In 1931, when my husband Vernon and I were working in Kochi, Japan, I helped at a home for girls. At that time 65 girls from poor families were being trained in the Christian way of life. Along with music, Bible study, and English language classes, they were learning practical skills like cooking, sewing, and embroidery.

Some of the girls, after leaving the school, continued their education to become teachers. A few returned to the home for girls as staff members. One such staff member was Miyoko San…. When she returned to the school, she became head of the music department.

One winter day she came to our apartment distraught…. When she was ten years old, her parents had betrothed her to a neighbor's son back in the mountains of Tosa Province. Miyoko had forgotten all about it, but the parents and the boy had not. Her father had called the day before to inform her that the young man would expect to claim his bride when school was out in July.

Miyoko was shocked, but my indignation was even greater.

"It's an outrage! Surely you can refuse to have any part in their plans for you," I said.

Miss Dowd, founder of the school, listened to Miyoko and me without saying a word.

"Why should Miyoko be married to a backwoodsman who is not a Christian and will not know how to treat a wife like her?" I cried….

When Miyoko's wedding day arrived, [she] was definitely in love. It shone in her face and in her description of her married life:

My husband is helpful, considerate, and appreciative. From the first day, he knew that I had been given opportunities denied to him. He asked me to teach him all that I had learned here at the school. I began to teach him English. We have studied the Bible together; he is now a believer in Christ as Lord. Together we have started a church in our house. Now there is a small group of believers who study with us.

Knowing how much I would miss my music, he somehow saved enough money to buy an organ for me. It was his wedding present to me. It is the first organ seen or heard in our village. Now I am teaching the children in our village to love music. Some of them are even learning to play the organ.

Suddenly my outrage seemed so foolish. God's plan had been better all along. Through this arranged marriage, his message of salvation was being proclaimed in the mountains by one of the village's own. Seeing the change in Miyoko's life, others were committing their lives to the Lord.