Map Idea

In our home we had a map pinned up on our living room wall for weeks before we left on our roadtrip. We put pins representing the important stops and people we were hoping to visit so the kids could visually see who and where we'd be visiting.

Those pins became representative of people we loved and cared about and were looking forward to seeing. As people visited our home, they would see our map and would ask questions about our trip, to which we were easily able to point to the colored pushpins and say who lived where. I realized how special it was to have people who we loved and cared about, and who loved and cared about us.

On our trip, we saw similar maps with pins to represent where people had visited from. Near the start of our trip I saw one map in a Starbucks (while we were in line to use the bathroom!) and it showed hundreds of pins of people who had visited from all around the world.

Starbucks in San Francisco, California, Fisherman's Wharf

Later on in the trip at a farm stand in Arkansas, I found a similar map, with hundreds of stickers representing people from the United States who, like us, had seen their billboard and thought 'that sounds great!' and stopped to buy a drink and/or a souvenir.

The Peach Barn, Oklahoma

On our return leg of the trip, while driving on the interstate, we happened to see a sign for a town we had never heard of, followed by a sign indicating that town as the home of a famous person our daughter knew all about. She squealed with excited anticipation (while some others groaned with annoyance) when we turned off the highway to go out of our way--two hours out of our way--to head to De Smet, South Dakota to visit the home of a woman whose writing and story my daughter has loved.

I was surprised to find, even in a place that was (quite) out of the way for us, a map with hundreds of visitors who have loved the history and life story of this famous woman, participating in the support of her legacy.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes, De Smet, South Dakota

When we arrived home, we were so grateful for all the people we were able to visit and connect with, and share about our hope to serve Christ in rural Japan. Some people who we shared with were complete strangers initially, but were willing to support us financially because of their heart for the lost. Incredible! Seeing these maps while on the trip inspired my own map idea for when, Lord-willing, we are living in Japan, and have the opportunity to invite others into our home.

Instead of a map pinned with places we've been, I envision a map pinned with pictures of partners who support financially and through prayer so that the love of Christ will shine in the darkness and reach to the ends of the earth. And when asked, "who are these people?" I would happily be able to say, "these are people who love you." And from there, share about the love of the Church, why we have left our home and friends and family, and the good news of the Gospel: that Jesus loves us.

If you would like to be put on the map as a financial or prayer partner, please use the forms on the support page (and we'll reach out for a picture as well if you're willing!)

May God shine His light and bring His love through us to reach rural Japan.