The Long Game: A Café, a Calling & a Kingdom Mission

An episode on faith, entrepreneurship, long-term thinking, and the courage to build for the future God is calling you toward.

What if the dream God has placed in your heart requires more than passion? What if it requires patience, vision, and the willingness to build slowly and strategically long before you see the results?

Sometimes God calls us to look beyond immediate opportunities and short-term gains, investing instead in a future we cannot yet fully see. The work He entrusts to us can become more than a career—it can become a Kingdom assignment. He can use our skills, relationships, and businesses as instruments of His mission.

After years of faithfully sharing Jesus with others at school, Hanaya prepares for the next season of her calling. She dreams of becoming an entrepreneurial missionary—building a business that serves people while advancing a Kingdom purpose. 

When a newly opened café catches her attention, Hanaya walks in looking for a part-time job during her summer school break. What begins as a simple interview quickly becomes something more. As the owner listens to her vision for the future, he realizes she isn't just a teenager asking for a job.

In the episodes ahead, Hanaya will also discover who the owner really is—and why this encounter may be far more significant than she imagined.

Hanaya Oki Chapters:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy

Know more:
https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:02

Excuse me, sir. The coffee is really good, and the cake is delicious too.

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed them.

SPEAKER_01 0:08

Actually, I was wondering if you're looking for a part-time worker.

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Oh, you're looking for work?

SPEAKER_01 0:12

I noticed the cafe recently opened, and it looked like you could use an extra pair of hands. I learned quickly, and I'd love the opportunity to help out if you're hiring.

SPEAKER_00 0:21

Wow. You're very enthusiastic. To be honest, we're looking for some extra help. Since you're already here, why don't we do a short interview?

SPEAKER_01 0:29

Really? That would be great, sir. Here's my resume.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Thank you. By the way, how old are you?

SPEAKER_01 0:34

I'm 17. Here's a parental consent form signed by my mom. Her phone number is on it as well.

SPEAKER_00 0:39

You've certainly come prepared. Uh, give me a few minutes to look through all this. In the meantime, would you like another cup of coffee? It's on the house.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Sure, I would love one. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

Coming right up. Here you go.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Your resume says you've worked at a bookstore and a flower shop. How did that happen?

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Well, my mom owns both businesses. I've spent a lot of time at both places since I was little. At first, I was just helping out after school, but over time, mom started teaching me how the businesses worked.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

What did you learn?

SPEAKER_01 1:10

At the bookstore, I learned customer service, inventory, merchandising, running the register, and even making coffee because we had a small reading cafe.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

That's impressive. And the flower shop?

SPEAKER_01 1:21

Flower arranging, pricing, inventory, customer service, and reducing waste. Since flowers don't last long, every stem counts.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

That's quite an impressive range of skills for someone your age.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

I still have a lot to learn.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Why a cafe?

SPEAKER_01 1:34

Because I want to open one after I graduate from college.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

Here in Kamakura, competition would be tough.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

Not here. Probably in Vietnam. Maybe Nia Trang or Da Nang.

SPEAKER_00 1:43

Vietnam? Interesting. Why there?

SPEAKER_01 1:45

Partly because of practical business reasons, and partly because of my faith.

SPEAKER_00 1:49

How does that connect?

SPEAKER_01 1:50

I'm a Christian. I want to build a business that genuinely helps people, but I also hope I'll have opportunities to share my faith and talk about Jesus with people I meet. A lot of people never really get the chance to hear who Jesus is or what he did for them, and that's something I care about.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

That's not something I hear from many 17-year-olds.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Maybe not. But if I believe something is true and gives people hope, why would I keep it to myself? That's one of the reasons Vietnam appeals to me. The practical side is that Vietnam's cafe culture is growing fast, and cities like Naya Trang and Da Nang seem like great places to start a business.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

There's more to you than I expected. And on the practical side, you're right. They attract visitors year-round, and startup costs are lower than in Japan. Do you have any capital?

SPEAKER_01 2:36

Mom started a business fund for me when I was five. Last time she mentioned it, it was around $30,000.

SPEAKER_00 2:42

Wow. Your mom was incredibly intentional. She was thinking years ahead. $30,000?

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:47

That's a solid start. With another three years of saving, you'll have even more by graduation. That's enough to launch a small cafe in Vietnam without taking on debt, if you're careful.

SPEAKER_01 2:57

That's what I was hoping. I'm planning to study there too. Either business administration or hospitality management.

SPEAKER_00 3:03

Then let me give you some advice. Study business administration.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

Not hospitality?

SPEAKER_00 3:08

Hospitality teaches operations. Business teaches survival. Most cafes fail because of cash flow, marketing, staffing, or a poor location. Not because the coffee is bad.

SPEAKER_01 3:18

That's a good point.

SPEAKER_00 3:19

Work in cafes while studying. Improve your Vietnamese. Build local connections. That combination will take you much further than a degree alone.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

That's actually my plan.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

You've put more thought into this than most people your age. Another thing, opening a cafe is the easy part. Getting customers every day is the hard part.

SPEAKER_01 3:37

So location matters?

SPEAKER_00 3:38

More than many people realize, Nyao Trang already has plenty of cafes. Locals can get good Vietnamese coffee almost anywhere, usually for less money too. So competing on coffee alone? That's difficult. And as a Japanese owner, you already have a niche. Japanese desserts, matcha, specialty coffee, maybe even a small collection of curated books and Japanese-inspired merchandise. A cafe that feels like a destination, not just a coffee shop.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

That's exactly what I have in mind. Somewhere people come not only for the coffee, but for the experience. I'm thinking of keeping magazines, comics, and manga around for customers to browse while they enjoy their coffee. Maybe breakfast specials too?

SPEAKER_00 4:21

That could work. The books and manga won't make you money directly, but they help create an atmosphere people remember. If you get the location right and run it well, I could see that attracting a loyal crowd. I'd recommend starting small. 20 to 30 seats, a focused menu, a few good desserts, a shelf of books and manga, maybe a little merchandise, but don't go overboard. See what customers actually respond to before investing more. And keep 6 to 12 months of expenses in reserve.

SPEAKER_01 4:50

That's the plan.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

Then you're thinking like a business owner already. If you're serious about Nya Trang, study there. Work there and build your network. Just make sure to check whether the business program at Nya Trang University is fully taught in English or mostly taught in Vietnamese. A strong local network can often be more valuable than an expensive degree from one of the big city universities.

SPEAKER_01 5:12

Thank you, sir. Honestly, I came here looking for a part-time job. I wasn't expecting business advice.

SPEAKER_00 5:18

Advice comes free with a coffee. And after hearing all this, I'd like to offer you a trial shift.

SPEAKER_01 5:24

Really?

SPEAKER_00 5:24

Yes. Let's see if you are as good at working in a cafe as you are at planning one.

SPEAKER_01 5:29

Challenge accepted.

SPEAKER_00 5:30

One last question. Do you plan to keep working once school starts?

SPEAKER_01 5:34

I can if I can manage the workload, maybe three or four days a week.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

Fair enough. We'll see how the trial goes to the live.