Hi everyone,
Hope your summer is going well. There’s lots going on here, so please take a moment to read my latest newsletter, which you can find at this link:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12247320/031.pdf
Thank you!
– Robin
Hi everyone,
As many of you know, I was back in North America for 3+ weeks recently. I was in upstate New York for a Global Partners retreat and conference, followed by a a couple of days at the Wesleyan Church General Conference. It was a great time of fellowship, team building, learning, equipping and worship.
After that I went to Canada for about 2 weeks of vacation time. I’m really thankful for the time I had to relax with my family and to catch up with friends. I’m thankful for safe travel too.
Now I’m back in Japan and gearing up for the summer. As usual, summer is going to be a very busy season of ministry, so I’d certainly appreciate your prayers. Here are some specific things you can be praying for:
July 7-25 I have a short-term missionary working with me. Pray for Drake, who is considering becoming a long-term missionary, as he explores what ministry in Japan looks like.
In late July and early August, I’ll be taking part in a art exhibit with some other Christian artists from the area. This is an outreach for a local church, and also the first event our newly formed Tokai Christian Artist Network. Pray that it will held build bridges with the community, and that these new partnerships will lead to bigger and better things.
Please pray too for this month’s English Cafe (July 1) and English Bible study (July 17). We also have a special kids’ event on July 18.
As always, thank you for your prayers and support! Hope you have a great summer.
– Robin
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your prayers this past week as I travelled to Kumamoto in southwestern Japan to participate in the earthquake relief efforts there. While it was sad to see the destruction in many places, it was really encouraging to see so many Christians from various backgrounds working together to share God’s love in practical ways to those who had been affected by the earthquakes. Times like this make us realize how little many of our differences matter and how much we can accomplish if we work together.
Doing relief work is, of course, a lot different from what I usually do. This past week I did lots of heavy lifting, digging and repair work, as well as carrying supplies, passing out fliers, playing with kids and barbecuing. It was tiring but rewarding. As a bonus, I got to see some beautiful scenery in the mountainous Aso area. Again, thank you for your prayers!
May is upon us, and I’m back in Nagoya, gearing up for a busy month. I’d appreciate your continuing prayers!
Prayer Points:
Once again, thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement!
– Robin
Hi everyone,
As I mentioned in my previous update, I’ve been thinking of participating in the earthquake relief efforts in Kyushu. This week, plans have fallen into place, and I’m planning to fly to Kumamoto city on Friday morning to help out there for about a week.
I’d appreciate your prayers for safe travel as well as the strength and wisdom needed to minister effectively. Also, please continue to pray for those affected by these disasters, for the help to get to those who need it, and for the strength and unity of Christians reaching out in Jesus’ name in response to these needs.
As always, thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement!
– Robin
Most of you have probably heard the news about last week’s earthquakes in Kyushu, southwestern Japan. I thought I would send a quick update to let you know that I’m OK (Nagoya is pretty far from the affected area) and to let you know how you can pray and help.
The latest news I’ve read puts the death toll from the quakes at 48, with an additional 10 indirect deaths caused by the physical burdens of living in shelters. Over 1000 others are injured, and rescuers continue to search for 2 additional missing people. 200,000 people have reportedly been evacuated.
Below are some prayer requests and links to more information. Additionally, on a personal note, I’d ask you to pray with me about my response. If possible, I’d like to take part in the relief efforts and have already been in contact with one of the Christian organizations about this. I have some flexibility in my schedule in early May, so pray that God will provide the right opportunity and resources. Pray, too, that I can be a light where I am even in Nagoya, as these times open up opportunities to talk about the hope we have in Christ.
Prayer Requests from the Japan Evangelical Association:
1. The rescue operations by the government and emergency rescue teams to be successful.
2. Protection and recovery of affected churches and Christians in the region.
3. Japanese churches, Christian relief organizations to minister to affected people with Christ’s love.
4. Protection of relief workers from burn-outs and harmonious coordination of relief ministries.
5. Through all these, the Kingdom of God to be advanced and bring spiritual awakening to this nation of Japan.
Links to more information:
CRASH Japan
JEA Report
JapanCAN on 3 Ways to Help
As always, that you for your prayers, support and encouragement!
– Robin
Hi everyone!
I hope you’ve been doing well this past month. This month my update is in PDF form, so please follow the link below to view or download:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12247320/030.pdf
Thank you for your prayers and support!
– Robin
Hi everyone,
The above picture is my Tuesday kids English class. (I wonder who told them to make those faces?) In February, this group finished their four-year course with us, bringing the class to an end. I’m thankful for the relationships formed through this and the other English classes I teach, and that so many students and family members have participated in other church activities like camps, Christmas events and so on. Please pray that God will continue to work in my students’ lives, even the kids who have graduated and moved on.
March is shaping up to be a busy month, so I’d appreciate your prayers for the following:
Finally, if you’re interested in some extra reading on the spiritual and religious situation in Japan, here are a couple of articles I came across recently:
https://trimmedtales.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/japan-state-of-missions-infograph/
http://blog.gaijinpot.com/japan-religious-atheist-country/
As always, your prayers are much appreciated — and needed! Thank you for partnering with me for Jesus and Japan!
– Robin
Hi everyone,
Compared to December, January was a pretty quiet month for me. I got back into my regular English teaching schedule, took part in some church events, and led worship a couple of times.
One highlight this month was our church’s mochi-tsuki event. Mochi is a sticky rice cake made by pounding freshly-cooked rice with a big mallet (as in the photo above). After this it gets flavoured with different things to make tasty snacks. At our mochi-making event this past Sunday, we had well over 50 people take part, including lots of kids from my English classes, along with their families and friends. It’s great seeing our church connect with the community. Let’s pray for these connections to grow stronger and for people to become more open to Jesus.
Here are some other things you can be praying for this month:
Thank you as always for your prayers and support!
– Robin
PS — In case you missed it, here’s a link to the newsletter I sent out last month:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/aqvvcrktpvs9gn7/AAAP1K-DU4Qs5IK422gvFHRha/029.pdf?dl=0
Hi everyone,
Happy New Year! I’ve just done up my latest newsletter. Please follow the link to view/download/pray:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hsi4tu7pngsse6m/029.pdf?dl=0
Thank you, and God bless!
– Robin
Hi everyone,
As the title implies, this’ll be a short/quick update. A full newsletter is coming soon, though, so be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, I’d really appreciate your prayers this month, especially this week and next, as I enter a busy time of studies and ministry. Please pray for…
As always, thank you for your prayers and support! I hope you have a happy holiday season and a very merry Christmas!
Robin