Erik and Rhonda Boehme 
are missionaries in Japan partnering with Asian Access. They are home on furlough after spending their first 3 year assignment in Japan where people are eager to learn English. It is a great vehicle to reach the Japanese people for Christ.
Erik shared a story about their dentist, Dr. Nahoko, who attended a Gospel choir. “One day she asked what the words to ‘Amazing Grace,’ were and we told her, and she said, ‘Now I can finally understand what I am singing.’”
Rhonda sensed a call from God to become a missionary when she was just five-years-old. “I heard about missionaries and I heard about people who didn’t know Jesus and I wanted to tell them about Jesus.”
For Erik, the call came later in life. After becoming a believer at age 20, he transferred to George Fox University in Newberg, where he met Rhonda. He rented a room at the home of a retired missionary named Roy, who put Erik in a room full of missionary biographies. “I just ate it up. And Roy said to me, ‘Why don’t you become a short term missionary.’ So, I spent a semester abroad in Kenya, where I developed a heart to be an overseas missionary.”
Though Erik and Rhonda had clear callings into missions, the location was not as certain. Then, after separate opportunities to teach English in Japan to pay for school, they both fell in love with Japan.
And, seeing a need was confirmation.
“Less than one percent of people in Japan are Christian,” Erik said.
And, Erik proposed to Rhonda in Tokyo. Their hearts were sealed to be in Japan in Japan.
Rhonda and Erik’s duties in Japan included teaching English and Bible classes, leading children’s events and parenting classes, and hosting outreaches.
It takes a long time to believe. “We asked one woman, ‘Do you believe in God?’ and she said ‘yes’ and we asked, ‘Do you believe in Christ?’ and she said ‘yes,’ and we asked, ‘Do you believe He died for your sins?’ and she said ‘yes,’ and we asked, ‘Are you ready to become a Christian?’ and she said ‘no.’”
As missionaries, the Boehme family wanted to be part of the culture. Their house is entirely decorated like a Japanese house. They eat Japanese food, except they still like oatmeal from Costco. They got up in the summers at 6:45 morning to join Japanese families for traditional kids calisthenics with their children, Andrew and Katrina. “Many missionaries did not do this, but we wanted to, and it gave us the chance to do kids outreach events at the Community Center.”
They hosted ice cream socials and kids events and a Texas night for adults. They have organized community cleanups. Their children attended regular school.
At their going away party, one of the gentlemen, who had worked at Toyota, said, “I didn’t share my faith with others, but because of you I feel inspired to share my faith.’”
The Boehme family is looking forward to returning to their mission work in Japan after they have raised antiquate support.
“My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire.” Isaiah 55:11
Boehmes website: www.asianaccess.org
The story was originally published in the Rolling Hills Service Folder in March 2010 and is also found on the Rolling Hills website:http://rhcc-compassion.blogspot.com/2010/03/boehme-familys-mission-in-japan.html
