Desperately searching
Mr. K. lost both of his parents in the terrible earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck northeast Japan in 2011. He struggled for many years with post-traumatic stress disorder until coming into contact with some Christians who loved him and served him unconditionally. Through their ministry, he put his faith in Christ and was baptized. Here is his testimony:
I grew up in the midst of traditional religious culture, regularly going to shrines, worshiping at temples, revering our ancestors season after season. I took for granted that this was the model for life.
After I grew up, I got a job and everything sailed along smoothly in my life. I was busy and occupied every day; my family was well and harmonious; life was filled with dreams and hope. Economically, I was fairly well off; I could go drinking from pub to pub in Sendai every night, travel abroad each year, buy a new car when I felt like it. Basically I could do anything I wanted, and lived a self-centered life up until the 3-11 disaster in Japan. Suddenly, my pleasant life was jolted and twisted.
I lost both of my beloved parents in the tsunami. In the first week after the earthquake, I desperately searched all the school shelters and hospitals for my parents’ names, but I found nothing. For the next 45 days, I went daily to the places where bodies were being taken, looking carefully at the faces of hundreds of bodies, filled with deep fear that I would somehow overlook one of them. Finally, I saw my mother in a crude coffin and my father’s body was placed in a plastic bag. I deeply mourned the reality of both my parents’ demise. I felt the pain of their loss so deeply that I didn’t even shed a tear.
Afterwards, I tried to get away from hopeless Japan by going abroad, thinking I could escape from all that had happened. However, I couldn’t recover from the pain in my heart. I was living like a walking corpse. In that condition, I began repairing my parents’ house that was destroyed by the tsunami.
One day, as I was working on the house, Brother Otomo Tsuneo and Brother Kuriyama came to see me and asked if I’d like to receive a free renovation project plan from Samaritan’s Purse. That was the first opportunity I had to hear about Jesus.
The two of them unconditionally accepted me, who was stuck deeply in grief, and they shared their testimonies of salvation with me. Most service volunteers will come and help once, but not return; however, these two were different. Not only did they continue to come, they brought other volunteers with them, who comforted me, encouraged me, prepared food for me, helped to clean my house, took me to the hot springs, even up till now. Being neither their relative nor their old friend, I couldn’t understand why they were so nice to me. I also saw a difference in the life of another man at the church after his baptism, which caused me to long for similar changes in myself. So, I gradually became more interested in Christianity.
This past March, SEND missionary Tina Lin spent four intense days helping me go through a course on Basic Christian Truth. Finally, I understood how self-centered I’d been, deep in sin, living a disorderly life. I confessed that I am a sinner and traded the “self” that was sitting on the throne in my heart for Jesus to sit there. I accept and believe that Jesus paid for my sins on the cross. Then the four of us – Tina, Brother Otomo Tsuneo, Brother Kuriyama and me – prayed together. From that time, I am a changed person. I was formerly filled with helplessness, having no energy to do things and continually drinking alcohol. Now that is changed and I have initiated getting involved in volunteer activity. I hope that I can help some who are even in more difficulty and suffering than I was.
Recently, people around me have often said to me: “You’re changed!” My life has changed to be filled with hope. The verse I like most is: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)
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?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
