigeru Takiura Okamoto Keiyaku RPC, Kobe Japan Japan Presbytery, RPCNA http://homepage3.nifty.com/Keiyaku http://www.rpj.8k.com/ for Presbytery