It was 2008 when Jo and I first began making plans on how we would come to Japan. There were a lot of things that were uncertain. Where would we go? Who would we work with? What exactly would we do? How would we learn the language? And not least among those concerns was, how would we pay for it?
As many of you know, when we first came to Japan, we weren’t supported missionaries. The idea of raising financial support for our ministry was extremely intimidating and we weren’t sure at all if we would be a good fit for ministry in Japan. Because of that, we decided to not come as supported missionaries but to get jobs and support ourselves.
God answered our prayers much swifter than we expected, and we found wonderful jobs teaching at Meysen Academy. Over the years we have seen people struggle as they have come to Japan and we feel truly blessed to have been with an organization that made the process as easy as it was. Thinking back on our journey, I wouldn’t wish to change a thing.
Fast forward to January 2015. We were getting onto an airplane and heading back to the US. We had spent time working as English teachers and volunteering at a local church, we had then moved to language school and increased the amount of time we were volunteering with another ministry, after that I joined the staff of the church in a part-time capacity, and then we had finally decided we needed to be in full-time vocational ministry. This was the moment that we had feared, but in the intervening years God had shown me the need for vocational ministry and the need for us to raise support.
From January 2015 until January 2016 we traveled the Midwest sharing about the ministry we would be a part of and raising financial support. It was a humbling, exciting, and faith affirming journey. I had no idea how I would raise the money we needed but God was faithful, and he provided what we needed. He never let us down.
In the intervening years our support has waned and waxed and there have been times where we had a surplus and times where we have had a deficit. I must admit that I haven’t always handled those times of stress as well as I could have but when I think back on those times, I see that God always provided for us and he has never failed.
More than just provided, he has been exceedingly generous with us. Over the last 11 years of living in Japan, God has provided for all our needs. We have learned to trust in his provision and guidance. It hasn’t always been easy but when we look back on it, we see the goodness of God in it all.
As I am sure most of you know, Japan is now struggling with an outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Japan is a densely populated urban environment where many people use crowded public transit for all their transportation. We ourselves don’t have a car and use either bicycles or public transit for most of our needs. I have a scooter, but that isn’t very useful when we need to get the whole family somewhere. Needless to say, Japan is a place where this particular virus could spread quickly.
As all of this has been developing, I have been working through my own emotions about it. There is a lot of fear in the media and I feel like in many situations that only makes our own emotions that much stronger. I was considering whether or not to lay out the facts of the outbreak here in Japan in a post like this or not, but to be honest I really don’t want to.
Jo and I feel as safe as we can be here and we have no intention of leaving Japan. We trust in God’s guidance and provision in all of this and feel as though this is not something that need halt our ministry here.
In all of this God has put a sense of peace on my heart. Philippians 4 springs to mind,
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
All of this is true for me. I am joyful for the love and support we have gotten from all of you over the years. The prayers and love from everyone has been a fuel for us as we have worked here in Japan. There have been times in our work where we have been in abundance and times where life has been lean, but in all of that God has provided and we have learned to trust in him and his good provision.
There is so much uncertainty right now but we have peace in knowing that the God who created the heavens and the earth provides for us and strengthens us. We have learned to be content in all things and trust in the strength of the Lord. Psalm 36 puts it like this:
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
Our refuge is in the Lord and we are at peace in it. Pray for us in all of this. Pray that the Lord would guide us and protect us. Pray that we would continue to trust in his goodness and provision for all things. And more than just for us, pray for the church in Japan. That in this time of uncertainty that the church would be a source of encouragement and strength. Please pray that we, the church, would make God’s glory known in all that we do.