Experience the Benefits of Traveling Abroad

Those who have been blessed to live in the United States know that it is a land full of abundance and beauty. As wonderful and great as our nation is, I have noticed that Americans, including myself, can develop an inward assumption that the whole world is American. Many people never take the opportunity to experience life outside of their comfort zone, and some say “it doesn’t matter.” I have to disagree!

Some of the most beneficial experiences in life have involved travel to, and residence in, diverse countries around the world. My purpose is to share some of my experiences, in hopes of encouraging you to travel abroad and see the benefits from this level of exposure!

In 2005, I had the opportunity to live in Japan for seven wonderful months. Japan is called the “Land of the Rising Sun.” I never understood why until I traveled there. One morning I was on the Island of Okinawa, and saw one of the most majestic sunrises in my life. The backdrop of the sky was a perfectly balanced white, but the sun was an intense blood red, and it seemed to be massive as it rose to its place high above the horizon. I distinctly remember thinking of the Japanese flag, and how this truly spectacular sunrise influenced the design. Another learning experience in Japan was when I was able to tour the Battlefield of Okinawa.

I remember from childhood, my father and I had a strong love for WWII history, and we would often study it together. As a child I never dreamed of actually touring one of the most important battlefields of the war! There I was, atop of one of the hills overlooking the peaceful beauty on the blue ocean several miles away, where a multitude of allied forces landed with great uncertainty. It was sobering to think of how many men crawled up the overgrown hills of coral and moved across the green jungle landscape against all odds, facing stiff resistance from a fearless enemy. I explored the caves that housed the Japanese military, viewed the landings of the allied invasion, and witnessed history come alive! Another adventure in Japan was my visit to Nagasaki.

Two atomic bombs were dropped against Japan in WWII, “Little Boy” on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945), and “Fat Man” on Nagasaki (August 9, 1945). In America we know one side of this story: the Japanese enemy attacked Pearl Harbor, and over the years the Americans fought long and hard to gain a patriotic victory, finally by using these atomic weapons. My pride was pierced as I visited ground zero where the bomb detonated, and for the first time in my life, I was able to empathize with the Japanese. They were blindly doing what was right in their own eyes (Proverbs 14:12)—and it literally ended in death. I visited the Nagasaki Bomb Museum, and was moved by artifacts that reflected pure chaos and destruction! Walls of buildings with human shadows reflecting where people stood at the moment of detonation, bottles of glass welded together from the massive heat the bomb produced, and a destroyed clock with the time of the explosion frozen in history. It truly was a humbling experience.

My friends, God knew I loved history and gave me the experience of a lifetime when I lived in Japan. God inspired King David to write, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). God also inspired the same message through the Apostle John stating, “…whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22). I encourage all of you to ask God in the name of Jesus Christ for a similar opportunity, so you can experience the benefits of traveling abroad (John 14:14)!

For more information on how God answers our prayers and desires, order our free booklet, Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer. Also to gain more insight on how to please God so He will give us our desires, request our free booklet, The Ten Commandments and also watch our telecast entitled, “Answered Prayer.”