Welcome back to the Generous Girl podcast. It is great to have you all here. And today, I’m joined with a very special guest that I know you are all going to really, really appreciate meeting and listening to through this podcast. Her name is Janice Munemitsu, and Janice is a 3rd generation Japanese American Sansai. She’s a native of Orange County, California, and she worked on the family farm from age five through high school. She’s a graduate of the University of Southern California and her corporate career includes being vice president of main meals for Conagra at Hunt Weston as well as a consultant for several corporations and nonprofit ministries. She served her church for 10 years leading the capital campaign at Mariner’s Church Irvine, which has been her church since 1995. She also served with generous giving for 10 years from 2011
Kim Moeller [00:01:31]:
to 2021,
Kim Moeller [00:01:33]:
and she recently received her Masters of Spiritual Formation from Biola University and is now focusing on the ministry of spiritual direction in soul care and promoting generosity globally. Finally, she currently serves on the boards of which is formally Asian Access, the Bible Project, the National Christian Foundation of California and the Malachi III Foundation. She’s also the author of the book called the kindness color, which we’ll touch on later in this podcast. It’s an amazing book. I’ve had the opportunity to read it and really encourage all of you reading it as well. but welcome Janice. It’s so great to see you and to have you here on this podcast. Thanks so much, Kim. Great to be here. Thank you for taking the time, and I like to focus on our five areas of faith, family, finances, fitness, and friendships. And today, I thought the two categories that I think of when I think of you are faith and family, and we’ll be able to unpack those and why But let’s talk about faith first when we think about what I recently said about you getting your spiritual formation degree. tell the listener and tell me more about what that means. What is an MA and spiritual formation?
Janice Munemitsu [00:02:48]:
Okay. Well, I didn’t know 15 years ago or so. I didn’t know what it meant either, but God had introduced me to a spiritual director And I got very curious about what her practice was and what her education was. And I ended up following in her footsteps and going to Talbot at Viola in the Institute for spiritual formation, and it’s for, mostly known as ISF. But what the practice of spiritual formation, I would say, in a nutshell is really founded in John 15 abiding in the Lord. And that means with every breath, with every decision, It’s studying a lot of the spiritual disciplines, especially those of solitude silence, and it really, as I think foundational. It it really changed my faith in terms of much more intimacy with the lord. and much more connection and seeing kind of his leading in my life versus me leading my life as a Christian.
Kim Moeller [00:03:52]:
Janice Munemitsu [00:03:53]:
And instead, it’s more like, no. The Lord is with me every moment, every second, where is He leading me right now? So much of spiritual formation to me, the shorthand version I don’t know if anyone else would use this, but for someone who’s never heard of this or spiritual direction, the practice is, it’s kind of the study of where biblical, scripture meets practical everyday life. It’s the intersection of that and somewhat of the psychology of us being human. So when you look at that, it’s really, I think, really grounded. The best verse for me, I think, is John 15 abiding in him abiding with him? And what does that look like practically in each individual life? And so my clients, I’ve had clients actually in different time zones on different continents, but it’s a monthly practice, a monthly spiritual discipline of meeting, and I’m not there to give advice. It’s not therapy. It’s not coaching. It’s not mentoring. It’s really a co listening. to the client’s story and really listening for the lord and asking questions to help them process
Kim Moeller [00:05:16]:
when I lived in Colorado. And I had heard about this area of spiritual formation, but had never had the opportunity to work with someone. And we met several times, and it it was very wonderful and reassuring. I don’t know if comforting would be the word, but It’s like the 2 of us together, we’re listening to god, and then she would reflect her thoughts and I would reflect my thoughts on where I was at or maybe something I was, you know, working through. And I just liked being able to have someone who is trained to do that. You know, I have a lot of girlfriends and I love processing things with my girlfriends for sure. and my husband, but I really enjoyed the practice of working with the spiritual director. So when I knew that you had recently or not that recent. I mean, you’ve had it for a few years, but that had gone into this area. I just thought it’d be so great for the listeners on this podcast to hear about spiritual formation and for them to be aware because sometimes people think, well, you can hire, you know, a counselor or, someone who’s maybe a marriage and family therapist can think that many people don’t know that this is an actual vocation that you can hire someone to help you learn how to listen to God and improve in your own practices. So I think it’s just so great that you decided to do that after having a corporate career and, you know, after working on the capital campaign at mariners and your work at generous giving. So we will for sure in the show notes have the link of your site if somebody’s interested in learning more, they can go ahead and click on that. So also what I’d like for you to talk about is before we get, you know, kind of too far into the podcast is tell us more about just who you are and growing in Southern California and just some of the influences that shaped you to be who you are today.
Well, I grew up in Garden Grove, California,
Janice Munemitsu [00:07:18]:
and we, at that time, had a strawberry farm, with other vegetables. And so when I say I work from the time I was 5, I literally did. And I was on my dad’s little payroll. Interestingly, I think when I was a child, it always ended to be in about a $100 for the whole year. And so no matter how hard I work or if I work a little less, had always ended up, about a $100 plus or minus, and I worked piece work. So every tray that I filled with bath strawberry baskets. I got a quarter of a penny for. And then my dad gave me a raise to half a penny. after some negotiation because I found out when I attended Japanese school, the other, farmers kids were talking and they were getting 2, 3, 4¢ per tray. and I was getting a quarter of a penny per tray and when I asked my dad, How come this is and basically he said and it’s true their farms were smaller and our farm was larger And so I had more opportunity. Now when you’re seven or eight years old, I guess that makes sense, which is true.
I did have more opportunity, but I think given our family history, that is one of the themes of taking advantage of opportunities because our family lost their freedom during world war 2 in the incarceration camps. And so ,a lot of my values come from a very, very hard work ethic. And — Right. — I don’t think we grew up. One of my long term friends said One time, he goes, you know, did you ever think we were poor? And I’m like, no. And their family was a long time family friend of ours, and he goes, Why just start to think back on the stuff we ate and most of the meal came from your farm because it was all vegetables. But you don’t realize you know, what your parents have or don’t have. Life was pretty simple. I mean, the first thing I ever remembered really, really wanting was pair of dark brown and tan saddle shoes in about, I think, the 5th or 6th grade. And so my mom, we went to there were 2 kinds Tom McCann and Kenny’s. And for some reason, the Kenny’s 1, where they’re either made better or they fit better. And so that’s the one I got.
And that’s the first thing I could ever remember really wanting. But back then, we all, you know, it was either that or I think Buckle’s shoes. So somehow the saddle shoes were very very popular and very comfortable too. But grew up on the farm went to, public high school, also Grandie High School And Garden Grove, and I went to USC as a business major. And I think through that, my Our family’s hard work ethics served me very well. I accepted Jesus in 4th grade at the Garden Grove First Baptist Church which is still there, and it’s probably now probably closer to a 150 years old in that neighborhood, but I would say that hard work and saving. We’re really fundamental in our family. I always used to say when I worked for generous giving, I’m kind of the trifecta of savers. immigrant grandparents came with nothing farmers and also the incarceration of the Japanese Americans during World War 2. If that doesn’t make you a saver, I don’t know what will. And so, good saver, not a big family at all.
Kim Moeller [00:10:49]:
Good saver, but I also know just with your work with generous giving and Mariners, you have some incredible stories about generosity too. So, a great saver and great giver. And that’s also one of the reasons I thought it’d be great to have you on this podcast. Well, fast forward a few years and you worked in corporate America for a number of years and managed a lot of people. Very, very large business did incredibly well. and talk about then the transition of what god did to call you into your role at at mariners and leading that the capital campaigns for so long.
Janice Munemitsu [00:11:26]:
When I worked for Hunt Wesson, we were bought and sold. We’re a very profitable company because we sell food. So we were bought and sold many times, but when Conagra Foods bought us, we knew eventually they would move the headquarters to their headquarters in the Midwest. And so when that happened, I had been there for about just over 15 years at that point. It was a very hard time to find a a job, especially of what I did. I was vice president of marketing, and there’s not a lot of food companies. Most had left California by that time. My father had already passed, and my mother and aunt were in there near eighties. And so wasn’t exactly a time for me to pick up and just leave. So I thought, well, okay, lord. You can do anything. What should I do for this next season of my life? And There wasn’t any actually, there weren’t really any jobs for me to apply for. This was, like, early 2000s after several economic meltdowns. And I just looked out there, and I’m I mean, I I know how to work, but for my resume, there wasn’t anything that was obvious. And through just 1 or 2 divine connections, I ended up in, the executive pastor at Mariner’s church, his office on a Thursday afternoon. I had never met him personally.
Though God had been telling me you need to meet him. And I said, well, I’ll make an appointment, lord, but I need to know what’s the subject. And he never told me the subject. but I ended up in Jim Russell’s office, through a divine connection. I was just asking around church like, hey. Anyone got a project for me. and the head of HR at the time Larry said, you know what? Let’s go down and let’s go talk to Jim. Interestingly enough, that afternoon Jim had meetings every single hour and 2 of them canceled right at the time that Larry called him. He go Yeah. My two meetings just canceled. So God opened up that door, and we went over there. And Jim I told him my story. I’m laid off. I’ve got severance. You don’t have to pay me, but anyone got some projects around. And I knew I could serve doing small events or something, but, I mean, I could do a lot in a day. And so I was thinking, you know, those are the projects no one ever should do. Right? And so he just three times, he asked me, why did you come today? And I looked at him, and I’m like, okay. I just told you, no reason. Larry had time today, and here I am. And he just couldn’t believe it because 24 hours before, literally, exactly twenty 4 hours before on Wednesday at 3 o’clock. He and Kent, our senior pastor had prayed on their knees in that office for two people to come and lead this capital campaign. And I was literally there 24 hours later saying, you don’t know me, but here’s kind of here’s what I have done and, you know, I’m pretty good at making order out of chaos which a capital campaign can definitely be. And so that was my entry into ministry. And I’m like, I didn’t claim to know how to do this, but they had hired a consultant to kinda oversee it.
But they weren’t really happy with how the first campaign had gone and we found that there were a lot of communication issues and actually a lot of, yeah, communication, I guess, would be the best way to put it and expectations. I think, whenever you embark on something as large as this, I mean, I signed up for 9 months that lasted over 10 years. I didn’t intend to do this for 10 years. I said 9 months, sure. I could do that. And then 9 months became 3 years. And then we had back to back to campaigns. And then but you never know what the lord’s gonna invite you into, and I think that’s that’s the key. I knew I had been called there. And Jim would even say that we both felt like we were sitting right in the palm of god’s hand that day. I had never met him. I had never met our senior pastor. I mean at a large church, I volunteered with a lot of the other, staff pastors and did other things, but to be put there and honestly as a single woman, a non white, not an entrepreneur, like the others and quite honestly, I think it’s fine to say it.
They had asked a lot of the typical subjects to volunteer, but for different family or business reasons, all the people that they had really wanted to lead this capital campaign, would not be able in that time frame. And so they really were on their knees going, we don’t have anybody and got drops in, I think, unlikely person, and they’re just probably looking at me like, I don’t know who she is, but, oh, they ask the other pastors, oh, yeah, Jenna you know, helps in small groups. Oh, yeah. She leads a small group. Oh, yeah. You know, so it wasn’t like I was unknown on campus, but I was really unknown to them. Like, why would you bring her? But I do have I’ve worked with a lot of visionary leaders, which was important. I I kept thinking, well, you know, if I could manage a $250,000,000 business in 30,000 grocery stores, I probably could figure this out, but it really what I really figured out was just seeing how the Holy Spirit works in amazing ways, which connects with a spiritual formation of the Holy Spirit in us, which is really abiding in Christ. And so I really saw I mean, I always say it was the worst of times and the best of times. It was a tough 10 years. and I don’t I really still don’t believe that there’s anyone in America or in the world who’s led a capital campaign for 10 years. I don’t think there’s anyone Most people are done. And I was done, but God just called me to continue with it. I kept thinking about the Colossians verse, you know, work as if you’re working for the lord, not for man. But I learned a lot I learned a lot. And I learned mostly about how to depend on the lord and that a capital campaign, the result is giving. but it’s really a prayer and spiritual transformation campaign. And at the end of the first campaign.
Kenton, be sure who was our pastor at that time said, this campaign has changed the trajectory of our church forever. And I don’t know if he remembers saying it, but I’ll never forget that because hearts were changed. Hearts were changed to be more outward. People were not giving for their own families to go to a children’s you know, program because that was one of the biggest needs. There was no more room for all the children who were coming and but people were really looking outward and saying, what are we going to do for this community, at the Irvine campus? So anyway, it was a wild ride. I I guess I would say I’d do it again knowing how much I learned and, just relationships I made and stuff, but it was tough. So I often get called, to sometimes just listen and and talk to people leading capital campaigns. And I’m like, yeah. I know it’s stuff. I know it’s stuff. but I think you need to know your called. And I knew I was called
Kim Moeller [00:18:56]:
And you had just the perfect background that they needed. And like you said, they tried to have other individuals fill this role, but here, you know, if you’re prior career, god had perfectly prepared you and coming in as a female woman in this role, unexpected, So tell explain a little bit more, and then I’m going to ask how this role of, working with the capital campaigns for over 10 years personally affected you in your heart and maybe some stories that you could shed that way. But share, when you say capital campaign for 10 years. So you were saying that you are each year raising money maybe for different needs of the church to be more outward focus, like children’s building or just unpack that a little bit more for the listener.
Janice Munemitsu [00:19:45]:
Okay. so capital campaigns can take on different projects mostly it’s capital. It’s buildings, it’s land, it’s, tangible assets when they talk about a ministry. Also, churches will do something like this when the funding is more way more, several times more, than the annual giving. So it’s a multiple year kind of thing. In our case, at that time, we were finishing up purchasing land as well as building a new children’s building and a new worship center. because we just needed more space and parking. church cars have to come to church too. So and parking. So ours were all hard assets. So the Irvine campus for people who were not here, say, 15 years ago, Mariner’s church Irvine campus is really the result of these capital. campaigns, a place in the community or the community and for the lord. So that was what we had. And it ended up being much more multi year than just a 3 year campaign.
So the reason I even ended up in Jim’s office, I mean, the lord had totally orchestrated this whole thing was I got invited to a luncheon. And usually if I’m working, I wasn’t able to attend during the week, but I get invited to this luncheon of people who had committed and made a pledge over 3 years to this campaign. So I go to the luncheon that’s where I meet the wife of the HR director. And when I said, well, I’m, you know, I don’t have a job right now, but I’m looking to see if maybe in the interim, I can do something for 9 months. As I look for a job, she led me to, her husband, Larry, who was the HR director And so god had totally orchestrated that whole thing. But, so I’d already made a pledge over 3 years, but then as someone who is gonna lead campaign, all of the leadership of the church in terms of the elders and the senior staff made their pledges in advance of the rest. And this is a prayer project, I would call it, of just asking the Lord, like, what is it that you would have me give for the vision of this church. And it was very clear to me the number the lord gave me. And I was like, woah. that’s a lot. I don’t have a job anymore. I don’t have a corporate job anymore. But I thought, well, and I honestly thought that I thought, here’s the pledge card. I thought, well, okay, lord. I’ll write the number down. And the only person who’s going to see this number is our finance. CEO, Tom. And so Jim, the executive pastor, and Kent, will not see this number but this is the number you told me to write down. So I’m just gonna write it down and submit it. And the reason I did that, I mean, the reason I felt that way is it was a year’s salary. a year salary over 3 years, and I was no longer getting a salary. So that really seemed — Wow. — like a very generous very generous in class farm. And I think I thought, well, I if I’m doing this capital campaign, I’m not gonna be able to work full time. So this is gonna be interesting. And, honestly, like I said, I’m a good saver. I probably could have figured out a way, but I didn’t really feel god wanted me to stress on it. And so I didn’t. I just thought, well, we got 3 years to figure this out. And meanwhile, only Tom, the CFO, you know, that I put this number in. And what happened is just shortly after that, probably about a month later, my company called me back. and said, you know, we let you go too soon. You were right. This big corporate project across all of Conagra Foods. It was at that point, a $24,000,000,000 company that they put you on this project and you were right. We still need you. So give us your hourly rate. I could have probably doubled hourly rate that I gave them, but I gave them an hourly rate that I thought was fair. Yeah. And every time that that came in, I knew that the check from Conagra would come in. I put it in my checking account, and I’d write a check for the same amount to the capital campaign because I knew this was God’s way. of doing that.
And quite honestly that over 3 years, I ended up giving more than a year’s salary. Wow. Fast forward a few years, and I’m doing a generous journey of generosity. And the former CFO of our churches there with his wife. And I told this story, and he starts laughing. And I’m like, why are you laughing at me? many goes because I got that card and I thought, why is she crazy? She doesn’t have a job. Why did she put this number in? My goodness. Now he didn’t tell anybody. So he got the last side of the story, and I I said, well, Tom, I I kept thinking only Tom is gonna see this number. So I’ll just write it down because god told me to, but I actually ended up giving, I think, about another 33% over that because all those texts from Conagra, I just said I feel like God has designated this for this campaign and I am not going to touch it. And so that’s one way I learn when god asks you and he has done that more than once. When I’ve asked him, like, what would you have me give to this? He has done this more than once where he’s given me a number And like I said, God is way, way more generous than I am than what I expected to give. And then I just trusted him that he was going to show me where this was going to come from.
And it’s happened, more than I think about three or 4 times when the amounts had been more sizable. I mean, I’m not really talking. I mean, I give offering to my church on an ongoing basis. That’s I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about things that are more special or unusual. where it god has really stretched me. So now when he tells me, I just write the number down and figure, well, we got time. We’re going to figure this out, Lord. You’re going to show me cow as I abide in you. Right? So there’s again that whole idea of you know, abiding with the lord, not fretting, but saying, okay, that’s the number lord. How? Show me how or where, or what am I to sacrifice? for this. But, yeah, he’s just been faithful. Every single time he’s done this, It’s kind of funny because I do have more than one story, but that was probably the first big story where I thought, oh, hey, I’m giving my time talent and now my treasure, but you’ve obviously called me to this. And so I am going to just trust that you know what’s going to happen.
Kim Moeller [00:26:41]:
And He did. For I think of the book of Esther for such a time as this and how god raised you up for that role. And then as you abide it in him and continue to abide in him, he gives you an opportunity as he does to every listener to this podcast to be part of the story, the huge story that he is crafting. And that where we each have that opportunity to step into faith, and it might seem just like you said, how can I write this number down when I’m not even pulling it in income right now? But the value that God places on faith and just stepping out,
Kim Moeller [00:27:20]:
An NCF Giving Fund
I think what also comes from that is the tremendous joy that we get for being a part of that incredible work and story. And, you know, here you are years later, all the people that are impacted by this story because you did step out in faith. That’s so important in the Christian life as we do this together and inspire one another to believe. And when it just you know, on paper, it does not even look possible that god’s leading us in a certain direction. It’s so fun to get to be a part of this incredible faith story. So I love that and I love how I want to encourage every woman listener. I know that you use NCF for your personal giving and and have for a while. I’ve mentioned on previous podcast, my husband, and I also do our giving through NCF I know when gal wears she meets with her financial planner and her husband every year. And and she says, the only reason I go is I just want to know how much money I get to give. because she just loves the generosity side of it. And it is contagious. You know, the more God uses us to be generous the more it’s like where these kind of like empty vessels or pipes where his resources can flow through us to get to other places and people who need them. And again, there’s no greater joy than we get to experience and even that he would choose us to play such a small, but significant part of that story. And Mariners Irvine, I my husband, I actually go to Mariners in the Oceanside but I’ve been now to, you know, I’ve watched that campus develop and I’ve seen just they do such an incredible job even with their food pantry and the like, kind of thrift store that they have there. It just it’s such a beautiful campus of how it does reach the community and now in in more recent years, you know, they’ve expanded to all these different cities during the pandemic.
So I love to see that. And none of that’s possible without, you know, the generosity of individuals who are making the capital possible to step out in faith as a huge congregation. Okay. Let’s transition over to family, and this might be a good opportunity for you to touch on your book, the kindness of color. And, again, I know we won’t have enough time to to jump into it and dive into it, but as I said previously, would definitely recommend people purchase it on Amazon, but I love how you wove that story together. And I think kindness is deeply ingrained in generosity. So tell the listener about your book and this project that you’re also working on currently.
Janice Munemitsu [00:29:58]:
Okay. Sure. Well, first of all, I’m the reluctant author. never intended to write a book, but, Doctor Almy Haddes and doctor Jeff Hindberger of Orange County Department of Education, nagged me for literally nagged me. I don’t know, for 3 or 4 years to write down this story. And it’s the joint story of the Mendes family. and our family. And it’s also the story of 2 kinds of discrimination during World War 2 during the 19 forties. And what happened right here in Orange County that most people have no idea? And I just thought the other day, I said it’s quite an honor to tell the story that no one’s heard of and that has really started to inspire a lot. And it was doctor Jeff Hittenberger who actually said, you know, Janice, your story of generosity is interesting because it’s in the, your family of origin as immigrants, and it leads all the way to you working for you know, generous giving as well as, through the whole story of this book. So I’m like, okay lord, this is definitely one of my callings. you know, spiritual formation and generosity. Those are my my callings from the lord. But the story is in the shorthand version You have a Mexican family that are immigrants. You have a Japanese family that are immigrants. My grandfather came to Southern California in 1916. and went back, married, my grandmother came back in 1921, and my father is the oldest of 4. And, my dad had to grow up really fast. he ended up going to the bank with my grandfather when he was eight. And that’s how he learned this kind mister Monroe at Garn Grove First National Bank basically mentored my dad from the time he was ate in business and banking and all the different legal matters and stuff like that. But when, Japan bompro Harbor and Franklin, De Roosevelt as our president signed executive order 9066. that put all the Japanese families basically as enemies of the United States. I mean, to be really frank and cut through the the dialogue. And so that sent families. Didn’t matter. There were no exceptions, families into these incarceration camps. behind Barb Wire, where the military was pointing the guns in, not out. They weren’t trying to keep people out. They were trying to keep people in.
These are in desolate areas. somebody I was telling the list of where they were, and someone said, I’ve never heard of those places. and I’m like, yeah. That tells you how desolate they are even now. Right. Home people have no idea where these 10 camps were But, anyway, so our family had to go in and many Japanese sold whatever assets they had. My grandfather had lived here for 26 years at that time. My other grandfather had lived here for 39 and my dad and uncle and aunts and mother were all US citizens. They were born here in America. They had never lived in Japan. Had no loyalty to Japan. But nonetheless, they went into those camps, and my dad had to figure out what to do with the forty acres farm that he and my grandfather own. My dad was only about 21, 2021 at this time. So through, talking options through with Mister Monroe, they end up leasing the farm. And They end up leasing the farm to someone. My dad had never met Mister Gonzalo Mendez and his wife, fell asleep to us of Santa Ana. They were Contina owners. They had come here as young children, farm workers, and he had always dreamed of trying out farming. So this was a ready made farm. I mean, that lease contains everything that was in the farmhouse, the barn, all the equipment. So he said he would lease it. When he moves his family from Santa Ana to Westminster, they find out that their children because of their darker skin and their last name of Mendez have to go to a, segregated school, Hoover School. And this Hoover School was not safe in many ways, but it also didn’t have curriculum. So from that, he gathered 4 other families and paid for the attorneys, based on our asparagus profits. from the the farm and took this through federal court to the through the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the federal basis in 19 47 and 1. and there’s more to that story, but that’s the the top line. I’ll have to read the book. Yeah. I have to read the book to get all the all the different things.
But as Sylvia Sylvia Mendos was eight years old, and she was a plaintiff as well. She was just trying to go to 3rd grade. to a regular 3rd grade class. And so she has spoken on this for the last 35 years, and I’ve probably been involved with her for the last 20, but there has never been a written documentation of this. And so unless you go into the archives of the federal courts or wanna read a legal book, about the case. There is not any case about the families. And as we’ve spoken to different groups of people, it’s amazing how they wanna know more about the family. about the people, about the everyday people involved in this. And the reason I call it the kindness of color is Sylvia and I were at the Prudential Headquarters in New York, New Jersey. I think that was the first time we had spoken to so many people who had really never heard of any of this. None of it at all. Not about Japanese during World War 2. Not about I mean, these are huge parts of our history and she looked at Mich goes, they wanna know about our families. And that’s kind of when I thought, you know, there is value in writing a book that talks about the character of her family, the integrity they have the lack of prejudice. I mean, Gonzalo wasn’t trying to steal from my dad or anything. He just wanted to have an honest chance at trying farming the collaboration between our 2 families, there’s one story that shocks people every time I tell them how our families work together to try to make sure it was a win win situation. And it’s interesting because it’s a Japanese family. It’s a Mexican family. It’s a white banker. It’s Jewish attorney, a Catholic judge, Thurgen Marshall and Robert Carter from the end of the ACPR involved, as well as the Colorado River Indian tribe are all in my story. And so it’s a great story of kindness amongst everyday people in really tough situations. It’s not an organization who saved anybody. It’s not the government by any means. If anything, they were part of the problem. the school administrations were part of the problem.
It was really everyday people working together doing what they could. And in some cases, that was just being a good friend to try to encourage people our family or the Mendes family in a tough situation. And so that’s why I call it the kindness of color. people say how’d you the title. And I said, I was praying one day when I was walking, and I knew it 1, I wanted to have something about kindness in there. and god just gave it to me, and he has blessed it. So I’ve been speaking. I think I’ll have to count, but I think I’m up to about 800 events. Some of the events have been, you know, 12 school administrators up to 250 people to share this story, and I’m speaking regularly at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, to educators in law enforcement who are in that special program. to look at different ways to, lessen and resolve some of the racial tensions that we’re experiencing right now. So I never had any I just was gonna write it. I thought if I write it, get Jeff and Al off my back, Sylvia will have it in her hands. We just celebrated her 87th birthday the other day and Sylvia will have it in her hands. My aunt will have it in her hands and I’m done. And this has led into a whole different vocation where I’m speaking to a lot of different kinds of people. about this story. And I think one police officer told me police sergeant told me they’re one of their themes for that program is the power of woman. And I think if any, blind or weak. They will totally see god’s hand orchestrating this story. But even for non believers, they are amazed at what does it look like when people treat each other with value, with dignity, with respect, what happens. Right? And we know the lord is orchestrating this for good, but people are amazed. And most people are amazed that they aren’t and angry that they have never heard the story. I think there’s lots of reasons for that. I think part of the reason was the Mendoza’s family didn’t and tells their youngest daughter who was born about 15 years later. She read about it in a college master’s degree in education program, but in a textbook. So, because she was getting her certification for teaching, and so their younger daughter didn’t hear about it at home. I think now is the time to talk about this because the rhetoric of divisiveness between races is not counteracted. People are just like, well, that’s the way it is. It’s like, no. That is not the way it is. And it isn’t the way it has to be. when we value each other. And I I think it’s going to challenge I mean, quite honestly, I think it’s going to challenge believers to really look at what are our own blinders that we have on our eyes. You know, where do we feel entitled? So I don’t know, but it’s great fun talking to little girl scouts who want to know about the story all the way up to university, Dean’s, and presidents. And so I had no vision for this. I’m the reluctant author, but certainly Alan Jeff knew that this was an important story. they saw the potential in telling the story with a multicultural collaboration. And, also, I usually just tell people if this can happen in the midst of a world war, with everything that was going on, we can certainly do better. Yeah. And so that would be my, you know, call to action is what wherever you are and whatever you’re community or your sphere of influences, we can all do better and lean into more unity than divisiveness.
Kim Moeller [00:40:50]:
I wrote down some of these kindness quotes that you had in your book, and I just thought I would read them. Like, one is that kindness is mutual respect and gratitude for one another. Kindness is giving your own time to encourage and lift others up. Kindness is an apology, the long awaited and contested, given and accepted, and kindness is remembering what others have suffered with compassion and hospitality in even when you might have suffered far or worse. And when I read your book and, you know, to realize that just suddenly your you know, this Japanese family, hardworking, running this flourishing farm is now told they’re needing to go to an in internment camp.
Kim Moeller [00:41:30]:
And what are they going to do with this land and all the love and resources they poured into it? And then they find this other family and that family agrees to, you know, lease it and steward it for them and just how they work together It’s really, you know, how we’re all meant to be here on this earth. Like, the the skin color, all of that doesn’t matter, but it’s like, where has God placed us and who has he put before us to love to encourage and and to do, you know, that small act of kindness of Mister Monroe and helping him at the bank those years later has just produced this incredible legacy that you were a part of and now you know, all the readers, get to experience. So I would definitely encourage people to read the kindness of color and I just love Janice how it seems like every season in your life, it’s sort of like you’re opening this new door of, wow, what is this going to look like? And no idea. I’d be an author. No idea that I’d be a speaker, and I remember talking to you one time.
And you were saying, I wasn’t just asked to speak at the museum of tolerance once, but you were driving up to LA, like, very, very frequently from Orange County. And It’s I think that’s so how we’re meant to live. Like, we’re just meant to be these available vessels and for god to just you know, really, really use us. And maybe the listener is a widow who’s suddenly just like her life has turned side down doesn’t know what the next season looks like. Maybe someone is, you know, finishing a career. Maybe somebody’s stepping out of the workplace to be at home with kids. wherever that is. Like, I just want to encourage the listener to have hope and to realize that none of it is a stake, and none of it has surprised God. He knows exactly where you are, but to take that time to listen, and maybe, you know, you need a spiritual director like Janice. to help you listen and help you understand, like, spiritual practices that you can do during the week aside from maybe, you know, attending church for an hour on a Sunday. to because god has such a plan for each person. And he wants to show off, like, basically his radical generosity wants to show off his love, his kindness through our little lives that he’s given us for however many, you know, years on this earth and It’s just a real tremendous invitation that he offers each of us to be a part of this this gigantic story.
And I think this whole generosity movement has taken hold in people’s hearts over especially over the last decade, 2 decades. Like, I think 20 years ago, if you talked about generosity, maybe somebody would have thought about, you know, tiding 10%. But now it feels like it’s just this bigger story where people have incredible stories and hear and that’s really the purpose of this podcast is, like, hear these heart stories. Share the heart stories with people so people can listen to them, be a part of him, and then realize, wow, what can I do in my life, or what am I missing? What maybe this area I’ve you know, I’ve not even explored, but God might have something incredible that he can do to influence my community, my church, my city, my my neighborhood. So it’s just wanting every person listening to just take that next step, whatever that is. And so I I could go on for an hour plus with you and have you unpack all these other, you know, parts of your life and inspirational stories, but let’s close with our the 3bies, your favorite Bible verse, current book you’re reading, and then any recent bargain you want to share. Okay.
Janice Munemitsu [00:45:08]:
well, my life first would have to be John 15, for abide in me and I and you As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. Right. And then book I’m reading right now, sadly. I didn’t realize this until the other day and I thought, why are we all talking? I’m talking to friends a lot about this book. I’m re Heaven by Randy Elcorn. And it’s been out for a while. It’s seven hundred pages, so I hadn’t read it yet, but I gave it to one of my friends who lost his wife. And all of these, three people right now, two people who have passed We’re very close friends of mine. They’re all in their sixties and, love the lord. And we’re like, hi, lord. There’s so many more years for them. to have served you here. But we start talking about this book and so I the one pastor is, in Southeast Asia, and I sent him this book, and he’s just loving it. And then another person told me, have you read that book, Heaven? I’m reading it now and it’s so good. And then I have a friend who 3 months ago, she was traveling and everything, and now they may have to consider hospice because of the type of cancer that she was diagnosed with. And so that’s why I’m reading this book and it’s, I’m actually reading it with one of my friends, his wife who passed he passed away in January. So she and I are gonna read this together and take that journey. And then you said bargain. I am actually at the point in my life where I’m trying to not have so much stuff. I always love to organize things, but organizing things mean you probably have more than you need anyway. So I’m kind of in the decluttering mode, so I’m really trying to buy, things that last. So things that might be more expensive upfront, but I’m never gonna need another one. And so that’s kind of the Yeah. So that’s kind of the, more the mindset of, quote, unquote, a bargain is by once. and not have to use it or not have to need one. Another one, high quality, I guess.
Kim Moeller [00:47:20]:
Right. Right. Oh, no. Excellent. And back to your book about Randy Alcorn and Heaven. I have also referred that book to many, many people. And when I read it, It just helped me have a better picture of what does the Bible say about what heaven is and we’re we’re really all headed toward because if we’re If we know where we’re headed with the target, then it’s gonna help us live a more productive, effective, kingdom minded life here. And it’s just a book that the people who have been dying who have read the book have it’s comforted them. And sometimes loved ones who have sat by their bedside and read it out loud to say this is where you’re going. Like, you will the suffering for you is gonna end very soon, and you’re gonna be in this paradise. We’re the ones here, you know, left behind on this earth, but Randy Alcorn also the author of the Treasure Principle Fool, a much shorter book about giving that I would also love to do a shout out for. So Well, it’s been fabulous Janice being with you and just such an inspiration. I just love how
Kim Moeller [00:48:23]:
Love how God has used you in Orange County and and all over. So thanks so much.
Janice Munemitsu [00:48:28]:
Okay. Thanks so much. Bye.
Kim Moeller [00:48:35]:
Thanks so much for joining us today on the generous growth podcast We’re so glad that you’re here. And if you know of someone that you think needs to be a guest on this podcast, please reach out to New episodes are released every other week, and you can follow us on YouTube and on all platforms. Thanks for being here, and we’ll see you next time.
© Generous Girl Podcast. All Rights Reserved.
