by Whitey | Nov 15, 2011 | Brain Dump
Here’s what going on:
1. I had a cold last week and ended up taking the night off from leading worship Wednesday night at prayer meeting. So I’m doing it this week instead. Basically me and my pastor swapped spots.
2. I’m going to Sendai next week to volunteer with a group doing relief work there. I’ll post more details later in the week.
3. Because I’m going to Sendai next week, next week’s work needs to get done this week. Mainly getting ready for English Club at the end of the month, especially the message.
4. Still doing regular English classes this week too.
So it’s a full week. But not too much for me and Jesus. Prayers appreciated though, of you’re so inclined.
by Whitey | Nov 1, 2011 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your prayers for me and my ministry this past month! In early October we held our first English Cafe, and a few foreign friends came to help out, along with several English students and other Japanese friends. The total was about 15 people, over half non-Christian. Praise God that one of our missionary guests got to share her testimony with the others in her group.
In October I also started teaching a new English class on Tuesday evenings. There are 8 students in this class now, and 7 of them are from outside the church. This includes two ladies I met at a coffee shop randomly the day before our first class.
This past Sunday, the Nagoya church celebrated our 60th anniversary. It was a great day of celebration, especially since it also included the baptisms of two of our young people.
I’ve been really impressed that our pastors and leaders have been using this 60th anniversary season as a time not only to remember and give thanks for things in the past, but also to cast a vision for the future. In addition, we are holding an outreach event on November 13 related to our anniversary, as a way of saying thanks to the community and welcoming them to come and check out our church. Please pray for this special event.
Please be in prayer for these things as well:
- English Cafe – 11/04
- Leading worship at prayer meeting – 11/9
- Helping with Nagoya-Higashi Youth – 11/12
- Relief work trip to Sendai – 11/20-25
- English Club (now every other month) – 11/27
- My weekly English classes & Japanese studies
Thanks again for all your prayers, encouragement and support!
– Robin
by Whitey | Dec 1, 2010 | Ministry News
Dear Prayer Partners,
Thank you so much for your prayers over the past month! I have been busy, but really enjoying life and ministry in Japan.
In November we launched our new English ministries at the Nagoya Church. I’m currently teaching two weekly classes. Both classes started out so small, I was tempted to combine the two into one. But at the last minute we had a couple of new sign-ups, so I decided to keep them separate. Then, over the weeks, the numbers have continued to grow. Now we have 12 people coming regularly, 7 of whom are non-Christians from outside the church! I’m thankful for the bridges that are beginning to be built through these classes.
Our first monthly English Club event was held this Sunday and was well-attended, with over 20 people. Most were regular attenders of the church, but I’m confident that as this ministry grows we will see more of our non-Christian friends taking part. Please pray that both the weekly classes and these monthly events will be used to sew seeds of God’s love in people’s hearts.
Other highlights this month included leading worship at prayer meeting on the 17th, here in Nagoya; at that time I also gave a short message in Japanese. On Sunday the 21st, I preached at the Hikone Immanuel Church (in English with an interpreter). Both opportunities went well, so thanks for praying.
Here are some specific things you can pray about in December:
1. This Saturday (the 4th) I’m taking part in a youth group meeting at the Nagoya-Higashi Immanuel Church. The pastor tells me there will be about 10-13 students, ALL of whom are non-church kids. Pray for me as I minister through song and testimony, and pray that I make a good connection with them for the sake of future ministry there.
2. On December 19, my own church will be holding its Christmas celebrations. Pray that many of our non-Christian friends will come and be drawn to the Lord through this event.
3. On December 23, I’m ministering through music and testimony at another Christmas event in Shizuoka, at the Immanuel Numazu Church. Pray for God to use me there as well.
4. Please also be in prayer for my Japanese studies. I’m finishing up another term at the YWCA and have already reached the highest level offered at this school. I’m currently considering other options for continuing my studies: A different school? Private or group lessons? Etc.
Again, thank you for praying for and supporting me as I work with the Church to build spiritual bridges in Japan! Have a great December!
– robin
by Whitey | Aug 1, 2008 | Ministry News
Below is a copy of my latest prayer letter, as sent by email to those on the list. As you’ll see, August is going to be a full but fun month — I’ll hardly be home at all actually. Because of this I’ll be offline and not posting anything new to the blog — BUT I have a bunch of stuff pre-posted that will be going live automatically throughout the month. A lot of really fun stuff too (like the rest of the Engrish series — 5 parts in all!), so make sure to check back. Plus my Twitter feed is showing here now. Lord willing I’ll be back “live” in September. Have a great month, all.
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Dear friends, family and supporters,
In Japan, this is the time of year that brings us extreme heat, humidity and the sounds of the cicadas. For students, it’s also time for summer holidays, and as a language student, that includes me! For the entire month of August I’ll have no classes, which will be a nice (and much-needed) break!
But that doesn’t mean I’ll be vacationing all month! Actually, August will be my busiest month of ministry so far this year. In addition to that, I’ll have homework to do (students in Japan generally have homework during their short summer break) and I’m hoping to spend some time each day catching up on some vocabulary and things I’ve missed along the way. At the end of the month I do plan take some time off, but for the first few weeks I’ll be busy — but a different kind of busy, so it’ll still be a nice change!
Here’s a rundown of my schedule for the month:
• Aug. 4-6 — Home in Nagoya getting ready for everything.
• Aug. 7-9 — My church’s youth camp; several unsaved junior high kids come to our youth events — pray for them to come and to have open hearts! I’ll be playing guitar on the worship team as well as being the “official” photographer.
• Aug. 11-14 — Youth Station (Tokyo) — the denomination’s national youth event of the summer. I’ll be taking part in a missions-themed discussion / teaching time, as well as teaming up with WGM missionary Zach Motts to lead some fun activities.
• Aug. 17-19 — Area Retreat (like family camp back home, but probably less “campy”). I’ll be giving a testimony and sharing in song during one of the services, as well as helping out with a youth service as an “MC”.
• Aug. 20-31 — Vacation!!! I’ll be visiting friends in Fukushima (Japanese countryside) and Tokyo (definitely not the countryside) before coming home, regrouping, and going back to school.
Please pray for safe travel, effective ministry, and that God will teach me some things along the way as well. Pray too that I manage to keep up with my studies and take advantage of the ample opportunities I’ll have to practice my Japanese in actual conversations at all these events. Pray, too, that this is a good time of relationship building for me, as it’ll be a good chance to get to know some of the teens I don’t usually see more than once a week.
Thank you so much for your continuing prayer support! I’ll try to send out a full newsletter in early September and let you know how things are going. In the meantime, I won’t be home much, so forgive me if I’m not able to respond right away to any emails you might send. “I’ll see you in September…”
Blessings,
– robin
ロビンホワイト
by Whitey | Jun 29, 2008 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
I know it’s not July yet, but it’s Sunday night and I thought I’d get the prayer letter sent out before another busy week begins. So here it is…
First of all, a big thank you to all of you who prayed for my ministry in Gifu last weekend! Several people emailed before I left to let me know they were praying, which was really encouraging, so thanks for that as well.
I had a great time in Gifu, where I participated in an outreach service through music and testimony. I had a great time, and was really made to feel welcome too. There were 27 people in attendance, 10 of whom were visitors, and 6-8 of whom were non-Believers! Meanwhile, back here in Nagoya, my own church was having an outreach of their own, and reported 83 in attendance, of which 16 were seekers and 5 were first-time visitors! Praise God for newcomers and for the opportunity they had to hear the Gospel!
Here are some things you can be praying for in the coming weeks…
1. Pray that God will continue to work in the hearts of those who came to both outreach services.
2. Pray for my English/Bible student, with whom I’m still meeting semi-regularly.
3. I’m planning to travel to Tokyo in a couple of weeks for a planning meeting for this summer’s national youth camp. Please pray for safe travel, as well as that I would learn something from the experience, and be able to contribute.
4. And, as always, I’d appreciate your prayers for my language studies. I have to confess that lately I’ve really been struggling to stay on top of things. PLEASE pray that God will help me to understand, to stay focused and disciplined, and to succeed!
I’m beginning to understand the wisdom in taking a whole 2-year missionary term to focus on language studies. And I’m learning to see language school as my “full-time job”. Any ministry opportunities I have on top of that are just icing on the cake — but not my main focus right now. It’s all about a long-term investment that will pay off in the years to come.
As always, your prayers and thoughts are much appreciated! THANK YOU! Hope you all have a happy Canada Day and/or Independence Day this week!
Blessings,
– robin
