I first heard about Michigan Bible Camp from a good friend who had connected with Mrs. Jana Fehr after a church service. My friend mentioned the camp and forwarded me the email address, encouraging me to reach out—something I had never done before.As a 24-year-old woman born and raised in the English-speaking suburbs of Farmington Hills, Michigan, the idea of contacting a camp with primarily Japanese-speaking attendees was daunting, especially since I didn’t know anyone there.
Several years ago, God had placed a burden on my heart for the nation of Japan when I learned about the need for the gospel and the spiritual darkness there. As a result, last year, the Lord prompted me to begin learning Japanese. I began by watching dramas and reading textbooks in the comfort of my bedroom. But it was time to move beyond learning in isolation and step out of my comfort zone. Though I was scared, God gave me a vision:
I approached the open door of a preschool classroom with Jesus’ hand on my shoulder. It was my first time attending, and I was terrified. I watched the other children playing together as if they had known each other their entire lives, worried that I would not be accepted. With fear in my eyes, I looked up at Jesus, and He smiled reassuringly. With His hands, He gently ushered me forward, displaying an air of excitement. I hesitated, but He repeated His gesture as if saying, “Go on…,” with a warm smile that encouraged me to trust Him. I yielded to His prompting and, timidly, approached the group of friends. Immediately, they smiled and embraced me as if I were their very own.
This vision was my answer from the Lord—to trust Him despite my fears.
So I went. And as soon as my feet touched the ground at Camp Michiwana, God proved the vision to be true. I was welcomed with open arms and joyful hearts by all the camp attendees. I remember being warmly hugged by strangers who made me feel like family (after all, in the spiritual realm, we are family). The camp was filled with believers of all ages, shapes, sizes, and life stages—some young, some old, and some in between. I was surprised by the number of people who had flown in to attend and was blessed to speak with many of them. Hearing their testimonies of accepting Christ and getting involved at the camp was one of my favorite parts. Everyone’s lives are different and complex, yet Jesus’ character remains the same throughout.
Although I was shy about showcasing my Japanese skills, the sweet ladies I roomed with were especially loving and encouraging, helping me learn the whole weekend. I now know how to say “お腹すいた” (I’m hungry), which I know will certainly come in handy. I was also privileged to serve on the worship team with my violin and lead high school group discussions. The weekend was filled with rich conversations, incredible sermons, Japanese morning exercises (which I now practice every morning—they really do help wake you up), quiet moments by the lake, fun games like blindfolded watermelon smashing (which was definitely new to me), sardines, three-legged races, jump rope challenges, and campfires. It was an incredible weekend of bonding and connection, all centered around Jesus Christ. Because of this camp, I am now seriously and prayerfully considering the possibility of serving missions in Japan. But for now, I wish to attend Michigan Bible Camp annually and am grateful I listened to the voice and vision of God encouraging me to go. What were once strangers are now my new family.
This year, it has been a joy and honor to be a leader at WIT. WIT started in 2007 by JCFN, an evangelical christian network organization. WIT is a leadership camp that is held annually in the United States. All of the participants were invited by someone who previously attended WIT before. At the same time, all the leaders were once a participant of WIT. Every year there are always new first time participants and leaders, and by God’s grace this has been going on for the past 17 years. 
