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Mariana’s Year In Books

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Mariana Nesbitt

Goodreads Author

Born

in Cape Town, South Africa

Genre

Nonfiction, Christian, Ebooks

Influences

Youth For Christ, Scripture Union, SATs

Member Since

January 2018

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I was born in Cape Town, (1945) and had the privilege as a child of playing in the nearby park all day.

There I saw a working artist for the first time. We moved and this brought me nearer the beach where I observed the Children's Special Service Mission, now SU. The love of God caught my heart and led to repentance, forgiveness, peace and joy. I was blessed to then grow up in YFC and dedicated my life to Jesus Christ.

A meeting with an emigrating Japanese school teacher exercising, kids started the life-long interest in Japan. I read all I could, taught high school, studied at the Bible Institute of SA. Met Jim and together we applied to the Overseas Missionary Fellowship.

2 years learning Japanese and culture passed quickly (plus a baby) and
I was born in Cape Town, (1945) and had the privilege as a child of playing in the nearby park all day.

There I saw a working artist for the first time. We moved and this brought me nearer the beach where I observed the Children's Special Service Mission, now SU. The love of God caught my heart and led to repentance, forgiveness, peace and joy. I was blessed to then grow up in YFC and dedicated my life to Jesus Christ.

A meeting with an emigrating Japanese school teacher exercising, kids started the life-long interest in Japan. I read all I could, taught high school, studied at the Bible Institute of SA. Met Jim and together we applied to the Overseas Missionary Fellowship.

2 years learning Japanese and culture passed quickly (plus a baby) and then the joy of making Japanese friends. I found that a baby, toddler and little boy didnt leave much energy for gospel work. I think many missionaries in Japan, not only mothers, feel they are accomplishing very little. Results? very little. Jim always tried to encourage me about significant progress. But tobe honest, many of us struggle with this.

We were standing on a train platform one day, wrapped up to the nines, I was crying. What's wrong? I can't bear it that our kids will have to go to boarding school. None were born yet ....

We went on a holiday at Lake Doya. We arrived, Beth came running around the corner, Hebi da. Jim killed it. My neighbours back in Tonden weren't amused. It was a white snake. And what did I know about the significance of the colour at that stage? I needed Jesus for Japan to learn this.

Two terms in Japan and then a call to our international HQ in Singapore, where the climate and stress got too much for me and after 2 years went back to SA. Yet after 10 years I was asking God to send us back again. 3 months of regular prayer, praise and fasting. The letter came and soon we were back in Japan, this time on the edges of Tokyo.

While Jim did finance and admin. I joined a Japanese group of interpreters, made friends, invited them to Bible studies - again I should have read Jesus for Japan! I really didn't know what I was doing! Get a missionary to admit that....

My ability in Silk Painting led to classes, evangelistic exhibitions, TV. Addiction to 2nd hand shops led to my love of Japanese ceramics. Prowling around in these shops was my daily relaxation and fun.

We started an International English Church which kept going for 3 years. My health kept on going down and I had a major sleep disturbance. Retiring age was upon us and we retired to the lovely house in a retirement village in Somerset West. The goodness of God.

And now I am enjoying researching and writing more books that will, yes will be useful to our colleagues beavering away in Japan. Apart from writing, I am kept very busy: God has given me the privilege of making friends with poverty-stricken friends in our community. My aim is jobs. So I am involved in education and training, finding better housing, medical issues, food and clothing. Many friends have sponsored and enabled these activities. Contact me if you will, at mariana.nesbitt@omfmail.com
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Mariana Nesbitt's Blog

JesusforJapan

My first day as a blogger. This old geezer is a retired missionary to Japan. I have written and published 2 books, one's in the writing and have notes ready for 3 or 4 more.

Inspiration for all this came from 25 years in Japan, speaking the language, pretending I could understand the language and now grateful I do not have to speak the language in the ole geezers'retirement place.

One needs to look Read more of this blog post »

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Published on June 20, 2019 02:31

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Mariana Nesbitt’s books

Average rating: 4.1 · 20 ratings · 6 reviews · 4 distinct works

	Jesus for Japan: Bridging the Cultural Gap to Christianity by Mariana Nesbitt (Goodreads Author), Maria le Roux (Editor) 4.29 avg rating — 14 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Japanese Redemptive Analogies: Bridging the Cultural Gap to Christianity 3.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Word 'Tsumi': A Japanese Problem in Translating and Understanding liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jesus and Granny: A Question of Allegiance in Japan by Mariana Nesbitt (Goodreads Author), Maria le Roux (editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Mariana is Currently Reading

Mariana Nesbitt is currently reading

Andrew Murray and the Freemason Question: A Rebuttal

by Olea Nel (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 03, 2025 11:28AM

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The Diary of a Country Priest

by Georges Bernanos

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Nov 15, 2021 11:45AM

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More Rants, Raves, and Crazy Days of an ER Nurse: Funny, True Life Stories of Medical Humor from the Emergency Room

by Dani Jacobs (Goodreads Author)

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Nov 13, 2021 11:50AM

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Mariana Nesbitt is currently reading Andrew Murray and the Freemason Question: A Rebuttal by Olea Nel (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 03, 2025 11:28AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Andrew Murray and the Freemason Question by Olea Nel. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Andrew Murray and the Freemason Question by Olea Nel <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mariana Nesbitt rated a book liked it Dementia from the Inside: A doctor's personal journey of hope by Jennifer Bute	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 11, 2024 09:40AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dementia from the Inside by Jennifer Bute. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dementia from the Inside by Jennifer Bute <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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