God, Give Me Japan

“I’m sorry…there’s just no way we can partner with The World Race.” 

I hung up the phone, tears quickly sliding down my cheeks. Trying to swallow the disappointment, I let out a long sigh and turned to the Lord. “God, please help me see what we are supposed to do.” 

It had been two months of conversations at this point, trying to find a place to host my new squad in Japan. We had a lot going against us, the cost of living in Japan is comparable to California, and remember that $8 a day WR budget?? Not going to cut it. 

I had navigated through a myriad of avenues and ministries, contacts and connections only to find another dead end. 

Now less than three weeks away until I met my leadership team, I was coming up empty handed for our place in Japan. 

Switching gears I reminded myself, there was one last conversation to be had…

Ishinomaki is a coastal city in Northern Japan that was devastated by a Tsunami in 2011. On the outskirts of the city sits a little coffee shop, well it’s also a school, a church and an outreach center. There is a grand total of three people on staff working around the clock to meet the least of these and introduce them to a life of freedom found in Jesus Christ. The owner, Rich is an American who has been living in Japan for over twenty years. He is married to his wife Amy and they work with Cherry, a Californian who connected with Ishinomaki through a missions trip with her church. They come together every day to do the Lords work together. 

After conversing back and forth with Rich and doing my best to explain the organization and our purpose in coming to Japan, I approached the difficult subject of money. He explained that they ask teams to give about $15 a day per person. I knew he was already being generous, other places had prices of $22 at the cheapest. With a heavy heart I replied “I can only give my word with $8 per person per night.” I waited with angst for his reply as I watched the messenger bubbles moving up and down… 

“We will trust the Lord with $8.” 

I felt joy lifting my spirits and overwhelming my thoughts with gratitude. 

Rich has hosted YWAM and church teams of about 6-10 people in the past, I explained that we had 19 people needing a place to stay. 

Rich soon replied, “no problem, we have you covered.”

And the door opened to Japan.  

Since arriving here we have seen that their financial resources are limited and they lack the manpower to get everything in their lists accomplished. However, what they lack in earthly possessions, they make up for in the steadfast faith they choose to walk in every day. God clearly shut each door that could’ve distracted us from reaching our destination, and prepared the perfect place for us to start this journey together. Already our squad has been so blessed to work alongside Rich and his ministry here, and Rich has been nothing but kind, generous and hospitable to us. He constantly reminds us of the timeliness of our arrival, and the support he feels with us here. Right before we came another missionary who had been working with J’s Cafe and hosting a successful skating ministry returned home. This past Sunday was the first Sunday since his departure and his absence would have been sorely felt with so few workers here. During our church service Rich thanked us, “it could’ve been a really hard day, but with you all here, we haven’t had time to notice.” 

The two girls on our squad who have lived in Japan have ties to this specific prefecture and God found it appropriate to answer their prayers and bring them back to this exact place with The World Race. How good is our Father!

Thank you Jesus, for knowing our needs better than we do. For your sovereign provision and reminders that YOU are in control. For never leaving us nor forsaking us. It is just week one!  

Please keep J’s Cafe in your prayers as we do spiritual battle here each day, and for our squad, as we continue to learn what it looks like to live in close community as one body firmly rooted in the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”