Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Pray for Ken and Seiko Nishiono and their three daughters

I am writing today to ask you, the reader of my blog and your friends and families to pray with me for Rev. Ken Nishiono and his family, especially his two youngest daughters' health. As Mother Teresa would say, "we can storm the heaven with our petitions and prayers," and this is one of the reasons I started my blog 8 years ago for Fukushima. Yesterday we visited Miharu to meet with Ken briefly to pray together. With his permission, I write his story to assist you in praying.

Ken's second daughter, Yuzuri (2 years old), was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome a few months ago and has been on treatment; now his youngest daughter, Megumi (1 year old), is in hospital since last week with some kidney issues which the doctors are trying to diagnose so that they can come up with a course of treatment. While Seiko stays in hospital with Megumi, Ken is looking after the two older ones. Thankfuly, Miyu (4 years old) is healthy but feels the stress of the burdens of the family.

Family photo in April 2018 soon after Megumi was born.
Ken, Miyu and Yuzuri during our visit yesterday.
"I understand now how much work it takes to take care of domestic duties and raise three children," said Ken as we sat down to pray with him and his two children at the church while his wife and the youngest one were staying at the hospital. Japanese men seldom get involved in family matters or raising their children as it is all left for the wife to do while men go to work and bring money home. Ken has now new appreciation for all that his wife does at home.

Rev. Ken Nishiono and his wife Seiko are the only two people I know that have never left Fukushima since they arrived as volunteers soon after the 311 disaster in 2011 while thousands of other volunteers left after their assignments or quit after being burnout. They both came unmarried and got married a couple years after they first met while working as relief volunteers.

A few years ago, Ken received an invitation to join a local church as associate pastor and became ordained two years ago. Soon after his ordination, his mentor and predecessor at Koriyama Bible Baptist Church in Miharu town retired and Ken became the pastor of the church. (For the story of how Ken came to this church and his testimony, click here)

"I began feeling a bit depressed and exhausted a few months ago thinking it's too hard to be a pastor and started doubting my call to a pastoral ministry when Yuzuri's sickness was first diagnosed," his small voice got quieter with his shoulders gradually sinking lower and lower as he continued to talk.   By having to drive a long distance back and forth between the church and the children's hospital for his daughter's treatment for many days while he continued to struggle with many duties all alone at his church, he began to understand the meaning of Christ's suffering. "I meditated this morning while I was doing dishes, since my wife is away with our youngest daughter in the hospital, what it means to follow Jesus in his suffering. I began to see my role in this church in a new way."

We said our good-byes and promised to pay a visit again next year and to pray for his family in the meanwhile. Our hearts were heavy for the burden Ken and Seiko carry but were encouraged by his ever deepening testimony.


Church fellowship after Sunday worship (April 2018)




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