The Beginning Of My Missionary Journey

On April 2, 2012, I will be starting a university program called a DTS (Discipleship Training School) through the YWAM University of the Nations in Tokyo, Japan (http://www.ywamtokyo.org/). It is a five month Christian missionary training program: the training phase is three months and the outreach phase is two. I really feel God has called me to this program to strengthen my relationship with him and step towards the plans he has for my life.

Why Japan? God has drawn me to this nation and given me a heart for its people; which I’m sure will only grow in my time there. Though there is not a lot of physical need in Japan (other than the recent tsunami), there is an enormous spiritual need. Statistics reveal shocking results when it comes to the suicide rate in Japan and it is only rising with each year. Last year 34,427 Japanese people ended their own lives and studies also show that 85% of Japanese teens wonder why they even exist. God wants this nation to see their purpose in Jesus and realize their lives are precious in His sight. They need to know of His great love. Therefore, why not Japan?

Although, doing a DTS will only be the beginning of my time in Japan. After I’m done my DTS I would like to do two other programs through University of the Nations. The first is a School of Worship, and since all the U of N credits are transferrable to any of its many bases around the world, I may study at the Jeju, Korea base. Then I plan on completing a nine month program called School of Biblical Studies. After I’m finished with my schooling, my vision is to be a missionary in Japan. In this I would like to be a part in establishing and staffing a School of Worship in Japan. God is doing great things in Japan; I cannot wait to see what He has in store and be a part of it.

During the two month outreach phase our team will be doing missions work in Japan and also in the Philippines. In Tokyo we will be reaching out to youth and evangelizing. We’ll also be serving the areas that were affected by the tsunami and earthquake. Here is a video from last year’s class and how they partnered with God in helping the tsunami effected are: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBjUM1u1ZDA[/youtube]

In the Philippines the team will be contributing to the effort of safe guarding those who are potential trafficking victims. Working with orphanages and youth will also be a part of our time there. Overall, outreach will be a very exciting, challenging and moving experience. I can’t wait to see what God has in store.

Thanks to my parent’s, an education fund, and some saving, I have enough funds to pay for the training phase of the DTS; which is around $5000 US. Therefore I only have to fundraise for flights and the outreach phase. The round flight from Cambodia to Japan is $813 US, but the flights to and from the Philippines have yet to be determined. The remaining outreach cost is around $1700 US. To help raise funds I will be selling my paintings online but I cannot start this until I reach Tokyo because the mailing system in Cambodia is unreliable. Thankfully the payment for the outreach phase is not due until June 1st so I will have two months to raise funds that way. God is my provider and my rock, and He is taking great care of me. “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”

If you feel led to support me in prayer or finance please email me and let me know some of your prayer requests as well.

God Bless,
Rebecca Boudreau
[email protected]