The Detour was Better
Ana Aquino began her missionary journey with SEND International and has spent the last few years in Japan. Coming from a Filipino-Canadian background, she had to start from scratch when learning Japanese language and culture. Learning a new language is a laborious task, and the Japanese language is one of the most difficult languages for a foreigner to learn. It can take many
years to become fluent. Ana has often felt like giving up; yet God has called her to his mission, and she presses on!
Challenging Communication
Ana is passionate about evangelism. However, without knowing the language and culture well, it can be challenging to communicate the message clearly and persuasively.
To grow her understanding, Ana has been spending much of her time around Japanese friends who are bilingual. She can interact and learn about their culture while growing her Japanese skills. Sadly, many of these women are not interested in the Gospel Ana has shared.
Ana has been discouraged by not seeing fruit in her ministry to Japanese people. However, Japan is a place where spiritual fruit is not seen immediately. Effective gospel work requires patience and long-term relationship. Ana continues to learn how to present the message in a way that Japanese people understand and embrace.
An Unexpected Mission Field
Happily, God’s plans are far greater than a language barrier! Ana discovered another group of people in Japan who need the gospel: Filipino women. Many Filipino women marry Japanese men and live in Japan. They have been in the country for years and can speak both Filipino and Japanese! God has led Ana to reach out to these women, and already two have given their lives to Christ! And now, they desire to pass the gospel message on.
“God has encouraged me that my role is to evangelize, disciple, and train them, and then they can share it with their Japanese family and friends in Japanese
,” Ana says.
Ana has grabbed hold of this new mission and continues to meet and train the women. At the beginning of the COVID lockdown, she was meeting with two women over Zoom for Bible study. That group has already grown to 6! Despite a lack of Japanese language ability, Ana sees God’s gift in this fresh and creative way to reach those around her with the gospel. It may not have been the most direct path to reach the Japanese around her but, in this case, the detour was better!
Pray for Perseverance
Even now, language continues to be a challenge - and Ana is not alone. Learning a new language is a mountain that often seems impossible to climb for anyone, and many missionaries find themselves discouraged in the process. We must lift them up in prayer!
May God encourage their hearts as they seek to minister! “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9).
Written by Amy Magwood.
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?
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