Lonely. Exhausted. Tested in faith. Being a missionary in a faraway country can make you feel that way sometimes. Yet I will never forget one particular day off work during my first turn as a missionary in Japan. I had decided to get on a bus and just ride it to escape the stress of teaching, planning and other responsibilities.

It was my second spring as a missionary in Japan, and I was unprepared for the gorgeous display of God’s nature that I would encounter.

For several blocks, the bus had taken a route lined with cherry blossom trees. It was that delightful season in Japan when the Sakura, cherry blossoms, were falling. Half of the leaves were still clinging to the trees, while the other half had already dropped, covering the ground in beautiful pinkish-whitish cherry blossom leaves.

I was awestruck by the beauty of the scene. At that moment, I forgot any stress or loneliness I was experiencing, feeling thankful to God for being immersed in such a beautiful display of His goodness. As He continued directing my mind to Him, He taught me that He was still with me, and the scene remains etched in my mind like something from a dream.

Many Japanese people today suffer from being overworked and stressed. The pressures of work, school and daily life weigh heavily upon them. According to the website Statista, the Japanese nation has one of the highest suicide rates among developed countries. Without knowledge of a loving and saving God, many will continue down a path of hopelessness and depression even when surrounded by beauty and affluence.

Fifteen years later, I am returning to Japan with my family to bring the good news of Jesus, the One who alone can truly save us from the ills of life. Please prayerfully consider joining us in this vital mission of reaching the Japanese for Jesus.

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