Japan Newsletter - Feb 17, 2009

Hello and many greeting to you all.
I thank you for being patient for the coming of this letter. I haven't been able to really have some quality writing time in a while and am glad to finally be able to do so. Again, I am at a loss for words to describe the glories of God in the country of Japan. However, I want to tell you about a few things that happened since I spoke to you all last.

One exciting thing that happened this month was being able to go to a Japanese orphanage for the first time. A couple weeks ago about seven members of the church and I spent time in a Catholic orphanage about and hour away from here. We spent hours playing with the children, talking with them, and teaching them. It was truly an amazing time for me and for the people who went. Also, in speaking to the staff there, they were very interested in having us return. Keep us in your prayers about this. Jeremiah and I have talked about making this a monthly event for the congregation here. I think it is a great idea and a great way to reach out to the kids, so please be praying that this would all come together in God's timing and in God's way and that it would be a blessing to all involved.

This was also the month which marks the start of our Shine Kids Program over in Setagaya. While we have been running the Shine Kids Winter Semester since last month here in Machida, I really felt lead to start another Shine Kids Class in our sister church in Setagaya. So, I prepared all the materials and started on the friday of last week. To my surprise, the children that came to this new program were far younger than those that came to Machida. While the youngest here in Machida are of a kindergarten age, the children in Setagaya where all about three years old. But, with a few quick alterations and the grace of God, the class still went very well and both the children and the mothers had a really good time. It was not exactly how I pictured things working out, but then again I have really come to love God's beautiful little surprises. They make life so much richer. Please be praying that the school would continue to grow and flourish in God's time and by His will. And that He would use this contact with the families and children to bring more people into His saving Grace and love.

Also, there have been some new developements at the Homeless ministry in Yoyogi Park. Because of the current financial crisis, the numbers of homeless people have increased at a alarming rate. When I first arrived here, the Homeless ministry served about 100 people. In this last month alone, this number has tripled. Evertime I go to the homless ministry, I am seeing many new faces. And unfortunately, because of the large numbers of people, it is fairly difficult to find people you have talked with previously which is essential to the ministry, consistant contact. Naturally, I can see how God is using the current economy for good in that more people are having a chance to be exposed to the gospel. But I have a feeling we are going to have to change the way in which we minister to these men and women a bit in order to meet the need and feed hearts as well as stomachs. Please be praying for direction in this ministry.

Lastly, please be praying for the unsaved that attend church services and ministries. There are now serveral people who are coming to the English services here to practice there English. I have been blessed by being able to spend time with these people, talking with them, and being able to share the gospel with them. I have become good friends with most of them and love them very much. But please pray for wisdom and discernment in my relationships with them. With my love for them naturally comes also great concern and great passion for them to come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus. But, indeed I must be careful that this passion does not turn into a zealousness that could damage what God is seeking to do through this relationship. I want to minister to them and indeed share the gospel with them, but with the loving patience that God has given to me. Please pray that God would continue to work in me this loving patience and of course please pray that these people would run to the arms of Jesus soon if not right now.

I love you all and miss you all and wish you were here with me. Please write me if you find you have the time. I would love to hear from you.

Yours lovingly in our merciful Lord,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

Japan Newsletter - Jan 8, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Happy new year!!! I pray that all of you are well and that your Christmas season was truly a joyful one. My December was quite an eventful time for me, full of Christmas outreaches, wonderful ministries, and of course so many blessings from God. Truly, His faithfulness just leaves me awestruck sometimes. Were should I start?
Well firstly, I would like to thank you all for your prayers about my language abilities. I think God has brought me to a bit of a "clicking" point when it comes to Japanese. It is hard to describe it, but some of my Japanese friends who learned English had similar experiences. It's kind of like it just flows out you without having to translate what you are saying into English in your head. Like you are talking from another part of your brain. Anyway, it's pretty cool and I am grateful to God for getting me this far.
Also, thank you for praying for the big outreaches that I mentioned in the last letter. The Women's Christmas Outreach, the Christmas Program. The Christmas Eve Candle Light Service all went very well. All were great and everyone had opportunities to invite unsaved family and friends. And surprisingly, a lot of those invited came. We had a packed house every time. Some have even visited services after the fact which is always a blessing. Please pray for the unsaved currently attending services, pray for good relationships to be formed and for the spirit to be working in their hearts. But I think my favorite outreach in the last month would have to be the Children's English Christmas program in Saitama. Saitama Horizon has a English school functioning out of it and they invited me to put on a Christmas Program for their students. It was an amazing time. We sang Christmas carols, made cloth angels, and I was able to share about gospel to them through talking about the meaning of Christmas. The kids enjoyed themselves and all of them wanted me to come back soon and I hope to be much more involved in this ministry in the future.
Anyway, as for prayer requests, naturally I have quite a few. But the mainstay of them are about the ministries in this new year. Please be praying for the next semester of Shine Kids that will be coming up soon and also for the Shine Kids Program that I am feeling led to start in our sister church in Setagaya. Please be praying for lots of kids, great relationships with families, and that God's will would be done. Also be praying about my possible involvement in the Horizon Language School in this next year. It would be a great opportunity to come in contact with Japanese people I wouldn't ordinarily meet. However, my involvement still remains in question. Also please be praying for Funky Friday. There have been some difficulties in the ministry lately.
God bless you all. I will be praying for you. Please drop me a line if you have the time.
Yours in our Lord,
Alex J. Robinson

Japan Newsletter- Dec 3, 2008

Dear brothers and sisters,
Hello and many greetings to you. I am sorry to have taken so much time to write you again. My days have been full lately and God continues to move and work in this land. But not a day has gone by that my heart hasn't found you one way or another. I have so very much to tell you. Firstly, thank you for praying for the events that were coming up the last time I wrote you. The Classical Concert, The Horizon Café, The Setagaya Fall festival all went better than we had hoped and many from the surrounding communities came. Please pray that the strengthening of these relationships would continue and the church would grow to be more and more a place of safety and love in the eyes of the community.
The Homeless Ministry continues on and has been going well. Recently we held the Homeless Thanksgiving in Yoyogi Park not far from where we usually do ministry. We brought a lot of food and clothing and praised be to God, over a hundred and fifty homeless people came for it. Unfortunately, even though the goods we gave to the people there were very much needed (especially with the winter coming upon us so quickly here), we did not have time to talk with anyone as we had to pack everything up quickly before the police arrived. You see, before we had the homeless ministry in Yoyogi, there was another ministry in Shinjuku that was very good and that I was able to serve at in previous trips. However it got very big. And after a while the police shut it down under the heading of park health. They don't like the homeless congregating in large groups because it doesn't make the park look good. And they have started to eyeball us over in Yoyogi as well. So we have to make a fast exit when the police are about to go on patrol. Please be praying about this situation. I have just started to develop relationships with the people that hang out in Yoyogi and know many by name and know their stories. I don't want to have to loose that and start over somewhere else.
The other ministries have been good. Funky Friday, the youth and co-worker outreach over in Setagaya is about to have a big launching event to get us into the community and church eye again. Pray that it will go well. We continue to hope and pray that it will be a way to speak to the large youth community in Setagaya, a place lacking many other churches to do so. The English class over in Setagaya that we teach through the bible hasn't grown, but relationships are being made stronger. Pray for the unsaved within the class. Also, since pastor Jeremiah left, I have been put in charge of leading the International Wednesday Night Bible Study. Things have been going well and God continues to work in the hearts of people in it. Pray for the unsaved that have started attending recently. Pray that they would see God through this study and through the saved that they now spend time with. Please continue to pray for all the ministries, that God would bless them.
And lastly, please be praying for me. Pray for wisdom and that God would continue to grow me into who he wants me to be. Sometimes I step back from the work that I am involved in and say to myself "I am probably the worst choice for this work". My youth and my inexperience in these things often cross my mind. But, God is good and merciful. He uses the least of us to work His wonders. So I am not really worried. Just grateful. But still, growing is good and I still have a long way to go.
Thank you again for your prayer in all this. Come and join me any time you like. The workers are few here.

Lovingly and Gratefully yours,
Alex J. Robinson
P.S. Photos and hopefully video of Shine Kids Club to come.

Japan Newsletter Oct 14, 2008

Hello and many greetings to you my spiritual family!
This is Alex Robinson again writing from Tokyo and pleased as punch to be doing so ^_^. Things here have been going very well but very fast. It seems as soon as I get my head out of the water to catch my breath, another two weeks has gone by and I am writing you again. Sometimes it is hard to believe how busy it can get over here. Everybody on staff is going all out all the time and it seems as though I am doing the same ^_^. You see, because there are so few people really a part of ministry here, everyone has to take on many different roles. Pastors are counselors, teachers, administrators, janitors, repairmen, cooks, English teachers, worship leaders, garbage men, and everything in between. And the rest of staff fills in the gaps as best they can. Sometimes stepping back from the whole situation, it's weird to see how uneven everything is. There is so much opportunity for ministry and evangelism here, so many places that even I, with my limited perspective of this place, can see such need. But there are almost no workers for this harvest… I guess it's the same in every ministry. But here, with the heart God has given me for Japan, it hurts so much. I want to do so much more than I am, but I don't think I can… not at the same time. Please pray for me in this. Pray that God would give me perspective and guidance as to which ministries He wants me to take part in now, which ones he wants me to take part in later, and which ones he doesn't want me to be in at all. Also, please pray for the church here. Pray that more workers would come and that God would begin to work His wonders through them. I thank you for your prayers already in these things and for me. Please know that even now, I have been truly blessed by the prayer cover from the saints there. God has been working all around me, through me, and within me to make me into the man and servant I should be for this mission. And has even been giving me more patience when it comes to missions work here, which is essential for missionary survival in Japan ^_^!
Speaking of ministry opportunities, there are a few in particular that I would really like you to pray about. Recently, my schedule changed a little bit. I am now spending the entirety of my Fridays over in Setagaya. If you don't remember from my last letter, Setagaya Horizon Chapel is our small sister church that was started a little less than two years ago in a very unreached area about thirty minutes by train from here. Not too much has been happening in the way of outreach there so far, but the church there has been growing in both the English and the Japanese Fellowships. Fortunately for me, there are two outreaches there that just are just starting or are about to start that I am can be a part of. The First is an Bible English Class.
Now you may be thinking "Al, you got it wrong. It's an English Bible Class." But they are a bit different. A Bible English class is one in which we offer an English Class to those that want to learn. But instead of using some kind of text book we use the bible. We read the bible, translate the bible, discuss the bible, and then teach English through the bible. We simply talk about what words mean and how sentences in English work, and don't directly evangelize because it might scare off students. However, as we all know, "the Word of God is living and active… Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow." (Hebrews 4:12) Eventually the students have questions about what they are reading. And this gives great opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. The class is just starting, so it is a bit small still. Please be praying for this ministry, that God will open up more and more opportunities through this class. But the other outreach, which God Has on my mind most often, is a ministry called Funky Friday.
When I came here last year, Funky Friday was already in full swing. I believe they have this outreach back in the states somewhere. But here, it was sort of just a night of fun things to do where people could invite their co-workers and friends. It was really a awesome night and God used me in it a lot the last time I was here. However, the Bible College student who was running it, Sho San, left and is now a pastor in Los Angeles. This left my friend Daichi in charge of it. However, he didn't understand the concept that well and soon it turned into a small Christian Fellowship time. This is fine, but Daichi has told me that he wants to re-make Funky Friday to be an outreach again. So we prayed about it a lot and think we know a bit more what it should look like. We are going to be starting it all up in November and I will keep you up to date with everything that is happening there.
Anyway, there is a lot happening in children's ministries and Shine Kids here. But I'll have to save that for another time. I pray that you are all well and hope to hear from you when you get the chance that I may know what to pray for there.

Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>
P.S. Also, we have several big outreach events coming up this month. It is amazing how many people in our church are classically trained in music. So we are having two concerts that are coming up fast. Also we are having a horizon Café. It's going to be kind of like a festival in the Church and everyone in the Community is invited. And Lastly we are having a masquerade party for kids in the area at the end of the month. Please bathe these events in prayer that the Lord would use them how He wishes for His kingdom. Thank you.

Japan Newletter - Sept 28 2008

Greetings to you servants of the one true God,
This is Alex Robinson writing you for the very first time from Tokyo, Japan. Please excuse my tardiness in writing, but things have been very busy here since my arrival. Please know firstly that I am safe and well. The church family here has been very kind and has accepted me with open arms. Please praise God in this because even though the pastoral staff here know me well, I am not so well know in the church body, at least in the Japanese Fellowship here in Machida. However, Pastor Watanabe was able to put a insert in the church bulletin about my presence here and what God is calling me to do here. This was very well received and the church body seems to be behind me and the mission. This is wonderful and is important considering all the ministries I have been made a part of and will be a part of in the future. I will need all the support I can get. Speaking of which, I really want to tell you all about the ministries and what has happened in them thus far.
It has been only a little more than a week and yet so much has happened. I have been made a part of all the bible studies, home fellowships, and church fellowships (there are about four total running out of the church in Machida and in the small sister church in Setagaya). The pastoral staff believe that perhaps God can use me to help encourage the believers here and maybe fan the flames in their hearts towards evangelism and ministry. From talking to people from the church so far, I think big things may be happening soon in their lives. Many want to serve and are just trying to figure out where God wants them. This is a great place to be and I hope and pray to see big things and movements in the church and I hope and pray I can be a part of them.
Also, I have been put in charge of children ministries for the International Fellowship in Setagaya. It has grown so BIG!!! It used to be that we only had about six children at that fellowship. But now, because of all the families that have come, we now are working with twenty kids! Praise God! Working with them has been a joy far and we hope and pray that we would just keep growing. Along with this, the church has placed me in several outreaches and each one has just been amazing.
The first is Shine Kids. For those of you who don't know, Shine Kids is an English ministry that was started last year that we could reach out to children in the community and also to their families. You see, because of prejudice most Japanese people have against our faith, a church is not a trusted place. In fact, many fear it. But through the Shine Kids English club. We have been able to turn the church into a place of safety, peace, and love for the children in this area. And it has done the same for the parents. Many of the stay at home moms around here like to bring their kids and then just hang out. And we have tea and conversation with them. True this outreach is more of a bridge building nature and thus we can't talk about Jesus directly to the kids. But God has used it to open many doors to evangelism and many families have come to God because of it. This last week was our first for the fall season. We are working with about thirty kids at this point and perhaps more later on. It was really a great time and we had some great conversations with the kids and the parents. What was even better was that because it was a Japanese holiday that day, we were also able to meet many fathers which we usually aren't able to see because most work long hours. So, please pray for this ministry and the direction it is supposed to go. Pray that God would continue to work within the ministry.
Also there is the homeless ministry in Yoyogi Park. It happens on the first and third Thursday of every month and soon it will also be every Saturday morning as well. I have only been able to be there one time. However, that one time was really amazing. I spoke to this one homeless man for thirty minutes and somehow, by God's divine grace, I was able to understand most of what he said and also was able to share Jesus with him as well. He believed that Jesus was the god (little "g") of America. And that while He could work good there, here they had their own gods and because of it He could only work bad here. I told him that with the universe being so big, the creator of it would have to be bigger. And that a God that big would not care about nationalities. I said, or at least God said through me in Japanese, that we are all the same, all human, and had the same needs and the same problems. I told him that Jesus loves all of us and that He is here right now waiting to love you and save you from the things you've done. He thought about it, but in the end was just uncertain. However, for a man as confirmed in his beliefs as he was, I think that uncertainty is a good start. Please pray for him and for the ministry. We need a lot of guidance.
And best of all was the ministry in Negoya. In Negoya, there is a small house church and Pastor Hirano, the senior pastor, visits on a monthly basis to encourage the believers and to help with other ministries there and I have been asked to go with him during these times. So we got up there and I was able to share my testimony and Hirano Sensei spoke and the whole evening, you could feel the spirit moving. God was working in hearts. And after everything was over, three people asked to be prayed with to receive God's gift of salvation… Praise God and shout and sing for joy! God has called three more people into His kingdom! Three have been saved! It was so beautiful. Please pray for these believers as they start their journey in this harsh land and that God would surround them with Himself and with other believers that they would grow in Him.
Well, like I said, so much has gone on. It has been beautiful and amazing. And even now I am sitting in one of God's works, my apartment. It is a lovely place with everything one needs in a place to live. True, it isn't very big, especially by American standards, but it is comfortable and homey. And I couldn't have asked for a better roommate than my pal Hide. He's a great guy and I think I can learn a lot about the language from him. Oh, and the last big prayer request I have is in language. It took me a few days to be able to understand anything. English and Japanese sentence structure are so very different that you have to almost change your whole way of thinking to really pick up on it. And even though God is good and I have almost got my linguistic feet underneath me, I still have a long way to go. So please pray that God would continue to work with my mind and tongue and that he would train both in the Japanese language. Thank you all very much for your prayers and support, I will continue to write home on a regular basis and pray that you are all well and more in love with God than ever. Please don't hesitate to write. I would love to hear from you all and what is happening back home.
Because He lives,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

Tokyo 07 Last Blog

Hey everyone,
Alex here again, just doing a quick check in with you before I leave. It is my last night here and I guess it is a fair night to have a last night on ^_^. The Modesto team is here and is wrapping up their trip just as I am. Honestly a good group all things considered. Had kind of a rough start and some hard times along the way, but they all pulled through and today was a very good day. The shine kids week long vbs style club has been awesome and has been very fruitful in the building of relationships with the community, and even in drawing people closer to God. I am not going to tell you every cool thing that happened this week. But I am going to say that there was a woman who brought her child on the first day of this week, that said she would not come back after she found out that this was a church. Then she saw the program we put on here and how passionate we all were about sharing our love with the kids. And she came the next day, and then the next, and then she came again today and approached Jeremiah with a bible, asking if it was a good one and saying she wanted to learn more about what we believe... I know that it doesn't seem like much, but in this country that is HUGE ^_^!!!!!!!!!!!! Just another one of God's blessings on this trip! Anway, I look forward to seeing you all soon and hope you are all well.

Bye for now but not for long ^_~
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

Tokyo Blog 07 Blog 8

Hello everyone,
Sorry for missing the saturday blog time. It was very full and by the time I got home, it was about four hours before I had to get up to make it to Tokyo Horizon on time. So I decided to put it off until I had some free time, like now for instance ^_^. So let's see, where should I begin. Like I said in my previous blog, I did alot of running back and forth this week. The VBS in ... sorry, I forgot that place's name... was interesting. It was unfortunate that we didn't really get to help out alot. It was very well manned and well planned out and we rarely fit into that plan. However, the ideas we got from that place were Cho Iketeru(Very very good). You see, one of the main aspects of ministry that the church here is trying to start is childrens outreaches. Making Horizon a place that they can always feel safe to come and a place where they know they will be cared for and have great experiences. And most of all, a place where the children will be exposed to God's love on a weekly bases if not daily, either from the teachers, or the lessons or the people in the church. And also a place where their parents can feel the same thing. So we are brainstorming programs and other things mostly focusing on English, a subject that most people here hold very important. But anyway, like I was saying, the VBS gave us alot of ideas for this. Of course big ideas for Shine Kids, the door opening children's program here which we soon hope to expand into a two or three day a week language club. And also, ideas for other activities we can have for the kids in conjunction with Shine Kids, like maybe story telling after school. But not read out of a book story telling. At the VBS, for the lesson time, they set up the room to look like what they were talking about. The teacher dressed up in robes and other such things. They had sound effects going in the backround, they even projected sky on to the ceiling. They also had the kids participate in the story. One time during the lesson, there was a knock on the door and they said "It's the Roman soldiers!! Everyone hide!" And they through a blanket over them and had the gaurds come in, talk sternly, poke at the blanket a little, and walk out. And it made me think of perhaps an after school kind of thing. I mean we are within easy walking distance of three different schools here. And we could use bible stories which pretty much all of them haven't heard before. Dress up appropriately. Robes for peace and some kind of armor for war. And for the battle bible stories, we could have armies yelling in the backround if we could get a sound bite like that. So pray about these kind of ideas and the others for reaching out to the kids and their parents. It is a huge opportunity if we can only pull it off. And if the Lord wills it, we most certainly can.
And of course we had another shine kids program, both this mourning and last tuesday. It has been going extremely well and new kids are coming all the time. The parents are very pleased with the program thus far and say they are eagerly awaiting a time when this can become a after school program. This is all such a blessing to us. It has been opening up alot of doors and bringing in a lot of people who have never been in a church before and, in many cases, have never talked with a Christian before. And to be able to teach these kids and to show them the love Jesus has for them, through the love He has given me for them, is such a beautiful thing to be a part of even if I cannot speak to them directly about it right now.
Oh, but that reminds me of the best experience I had this week which was the teaching in Sayama. We started out the week with a huge English party for all the students that are have English Classes in Sayama Horizon Chapel. We had a great time of course and did the same kind of program we do for Shine Kids. But the major difference was that we were allowed to speak to them about God ^_^!!!! Keep in mind that these were not Christian kids for the most part, only children from the surrounding area. But for some reason that I am not quite sure of, the teachers there were given permission from the parents to use the bible to teach them English. I think it was just something the people at Sayama Horizon said upfront about the program. But because english programs are so rare here that don't cost a arm and a leg, they have about thirty students. And even though I love doing the Shine Kids Ministry in Machida, being able to open up my mouth about Jesus's undying love for those kids and how much He wants to be with them and have a relationship with them, even though we have all walked away from Him... it was absolutely amazing ^_^!!! And then I was able to continue to build on the first lesson in the classes I taught there throughout the week. Words cannot express how great it was. Opportunities like that are so rare here. Most ministry here comes little by little, like getting small drops of water on your tongue. And to have a experience like that was like having someone unleash a river on me ^_~! It was beautifully overwhelming ;D! Please pray for a opening up of that ministry and for a full time English speaker to be able to come to that church. It would so incredibly increase the amount of students.
But anyway, I should probably be letting you guys go now. Thank you so much for listening to what I have to say and my prayers requests. Your prayers are greatly felt here and appreciated beyond what words can describe.

Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

Tokyo 07 Blog 7

Hello again everyone!
Alex J. Robinson checking in again with all of you back home and at all points unknown to me currently. Well, I must say that this has been a very full week for me. We finally had our first Shine Kids club (This is the name we have given our English outreach to the kids here in Machida). I think it went very well. We orginally had about 15 children sign up and ended up with about thirty. And more on the way now that word is getting out. Hmmm... I suppose I should probably explain exactly what we hope to achieve with this first club. To put it simply, this is a door opening outreach. The thing about the culture here is that the people grow up having a fear of churches and other religious places aside from buddist and shinto establishments engrained into them. We are trying to break through this fear by offering a good solid class for their children and being loving to both them and there kids in the process. This way, the people of machida will not be afraid to come through our doors. God will hopefully use this to aid in the other outreaches we plan to do. I really have a strong feeling that He will use this in this way. The only thing that has been difficult for me is that in trying to open up this window, we have had to make this a purely English class, meaning a lack of bible stories. This made me very frustrated at first, but then Jeremiah explained it to me. This is a ministry that is setting the ground for the others, most importantly the week long shine kids program that will be put on by the modesto team that will be telling the gospel. But until then we must be ourselves of course and be the servants that we are, but must be tactful about how we share the goodnews. For if we are not, we will do nothing but burn bridges. I am starting to see what Jeremiah meant when he said that a lot of the ministry here is through the relationships that you build. That you must be patient in all things, acting only when when God tells you to. Following Him always and not looking away. Otherwise, you will just fall into despair at not being able to do all that you want. I've always got to remember that it is not what I want, but what He wants. I can't let myself get distracted by selfish ambision. Pray for me in this, That my spirit would be humble and responsive to His leading in all things.
Also this week, I was able to attend the annual Megumi Challe Conference in Hokaido. A gathering of christian leaders of all kinds and those in training. I was a real blessing. I was able to talk with many of the different leaders about their ministries in Japan and gain a deeper understanding of this mission field. Along with this I was able to fellowship with them and also the people from tokyo horizon that I don't always get to spend time with. Over all, it was a great time of encouragment and was absolutely a God send to be in a room with such similarly called people. And as a added bonus, it allowed me to use and work with Japanese more than I ever have before. And again, thank you all for praying for me in the area of my language needs. God has been ever so faithful in this matter and has given me a better ear and a quicker toung than I have ever had. It is true, I have much to learn and am no where near fluency, but He has taken down the wall that was Japanese in my mind and replaced it with something that is fully possible with His power. I have also almost completely learned Hiragana, the most important and widely used alphabet and have started to memorize some kanji. Please continue to pray for me in this as well.
Anyway, my last prayer request lies in next week. Everyday, I am going to be in Ome in the mornings, helping out with a VBS there who have said they will donate their materials at the end of the week to the shine kids week that modesto will be involved in and getting ideas from them as to how to go about the whole thing. Then, during the evenings, I will be teaching at a English outreach in Saiama. A lot to do and all a blessing, but please pray for strength and vision for me in the middle of it all. And that I would be filled with His joy no matter what ^_^.
Anyway, early day tomorrow. Gotta get going. Oh, and sorry if this is not the most eliquent of my blogs. I am quite tired ^_^. But again, a blessing not to be idle.
Your'e in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

Tokyo 07 Blog 6

Hello my dear friends,
How have you all been? As for me, the last couple weeks have been quite eventful. Of course, the big earth quake happened that you've all been hearing so much about in the news. No, it didn't happen here, but about 120 miles from here in a prefecture that I have never been to before. Here we really didn't feel much of anything, and though there was some talk about it in the media, it quited down quickly enough. It is really hard to imagine from how people act here that there are so many people suffering only that far away. When earth quakes happen back home in california this bad, you here all about it all the time in the news media. Rescue efforts, damage totals, stories about the victims on a individual basis, etc. But here, nothing. I guess it just speaks to the emotional isolation in this country. People are packed so close together, that the people start to make up emotional walls to compensate for physical space. And when events like this happen, it is just absorbed by the population, like sound on a snowy day. But do know that christians are begining to move and to form relief teams. Please pray for them and the difference God will use them to make. This culture is a culture of kindesses, and as such random acts of kindness are really not much of a witness here. However, this type of action goes above and beyond the kindness of this culture, and as such could make a huge difference. In fact, I would be one of the ones going if it wasn't for the fact that I damaged my tail bone in a minor accident on the H.I.S international school camping trip and am going to have to be using crutches for a couple weeks. Then again, nothing happens apart from Gods will. There is mention of the nuclear power plant in that prefecture and a minor leak. Of course that information has been ping-ponging between extremes whether it is the spilling of four hundred barrels of contaminated water or just a minor fire. I don't know what to believe really. So all I can go with is what God has been telling me. What has been so wonderful about being out here is that God has never stopped speaking to me since I got here. Or more likely, I just started listening. It has been undescribably wonderful how much He has poured His Spirit out upon me and given me the power to do His will beyond my means. I have felt His hand on the things around me so much lately, that I really feel like I have actually taken my hands off the wheel of my life, and to quote John Reuben, "it feels so good to be out of control". We are the wind, my brothers and sisters ^_^. We are not held by the chains of this world anymore. Nor are we bound to it's rules. For our Master created all this by his own hands. Our Master came up with it of His own invention. Our Master deals in imposibilities ^_^. For Him, five loaves and two fish become a meal for five thousand families. If He has given us wings, allow Him to use them. And He will move in a way that will destroy the box you have put Him in, as He has done with me. By His Hand, He brought to me during street evangelism in Shinjuku three people who spoke English and gave me the words to share His glory. By His hand, He brought a intellectual of history, what I was for so long, to an outreach that He would use me to speak to her about what He had done for her that surpassed human knowledge. By His hand, a teenager named Jun was saved at Tokyo Horizon Chapel. By His Hand, I am in contact with a family of missionaries in Russia that feel lead by God to plant Churches here. And indeed, by His hand I was injured. And I am unworthy of the love He is showing me in this chastening. For the Lord loves whom he chastens, as a father chastens the child in whom he delights. Just as I am unworthy of all He has been using me for. But he continues to use me and the believers here through His mercy. This is my Master, in whom I am satisfied ^_^. Please pray for me in this my resolution. Pray for my pride which stumbles me. Please pray for the direction of my life, because I have alot of decisions to make in the coming months. And please pray for the outreach to the children that is goin to be happening next tuesday. I will be praying for you as well, my friends, my family, and my home church. Your support has meant the world to me in this endevor. I pray that God will continue to move in your lives as He has been and even more so ^_^.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

Tokyo 07 Blog 5

Hello dear friends!
Another week has gone by, and it has done so in the blink of a eye. And unfortunately, I have about that much time to tell you about it. I have to get to Machida soon, but I really didn't want to leave you guys in a lurch like I did the other week. So know that I am well. Know that my week has been full and that it has been wonderful. Know that God has been moving as He always has. And finally know that He is good and capable of all things. Whether it be in growing and maturing of young people, or in the relationships between people, or the changing of peoples hearts, or in speaking a 45 minute message through a young man that has had 10 minutes to prepare (me ^_^), or in the uplifting of His believers, or in the sharing of his gospel with those that don't know Him. Kami sama de zembu dekimas (I can do all things through the Lord God). Take this to heart as well as to mind.
So God bless you all as you continue in your ministries. I pray that He would bless your hearts with an abundance of His love this week. And that He would use that abundance to change the world.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

Tokyo 07 Blog 4

Hello everyone!
It's Alex again, alive and kicking, here to write my fourth blog. I'm very sorry for having to skip writing you all last week. But actually I am not too sorry because it was awesome to be where I was ^_^. I was in Nagoya. It is a small city in the inaka (japanese for the countryside), about six hours out of Tokyo. It was this very first time that I have ever been outside Tokyo and it was an amazing experience. I never before could understand how the population here in Japan could be decreasing. Living here in Tokyo, you can't turn around without being surrounded by people. But when you go out into the country, you see the depopulation very clearly. You see, every year the farming communtities in Japan shrink smaller and smaller as more people flow into Tokyo and the other big cities. And, because the mainstay of the population does not want to get married and much prefers the dating/shacking up lifestyle, few babies are born to replace those in the countryside. Thus we gain the negative slop in population, while more and more villages become ghost towns. But there are some small cities that have maintained themselves so far in the inaka like Nagoya and this is where I found myself along with pastor Hirano and Hara kun (a friend that I have made from the bible college). Originally, I thought that this was going to be a outreach through the church into the community. In this I was mistaken and found that it was actually a trip to encourage a small house church there, one of the few in Nagoya. But, even though I was a little disappointed to not be working in a outreach, I feel that God used me there in a big way. I was able to share my testimony yet again with the small congregation, but this time was much different than the others. I felt a movement of the Holy Spirit in me that was very strong, so strong that the words that came out of my mouth were not mine, but His. Indeed, I have heard of this type of thing before with pastors and God has loosed my tounge and made it to speak eliquently as well. But this time, He spoke. It was amazing. He shared with me as much as with them the ways He has moved in my life. I was left in totall awe. And I really felt the spirit of the Lord move through that congregation and lift all of our hearts with His love, grace, and power. Please pray for this church. Pray that the Spirit would continue to move there and that God would open their mouths and their doors and that they would be His tool in that city. And for that matter, pray for the spirit to continue to move through out this nation. Something amazing is happening here and I have felt it ever since I got here. The Lord is beginning to move in huge ways. Workers for this field have been arriving more frequently then I have ever seen. Americans, Koreans, Russians. Some not even knowing why they are here, much like me. But something big is coming. I can feel it in my bones. The Spirit is moving to overturn the dark powers in this nation. A revival is coming, I just know it. God is going to claim this land. SO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR JAPAN!! PLEASE!!! That the spirit would be poured out onto the churches and that with hearts full, His servants would take His love to the streets and the cities and in the inaka. And that He would continue use me in this purpose as well. Even now, as I am preparing for the outreaches to come and teaching the international school, the Lord blessed me with much opportunity. Even on the train tonight, He brought to me a man so passionate about America that he began a conversation with me sheerly because I was American. And through that foundation, I was able to share Jesus with him. It was so beautiful. God is so good. I even ended up giving Him my bible to him. Please pray for this man as well. Pray that the God would use that bible and the planted seeds to draw him to Himself. And please also pray for the street evangelism that is going to be happens every Saturday in Shinjuku that I am going to be a part of now and for the street evangelism that is going to be happening in Setagaia ^_^! The Setagaia outreach is wonderful news indeed! Setagaia is a relatively new sister church that horizon fellowship in Machida has. And the people there have been moved to do street evangelism for the very first time! They are all so passionate about it, it is beautiful! I told you the Spirit is working here ^_^!!!
Wow, what else should I tell you. Aside from the other things, I have many praises about the relationships that I have been making here. Early on, this weighed heavy on my heart. You see, it takes alot to have real friendships over here. I wanted to work with the college students, here there stories, encourage them, and help them in there ministries. But, unlike Americans, the Japanese guard themselves and their emotions so heavily, that it can take months or sometimes years for them to open up. But God has been answering my prayers in this. And has been blessing my relationships with them so much that many of them are very close to me now, sharing a wonderful brotherhood and sisterhood with me. Praises be to God. I cannot wait for what is going to come from knowing these people, they have blessed me so much already ^_^. And also I was able to fellowship with Russian missionaries that were here for a short time trying to open up relations between Japanese and Russian churches, just as strong relations have been made between South Korean Churches and Russia. In fact, Russians and South Koreans have been working together in many of the mission fields in Asia. The missionaries I talked to had actually been reacently in China, smuggling bibles ^_^!! Turns out that the Chinese are much less suspicious of Russians than they are of Americans ;D! And then last night I was able to meet with a team from Korea which was awesome too!
Anyway, I gotta sign off now and get some sleep. Tomorrow is sunday and I have to get up pretty early to make it over to Setagaia in time. Goodnight to you all and may the Lord bless your sleep and make it the sweetest of slumbers ^_^.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>
P.S. Just for fun, three hillarious Japanese societal sightings. First, a bit of Ingrish. Walking down the street, I found myself looking at a shop sign that took me quite aback ^_^. The clothing store "FAMOUS CRAP!" Interesting to say the least, but one of the most truthful descriptions of modern fasion I have ever come across ^_~. Second sighting, a little japanese dude with a three foot fro! No joke! And last but not least, I was able to observe a Dance Dance Revolution Titan. I have heard of them before, but never saw one. The people that play the game Dance Dance Revolution so much that the dance pad is second nature to them. Well I saw one in the arcade last week. A buisness man still in his suit with his jacket hanging over the back of the dance pad, working two dance pads with his feet the way a concert pianist works the keys with his fingers. Guy was so fast I couldn't keep track of him. He even brought his own sweat towel into the arcade to dry himself off between songs. How hardcore is that ^_^!

Hello everyone!
It's Alex again, alive and kicking, here to write my fourth blog. I'm very sorry for having to skip writing you all last week. But actually I am not too sorry because it was awesome to be where I was ^_^. I was in Nagoya. It is a small city in the inaka (japanese for the countryside), about six hours out of Tokyo. It was this very first time that I have ever been outside Tokyo and it was an amazing experience. I never before could understand how the population here in Japan could be decreasing. Living here in Tokyo, you can't turn around without being surrounded by people. But when you go out into the country, you see the depopulation very clearly. You see, every year the farming communtities in Japan shrink smaller and smaller as more people flow into Tokyo and the other big cities. And, because the mainstay of the population does not want to get married and much prefers the dating/shacking up lifestyle, few babies are born to replace those in the countryside. Thus we gain the negative slop in population, while more and more villages become ghost towns. But there are some small cities that have maintained themselves so far in the inaka like Nagoya and this is where I found myself along with pastor Hirano and Hara kun (a friend that I have made from the bible college). Originally, I thought that this was going to be a outreach through the church into the community. In this I was mistaken and found that it was actually a trip to encourage a small house church there, one of the few in Nagoya. But, even though I was a little disappointed to not be working in a outreach, I feel that God used me there in a big way. I was able to share my testimony yet again with the small congregation, but this time was much different than the others. I felt a movement of the Holy Spirit in me that was very strong, so strong that the words that came out of my mouth were not mine, but His. Indeed, I have heard of this type of thing before with pastors and God has loosed my tounge and made it to speak eliquently as well. But this time, He spoke. It was amazing. He shared with me as much as with them the ways He has moved in my life. I was left in totall awe. And I really felt the spirit of the Lord move through that congregation and lift all of our hearts with His love, grace, and power. Please pray for this church. Pray that the Spirit would continue to move there and that God would open their mouths and their doors and that they would be His tool in that city. And for that matter, pray for the spirit to continue to move through out this nation. Something amazing is happening here and I have felt it ever since I got here. The Lord is beginning to move in huge ways. Workers for this field have been arriving more frequently then I have ever seen. Americans, Koreans, Russians. Some not even knowing why they are here, much like me. But something big is coming. I can feel it in my bones. The Spirit is moving to overturn the dark powers in this nation. A revival is coming, I just know it. God is going to claim this land. SO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR JAPAN!! PLEASE!!! That the spirit would be poured out onto the churches and that with hearts full, His servants would take His love to the streets and the cities and in the inaka. And that He would continue use me in this purpose as well. Even now, as I am preparing for the outreaches to come and teaching the international school, the Lord blessed me with much opportunity. Even on the train tonight, He brought to me a man so passionate about America that he began a conversation with me sheerly because I was American. And through that foundation, I was able to share Jesus with him. It was so beautiful. God is so good. I even ended up giving Him my bible to him. Please pray for this man as well. Pray that the God would use that bible and the planted seeds to draw him to Himself. And please also pray for the street evangelism that is going to be happens every Saturday in Shinjuku that I am going to be a part of now and for the street evangelism that is going to be happening in Setagaia ^_^! The Setagaia outreach is wonderful news indeed! Setagaia is a relatively new sister church that horizon fellowship in Machida has. And the people there have been moved to do street evangelism for the very first time! They are all so passionate about it, it is beautiful! I told you the Spirit is working here ^_^!!!
Wow, what else should I tell you. Aside from the other things, I have many praises about the relationships that I have been making here. Early on, this weighed heavy on my heart. You see, it takes alot to have real friendships over here. I wanted to work with the college students, here there stories, encourage them, and help them in there ministries. But, unlike Americans, the Japanese guard themselves and their emotions so heavily, that it can take months or sometimes years for them to open up. But God has been answering my prayers in this. And has been blessing my relationships with them so much that many of them are very close to me now, sharing a wonderful brotherhood and sisterhood with me. Praises be to God. I cannot wait for what is going to come from knowing these people, they have blessed me so much already ^_^. And also I was able to fellowship with Russian missionaries that were here for a short time trying to open up relations between Japanese and Russian churches, just as strong relations have been made between South Korean Churches and Russia. In fact, Russians and South Koreans have been working together in many of the mission fields in Asia. The missionaries I talked to had actually been reacently in China, smuggling bibles ^_^!! Turns out that the Chinese are much less suspicious of Russians than they are of Americans ;D! And then last night I was able to meet with a team from Korea which was awesome too!
Anyway, I gotta sign off now and get some sleep. Tomorrow is sunday and I have to get up pretty early to make it over to Setagaia in time. Goodnight to you all and may the Lord bless your sleep and make it the sweetest of slumbers ^_^.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>
P.S. Just for fun, three hillarious Japanese societal sightings. First, a bit of Ingrish. Walking down the street, I found myself looking at a shop sign that took me quite aback ^_^. The clothing store "FAMOUS CRAP!" Interesting to say the least, but one of the most truthful descriptions of modern fasion I have ever come across ^_~. Second sighting, a little japanese dude with a three foot fro! No joke! And last but not least, I was able to observe a Dance Dance Revolution Titan. I have heard of them before, but never saw one. The people that play the game Dance Dance Revolution so much that the dance pad is second nature to them. Well I saw one in the arcade last week. A buisness man still in his suit with his jacket hanging over the back of the dance pad, working two dance pads with his feet the way a concert pianist works the keys with his fingers. Guy was so fast I couldn't keep track of him. He even brought his own sweat towel into the arcade to dry himself off between songs. How hardcore is that ^_^!

Tokyo 07 Blog 3

Hello my dear friends ^_^!
Wow, I cannot believe it has already been almost a week since I wrote you last. It has gone faster than a jack rabbit being chased by a mutated monster carrot out for revenge... Wow, I am deffinatley going to have to work on my similies. But anyway, like I said, fast ^_^. And alot has been happening. Firstly, I want to thank you all so much for praying for my language skills! I have been excelling at a very pleasing rate and can now conjegate my verbs. True, I need to work on how many verbs I know, but the number is growing all the time, praises be to our Lord. Also, I thank you for praying for me about ministries opening up. Even now, many have surfaced. I am now going to be involved in a ministry called "funky friday" which is a musical outreach in the church in Setagaia that happens every friday ( as the name suggests ^_~). Anyway along with that, I might be starting my first English class outreach soon. It will also be in Setagaia and will be an outreach to children in the area. Do pray for guidance about this. I have never headed up a English class before and am not quite sure exactly how to go about it. But no worries ^_^. Like they say here at tokyo horizon chapel, "Kami sama de zembu dekimas!" (Through God I can do all things ^_^). And of course I will be continuing to work at the school here (Which is really going wonderfully too. Along with English, I have also been able to teach their chapel time and work with them in music class!) until it is out and continue working with the evening sunday school here in Machida and possibly starting to work with the morning sunday school in Setagaia. But please pray about this as well. Sunday morning is officially the only sermon during the week that I can hear in English and as Jeremiah puts it "Recieve instead of give". Personally I am anxious to give until I am blure in the face and just listen to podcast sermons. But then again, he might have a point. So yeah pray for guidance in that. And also please pray for me learning the drums. Yep, that's right, the drums. You see, the morning service in Setagaia has no drums for worship. And while I love to sing, they have enough singers. So I guess this is just one of those "see a need, fill a need" situations. So I have been practicing on the drum set and on the Kahone (probably not how you spell it ^^). True, I understand that I won't be able to do anything fancy, but I can at least keep a basic beat for the song. So please keep this in mind when you pray for me.
Oh, I almost forgot. I am going to be going with some other college students to a church in Negoya this next friday. We are going to spend both firday and saturday just encouraging the church there and also evangelizing in the area. Please pray that God would just lay the ground work in peoples heart there, that when we get there, they would just be ready and open to the message we have for them.
But anyway, many praises here ^_^! I have been having a great time and have seen many things. Actually I was able to see the Meiji shrine when the kids visited there on a field trip. But I must say that even now, I remain quit ambivelant about the experience. While the part of me that has been facinated with Japan for all these year and has learned so much about it was overjoyed to see what I saw, the other part of me felt great sadness at the specticle knowing how hollow it really is. But then my mind was also wrestling with something else. I once read a book on Japanese missions in which the author said that a problem with the missionaries in Japan is that along with sharing Jesus, they also try to transplant the western ideal of a chruch. And that it would be best if they would let them worship the one true God in their own way. Not to compromise christianity with shinto beliefs, but to create new church culture instead of trying to copy western traditions. Looking at the church here in machida, I kinda see his point. Indeed, apart from a few small differences, church here is very similar to that in the United States. But as to what it would look like, I am not quite sure. Perhaps it would be a temple, paterned after that of ancient israel. Maybe instead of a shinto priest blessing people in the little blessing area, there would be a man praying for the people that would come all day long. Maybe instead of the inner shrine ceremonies, the bible would be read and interpreted to the masses. Perhaps instead of the sacred drums, there would be a courtyard dedicated to singing and worshiping the most high. Then again, that sounds like a mimick as well. Oh well, such things are not for me to decide. God will move how he will move and we are not to question but only to follow.
I pray that all things are going well were you are, where ever that may be, and that you would just be blessed in your daily walk with Him.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

Tokyo 07 Blog 2

Hey everyone,
This is Alex Robinson blogging after my first week in Japan. Can't say that is is the easiest week I ever had, but I must say that it has been well worth it ^_^. Where to even start is kinda hard to figure out. Well, a big portion of my week has been spent in teaching and the international school that I mentioned in my first blog. It has been really great working with the kids here and being able to play such a big role in so many of their classes. The school really doesn't have alot of teachers and so I really feel that teaching these kids is going to be a large part of what God wants me to do here. In fact, looking at the schedule of events and camps that are going to be happening here, within the church and as outreach, It seems I am going to be working with kids alot. Which is really fine by me ^_^. Children have always amazed me. There simplicity of motives and purity of emotion along with there almost complete lack of pretense and psychological walls. I don't think there is going to be anyone more receptive to the news that I have than kids here in Japan. Anyway, I have come to find out that alot of the kids in the school are actually not enitrely japanese, but have one parent of another nationality. And this is in fact one of the reasons why they are here. They are outcasts. At least they would be if they had been put into normal Japanese education. It turns out that here in Japan, being only partly Japanese is quite a insurmountable stigma. And even today, children of mixed ethnicity usually are shunned by peers, teachers, other parents, etc. Hard to believe that such sentiments are still so vibrant in the world, especially here. Then again, the world apart from God is a world of hate and fear, so I guess here is where it makes the most sense. Please pray that I can be able to show God's love to these kids and be able to show them that they are His precious children, not worthless freaks like they have been made to feel. And most of all, continue to pray for a upheval in Japan. That God would pour out His spirit on the Churches here and that through them, He would change this country. It is so dark here.
Let me see, what else... Oh, thank you all for praying for me about the language barrier here. This last week, I have been able, thanks be to our Lord, to makes some good steps in the write direction when it comes to japanese. I am learning very much each day and have even been able to make a good stab at the world of Hirigana, one of the most widley used alphabets here. I really think that knowledge of the written world will open alot of doors for me, so I will continue to persue it as far as I can go. It's still been kinda tough though. I never realized how much a language can seperate people. Makes you kinda lonely. But nothing that God, in His love, hasn't prepared me for. And He is my constant companion as well, so I don't have any right to complain ^_^. But do keep praying for me in this. That He would continue to break down barriers and build bridges.
But, the time I have spent with the church has been wonderful. I have been able to fellowship here, help with Bible studies, pray with the college students, hang out with some awesome people, hear their stories, and even was able to share my testimony twice ^_^. God is so good ^_^. I am always in awe of all that He does. In my life and in others. Please pray for more opportunities like this to happen. And, as always, continue to pray for ministry opportunities to open up, for chances to witness, and for guidance in general this summer. Just that He would have His finger prints all over this summer and that His will would be done, not our's.
And lastly, I really ask you guys to start praying about the missions team that is coming from Calvery Chapel Modesto for the last nine days of this trip. Pray that their hearts would be prepared for this type of missions work. It is much different to serve here than to serve in places like Mexico and Kenya. The physical need that is there just isn't present here. There are no churches to build. No foundations to be poured. Nothing to look at with the eye or touch with the hand and say "I did this". No. Instead, it is spiritual poverty that God uses you for here. To share His love and good news of salvation is the only goal. Not to say it is not the goal in Mexico and Kenya, but it must be shared by other means. Means that we in the western world sometimes fail to see as important. This type of sentiment really disheartened the last team that came here from California, I don't want to see it happen again. True service is rarely supposed to be glamorous, but it is always important and needed.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>
P.S. Please pray for my energy levels. Toyko living can sure tucker you out ^_~.

Tokyo 07 Blog 1

Hello dear friends ^_^!
This is Alex Robinson blogging live for the first time in tokyo :D! Like I said, there will be many blogs to follow and most will be posted or sent out on email on Saturdays, even though I am writing this one on Friday night as tomorrow has filled up quite nicely. Anyway, I have arrived safely. And even during the plane ride over, God blessed me with chances to witness. I have a wonderful feeling that God will provide me with many such opportunities during this trip, and pray fervantly (as I ask you to do as well) that there will be many. Anyway, I got to Jeremiah's house (my mentor and fellow servant for this trip) fairly early and got a good nights rest. So good, in fact, that I am now suffering from absolutely no jet lag ^_~. Which is a blessing because I doubt I could have made it through the day if I had such a handicap. Yes, quite a full day indeed. I got to spend time with the international school here at Tokyo Horizon Chapel and was able to meet many of the students I will be teaching. The international school is a private christian school that was started by the church I am serving at. In it, students are able to learn about there regular subjects, but also can learn about God which is something denied them by regular schooling and even almost all private schools. I am so excited that I will be able to work in this area so much this trip. It is deffinately service close to my hear. Also, I was allowed to teach a few classes and help out with P.E. I have found the younger children to be very much like the third grade sunday school I taught back home. Very engetic, but also very perceptive. However, their energy level is a bit higher than Calvary Chapel Sonora kids and instead of being able to work with that energy through dialog, the children chatter in a totally different language which means I can only fight against it, something that is very difficult for me and by and large uneffective. But still, I have high hopes for these kids and look forward to working with them further and understanding them. Also, the older kids were a joy to work with today, so the day really had a silver lining. Then again, to say it had a silver lining inferes the mainstay of the day was cloudy, and that just isn't so. Working with all the kids was wonderful. So if anything, the silver had a cloudy lining ^_^. I also talked with Jeremiah about my schedule. This is were I need alot of prayer. You see, even though there are some outreaches planned like the trip to surrounding chruches and having outreaches and evangelism in those areas (Please pray that goes well by the way), Most of my time for outreach is fairly open ended. Meaning that it is not planned. We know that we want to reach out to the city through english classes and camps, both to the young and old, but are still not really sure how exactly it is all going to work and where the our best opportunities are in reality. And what about other kinds of outreach and evangelism? So I also ask that you please pray for insight in this area. That we would see the needs and fill them. That God would speak to us powerfully about the English classes and about everything else. And that we would be able to use our time to its fullest potential. And the very last thing I would ask you all to pray about is the language barrier which, as always, is very apparent to me. Even though I am learning by leaps and bounds, just within today, I still find myself so utterly lost in the conversation of those around me and with the children. Please pray for a supernatural learning for me and an understanding beyond my years. Our Lord is good. And watches carefully over His children ^_^.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>
P.S. On a lighter note, I found serveral very funny examples of Ingrish today. For those of you who don't know, Ingrish is a code word for a Japanese use of English for the sake of style on billboards and shop sign, but the English doesn't quite look right to a native speaker or doesn't make any sense at all ^_^. Take, for example, a hair salon I ran into today that proudly proclaimed its name "FACE HAIR"! Probably a misunderstanding of the difference between the words of face and head or maybe even it meant to say your hair will compliment your face, but funny none the less ^_^. Or the shop "GOOD SAND" which I found didn't sell sand at all but sushi. I don't think Ingrish will ever cease to amuse me ;D.

Where I am at, the second

SO EXCITED! SO EXCITED! FIFTEEN DAYS TO GO! And a big thank you to those of you who have been praying about the ticket situation, but you can stop now. For they are now in hand! And boldly proclaim that I shall depart from SFO on United flight 837 on May 30 at 11:23 in the A.M. bound for Narita airport in Tokyo Japan ^_^. And that I shall make my return trip on United flight 838 at 4:05 P.M. on August 17. I have always had a fondness for tickets of all kinds, but I think these are especially beautiful. Especially that one word, Tokyo :D! I swear, I woke up this morning and on my first waking breath I was almost positive that I smelled the beautiful aroma of a Japanese breeze accented with the smell of the fountain in the park next to the chruch in Machida. Don't know what that means, but I think it is a good sign ^_^. Anyway, just wanted to keep you all up to date. Even though there are only a few that actually read this blog with any regularity ;D. Goodbye for now. Oh, and I do plan to blog while I am there, so keep a eye out for it if you are interested in the happenings over there and my adventures ^_^! I sure there will be some. Being at God's disposal is rarly boring ;D.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,
Alex J. Robinson ><>

where I am at now

Hello dear friends ^_^!
Well, life for me has been pretty full lately. Lotta stuff going on and a lot of decisions to be made. Firstly, I would like to thank all of you for your prayers. They were felt and much appreciated. True, the time that I spent in prayer was difficult, and I heard alot of things that did frighten me at first. But now I think it is safe to say that God has given me peace and trust about all that He has asked me to do. And while I have spoken to some of you individually I just realized that I had not informed most of you about what decisions I have been lead to. And since I think it is really rude to ask people to pray for you and then leave them in the dark about how God answered, I think it is time for a much needed update. I really believe that God is leading to stay in Japan for pretty much the rest of the summer.That is to say, May 30 through sometime in august. Probably the 17th. I believe He said this to me very strongly through prayer, and then reinforced it through Joshua 1: 1-9. For those of you who can't really pull what was going down in that chapter off the top of your head (I wish I knew the bible that well ^_^), it basically consists of Moses dying, and God telling Joshua to go to the promised land. Multiple times throughout that passage, God tells Joshua not to be afraid, but strong and brave, and to claim the land that He had promised them. These words really resonated in my heart and it felt like He was speaking right to me (cause He was ^_~). Don't be afraid of what I have asked you to do not only with your summer, but with your life. Through Me, you will have the bravery and strength you need to do so. Claim the land that I have promised you. The ministry. Japan. So I am going to. As to whether He just wants me there over the summer and then back here, or will lead me elsewhere at this summer's end... I am not quite sure. But I am just going to keep walking as far as I can see and trust in His will ^_^. Again, I would covet your prayer support on this matter, my friends. There is still the money issue to contend with. And also that the travel agent can work out the shift in departure dates and that the penalties will not be too extensive. Also, your prayer for me while I am over there will be very much needed as well. It was intense to be there as missionary without a team for only a week. And even though the thought of serving there for almost three months excites me to no end, my flesh still trembles somtimes at the thought ^_^.
So that's where I am at friends. No more, no less. I am going to be here, getting ready, for the month of May and then I am gone. I don't want it to sound like I am dying ;) and it is very likely that I will see you all again. Then again, I cannot say that with surity. But if I don't, I want to take this opportunity to say that your friendships have meant the world to me. Some of you know me all to well, and to some of you I am only an aquaintance. But either way, I don't think that there is one of you that I haven't been honored to have met. Anata wa subarashi des yo! And I hope that we can still have some good times this month, if ya'll have the time ;D. LQTM. (Wow, that sounded like a ploy to get people to hang out. Sorry about that. No ploys intended. Just enjoy hanging with you guys ^_~. Totally up to you ;D. Understand if you'd rather pass ^_^. Oh no, that sounded like a ploy too. AAARRRRGGGG! (to quote charlie brown))
Anyway, see ya when I see ya.
Yours in our Lord with all sincerity,Alex J. Robinson.

I need prayer

Dear Friend,
I need you to pray for me. If you know me well, (or, then again, if you are nothing but a casual aquaitance that talks to me with any regularity ^_^) you know that I have been planning on being a missionary this summer in Japan for about a month. Quite recently, the person I will be serving with while I am there has asked me to extend my time there. Two weeks, another month, or maybe the whole summer. Whatever God wants. Of course it is this aspect of the situation that I am not sure of at the moment. What does God want? By staying longer, I will be able to work with other missionaries that are going to be there this summer and be a part of a ministry far bigger than could have been accomplished were I the only one. But while this makes me excited beyond belief and I am eager for it, I do not want to be fool hardy and act of my own accord. I am no longer my own. So I need God's guidance. On many different areas. How long He wants me to stay. What it is that He wants me to do or not do. How I am going to live in Japan the rest of the summer when I don't have the money to really do it, and even if I do, it is all my savings apart from college. Should I dip into my college savings. Is this just going to be the start of a longer mission for which I will put off college and follow and in the process never see any of you again? I have always said that if you can't see far ahead, walk as far as you can see. However, right now I really can't see. But in the blindness that surrounds me now, the Lord has promised to be a lamp unto my feet and to light my path. So please pray for me.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all.
Alex J. Robinson ><>