This coin has a little story behind it. It is a Japanese 5 Yen Coin that was given to me by a missionary. These coins are normally given to shrines or put in wallets before any other money because they represent good luck and karma. I received this coin in the 4th grade when at my Lutheran grade school we would write to missionaries each month on their birthdays. It was a way to let them know that someone was thinking of them and all the hard work they do and it was deeply appreciated. Many wrote back, but this was by far the most memorable one (or maybe I was so young and this one sent me a gift, I was an impressionable little tyke). The missionary I wrote was named Jennifer and she was newly married working in Tokyo. She wrote back a lovely letter and included an awesome picture, which surely influenced my fashion sense (crimped hair, big bangs, teal blue puffy dress - it was a picture of her from the late 80s).
She also included this coin. I wear it not because of it's history of luck, but because it reminds me to have faith in the unknown, not an easy thing to do in today's world but a strong virtue to have. Not everything in life can be explained and sometimes you have to have faith that you will come out the other side of it.
