It’s “Flowers” not “Flyers”

The Lord speaks in weird ways sometimes. 

For the past week, our entire squad of 19 people have been staying in Ishinomaki, Japan. It is a city about 7 hours north of Tokyo, and was the Japanese city affected most by the Tsunami of 2011. 

This month, we are partnering with a local Christian cafe. We have hosted movie nights and even a concert from inside of this cafe, but the day-to-day looks like having English conversations with locals who are trying to learn the language, and passing out flyers to advertise the cafe and its events. 

One day, as we were about to go pass out flyers, several of us prayed together in a circle, and I was volunteered to pray over the flyers and the possible conversations that would occur. However, every single time I tried to say the word, “flyers”, it came out as “flowers”. It happened a couple of times, even though I knew the word I was trying to say.

But that’s no big deal, right?

So after a few laughs, we all parted ways, and my group began to walk towards a local bridge, thinking no more of how I misspoke. However, on our way to the bridge, I immediately saw a store that was lit up. The entire block seemed to be closed and dark, but this particular shop was bright and inviting. It stuck out amongst the row of dimly lit homes. 

And what did this particular shop sell? Flowers. Of course. 

As soon as I saw it, I felt the Lord urge us to go in. It sounded crazy, why would anyone go into a shop simply because I misspoke a word? Well, as I’ve learned a lot this past year, the Holy Spirit works in crazy ways sometimes. Actually, He’s pretty crazy most of the time.

So we all went in! We met a very kind woman named Utsumi and she told us (through our teammate, Susanna who speaks fluent Japanese) about the tsunami and pointed out a church that helped serve the community after the disaster. We then asked her if she was a Christian, to which she responded that she wasn’t. We told her about the cafe and gave her a flyer, and continued to talk to her. Before we left, we asked if we could pray for her shop. She happily agreed. 

We said a prayer over her and her shop and I was absolutely blessed by how God arranged this entire meeting. He truly is in the details. 

As we prepared to leave, my friend Molly and I offered to purchase one of her flowers in the shop. But she would not have it. She beautifully wrapped up two flowers and gave them to us, free of charge. 

What a blessing! I realized through that encounter just how much joy I have in being a part of the pursuit. God is pursuing Utsumi’s heart, and He called us to go to her that night for a reason, even if only to pray. And that is beyond humbling. I believe that Utsumi will know the truth and that it will set her free one day, but until then I will continue to pray and I plan to see her again before we leave. 

I have pressed the flower in my journal, and every time I open up to it, I will pray over Utsumi, Ishinomaki, and Japan as a whole. This city has experienced so much pain, but I can see the Lord’s work in redeeming it. And what a blessing it is to be a part of the Lord’s work. And to think, we would not have gone into that shop if I had pronounced “flyers” correctly. Thanks, Holy Spirit.

I encourage you to pay attention to the little moments that take place, such as mispronouncing a word. Perhaps the Lord is leading you to something!