Fuji-san Foto-san
Shot with my iPhone from the Shinkansen on the way back from Yokohama on Monday.
Hosea 11:1-11
“It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.”
(Hosea 11:3 NIV)
Sometimes God is at work in our lives but we don’t see it. We’re either too busy to see it at all, or we think we did it ourselves. So we fail to fully embrace what God is doing; and we miss out on His best. Or we enjoy some of the benefits of His grace but don’t give Him thanks. We don’t worship. In that case, too we miss out.
God, please forgive my ingratitude. Forgive me for allowing distractions into my life. Give me the grace to fully embrace what You’re doing in my life. Give me eyes to see, a heart to praise and the will to follow wherever You’re leading.
The Shizuoka Gang
Here’s a shot of me and the kids who came on Sunday morning. It was a small group but we had a fun time. Please keep praying for this ministry!
Post-Eclipse Sky Photo
OK, I admit it. I slept through the eclipse last week. But I took this shortly after.
English Cafe (Photo)
Prayer Letter – June 2012
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your prayers this past month!
Earlier in the month, I took my second monthly trip to Shizuoka to do kids’ ministry with the Immanuel Church there. We had fewer kids over all this time, but we also had 5 new faces, so I was thankful for that. Please pray that some of these kids will begin to come to the church more consistently (not just at our monthly special events) so that the pastors and church members can build good relationships with them and disciple them for Jesus.
My next trip to Shizuoka is the weekend of June 9. Please pray for my continuing ministry there.
Back in Nagoya, this past Sunday, we had another English Club event. To be honest, I was a little disappointed that there were so few of my regular students there, or other guests from outside the church. But we did have some people show up who are new to the church and not-yet Christians.
Pray that some of the seeds sown through the message, music and fellowship will take root.
Tonight I am hosting our monthly English Cafe, a casual time of conversation practice. At May’s Cafe, we had a new couple show up, which I was glad to see. They really seemed to connect well and be interested in coming back. Please pray for this monthly outreach — that good relationships will be built and that conversations will turn to Christ.
Thanks again for being a part of my ministry here in Japan! I couldn’t do this without you all your prayers and financial support.
Hugs,
– Robin
Nakamura Koen
[wpvideo 3IKiPPr8]
This is the park at the end of my street. It’s a nice place to escape the concrete and enjoy some quiet time once in a while.
Sunset Over Nagoya
Shot just a couple days ago using my iPhone.
1 Chronicles 29
“Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.” Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly. The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.” (1 Chronicles 28:19-21 NLT)
David’s charge to Solomon contains a lot of encouragement. God had a plan. Solomon had only to trust and obey. He should not be afraid or discouraged, for God would not leave him alone. Sometimes doing full-time missions work can be hard. There are language and cultural and spiritual barriers. There are disappointments, and eternal results don’t come quickly or clearly. Japan is a hard mission field, so much that it’s been called a “missionary graveyard.” But God is reminding me today to be faithful to the call He’s given me, to do the work, to not be discouraged or to give up. He has a plan. And He has not left me alone. He’s given me His Church, and He’s given me Himself. He will not fail or foresake me. He’ll be with me ’till the work is done.1 Chronicles 17:16-27
In this passage, we read David’s response to God’s promises. In this response we see a great example of prayer. David approached God in an attitude of…
– humility (vs 16) – gratitude and praise (vs 18-22) – trust and courage (vs 23-27) We would do well to follow his example.