The neighbor lady over my shoulder in the photo is so precious to us. This day she was showing us her tea processing building. She was so happy to hear we were interested in using it because it feels to her like it should be used for something good.

Before her husband died, the building was used to process green tea. The building would be similar in legal requirements to what we need. We’ve been praying for a building to use as a certified manufacturing location for the natural remedies we grow, process, and plan to sell. In Japan, business requirements are more demanding than where we’re from. We must have a building or we stay out of business. And, we have no regular income otherwise. For us, this seem so important, but God knows.

Her building seemed like a perfect opportunity. Our neighbor was so happy with the prospect. I’m thankful my wife had the sensitivity to ask her to check with her eldest son before we finalized the agreement. Her son, who lives in another town, was not yet ready to have the building used because of the memories he has of his father working in there.

We are content that God knows what we have need of even before we ask. Our budget is so low, it makes it very difficult for us to find what we need. We are perplexed, but not in despair. Is anything too hard for the Lord?!

On this day, our neighbor was telling us about life with her husband and the work that happened in the building she was showing us. She told us of a small orchard her husband planted that is no longer being cared for since he died. She told us that she can no longer care for it because it is across the village from her house, and that we can begin harvesting from the orchard and caring for it if we want the future fruit. What a blessing! And, then she gave me an unexpected testimony. She said that when her husband was living she followed him everywhere in all that he did, many times to and from the orchard on the other side of the village…. and then she said, “That is why am I am the way I am.”

That was a beautiful story of a faithful bride who followed her husband everywhere he went. She recognized that by being with him and entering his work made her who she is today. I thought… that sounds like the way we are supposed to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. We are called to “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” And the result is that “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Please pray for our neighbor. She does not yet know Jesus, but we are investing in her and see her a gem that Jesus wants in His kingdom. We regularly visit her… and she regularly visits us. I pray to give you the expected testimony one day soon that she has accepted Jesus as her personal savior.