An Unexpected Financial Emergency

Greetings, everyone!

This is going to be a shorter and somewhat unexpected update, but Misako and I would really appreciate your prayers concerning a financial problem that happened this week.

For the past seven years of living in Japan, whenever I've needed to withdraw money from my American bank account, I've simply used a local ATM. I've never had any major problems with fees, exchange rates, or withdrawals before. Unfortunately, that changed this week.

I withdrew ¥100,000 (around $635) from an ATM to help pay our monthly expenses. I received exactly ¥100,000 in cash, but when I attempted another withdrawal, it was declined due to insufficient funds. Confused, I checked my American bank account and discovered that I had been charged nearly $960 for that ¥100,000 withdrawal: around $300 more than I actually received.

Ouch.

I've already filed a claim with my bank, and they are currently investigating what happened. Please pray that they will be able to find the problem and recover the missing money.

Unfortunately, bills don't exactly wait patiently while banks investigate things! Because of the unexpected loss, Misako and I had to dip into some of the money we had saved for our baby in order to cover this month's expenses.

That one hurt.

I remember telling Misako that evening, "I feel like I'm already failing my daughter, and she hasn't even been born yet."

But after praying together, comforting one another, and bringing our worries before the Lord, I felt His peace. I was reminded of something incredibly simple, but very easy to forget when you see money suddenly disappear from your bank account:

Money is just money.

It isn't our god. It isn't our security. And it isn't the source of our joy or peace. God is.

Of course, we're praying that the bank discovers what happened and returns the missing money! But I also prayed something else: "Lord, either recover it for us, or let it be a sacrifice to You."

Whatever happens, that money belongs to Him anyway. He has faithfully provided for us throughout all these years in Japan, and I have no reason to believe He will suddenly stop now.

So please pray for the bank's investigation, for the money to be recovered, and for Misako and me to have wisdom and peace as we prepare for our daughter's arrival next month. Thank you all so much for continuing to pray for us and walk alongside our little family here in Japan. God bless you all!

Matthew 6:31–33

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."