Patti’s story is about discovering that the passions planted in us early in life can unfold in unexpected ways. Through her experiences in Japan, she learns that personal growth often happens quietly within, and that prayer can flow naturally through the ordinary rhythms of daily life.

Ask, Come Holy Spirit: When an Honest Prayer Changes Everything

Since childhood, Patti has felt drawn to Japanese culture—its people, language, and beauty. As a college student studying Japan, she began to notice something deeper: beneath the country’s order and elegance, many people seemed weighed down by quiet sadness. That awareness stirred a compassion in her that would later shape how she saw purpose and calling.

Years later, Patti found herself traveling to Japan, not just as a visitor, but to serve and connect with people face-to-face. It wasn’t a dramatic or life-changing moment; there was no single “wow” encounter. But what she did experience was subtle and profound—a realization that transformation often happens inside us, not through spectacular outcomes. The journey itself became a mirror, showing her that growth is more about what’s forming within than what’s being accomplished outwardly.

Back home, Patti’s rhythm of prayer began to shift. Instead of viewing prayer as something to fit into a scheduled time, she started weaving it naturally into her day—while washing dishes, walking, or when someone came to mind. Prayer became less an event and more a way of being present—of aligning her thoughts, emotions, and actions with compassion and awareness.

Her story reminds us that the sacred can be found in the ordinary, and that inner growth doesn’t always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it’s simply the quiet unfolding of who we’re becoming.