See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

– Isaiah 43:19

Last year I went on a mission trip to Japan. We went to 3 churches to lead English camps, get to know the students, and encourage the leaders and pastors. Our team did so much research into the culture and the Christian representation in Japan and found the testimonies from missionaries in Japan to be disheartening.

As I wrote in my support letter, it was known as the “missionary’s graveyard” because of how difficult it is to share the Gospel and see it take root in the country.

For those who don’t know, here are some quick facts:

• Japan’s population: 125.1 million
• The main religion is Shintoism, but most Japanese people are culturally religious and have adopted practices from Shintoism, Buddhism, and Christinaity
• Less than 1.5% of the population identify as Christian
• There are many Christian churches, but very few long-term Biblical pastors

When I first went to Japan as a Master’s student to see the country through the lens of mental health, I was intrigued by their strong resistance to mental health services and apathetic view of religion. For such a highly developed country, their honor/shame culture completely disregards those who can not perform in the same way as their community.

We learned about hikikomori, people who socially isolate themselves in their parent’s home due to feelings of inadequacy, social shame, or the inability to meet expectations of family or society. There could be other reasons, but those were the ones we heard about from mental health specialists in Japan. It broke my heart to hear how the country’s beautifully traditional but rigid culture had caused so many Japanese people to refuse to seek help. With no hope or help, it became clear to me why suicide seemed like the only answer for so many.

As I prepared for the short-term mission trip and talked to many other unrelated Christians about Japan, I discovered something interesting. People’s hearts were stirring for the Japanese people. God led me to the verse in Isaiah and showed me how, though this place deemed a “missionary’s graveyard” had discouraged Christians for decades, through His power He can change the dynamic in a country. He can make streams of water appear even in a barren, hopeless place.

I love Japan and think it’s such a beautiful place with such kind people. But it is spiritually such a dark and heavy place for Christians, which my team and I experienced during our short trip there. Yet, God showed me before, during, and after this trip that He makes the seemingly impossible possible and opens people up even when we don’t always believe. Even now, my heart years to see a change in Japan, and this verse constantly reminds me to keep praying for them.

Japan may feel like the spiritual wilderness and wasteland, but God is making a way there.