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The following story of God's continuing work around the world is from ACCTS Staff Member Emeritus Sue Casner. During a full Army Career and for many years afterwards, Sue and Earl have ministered to both US and international military personnel.
Over and over again, both in the US and abroad, we have experienced "meaningful, divinely appointed connections" with others - no "coincidence" when repeated so often, but rather God demonstrating His omnipresent grace and mercy! Who else could "bridge" time and cultural differences so magnificently?
In March 2012 a Japanese friend visited us. She is a retired professor from Tsuda College in Tokyo. Tsuda was started in 1900 by Miss Umeko Tsuda, and was the first college for women in Japan. 
One hundred and forty-one years earlier, Umeko Tsuda, age 6, was one of 5 young Japanese girls selected by Emperor Meiji in 1871 to come to the US to learn about the American way of life. Umeko lived for about 16 years with my father's relatives in Georgetown, DC - they became her "American parents."
Umeko quickly accepted Christ as her savior, and soon led the family's servants to the Lord. A Methodist missionary from Georgetown then went to Japan and led Umeko's parents to the Lord. (Our professor friend notes that Umeko's parents were the first Christians in Japan!)
When Umeko graduated from high school she returned to Japan to attend college, but there was no higher education available for women. She returned to the US and graduated from Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia. Upon her return to Japan in 1900 she founded Tsuda College "for English and mathematics." Umeko also became the first president of the YWCA in Japan!
Shortly thereafter, our friend introduced us to another Japanese woman whose husband is Taiwanese. His great-great-grandfather was the first Christian in Taiwan, became a Pastor, and started the first Christian college in Taiwan! He and Umeko had attended a conference together in Japan! His son also became a pastor who "served as Chaplain to the US 7th fleet in Taiwan during WWII when they pulled into port." And here we were sitting together in Alexandria Virginia, well over a hundred years after our "family" members had met!
God consistently orchestrates these "far-flung" relationships around the Globe as He weaves His family more closely together! What a blessing serve as Partners in the Gospel with so great a Cloud of Witnesses!
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