We are blessed and thankful!
The year 1974 was a long time ago.
But four friendships have lasted over the years with cherished rich memories.
It all started with my desire to follow Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
I had been privileged to be born where I heard the Gospel and had the Bible and a God-fearing church to attend.
In Romans 1:18-25 Paul expressed that he was a debtor or had an obligation to preach to those who had not heard the Gospel — the Gentiles of his day. Why had I been blessed to hear the Gospel and have the Bible in my language?
Think about Romans 10:14-15, “And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” I had heard the Gospel. What could I do for those who hadn’t?
The Baptists had a Journeyman Program for people who had graduated from college and wanted to spend two years serving alongside missionaries and national Christians in a foreign country for a small stipend. Since I graduated in English and education, I applied and was offered a position at a Japanese Baptist Girl’s School in Kokura, Japan.
There I taught English in the junior high, senior high and junior college. I also worked with Japanese Christians through a local church, teaching English Bible classes, doing outreach into the community, working with local colleges with English, and giving devotionals in assembly at our school. We put on school plays, wrote English lessons around Bible truth, and were privileged to see two young women we worked with become Christians.
Was I alone? No! I had a partner from Tennessee who was with me and we developed a deep friendship as we ministered together and learned to live in a culture so different from our own.
Because the Journeyman overlapped in the two years of service, another girl joined us after our first year and she, too, became a true friend and partner as we continued to live and share with our community. A career missionary was assigned to our school and city, and she arrived after we had been there a year since she had been on furlough in the states for our first year. She provided mentorship, friendship and much wisdom as we continued to work side by side.
Friendships rooted in Christ are eternal. As we get together for reunions, we rejoice that although each of us is involved in different ministries now, we are all still strong in our faith in Jesus Christ, His salvation plan and His call to spread the Good News to all.
Blessed. We are blessed! And thankful!
