February 22, 1901 - Lettie Cowman Lands in Japan

Lettie Cowman and her husband, Charles Cowman, were pioneering missionaries to Japan and co-founders of the Oriental Missionary Society (now known as OMS International). The Cowmans arrived in Japan on February 22, 1901, beginning a challenging season of ministry marked by spiritual and physical trials. During these hardships, Lettie searched for encouragement in the writings of Christian authors who had endured similar suffering. She came to describe her relationship with Christ as a sustaining stream flowing through a desert—an ever-present source of strength in times of testing. Out of these experiences, she authored the beloved devotional classic Streams in the Desert, a timeless work that continues to encourage believers facing adversity.

The testimony of Lettie Cowman continues to be relevant for Christians navigating seasons of hardship, spiritual dryness, or missionary calling. Her devotional, Streams in the Desert, reminds believers that Christ is a faithful Sustainer even in life’s most barren deserts. In a culture that often prioritizes comfort and quick results, Cowman’s perseverance in long-term ministry and personal suffering points modern Christians toward endurance, prayer, and dependence on God. Her life and writings continue to inspire those seeking daily encouragement, missionary faithfulness, and deeper trust in Christ during trials.

Streams in the Desert (1895) by Lettie B. Cowman, title page. Internet Archive. Public domain.