Missions

Us + Japan

To learn more, partner in giving monthly, or join our prayer list go to: https://give.encompassworldpartners.org/person/kylerandclaire

Hey friends! Kyler here… I want to give you some background and context as to how missions has become not only a part of our lives, but a part of our purpose.

Personally, I have always struggled with pinpointing what I want to do and who I want to be. As a kid, when people would always ask “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I never had an answer. This was a dilemma for me because I am such a big dreamer. I am always up for a challenge and desire to live radically.

Through college, and on the journey of figuring out what to do after, I still had no idea of what it was that I wanted to live for. To be known for. I worked construction, then I was a 5th grade teacher, a volleyball, basketball, and track coach. I tried working at a church with high school students, and most recently I was a pool cleaner. Mind you, this was all within about 3 years. Then, my perspective was totally rocked. I read the book “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper, and he said, 

“But whatever you do, find the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated passion of your life, and find your way to say it and live for it and die for it. Then you will make a difference that lasts. You will not waste your life.”

John Piper

Finally!! I felt like John was speaking straight to me… Telling me that I have to find something I am truly passionate about, that is also Christ-exalting. Then I have to learn how to live and die for it, and at that point, my life would no longer be a waste. It might sound like an impossible mission, but in my mind this was the number one priority and my only option. I had to discover it. 

During my time as a teacher, I was invited to join the missions team through the high school to go do ministry in Japan for two weeks. With absolutely no hesitation and tons of excitement, I accepted. Literally two days before we left, I had asked Claire to be my girlfriend. When I returned home from Japan, all I wanted was to go back. This wasn’t just the “camp high” that I had felt before. This was a true conviction. A true calling.

“This was a true conviction. A true calling.”

As I went on with my school year that conviction never left. I went again to Japan the following year and while I was there, I was so confident that one day, I would live there. It is hard to describe the feeling, I just knew God wanted to use me there. I told everyone I wasn’t going back to California, that this was my new home!! But of course, I boarded the plane and returned to my normal, everyday life. 

About 8 months later, on June 17th 2017, Claire and I got married! This was a day I will never forget, and it changed the trajectory of my life. At the time, it seemed that everything I felt about Japan and the desire to move there just slowly drifted out of view. I had a wife I needed to take care of and provide for. I had a house, two new cars, insurance, and many more bills that needed to be paid. I got caught living the life that many people call “The American Dream”. To me, it felt more like living pay check to pay check, buying things we don’t really need to live a life we don’t really want.

“I got caught living the life that many people call “The American Dream”

Over the next year Claire and I both went to Japan two times. After the first trip Claire told me she wanted to move there. I laughed, and told her all the reasons that there was no way we could leave everything in California. She was in disbelief and finally called me out. She reminded me of all the times I used to say that I wanted to move there while we were dating. She reminded me of the conviction and calling I once felt. And as much as that rekindled the fire I once had, I still was doubtful that moving to Japan would ever be a reality. 

In what only could’ve been the Lord’s doing, we received an official invitation to be missionaries in Japan under our dear friend Ralph Justinano who has been there over twenty years. Long story short, and through MUCH prayer and interceding of the Holy Spirit, we listened and obeyed the calling of Christ. This is the desire of our heart…

“GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Matthew 28:19

All that to say, WE ARE GOING TO BE FULL TIME MISSIONARIES IN JAPAN!!!

We have spent the past year going through the process of becoming missionaries with Encompass World Partners to join in what God is doing in Japan full time! We became accepted into the mission in August, and are now fundraising to move there.

We are looking for people who want to partner with us in spreading the gospel in Japan through praying for us and also supporting us financially.

To join our prayer partner list, receive email updates on our ministry, or support us financially- please click the link below!

We are so grateful for your love and support not only for us, but for God’s passionate love for the Japanese people.

To learn more, partner in giving monthly, or join our prayer list go to: https://give.encompassworldpartners.org/person/kylerandclaire