After World War II, many half-Japanese/half-American children were abandoned in Japan. They were left to die by a society that didn't value their lives. But Christian missionaries, seeing the children's plight, started orphanages. In one of these orphanages, Irene Smith, an English missionary, cared for 22 outcast children.

One night, a sick, bedridden orphan girl heard a sermon about how faith in God, combined with persevering prayer, could accomplish great things. The sermon revealed something that Jesus told His disciples: if they had faith and didn't doubt, they would be able to move mountains and cast them into the sea.

The story caught the little orphan's attention because she wanted more than anything to see the Japanese Inland Sea again. She couldn't go to the beach because of her illness, and a huge mountain blocked the view from her hospital bed.

That night at bedtime prayers, the little girl started praying that God would move the mountain, even though Miss Irene told her the Bible verse referred to the mountains of trials in our lives, not a real mountain. Every night, however, the other orphan girls joined the sick child at her bedside and agreed together according to Matthew 18:19-20. They earnestly prayed that God show His kindness by moving the mountain so the little girl could see the sea.

Irene went back to England on furlough and returned months later. When she walked into the dormitory, she found all the little girls clustered in front of the window. Looking out, the missionary could hardly believe what she saw: the Japanese Inland Sea! "What happened to the mountain?" she exclaimed.

"All we know is that we saw many bulldozers going up and down the mountain moving dirt," the girls answered, their eyes lit up with joy.

Curious about this, Irene went to the town office. The mayor explained that coastal waves had eroded the land. They needed the earth from the mountain to backfill the coastline. Sure enough, they moved that mountain and "cast it into the sea!"

A few months later, the little girl who had persevered in prayer with her friends died. Eventually, the orphanage building was torn down. But the view of the Japanese Inland Sea is still there.

Discussion questions:

1. Is there a "mountain" in your life that you'd like to see God move?
2. In the Bible, God parted the Red Sea. He brought down the walls of Jericho. He closed the mouths of hungry lions. He did many other "impossible" things as well. What "impossible" things has He done in your life so far? How can that help you to keep praying "mountain moving" prayers?
3. How can you help your friends and family to keep praying about the "mountains" you are facing in your lives?

Used by permission, this story is excerpted from Cheri Fuller's devotional book for parents and kids, "When Families Pray, a read-aloud devotional book for parents and children" (Multnomah Publishers). For more information, visit: Families Pray US at www.cherifuller.com.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9