It was around middle school when God started to burden my heart for Japan. He used both the influence of missionaries to Japan who have been close friends and mentors in my life, and the short-term mission work of my parents serving there, to stir in me a desire to learn about this beautiful country and its people. It was then through my own study of the language in high school that I learned to love Japanese culture, historical traditions, and its complex but amazing writing system. In 2018, I traveled to Kyoto, Japan to experience the culture for a short 9 days.
During that trip, God confirmed that this was where He wanted me to return someday, and a new burden for Japan’s spiritual needs began to grow in my heart. God has opened so many opportunities for me to not only continue studying Japanese, but also to fellowship with and even witness to Japanese friends right here in America. As a musician, I hope to use the gift of harp music as a means of building relationships with people and sharing the good news of Jesus with those who have never heard. I am excited for this upcoming internship with WorldVenture’s Pathfinder program in the Fall of 2025.
During this 3-month trip, my goal is to be a learner: I want to learn from missionaries and national pastors who are already working in Japan, come alongside them to help with whatever they need, and prayerfully be directed by God during this time for future long-term service in Japan. Although Christianity first reached Japan in 1549, it still remains the 2nd largest unreached people group, with the population being less than 0.5% Evangelical Christian. Many cities and towns remain without any church presence, and most people have never heard the gospel. Let’s pray for the light of Christ to rise over Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun!
“…because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise
shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1: 78-79
