Becoming a missionary: Anna's journey
Anna Rosengren recently moved to Japan for her first term of missionary service with SEND. It’s tempting to say that her journey began as the plane took off, but that’s not how Anna thinks of it. The “fly to Japan” part rested on the prayer, support, and training that have gone into preparing her for successful long-term ministry.
“I am truly grateful for the people surrounding me who care about what God is doing in and through me and what he’s doing in Japan,” Anna says. “This is my cloud of witnesses.”
People often ask what it takes to become a missionary—a tricky question, because God gives each person a unique story. Here’s the story he gave Anna:
End of 2015
I was in Japan doing a different ministry, when I had conversations with SEND’s Area Director and other missionaries about working with SEND Japan.
End of 2015
I was in Japan doing a different ministry, when I had conversations with SEND’s Area Director and other missionaries about working with SEND Japan.
January 2016
I filled out a questionnaire with SEND, interviewed with one of the mission’s mobilizers, and started the application process—filled out forms, took tests, and video chatted with personnel coordinators.
I filled out a questionnaire with SEND, interviewed with one of the mission’s mobilizers, and started the application process—filled out forms, took tests, and video chatted with personnel coordinators.
June 2016
I was invited to Candidate Orientation Program (COP), at which there was an interview with the Missionary Appointment Committee, official acceptance as an appointee to Japan with SEND, and training by experienced coaches to prepare us for Partner Development (i.e. support raising). I was paired with a member care coach from SEND to help me with my Partner Development season.
I was invited to Candidate Orientation Program (COP), at which there was an interview with the Missionary Appointment Committee, official acceptance as an appointee to Japan with SEND, and training by experienced coaches to prepare us for Partner Development (i.e. support raising). I was paired with a member care coach from SEND to help me with my Partner Development season.
After COP
I started having monthly, and eventually bi-monthly, video chats with my coach—so helpful and needed for me to set deadlines, create goals, and build structure in how I approached not only Partner Development, but life!
I started having monthly, and eventually bi-monthly, video chats with my coach—so helpful and needed for me to set deadlines, create goals, and build structure in how I approached not only Partner Development, but life!
Around this time, my Advocate Team (A-team) formed at my home church. My A-team has been committed to praying for/with me, brainstorming with me, and keeping me accountable during this part of the journey. They’re representatives on my behalf to the larger body of my sending church and will continue to meet together once a month even while I’m in Japan. I’m so thankful for them!
Summer 2017
I attended SEND’s North America Annual Conference, where I got to know some of the other missionaries and personnel who serve all over the world. I also attended Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills, a training that emphasized the importance of reading social cues in different situations, handling grief and conflict well, and how this is all applied in a ministry context.
I attended SEND’s North America Annual Conference, where I got to know some of the other missionaries and personnel who serve all over the world. I also attended Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills, a training that emphasized the importance of reading social cues in different situations, handling grief and conflict well, and how this is all applied in a ministry context.
Mid-2018
I was able to quit my part-time job to focus all of my attention and energy on full-time support raising and training. I attended SEND’s Member Orientation Program to prepare me for living in a cross-cultural context and a language-acquisition course to prepare me for being a lifelong language learner.
I was able to quit my part-time job to focus all of my attention and energy on full-time support raising and training. I attended SEND’s Member Orientation Program to prepare me for living in a cross-cultural context and a language-acquisition course to prepare me for being a lifelong language learner.
The pre-Japan journey
Before I even moved to Japan, I:
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Additional Posts

Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?



