My Internship in Japan: What I Learned About Prayer and Sharing the Gospel

“One of your goals for this internship is to share the gospel with one person ... .”

Hearing that expectation set months before I went to Nagoya was simultaneously underwhelming and overwhelming. Obviously, going on a mission trip means sharing the gospel. That is the usual expectation.

So why was the expectation so low? Why did the goal have to be expressed?

Japan presents missionaries with some unique difficulties. Japanese people are private and polite. They could “listen” just to be nice and move on with their lives. Like many mission fields, sharing the gospel in Japan is rarely a one-time activity. It is expected that sharing the gospel involves getting acquainted with the individual personally. In Japan, that means intentionally communicating, connecting, and investing despite cultural and language barriers. It is a daunting task that did not seem accomplishable in two months. Even so, the other interns and I were encouraged to pray for those unknown people with whom we would share the gospel. The challenge of trusting God with this task had just begun.

The Unexpected Challenge of Connection

Prayer is a difficult task. The effort, time, and intentionality required can cause us to sweep prayer to the side in favor of something more tangible. But it is vital to the life of a Christian and even more so for a Christian in a country filled with spiritual darkness and an absence of God’s light. Whether called to be a missionary overseas or called to minister at home, we are all commanded to pray. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). What a hard task to accomplish! Praise the LORD for His grace in forgiving us for failing in this command. For how is it even possible to pray without ceasing?

I arrived in Japan with apprehension and excitement. My first week was exhausting and busy. Jet lag and the early rising sun woke me up at 5:00 a.m. every morning, but I was starting to feel comfortable navigating the subway and train system. Then a couple of days into our first week, our orientation again reminded me of our goal. Share the gospel with one person; pray for that person while you wait for God to open the doors. I was determined to meet this goal.

I garnered the courage to start conversations and complimented others while traveling to and from the homes where I tutored. But despite my small desperate efforts, I could not seem to make a genuine connection. In between my tutoring responsibilities, I found myself with extra time, but not quite enough to go back to my apartment. Instead, I made my way to one of the many Starbucks in Nagoya. The often busy coffee shops were the perfect place to read my Bible, write updates for my supporters, seek out opportunities to talk to other college-age students, and pray. All of a sudden, I had time to pray deeply and constantly. Between my commutes and my free time, God had provided time for me to be alone with my thoughts and prayers. Though constantly surrounded by people, the language barrier forced me to communicate with the only One who fully understands me.

Nearly every day, I wrote out prayers in my notebook, whispered prayers on the subway, praised the LORD as I enjoyed the beauty of Japan. God gave me a glimpse of how to pray without ceasing. It is easy to talk to people here in the U.S.; it is hard to remember to talk to God here. But when you do not know the language of the people you are surrounded by, it is all made simple. I talk a lot and God was there in Japan to listen. What could have been many moments of loneliness became moments of companionship with my King. Moments that could have been overwhelming became moments of peace. What a gift to be given! And though time continued without any success at making connections, my goal slowly became not something that I was setting out to achieve, but something that I knew God would open the door to and give me the courage for in His time.

A New Friend and Answered Prayer

Toward the end of June, I was able to serve by working in the nursery at a Nagoya-wide youth group. With my elementary-level Japanese, I was less intimidated by spending time with younger-than-elementary-age children, and I was not working with the toddlers alone. A younger college-age Japanese girl also worked in the nursery. She had an impressive understanding of English and because of this, we were able to communicate and get to know one another. I got her number and we agreed to get coffee a couple of weeks later. I served at the youth group several times afterward, but she was never there again. Though there was some connection that was unknown to me, I am confident that God was working through that specific moment and individual situation.

Now I knew who I was praying for! God had given me a gift and a path forward. I kept looking for opportunities to start conversations and make connections, but God gave me a peace that accompanies trusting Him. And then I saw firsthand God’s promise fulfilled in Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

I got coffee with my new friend, and we talked for hours. God gave me the courage and the words to share the gospel with her. Though she did not receive faith that day, God had given me the boldness to plant seeds. While my heart longs for the day that her heart is open to the truth, she is in God’s hands alone. I continued to spend time with my friend throughout my time in Nagoya when we could; now I text her occasionally and pray for her often.

Though this was not the first time I ever shared the gospel with someone, through the experience God taught me many things. First, I am not in control of what situations God presents me with, but I am called to be watchful in prayer. As Colossians 4:2-3 says, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ ...”

Second, I have nothing lasting to lose, but everything lasting to gain from sharing God’s love with others. As Matthew 6 commands us, we are to store up treasures in heaven.

Third, boldness is a gift resulting from true hope (2 Corinthians 3:12). And what a gift it is to serve God by sharing that hope.

Last, prayer is powerful. Seen and unseen, God is working. He always has been and always will be. Jesus has torn the veil that separated us from God and now we can speak intimately with the God of all things. How could we pass up that opportunity? “ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. ... He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-21, 24).

By the end of my trip, God had opened the door for me to share the gospel with two other young women. I pray for the salvation of all three girls and marvel at what a transformation God did in me through those experiences. Praise be to God, our Savior, Creator, and Friend.

Over the course of the summer, God transformed me and gave me a more tender heart for missions in Japan. Upon my return home, I took time to pray and debrief. After about a month, God was still stirring my heart to serve Him in Japan. I worked eagerly to make my way back to Nagoya and God has opened the door for my return this fall. This time, I’ll be working with the same missionaries and seminary for six months. I will get to tutor missionary kids, serve Christ Bible Institute, share God’s love, and be hands and feet where needed. I’ll also have the chance to spend more time with my Japanese friend and show her the love of Christ. I am so grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in my life and in the lives of the Japanese He places in my path.