Michiyo Sakai is a precious sister in Christ. We've been friends a long time. We've seen her come to Christ, raised our children together, worked together in service, seen our kids make professions of faith together, and shared many pieces of our lives. This fall, we are walking through a valley with Michiyo. She has a tumor on her lung; tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. it will be removed, and if it is cancer, they will also remove 1/3 of her right lung. She is 45 years old. She is a shining testimony of God's grace. She is a leader of women and a servant of all in our church. And so on this night before her surgery, my heart is filled with the question, "WHY, LORD??" Michiyo's asked the same question, of course. But she doesn't linger there. She moves on to truth: "God tells us he makes us more like Jesus through suffering." "I know that all things work together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose." "If God is for me, who can be against me?" etc...
People have been moved by her faith--they've praised her for her courage and strength. Michiyo responds with a firm, "NO--it is Christ in me, nothing of myself." Really, it's been a beautiful thing to see. Oh, she's had tears. We've cried some of those together, others she's shed in the dark when nobody else can see. But in the end, the smile wins out. She's been a living testimony of God's strength being perfected in weakness.
I hope you will pray for my friend and sister. Pray for her husband Toshi to meet Jesus face to face through this journey. Pray for her daughter Noel--far away in the States--and her son Leo. Pray for us. We love Michiyo. And we pray for God's grace to rejoice in whatever tomorrow holds...
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