‘The Reason I Run'
The Reason I Run
I run five mornings per week. I run weekdays, 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. But why do I run? My reason may surprise you.
I think many people run for exercise. Running is good for my heart, my lungs and my muscles, but it’s not the reason I run.
Some people run to train for a race. I’ve had some experience running for races in college and as an adult. But I’m not really training for a race now. It’s not the reason I run.
Some people run to reduce stress. To be honest, this was a big reason I ran when I was a student. Even now I sometimes need to run to burn some energy and reduce stress. But it’s not the most important reason I run.
The reason I run is to make society better. My wife and I moved to Sendai because we wanted to help people after 3.11. But what can we actually do? We moved to Iwakiri in 2013, and I began to run to learn about the neighborhood. Every morning I would take a different route. I even got lost a couple times. One day I came upon many children walking. I wondered where they were walking, so I followed them. Of course, they saw me so I said, “Good morning!” They walked to the elementary school. It was about 7:30 when I ran that day. So I decided to run the same way the next day. I saw more children. I called out, “Good morning!” I discovered there was a junior high school nearby, too.
The next day I began running in front of the elementary school and junior high school two or three or four times. I met many children—probably over 400 every day. Many of the children are sleepy in the morning and some of them walk over a kilometer. In fact, when I ask junior high school students, “How are you?” the most common answer is, “I’m sleepy.”
Some children walk to school every morning by themselves. They look lonely. Many children walk in groups of two or three, but some walk alone. Perhaps school for them is a sad experience. I know some junior high school students who rarely go to school. Finally, I occasionally see children who are bullied. Their classmates hit them and call them names. Perhaps sometimes they are playing, but sometimes I do not think it is play. The bullying stops when I run near them and call out, “Good morning.”
One morning the children were lined up by the gate for greeting duty. I ran between the lines with my hands out for high fives. Many children gave me high fives. So from that day, I always put my hands up for high fives. Some children started to ask me questions, “Are you a foreigner?” “What’s your name?” “Where do you live?” Sometimes they would practice English. “Hello. How are you?” “How old are you?” “What color do you like?” Some children challenge me to rock-paper-scissors. “First is rock …” One day, a little girl went under my outstretched arm and gave me a hug. I was surprised and moved. Now it is not unusual when I get a hug. Sometimes boys will grab my hands and run with me 100 meters. One day a boy, perhaps third grade, took my hand and ran with me about 1,000 meters!
The reason I run is to make a better community. In front of Iwakiri Elementary School there is a sign that says: “With greetings and smiling faces, let’s make a kind town.” I like that. We can do that. Even if we don’t run, we can greet others with a smile. By doing that, let’s make a better Sendai.
Thank you.
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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?
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