Dear Friends,  HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s hard to believe but 2008 marks 20 years that we have served with Word of Life in N. E. Asia. God has been so good. But we believe the best years are still ahead.

THE PAST YEAR (2007)
In Japan: As you know, we moved to Karuizawa, Japan to help lead a team and open SYME here. Karuizawa is located about two hours NW of Tokyo. It is a beautiful wooded town that was started by missionaries over 100 years ago. God has miraculously given us a beautiful mini-hotel property with a breathtaking view of Mount Asama outside the dining room window. For our first year we’ve had between 15-20 students each term with a goal of 32 students by the spring of 2008.
     During our first months here we have visited churches, attended conferences, sent out mailings and advertised in Christian newspapers and magazines to let missionaries and Japanese pastors know we are here to help train Japanese young adults for future ministry.
     In July, August and December the director of WOL Japan, Yoshito Kato and a team hosted camps here in Karuizawa and saw several teen students trust Christ. 
     In December we hosted the WOL N.E. Asia staff retreat here with 43 attending. It was a wonderful relaxed time together. In our morning breakout sessions we discussed, Walking By Faith, Seven Steps to Problem Solving, Jesus’ Words On Team Unity and One Single Flame: Keeping One-ness in Marriage. You can find transcripts of these messages at: wolkorea.multiply.com/tag/07conference

In Korea: 2007 has been the best year of ministry we have seen so far in all areas of ministry (local church Bible clubs, camps and SYME). SYME Korea finished up with 76 students. Also there are another 40 students who are now studying at WOLBI in New York, Florida or Canada.
     Jack & Kristen Jang are setting up a branch of Bible Clubs in Pyongtaek. Peter & Miriam Choi and their family just returned from the US and will be setting up a new branch of Bible Clubs on the east side of Seoul.
     Charis Joy was born in October to my brother, Mike & Alicia Nicholes.

In Taiwan: In 2007 Chris & Beth Steiner and Jason Carson moved from Taipei to Taichung where they are in the second half of language school and plan to open SYME in 2009. We’re praying for one couple to join them full-time.
     Also my sister Beth & Chris Steiner gave birth to Jonathan Louis in November.

THE PRESENT YEAR (2008)
In Japan: One of our greatest needs in Japan right now is to expand the SYME facilities to be able to handle 32 students this coming May. Right now we can only accept 24 students because two of the dormitory bedrooms are being used as classrooms.
     Under the lobby and dining room the pillars and beams are already in place to build three classrooms. It just needs to be enclosed. If we install a heated floor, put up the walls, hang windows and install electricity and heating it will be ready to go.
     The cost of labor in Japan is outrageously expensive so we are praying for work teams of people with construction experience to come and help us during the months of March, April and May. Already one church has agreed to send a team for about five days.
     We also need about $50,000 to purchase all the materials to have this ready to go. Would you pray about giving a significant gift to help make this possible?  It is so exciting to watch the Lord provide.

In China: For the past several years we’ve received several invitations to come to China. This year we plan to take several trips into the Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces of China. Please pray for wisdom in relationships, location, timing and staff to begin training centers in China.  

THE FUTURE (2009+)
     As many of you know, we have been planning and preparing to open an English-speaking Word of Life Bible Institute (WOLBI) in Korea in August 2008.  During the past six months several things have taken place which finally led to the conclusion that the Lord is leading us to postpone this for two years.  
     First, to our surprise, the man who was preparing to be our Bible survey professor, Josef Huh felt led in a different direction.  
     Secondly, the Taiwan team needs more time to complete language training before opening SYME there.  
     Thirdly, we don’t yet have the full leadership team in place at SYME Japan to be able to leave. Some who are planning and preparing to come need time to raise additional support and we are still looking for at least one more person to serve full-time here.  
     Since students who will be coming to this new school in Korea will be mainly coming from the SYME schools in Korea, Japan and Taiwan as well as future SYME’s and from the US, these schools need to be firmly established with leadership in place for that to happen smoothly.
     So my family and I have decided to extend our stay here in Japan. John & Jean Hawkins (WOLBI theology teacher) will attend language school in Korea, then help lead SYME in Korea while John & Stephanie Spalding attend language school. The Hawkins will help prepare for WOLBI to open in Korea in 2010.
     The need for your regular prayers, support and physical help has never been greater. Please bring the requests listed in the box below before the Lord often. Thank you so much for your partnership.  

Serving Together, Evangelizing & Discipling the Youth in Asia,



Steve Nicholes
WOL N.E. Asia Regional Director
E-mail wolasia@gmail.com  
Snail-mail (Japan): 732 Lake New Town, Karuizawa-Machi 389-0113  JAPAN