Glory Speaking: Missions in Japan

Thank you all for praying for us! Like David wrote last time, we're in Michigan attending SEND's COP (Candidate Orientation Program). This is the third day into COP and I (Tomo) already feel exhausted.. The first two days were assessment. Yesterday, I took a Bible knowledge test first thing in the morning, which was very hard! I was running out of time as I was doing the essay section and I felt like crying. And as soon as the test was over, I was separated from David (!) and was told to go downstairs with half of the group to do case study, which was basically discussion. It was hard because the discussion was done in English and I was the only non-white, non-American person in the group. After the morning session was over, I had to go back to the room and cry for a little bit to get it all out of my system before joining everyone for lunch. We had a time after dinner to share our testimonies (there are 7 other candidates), which was very encouraging but it was again all in English. It was a loong day. Today's been less hectic. We got our picture taken for prayer cards and I met with a counselor in the morning. Now we're waiting for our appointment with one of the personnel staff for a pre-interview interview. This whole two weeks in a group of Americans sharing testimonies and being tested in a second language is certainly a challenge! I thank God for this challenge because "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3-4)", I mean what I'm going through right now is nothing compared to the "suffering" that Paul had to go through, but still, you know. Again, thanks for praying and please continue to pray for endurance and encouragement!