Utterly Amazed: Following the call of God in Japan

by Miriam Davis

‘I can stick anything for two years,’ she said and ended up staying forty-two.So said former OMF worker Miriam Davis, whose book ‘Utterly Following the call of God in Japan’ tells the story of how those two years became forty-two, as well as the surprising challenges of retiring to the UK in 2017.In that time, as OMF Japan Field Directors Chris Pain and Kesia Pain say in their foreword, ‘Miriam has experienced the joys, challenges and pitfalls of missionary life. She tells the story of those years with honesty and a keen eye for how God was at work sustaining her, changing her and using her for his purposes . . . The way in which she has shared her feelings, weaknesses and struggles gives testimony to God’s work in her life, and ultimately gives God the glory.’Join Miriam on her journey of following the Good Shepherd through all the twists and turns of sharing the good news of Jesus cross-culturally. Discover his faithfulness through culture shock, heartbreak, burnout and the joy of this journey. And find comfort, challenge and spiritual food for your own life!

Genres: Christian

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2021

Reviews

[RozV · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and gentle testimony of God’s faithfulness during a lifetime of mission. I love the way Miriam describes God’s leading and direction but also how she is honest about the hardships and difficulties. Instead of glossing over disappointments she explains how God quietly encouraged her, and in so doing she encourages us in our faith too.
My mum knew Miriam at university, so growing up we prayed for ‘Miriam in Japan’, it’s wonderful to read the story behind the name!

[A Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Miriam's story a reminder of how God cares for the ones and twos. He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 to go after the 100 and the Creator God who feeds the birds and clothes the flowers of the field. The book follows Miriam as the Lord, leads, guides and provides her, and opens up for her the opportunity to minister to Japanese women.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly Amazed by Miriam Davis is a powerful book about the author’s life in and calling to Japan. What began as a two year placement in 1975 turned into forty two years of service until retirement called.
We witness the faithfulness of Miriam Davis to the call of God, and also the faithfulness of God to Miriam Davis. We need to live lives so in tune with God that when He calls, we will hear Him. “Never forget that God is with you.”
Sometimes we cannot ‘feel’ God but “God was still there even when I could not sense Him.” There are times when God seems quiet but He is still working.
The author has a heart for Japan and for introducing people to Jesus. Sometimes the seeds she plants may not come to fruition for many years. Miriam Davis spreads the light and love of Jesus wherever she goes. “Christians are not called to stay home in comfort.”
To follow the calling of God often takes a step of faith. We step out, only seeing the first step but in due course and at just the right time, God will illuminate our path.
Utterly Amazed is a powerful book about a life of servitude, gratitude and faithfulness. Miriam Davis is truly inspiring. She is a remarkable lady with a huge, faithful heart.
I want to leave you with my favourite quote and two very powerful poems that are in the book:
“Live in the present with the God who is ‘I am’, not ‘I was’ or ‘I will be’.”
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I Am
I was regretting the past
And fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

‘My name is ‘I AM’. He paused.
I waited. He continued
‘When you live in the past
With its mistakes and regrets,
It is hard. I am not there,
My name is not ‘I WAS’.

When you live in the future
With its problems and fears,
It is hard. I am not there.
My name is not ‘I WILL BE’.

When you live in this moment,
It is not hard. I am here.
My name is ‘I AM’.
Helen Mallicoat.

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But I can still do something;
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909)

[Claire Mowle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this realistic and raw story of missions. Although Miriam may differ from me slightly on a couple of theological issues, I deeply admire her love for the Lord, His word and the Japanese people. Unlike so many other missionary stories, Miriam’s story is not full of ‘crazy miraculous’ events, but, more realistically, small moments of God’s working which constantly shows of God’s great power, grace, and His love of answering our prayers. I loved seeing a faithful Christian, live a relatively ‘normal’ Christian life in another country and culture. Thank you, Miriam, for showing the realities of constant transition, burnout and weakness. Praying that the Lord continues to use you for His glory!

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a missionary, but I have lived in other countries. I am fascinated to hear other people's accounts of their time overseas. Miriam Davis wrote Utterly Amazed to tell how her two-year assignment turned into her life's work.

In Utterly Amazed, Miriam walks us through the steps it took to get to Japan and the struggles and heartaches she endured. Along the way, she shares the insights she learned about Japanese culture. I especially appreciated the story about thanking someone for a gift and how you don't just do it once.

I was surprised by the process she had to go through when planning to get married. Especially since she was an "outsider" trying to marry a Japanese man. I won't give the details, but it really took me back, and I wonder if the process is still the same today.

Miriam jumps back and forth in the timeline as she relays her story. I would have appreciated a more cohesive approach. Overall, it is an in-depth look at how her missionary journey played out. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese culture.

While I received a copy of this book from the author, there was no requirement to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nathanael Ayling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read!

It was not just because I know Miriam as a dear friend, and know many of the people and places she mentions in the book.
It was not just because I love all things Japan and enjoyed reading about Japanese language and culture and those funny moments of the inevitable crossed-wires that happen when you are crossing cultures!
It was not just because she is so open and honest about the struggles as well as the joys of her many years serving in Japan and then returning to the UK, including depression and the heartache of a broken engagement.

But also because I was inspired by her intimate walk with the Lord that is evident in this book. I admire the way she relates to God. It makes me want to walk more closely with my Lord.

There are discussion questions at the end of the book, which makes it a great option for a book group or small group discussion.

Thank you, Miriam, for putting in the time and effort to write this book. It is a blessing to the Church, not just for those interested in Japan, or in cross-cultural ministry, but for anyone learning to grow in their relationship with Jesus - in other words, all of us!

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pleasant read. Not only was Miriam’s story greatly encouraging to an aspiring missionary to Japan but there was the added benefit of her excellent writing. Miriam can be described as a committed follower of Jesus who is very open about her struggles. She depicts beautifully 2 Cor 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power(B) is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I was so blessed when she repeatedly showed how the Lord would lead her so intimately to reach the Japanese he placed in her life. There were amazing stories throughout that truly accentuated God’s sufficiency to lead Miriam to advance his Kingdom in Japan. Her openness about her struggles highlighted that it was truly God at work. I loved to read how closely he walked with her and how intimately he spoke to her about how he would use her to reach Japan. I can only hope that he will likewise use me.

[Mariana Nesbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joy to read

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is well- written - great flowing English. I loved the accounts of God’s guidance to Miriam through his Word.

I understand only too well the effects of burn-out, which don’t think will ever not dog my footsteps.

What a pity Miriam lived up north lived the 15 years before retirement down near Tokyo! Read this book for real insight into missionary life.

[Ian Appleby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. Reflects some of the challenges of overseas Christian mission in places that are not Africa and where you're not going to get eaten but life can still be incredibly hard and huge sacrifices have to be made, but as a result, God's grace, care and provision is highlighted all the more.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best missionary autobiographies I've ever read. Miriam was one of my colleagues in Japan for many years, though I didn't work closely with her. Her writing is excellent and she shares deeply from her heart about the highs and lows that she's experienced as she's followed God's calling on her life.

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story and is well written. The author is transparent in sharing struggles as well as victories. The book is a bit long because it covers a lot of. years. She probably could have been a less detailed sometimes.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rebecca Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read about Miriam Davis and the missionary work she did in Japan. It's not a country that I know much about especially in terms of the church situation there. I can't say that I was utterly amazed by any of the stories in the book, so the book did disappoint a bit, but the work God is doing there through Christians, in a challenging situation is slow and steady.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through Miriam's vulnerability in sharing her life my heart was shaped and prepared to deal with my own circumstances and calling. As she navigates changing cultures, heartbreak, loss and bringing others closer to Jesus, I was inspired and moved by how she faithfully walked with the Lord. I would reccomend this book to any Christian involved in international mission or not!

[Phillip Kang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Mariam Davis’ memoir about her life of missionary work in Japan brings to mind a book that I’d read, a fictionalised account of the struggles, hardships and perils faced by Western missionaries in Japan in the early 17th century. Back then they encountered extreme deprivation of food and sleep, torture, even death, if caught by the Japanese authorities as they face up to the reality that bringing Christianity to that country was a lost cause. One character in the novel, a Jesuit theologian who recanted his faith for fear of being put to death, even saw the country as a ‘terrible swamp’ where a sapling planted in it would rot.

Thankfully, those terrible days are long gone in Japan but missionaries today still face challenges, resistance and pitfalls, as Davis did in her 42 years of missionary life in Japan.

Her remarkable story is a powerful testimony of God's faithfulness and love to her as she struggled with language and culture issues in the early years of her life in Japan. With complete honesty, but with a touch of humour, she recounted the ups and downs of teaching English as a foreign language, the humiliation she suffered when she used the wrong Japanese words, her disappointments when people she invested her time and effort in fell away from their faith. But she also experienced the joys of seeing people being baptised after they received Christ and seeing many new students becoming proficient in English under her tutelage, and experiencing God's marvellous provisions in times of need.

Davis goes back and forth in the timeline of her journey, a feature that I find quite disoriented. I would have preferred a linear approach. Still, it didn't stop me from finishing the book as I was keen to see how God's guiding hands led her throughout her 42 years in Japan. Indeed, Davis walked close with God and still does.

I received the published copy in ebook format for free from BookSiren. I'm dropping this review voluntarily.