Remodel-Upgrade Yakushima JPN Parsonage-Church
Donation protected
The Miyanoura Christ Church is located on the island of Yakushima in southern Japan, only reachable by a two to four hour ferry ride, or by airplane. Where in the world is Yakushima? Notice the little red circle.
Both the church and parsonage were built more than 50 years ago by a missionary who went to their reward many years ago. The former 78 year-old pastor of the church is no longer able to work due to illness. He has asked the Japan Bethel Mission (JBM) to become its overseer. JBM is a small group of four full-Gospel churches in Japan including Tokyo, Rikuzen Takada, Kurume and Munakata cities. All are directly related to the Bethel Fellowship International in Washington state. JBM has no available ministers to go to the island and oversee the flock of four believers. However, since retiring the pastorate of a JBM church, as a missionary I am able to visit the church at least once a month to build up and encourage the faith of the believers.
L to R: Missionary Nils Olson, Believers: Etsuko KURISAKI, Kimiyo KINBARA and Daisuke SHIBA.
Upon my first trip last month, I slept in the church parsonage (left). It was an unhealthy couple of nights sleeping in the moldy, mildewy and leaky-roof former pastor's residence. Because of the leaky roof, the entire house is in DIRE NEED of remodeling (new walls, ceilings, floors and bathroom). I asked for a local architect to come over and give an estimate for remodeling, however, he said, "Remodeling would not be wise until the entire roof is replaced." Thus, I asked him for a new roof estimate.
Moneys from this gofundme project will be fully used (with the exception of gofundme's 2.9% portion) for the replacement of the parsonage roof. From the photo above the roof may look fine, however, photos of ceilings on the inside of the house show clearly that it leaks badly in every room.
Living room ceiling-1
Living room ceiling-2
Bedroom ceiling-1
Toilet room ceiling
Washroom
These are only a few photos of ceilings, but every room has this kind of water damage due to the bad roof. I will also post a photo of the floor plan of the parsonage. The building is not that large, for which we are thankful, because if it were any larger, the replacement cost would be much higher.
In 1993 Yakushima was recognized as a World Heritage Site since which the island has seen a tremendous increase of travelers from around the world. Perhaps the oldest cedar trees in the world are found in the mountains of the island. As in many places in Japan's countryside, especially islands, young people leave to go live and work in the metropolises. Yakushima has suffered the same plight, leaving only a small number of believers in the church. However, there are still some 13,000 inhabitants on the island, and only this one church to reach them with the Gospel.
Since summers are so extremely hot and humid in southern Japan, the architect said a good time to replace the roof would be in the fall, perhaps beginning in mid-September, 2018. Here is a copy of the architect's estimate to replace the roof:
Roof Construction: ¥ 897,150
Overhead Expenses: ¥ 134,573
Sub Total: ¥ 1,031,723
Tax: ¥ 82,538
Discount: ¥ -14,260
TOTAL: ¥ 1,100,000
Estimate Cost: ¥1,100,[email redacted] ¥ per $ (6Jul) = US $ 9,941.26
We have rounded up the estimate to $10,000 for this particular gofundme project.
Perhaps taken out of context, but I think this verse relates well to this roof replacement project. Nehemiah 4:10 says,
In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the (roof) wall.” ESV (parenthetical is my edit).
Your consideration of participating in this project, plus your believing that all things are possible, will be a tremendous encouragement to the Miyanoura Christ Church on the island of Yakushima, JAPAN.
Thank you so very much for taking time to read through this project description. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Nils OLSON, Missionary
Japan Bethel Mission, Tokyo, Japan
Bethel Fellowship International, Federal Way WA, USA
Both the church and parsonage were built more than 50 years ago by a missionary who went to their reward many years ago. The former 78 year-old pastor of the church is no longer able to work due to illness. He has asked the Japan Bethel Mission (JBM) to become its overseer. JBM is a small group of four full-Gospel churches in Japan including Tokyo, Rikuzen Takada, Kurume and Munakata cities. All are directly related to the Bethel Fellowship International in Washington state. JBM has no available ministers to go to the island and oversee the flock of four believers. However, since retiring the pastorate of a JBM church, as a missionary I am able to visit the church at least once a month to build up and encourage the faith of the believers.
L to R: Missionary Nils Olson, Believers: Etsuko KURISAKI, Kimiyo KINBARA and Daisuke SHIBA. Upon my first trip last month, I slept in the church parsonage (left). It was an unhealthy couple of nights sleeping in the moldy, mildewy and leaky-roof former pastor's residence. Because of the leaky roof, the entire house is in DIRE NEED of remodeling (new walls, ceilings, floors and bathroom). I asked for a local architect to come over and give an estimate for remodeling, however, he said, "Remodeling would not be wise until the entire roof is replaced." Thus, I asked him for a new roof estimate.
Moneys from this gofundme project will be fully used (with the exception of gofundme's 2.9% portion) for the replacement of the parsonage roof. From the photo above the roof may look fine, however, photos of ceilings on the inside of the house show clearly that it leaks badly in every room.
Living room ceiling-1Living room ceiling-2Bedroom ceiling-1Toilet room ceilingWashroomThese are only a few photos of ceilings, but every room has this kind of water damage due to the bad roof. I will also post a photo of the floor plan of the parsonage. The building is not that large, for which we are thankful, because if it were any larger, the replacement cost would be much higher.
In 1993 Yakushima was recognized as a World Heritage Site since which the island has seen a tremendous increase of travelers from around the world. Perhaps the oldest cedar trees in the world are found in the mountains of the island. As in many places in Japan's countryside, especially islands, young people leave to go live and work in the metropolises. Yakushima has suffered the same plight, leaving only a small number of believers in the church. However, there are still some 13,000 inhabitants on the island, and only this one church to reach them with the Gospel.
Since summers are so extremely hot and humid in southern Japan, the architect said a good time to replace the roof would be in the fall, perhaps beginning in mid-September, 2018. Here is a copy of the architect's estimate to replace the roof:
Roof Construction: ¥ 897,150
Overhead Expenses: ¥ 134,573
Sub Total: ¥ 1,031,723
Tax: ¥ 82,538
Discount: ¥ -14,260
TOTAL: ¥ 1,100,000
Estimate Cost: ¥1,100,[email redacted] ¥ per $ (6Jul) = US $ 9,941.26
We have rounded up the estimate to $10,000 for this particular gofundme project.
Perhaps taken out of context, but I think this verse relates well to this roof replacement project. Nehemiah 4:10 says,
In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the (roof) wall.” ESV (parenthetical is my edit).
Your consideration of participating in this project, plus your believing that all things are possible, will be a tremendous encouragement to the Miyanoura Christ Church on the island of Yakushima, JAPAN.
Thank you so very much for taking time to read through this project description. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Nils OLSON, Missionary
Japan Bethel Mission, Tokyo, Japan
Bethel Fellowship International, Federal Way WA, USA
Organizer
Nils Desu
Organizer
Federal Way, WA