Michi and I would like to thank everyone for the prayers that have been lifted up on her behalf over the past 10 days.

She is getting ready to go to her parents’ house sometime in the afternoon on the 15th. Their official family meeting won’t happen until sometime on the 16th, but she’s sure the two days will be filled with conversations of her parents trying to convince her to change her mind and possibly to move back home.

Michi is thankful that her sisters’ husbands will not be in the official meeting on Saturday. Praise God for that answered prayer.

She has been encouraged by your prayers, emails, scriptures, and testimonies. Thank you for sharing with her. From August 11-13, we had our national summer church retreat in Japan. Michi wasn’t planning on going, but she was asked to share about the Thai/Japan exchange program. So she went for the day on Tuesday and ended up being able to spend the night there. We were amazed by how God worked everything out, including placing her in just the right place at the dinner table, surrounded by several young, wise and loving preachers, who listened to her story and gave her advice. They also decided to share her story with everyone, asking for their prayers and had her come forward to be prayed for with her friends standing around her. It was a powerful moment and image that will stand with her through this difficult time. Afterwards several people shared with her their stories of experiencing similar struggles.

Her sister works at an elementary school in Mito and the Assistant English teacher there is a Christian. We are praying that God may use that situation to help her sister to be more understanding.

Michi says “I am still fearful and worried that my family may break my heart. I know that I may not be able to answer their questions and I’m ok with that, but I’m worried that they won’t be able to accept me not answering and they will push me to answer even if I don’t know what to say. I want to be able to say what I really feel in my heart, not just what they want to hear. I want to be calm and to show them respect and love, but it’s difficult to say those things in Japanese.

I don’t know what is going to happen but I’m sure God will give me the words and strength and I just need to pass through this.My family has already started their journey to search for him. I took 5 years on my journey to get to this point, maybe they will take more than 5 years, but God will do something through this meeting and little by little God can make them interested in Him. I don’t feel like I’m facing my enemy in this meeting, but I know that God will set tomorrow and I just need to go through it.I heard many horrible stories about young Japanese trying to explain to their families about wanting to become a Christian. Even if something really bad happens to me, I still have many people who encourage me and I can still be happy about this struggle. It’s going to train me and help me to grow.

Don’t worry about me so much because I’m going to be ok.I’ve been praying so much and know that God will take care of me.I am so thankful for the prayers of my family from all around the world. I appreciate it so very much.

行ってきます！
Love, Michi”