A joyful reunion; temples that vex

Sylvia writes:
Our day began meeting Hilary Lynch and her four children at the Edo museum here in Tokyo. I also was very pleased to meet my friend Miho there, along with her son, Rikku, Yoko, her friend and her mother. I had first met Miho ten years ago while she was studying English in Fresno. I had the honor of hosting Miho in my home for six weeks. Our friendship correspondence has survived all these years. Always hoping but never believing I would see Miho again I would make statements to her in emails that I would see her one day in Japan. Today that day came to fruition! Seeing her again was like picking up from where we left off ten years ago with the exception that I wanted to plant more Kingdom seeds. I felt the warmth as I explained to her what our plans were and where we had been as well as where we were going. Praying for her country, Japan, and its youth. I said a quick silent prayer and believed I was to give Miho the Bible I had bought intended as a gift for one of the missionaries. Miho accepted it graciously. I encouraged her to read from it for spiritual wisdom as well as perfecting her English. The time spent with Miho and her son, friend and mother was delightful and memorable. The team, the Lynches and Miho's family all had lunch together (three separate tables). We took lots of pictures and made more precious memories. Before anyone was the wiser Miho's mom had picked up the entire check. I am hopeful that my friendship with Miho will grow and that there will be many more opportunities to water the seeds that God has so tenderly planted.
Please keep Miho and her family in your prayers.

Back to your usual narrator:
After the Edo museum, we took a taxi to "Sensouji" (the kanji look like "Asakusa tera" but they pronounce it like that) and walked around the temple/shrine praying and praising God. Often when I have seen places like this in the past, I have felt a sense of sadness or revulsion. Today I felt angry at the deceitful spirits that have held captive the souls of these dear Japanese people for so, so long.

The photo at right shows some of the buildings in the Sensouji complex. We prayed quietly, sang praise songs and hymns, etc. I was so vexed that as I walked around these buildings (I was thinking about Joshua), I rebuked the lying spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who created heaven and earth, besides the hymns ("All hail the power of Jesus' name / Let angels prostrate fall!" "His blood can make the foulest clean; / His blood availed for me.") and the scriptures ("He is the image of the invisible God... by him all things were created, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him").

Please pray with us that God will free these precious people from the captivity -- it feels like moving mountains, but as Jesus told us, there is power in prayer!