We wanted to finish our Bible school actually in July 2020 and leave for Japan in autumn. But Corona threw our schedule neatly into disarray. So after our eight-week internship, which we did in Japan from March 11 to May 5, 2020, our return flights were canceled twice. So we were stuck in Japan. However, it was possible, thank God, to complete our Bible school training from Japan.

Because there was also a ban on entering Japan without any prospect of being lifted until our planned departure in the fall, we got more and more the impression by God that we should try to stay in Japan right away.

So we took the leap of faith and applied for a long-term missionary visa with OMF Japan on July 30. The chances that it would be issued in time were close to zero, and normally it is not possible to apply for such a visa from within Japan. On top of all that, we were told at the immigration office that the application would generally not be processed as long as the entry ban was in place.

We honestly didn’t know what was better: Staying in Japan or returning to Germany for the time being? Both had advantages and disadvantages. And so we put this decision entirely in God’s hands. If it was His will to let us stay here, He would somehow take care of this visa.

After much prayer for guidance and waiting, God did indeed make the impossible possible and our visa was approved on September 7 – one day before our tourist visa expired – and even for three years! We have heard some miraculous visa stories from other missionaries over the past few months. Now we can tell our own to the glory of God!