LINDA VESEY - ENGLISH EVANGELISM

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage." Psalm 84:5

As a recent graduate from North Dakota State University on May 12, 2001, I was ready for an opportunity to use my new English degree and jumped at the chance to work abroad. I arrived in Osaka, Japan nine days later with a temporary summer position and little more than courage in my pocket.

It requires strength to leave home and everything familiar. While I may be headstrong, it required even more humility to accept that my after-college plan was unacceptable. As a disobedient Christian I wanted to tell God how I was going to approach my new transition. I quickly realized how little I know about living in grace. I also learned where my strength stopped and God's began. The only familiar thing I had those first months was God and His faithfulness. Nonetheless, in July 2001 after Japan Mission contacted me about joining their staff, I had fits of selfish tantrums before God. "Mission work is too hard and I thought you sent me to school to become an English teacher!"

God is so loving! Once I finished "communicating" with Him, I finally opened myself up to be blessed. By telling God that I would trust His goodness and submit to His plans (no matter what "I" believed I was qualified to do), I applied for the Joy Club team with Japan Mission. God honored my step of faithfulness and began answering prayers that I had stopped praying. While I had feared that the Lord would never answer me, He was just waiting until I returned to obedience. Imagine that!

Since October 2001, as a member of the staff here at Japan Mission, I work to encourage Christians around the area. I teach English in churches as an outreach to the community and as part of an evangelism program. What is even more important than using my education, however, is that I am able to bear witness to the ONE TRUE almighty God everyday. Being secure in Christ Jesus and able to express that identity to those around me is a rewarding place to be. I am declaring God's faithfulness as a woman of Christ, a testimony to anyone who asks. And as I follow the Lord in obedience, I am just waiting to see what He will do next!

Contact Linda by e-mail at: jm@japanmission.org (please put Linda's name in the subject line to ensure the e-mail reaches her).