Last night Wakana said she felt strange because her co-workers were praying for her. She'd never had anyone do that before. I told her she had people around the WORLD praying for her what with the Mudcatters and my contacts on Facebook.

I think it really touched her.

There is something about her that doesn't come through when you talk to her. For 20+ years she worked in business in Tokyo. She started as a rookie in a big company. She worked her way into being a freelancer in market research. She was tough and professional.

But, as you know if you've met her, that isn't the Wakana we all know and love. The business suit didn't fit very well and she was never very happy in that life. She left it and went back to school where she thoroughly enjoyed herself in the classroom.

As she recounts her life it seems she was happiest in Tokyo when she got together with friends in a little restaurant owned by one of those friends. There, after hours, they would eat, talk, and watch formula one racing on TV. Once we met one of her former co-workers and the woman was astonished that Wakana was married. She could not fit that idea with her picture of Wakana from her Tokyo days.

This is one reason why she never had anyone concerned about her health before, why nobody had ever prayed for her. Also, in Japan nobody takes religion as seriously as the United Statesians do.

She really likes her life these days. Tokyo is far behind her.