Yuri first came to my ESL tutoring class 20 years ago, when she was starting fifth grade. Four years later, her father was transferred to Toronto, and Yuri moved there with her family. Eventually, she found me on Facebook, and we began messaging. She wanted to talk about her future.

In one message, she wrote:
“I remembered praying in your class, so I tried praying by myself. Then I felt peace and knew that everything would be all right. I knew God was there.”

After graduating from high school, Yuri returned to Japan alone. She moved in with her aunt, attended college in Yokohama, found a church, was baptized, and immediately joined a ministry that shares Jesus with youth.

Fast-forward to 2023. Ben, a U.S. Navy sailor, visited Yuri’s church. Her pastor introduced them, since Yuri was the only person there who spoke English. Three months later, they were engaged. Jeff and I had the honor of attending their wedding in Texas and praying before the meal.

Yuri joined a Cadence International ministry group. Cadence International serves U.S. military personnel and their families. She has been co-leading a group of Japanese wives of sailors at Yokosuka Naval Base who have not yet come to Christ. Two U.S. leaders recently moved because of military reassignments, and the leadership is praying for new leaders during this transition.

Ben and Yuri welcomed their first daughter, Naomi, in 2025, and Yuri is now expecting their second child in March 2027. However, Ben was deployed to the Middle East (the Strait of Hormuz) in August aboard the USS George Washington.

Please pray for Yuri and her family during this challenging time, as well as for her Cadence group, where she receives spiritual support and shares the love of Christ with Japanese military wives.

Philippians 1:12 “…what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”