Each day, the girls said, their primary focus will be to build relationships with the local and use those relationships to share the Gospel.

“I want to go to Japan to share God’s love,” said Phipps. “To show each and every person that I come in contact with the love of Jesus Christ and all He has done for them and for me. I hope to plant seeds in people’s hearts of Jesus’ love. So that even if when we are there they do not accept the gift, through God’s power, that seed will eventually grow into salvation.”

Donations for the trip can also be mailed to Cooper’s Gap Baptist Church, 730 Coopers Gap Rd, Mill Spring, NC  28756. Donors are asked to include “Japan Mission Trip” on the memo line. Donations are tax-deductible.