I'm Going to Japan!!!!!

Friends!! I'm super excited because I'M GOING BACK TO JAPAN!!!

Ever since high school, Japan has been special to me. I studied the language, we had Japanese friends, and I wanted to visit the country someday. In 2012 I went on my first mission trip - to Japan. It was pretty awesome! Then in 2015 signed up for the World Race, the all-Asia route so I could experience more of Asia and go back to Japan.

The time I spent there in November 2015 made me love the country, culture, and people even more. While on the World Race, Japan was only the third country we visited out of eleven, so I thought maybe God would call me somewhere else... after all, I still had so many other countries to experience in Asia! But although I loved each country we stayed in and they were each special in their own way, somehow none of them felt like Japan.

I made a few really good friendships while staying in Sanda (outside of Osaka, Japan) and working with the Thomson family. I told my friends, "I'll be back to visit someday." I didn't know how or when, but I knew I would come back.

Fast forward to month 11 of the Race, in Indonesia. I reached out to Peter and Wendi Thomson, our ministry contacts from Japan, to find out about opportunities in Japan. It seemed like a leap of faith for me, considering I wasn't even back home in America yet! They were excited to hear from me and said, yes, it would be possible for me to come for a 3-month period to work with them!

Over the next couple months - flying home, adjusting to being back in Northern Michigan - I continued to pray about this opportunity. I was kinda nervous, specifically because this would be different than past mission trips. I would be going on my own and possibly living by myself while there.

I was hesitant to say yes, until I found out that two of my friends - Niki and James, who also did the Race with me - were thinking and praying about going back to Japan to work with the same family! We were all considering going in January.... it's like God had directed each of us individually and then brought us together to go as a team!

I felt so much peace, and I began the application process for the 3-month internship. Now I've been accepted, I've booked my flight, and I will be leaving January 17th, 2017 for three months in Japan!

I'm super excited to work with the Thomson family again, and to see the other friends I have in Sanda! If you want to know more about Peter and Wendi Thomson and their ministry, check out their website at www.thomsontimes.com (I'll be doing their 3-month internship).

Please pray about supporting me, prayerfully and financially. I would appreciate prayer because during these three months I will be praying and deciding if Japan is where I want to work long-term. You can also donate financially - donations will go through my church, Harbor Light Chapel. To donate online you can click on the 'Support Me' button. Please click on the red GIVE button and put my name in the memo so it will go to me!

Thanks so much for reading!! God Bless.