When 2018 started, I was excited about all that the new year would bring – new challenges, new opportunities, and new areas to grow. I felt like God was telling me that a keyword not only for the church, but for me personally, would be “breakthrough.”
A major area I felt would be impacted was my job, because I had been thinking about a change for a while.

However, I was unsure of exactly what I wanted to do next and how I should advance my career. I started seeking after God, asking for His wisdom, and trusting Him for a great job opportunity. For the next few months, I checked job listings almost daily, but nothing stuck out. It was at this time when I thought, “If I can’t find a job I like, why not make one?”. And that’s when my journey to create a business of my own began.

I’ve always had a passion for sharing the wonderfully unique culture of Japan with those abroad and that – mixed with my love of web design – led to the perfect idea.
I started my own online shop, showcasing lots of items related to Japanese pop culture.

In the beginning, it was tough, because I had to think of what to sell, how to promote it, and manage the business finances all on my own. But I kept on believing that if God had given me the gifts and passion, He would help me in all of those areas. And He has! It’s been a fun challenge seeing sales increase every month, customers comment with how much they enjoy the items, and seeing myself stretched in new areas.

I still have a lot to learn, but I know that with the skills I’ve acquired so far and all that God has waiting for me to learn in 2019, it’s going to be just as much of an adventure as last year – maybe even more. I’m thankful for all that the Lord has taught me, especially in the areas of finance and time management (both of which I still have plenty of room to grow in). I look forward to see how He’ll use me, and my business, to be a blessing in the year ahead.
Christie Osawa