Don’t ever think reaching out to one person won’t make a difference.
Japan Reach started from one relationship. As a result, this one relationship has blossomed into many more beautiful relationships with the Japanese people.
This one relationship began in 2017 when I went to the hospital in my city to visit a mom from Japan who was waiting for her daughter to recover from a terrible car accident. I can’t imagine the difficulties she was experiencing. She came to an unfamiliar place not knowing anyone or completely understanding the language to be with her suffering daughter.
Surprisingly, I had no idea at the time this one relationship would lead to many more relationships with the Japanese people and others.
Our focus from the very beginning of Japan Reach has been to reach out to the one.
For this reason, this makes Japan Reach unique from other mission trips I have been on. Sometimes on mission trips we can easily go to a place for two weeks and never learn about the culture or make personal lasting relationships with the people in the community.
We encourage our team members to get connected with people, learn about what they like, and be a friend to them. People want relationships. We all need someone in our life who cares about us.
Jesus was involved in people’s lives. He got close, He stayed in their homes, and He spent time with them. He knew the importance of one life and the impact one life can have on many lives.
One Relationship Matters
The lady at the Buddhist temple matters.
The student who wants to practice his English with us matters.
The people who own the bakery down the street from the church matters.
The ninety-one year old man waiting to board the bus matters.
The little child waiting to take a picture with one of our team members matters.
The man walking down the road matters.
I could go on and on about the one on one connections Japan Reach has made.
It’s amazing what God can do through making a connection with one person. If you decide to join one of our trips I do believe you will make some lasting relationships too.
Therefore do all your work in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)
Blessings,
Tina