Note: To listen to an audio version of this update, click here
When that was done, they all mounted once more, and jogged along again on the path towards the East.
“Where did you go to, if I may ask?” said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along.
“To look ahead,” said he.
“And what brought you back in the nick of time?”
“Looking behind,” said he.
Summer/Fall Update 2023 — It’s Time to Go!
The deputation road has been long. But as much as it has been challenging, it has also been good. And God has been faithful all along the way. This update will be a combined one, since our next update will be coming from Japan this fall! There’s much to cover in this update—exiting things—so, I’ll get right to it.
Baby on the Way!
We’re excited to announce that a Pliska boy is due March of 2024! God has been kind again to us to give us another precious little one to raise in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Some have asked how this will affect our preparations to go to Japan or life when we get there. The answer is that it won’t throw anything off. We’re still aiming to leave according to plan, and Sierah is fully on board with having our baby in Japan. We’ve talked with the missionaries over there about what that process would look like, and it’s not too much different than what you would expect here in the States. The due date for our little Pliska man is March 1st, and we can’t wait to meet him.
Japan on the Way!
This is the big news we’ve been awaiting with many of you for so long. I now have in hand our plane tickets for Tokyo. Lord-willing, our departure date for Japan will be November 21st of this year! I’ve been reflecting on this much lately. Our first time stepping foot in Japan was in October of 2018. Now I write to you exactly five years later announcing that we are finally moving there to begin our kingdom work among the Japanese people. We want to say thanks to each of you who have been following our journey and praying for us—especially those who have reached out to us to tell us you have kept us in your prayers.
Our send-off service at our home church will be on Sunday, November 19th, and you can watch the service on our church’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@LandmarkBaptist. It’s difficult to say what the “hardest” part of our big move will be. The familiar goodbyes or the foreign hellos? Time will tell; but God’s grace will be all-sufficient.
How you can help!
I’ve lost track of how many of you have been asking us about our departure date, visa status, and what you can do to help. It’s overwhelming to think that just three years ago, I hadn’t yet even met most of you on our newsletter updates. God has indeed been very good. Continue praying for those visas though. They should be in any week now.
I did want to give you an idea of these next steps ahead of us, for those who would be helped to have specifics. First, all prayers are welcome concerning the logistics, expenses, and spiritual health during the next few months. Moving to the other side of the world is going to be the most challenging and expensive thing we’ve ever done. Please keep us in your prayers (and reach out to us if you do!) that our faith in God would be rock-solid, firmly rooted in his sovereignty and goodness in all things pertaining to his children. May he be our support now and on the journey ahead.
Second, like I said in our last update, I wanted to give you an idea of the expenses needed for what I’m calling our “Start-up Fund.” This is a one-time expense that encapsulates everything from the plane tickets I just purchased, to our first few months renting a house or apartment in Japan. The large categories include: 1. Getting There (plane tickets), 2. Getting Settled (housing and furnishings, baby items, and transportation), and 3. Getting Started (language school). I’ve attached a document to this update for a more itemized listing of each of these categories, and as you will see, some of the items have already been fully covered by people who have given towards this start-up fund in advance! Here is where you can give to us, if not by check: https://thepliskas.com/give/. The total amount needed in US dollars is $28,400. An astounding number in many ways; but $14,300 of this has already been raised!
Final Note
For those who regularly give to us already, please do not feel compelled to do more. This is for those who feel led to go above and beyond normal support or for many of those who have asked to be updated when one-time expenses like this arise. We’re thankful for each one of you and are open to any communication and questions that arise. My cell is (502) 424-3954, if you’d like to call and let me know how you plan to help.
The next time we write you all, we plan to do it from Japan—Lord willing, and to his praise alone.
Grace and peace,
Joe and Sierah Pliska