We’re planning to move to Japan! And not to a densely-populated major city like Tokyo, but to a rural community in the northern coastal region of Iwate prefecture. We’re excited to take this leap for many reasons, but to name a few:
こんにちは, 久しぶり!
The Japanese are the 2nd largest group of people who have not heard or been engaged with the gospel and the love of Jesus, particularly rural areas.
90-95% of foreign missionaries to Japan serve in urban areas that already have one to several churches, yet two-thirds of Japan’s rural residents live in areas without a single church.
We’re doing something God has had on our hearts for a long time!
We have felt a call for missions since before we were married. Initially, we were planning to do cross-cultural long-term missions within a couple years—our first thought was to work part time teaching English in Japan while sharing the good news of Jesus where God would open a door. After 12 years and lots of growth (both family size and ministry experience), we’re moving forward with Japan, but now with the intent of full-time missions work.
For the last decade, we’ve been living and working on a church and school campus where Ben has been Children’s Pastor doings kids events, working in the private school leading chapel and teaching computer and science classes, and additionally providing mental health counseling as a therapist throughout and after his graduate program. Ministry and service opportunities have abounded for all of us here! Of the many hats and opportunities to serve (including the hat of ‘hobby farmer’ raising bunnies, breeding and milking goats, keeping bees and making bouquets for personal joy, outreach at events and fundraising for the church), the heart to share the gospel and missions has been ever-present.
We knew that God wants to send those who are willing to ‘work’ the harvest. As we’ve prayed, we’ve said “Send me!” And as we’ve listened, God has confirmed that He desires to send us, and has been waiting for us to take steps toward Him in this calling, leading to our acceptance as first-term missionaries serving in a wide-range of familiar capacities with the Rural Japan Church Planter Training Center. This is a big step of faith we are trusting God to provide for.
Spring 2013
