“This report on my computer says it has a little bit of a smell . . . maybe it’s just air freshener. . . . Are you still interested?” The car dealer looked at me pensively.

I thought back to the many times my father had told me of warning signs that a car had been previously owned by someone who smoked. “No,” I replied.

Back to the drawing board, I thought. A brand-new car could take months to be delivered, and we needed a car as soon as possible for a variety of reasons. I had found this gently used car online and available at a nearby car lot, but it looked like a dead end, and I had already looked at all the other listings throughout the entire prefecture for this type of car by the manufacturer. They were much more than “gently” used. I dreaded the upcoming hours of research on Japanese websites to find another car—somewhere.

After a few moments, the dealer said, “Wait! I found another one. There are no pictures because it is still being cleaned, and it is not listed online yet. It’s in Hofu, which is a few towns over. And,” the dealer said as they glanced over the details, “it is nearly identical to the car you were already looking at! It will be listed publicly within a few days. But are you interested now? I can call about it.”

“Yes!” I said, and the dealer went off to make the phone call. They came back a few moments later.

“Good news! It is still available. And, it’s not being cleaned in Hofu for some reason. It is being cleaned here! Want to see the car right now?”

“Yes!” I said. We walked outside together, and there was the car, not even twenty paces away. It was a beautiful car. It was gently used, had plenty of storage space, was a hybrid, and, importantly, did not carry noxious odors. Not only that, but it was slightly cheaper and newer than the first car. It was exactly what we needed.
After our field director spoke with AFM’s finance director, the purchase was approved via project funds, and we joyfully purchased the car along with other necessities such as car insurance.

God has provided this car for us at the perfect time. We are so thankful! We are now able to visit many new areas of Yamaguchi Prefecture that were inaccessible to us without a vehicle, thus opening the doors for more ministry and exploration of God’s leading here. In the past few months, we have used the car for medical appointments, transporting friends, making larger purchases that we would not have been able to transport via bicycle or train, visiting an unreached city and more.
Thank you for your continued faithfulness in giving towards our project so we can make the purchases needed to further the work here in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Please continue praying for the Japanese people that they would come to a saving knowledge of their Savior, Jesus Christ.

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