Tonight...

I led worship for today's prayer meeting and I really enjoyed it. Leading worship usually scares me and gives me the creeps, but, I really enjoyed leading the devotional set. It was close to a two hour set, and I felt so alive and free in The Lord. I was able to not focus on all of the external things around me and really press into The Lord. As I was singing to The Lord I was meditating on Psalm 71 and I was thinking how kind The Lord has been to me. Also, there is a cry in my heart that Jesus would let His glory shine in Tokyo. Please Lord. Send Your glory here...

Let Your Word Run Abba...

I'm so sorry for not updating my blog recently! Every time that I would get ready to update, I would get lazy and think about all of the things I needed to put in the blog and decided to "do it later". Arrgh.

I have been having an awesome time here in Tokyo. Monday-Thursday tends to be busy with trying to reach out to students on both Waseda and Todai's campus. I also help to lead the House of Prayer that my friend April started here in Tokyo. I usually end up helping to lead worship and help April with ideas and strategies to help build the House of Prayer. My heart for Japan has been growing as I have seen how hard the spiritual climate is here in Japan. Even in spite of the hard climate though, I would like to share some cool divine appointments that The Lord has given me.

I was praying last week on Wed morning in my devotional time that I would have a divine appointment, one that would be so evidently The Lord basically. I said; "Would You give me that divine appointment that I wouldn't otherwise have unless I asked." I also felt that it was going to be with a guy. So...later that day I was walking around Waseda's campus and I stopped in a campus convenience store. Long story short, I end up talking to the cashier who was a foreign exchange student from China and we ended up having a very long conversation and even talked about me being a Christian. I ended up giving him my email and he asked if we could be friends, even after I left Japan. I said sure! It was crazy. Then, as I was walking around the campus, later, I was coming down some stairs outside and two Japanese guys were rapidly approaching me. They signaled to me and then they asked me why i was there and what I was doing. They had so many questions and after they found out that I was a Christian they were even more interested. They seemed pleased to hear that I was a Christian. They went on asking questions and then one of them called a friend on the phone and he came to listen also. They asked questions about why I was not an atheist anymore, what was my favorite scripture, etc. It was going so well, that I decided now is as good a time as any to preach the gospel, so I did and even included Jesus' second coming which interested them more. They asked questions about how I knew that He was coming, etc. By the end of the conversation, 2 more of their friends showed up. It was awesome! The Holy Spirit gave me such wisdom, and then, one of the guys was so desperate to meet with me, He wanted my contact info and we met the very next day and will again this week.

The next morning that I woke up after having those cool divine appointments, I asked God why was that so easy? And He spoke so clearly and said..."You have not because you ask not." I realized how foolish it is for me to not ask for these type of divine appointments daily. The Lord is good and He truly is Lord of the harvest.

(The above picture is of two guys that Amanda and I met at Todai one day as we were sitting outside. Please pray for them.)

Wow, Lord...

Hi, everyone again. I had an awesome day today. I was a little nervous because I led worship in English and Japanese today at a bible study that we had at University of Tokyo (Todai). Everything went well though and it was actually enjoyable. I hope I didn't say anything ridiculous in Japanese. lol. Susan ended up giving a message that was really good and hit home in a lot of different ways. I left the message with some things to think about to say the least.

During the message I noticed that the guy Shawn that I witnessed to last week didn't come. I was sad because we had been in contact and he said that he was very busy with his studies, but, that he would try to come when he could. He said in emails that he was glad that I was able to explain things carefully to him. He didn't show up the whole bible study, even though I prayed that he would silently to The Lord. Well, as we were sitting at lunch, halfway through our meal, Shawn hurries to the table! He had just woken up from a nap and came to the cafeteria. Him, Amanda, Susan, and I ended up having a very good conversation and had fun together.

Oh and last week on Thursday Amanda and I went to Todai and tried to get to meet people to build relationships with. We wanted to just find people who were sitting alone and try to talk to them. Well, we met this one really cool guy named Yuta and had a very good conversation with him. He agreed to take us sight seeing and we are hopefully going to meet up with him on the 20th.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

I'm not sure what's going on here, but, i am probably making some joke.

This is baby Zuvi. She is so cute. I got a chance to play with her.

Me showing pictures to Reiki and Zeeki

Reiki and Zeeki

So, this Sunday was pretty awesome. I have been very interested in working with children and so I asked around and started helping in the morning service with the children's church. I was a little nervous because I didn't know how it was going to be, but, it ended up going really well. Two boys were mainly there and that was Reiki and Zeeki (spelling?) I truly enjoy playing with and investing in children. I am a little kid at heart, and so being with kids really invigorates me. Funny thing...Zeeki asked me later in the day if I was married and he was curious as to why I believe. haha. Weird to explain to a seven year old. Please pray for Reiki though. He has a history of acting up during children's church I've heard, and he can be very impatient and will just wander off from the lesson. The Lord has given me a lot of compassion for him and I really want to pour into him. He really enjoyed playing with me though. Oh and we bobbed for apples which is why the kids are eating in the pictures.

After helping in children's church I ate, and went to a park to read The Bible and relax. I felt so peaceful with The Lord and I felt like I could've stayed there forever. After I left the park I went to McDonalds for an apple pie an while I was sitting down a lady walked slowly up to my table with another guy who had a baby strapped to him and long story short they said that they were Christians! We had a good talk and I got their contact info. What a divine appointment!

After McDonald's I went to the evening service and afterwards I went out with some people from the church and had some awesome fellowship. I will post some pictures from that soon. I had Thai food for the first time! It was hot! And...the portions were so small it was ridiculous! haha. But, I had fun, and one of my friends who I met last year in Japan, Hikari came out and it was so good to see him again. After Thai, we went out for dessert and I got some parfait thing that was way too full of strawberry on top and raspberry at the bottom. Needless to say, I didn't eat those parts.

Well, that's all for Sunday I believe. It was such an encouraging day!

Ahh Tonight

Tonight We had Xhop. (Chi Alpha and house of prayer mixed together) We had a worship set from 7-9 which was awesome. Susan led the first half which was amazing and I had the privilege to nervously and shakily lead the second half. Although I felt confused and shaky, my heart has been provoked tonight. As we were singing about The Lord's kindness, and His love for us, my heart has been pricked. Right now I am thinking about how weak human love is and how every person that has ever tried to love me has come short. (I don't mean this in any negative sort of way.) But, I am thinking about how Jesus' love is unending and it never fails me. Even when I was caught in my own sin, He was there chasing me down. I can't imagine what He finds lovely in me, but, time and time again He still comdes running after me...

I love campus ministry!

Wow the past few days have been amazing. Susan, Amanda and I went to Waseda University on Wednesday and did some prayer walking and then had a bible study at night time which Amanda and I led. It was really fun and afterwards we ate at a really good Ramen Noodle Shop.

On Thursday, Amanda and I went to Todai and did some prayer walking and then just tried to go out and meet people. We had a really good conversation with a guy named Yuta and he even agreed to take us sightseeing. We talked to some more college students and got some quality conversations. In the picture on the right are two guys we met named Hide and Yusuke. They were really cool guys and seemed interested in talking to us.

Quick update...

So, last night Amanda and I had a meeting with the XA staff and we got a little bit more clarity of what we will be doing exactly this summer. Primarily Amanda and myself will be assigned to University of Tokyo and Waseda University. We will help with the bible studies and help with outreaches to the campuses. I will also be helping with the house of prayer that my friend April is starting here in the XA student center. Amanda will be helping also I believe. The meeting was awesome and we had the chance to get prayed over and we ate tacos!

Today was our first day at University of Tokyo or Todai as it is known here in Tokyo mostly. I first went to the bible study at noon which was pretty awesome. We studied out of Rick Warren's book Purpose Driven Life and one of the students taught for his first time in Japanese. After the bible study we went out to lunch with some of the bible study members. While at lunch Amanda and I had the opportunity to witness to a guy named Shawn. The whole interaction is quite lengthy so please email me if you would like to know the specifics. It was pretty awesome even though he didn't want to accept Christ at that point. Please continue to pray for me here in Japan as tomorrow I will be at Waseda University.

in Him,
Robert

Getting settled

So, Friday I moved into the XA Student Center which is such an awesome building that was just recently built. Attached to the student center are little apartments and I am really starting to like it here. Yesterday (Saturday) I watched EGS in the morning and in the afternoon I went to a church where a former IHOPer is starting a house of prayer. The Prayer meeting was really cool and I enjoyed it a lot. We did a worship with the Word set based out of Psalm 63.

After the prayer meeting, April and I went to Ikebukuro and had some good Coldstone Ice Cream and then I ate Wendy's! It was delicious, but, I wanted more! I really enjoyed everything and by the way we saw a man in the mall who was doing a trick with a monkey. It actually ended up being kind of sad that the man was using a monkey like that to do tricks. :(

So far the past two days have been low key which will change starting Monday. I'm glad that I have had a chance to rest and relax and spend some good quality time with The Lord before everything starts to get busy. I've been playing piano a lot more and ministering to The Lord in the sanctuary of the student center. It has been awesome!

Oh and side note

Ok side note. I have truly enjoyed hanging out with my friend Eric from Purdue for the last couple of days. It is kind of sad that I have to leave today to move into my new place. He is an awesome man of God and we have had good conversations as well as tons of laughs. Tons of laughs. Anyone who knows me knows that I like to laugh a lot. Some of the funniest moments have been Eric speaking his version of Japanese to people here. It has truly been hilarious!

Oh and if you have facebook you can watch me armwrestle this buff Japanese guy. I think everyone thought I was going to get taken down pretty simply, but, I held it down. haha. Also, he ended up cheating by getting out of his chair a little and put all of his weight on my arm. So, technically I won. Oh yeah, and I beat Eric in basketball yesterday too, even in spite of his jealous comments! hahaha....

AAAAAAAAArggh!

Yes, it is true as you may have already heard or viewed on facebook; I ate a bannana and a strawberry yesterday. I cannot believe it. I came in for dinner so excited thinking...yum. Little did I know that I was in for trauma. Joy comes in with this covered plate, and I am thinking ooh that must have some goodies inside. She uncovered it and told me that it was from the team. What could I do? Run? Throw the plate on the floor? All of the possibilities were there for the taking. I ended up eating it! yuck. Then, the pastor of the church pulls out this bananna and tells me to eat it. Now, I couldnt refuse him even though I have unashamedly shut down everyone who has tried to give me either fruit my entire life. I was a prisoner and let me tell you something. My original hypothesis was correct. Both fruits are whack. case closed!

Getting Adjusted

Well everyone I guess I will tell you a little bit more about where I am at and what I am doing. I am staying at Evergreen Chapel with the other 6 MAPS workers; Sarah, Anna, Eric, Kieren, Amanda, and Liz. I have been enjoying my time here as we go through orientation. The purpose of orientation is to ease all of us into Japan and help us get acclimated to the time zone, the culture, etc. It is massively helpful

Basically we go through sessions of teaching for most of the day. We have learned things about the Japanese culture, basic language skills, and about what each of us will be doing in the different cities that we have been assigned to. Also, we have had the privilege of working with Joy Tani in her English classes. Joy is an excellent teacher and she teaches many classes with a variety of age groups. It has been so fun to play games with the kids and to help teach them English.　One kid in particular was really cool named Ryunoske.

Over the past couple of days, my heart has been stirired with a renewed love for Jesus and for Japan. My heart is so burdened with love for this nation and its people. The past few days my friend Eric and I have hung out with some neighborhood boys, played basketball with them, etc. It has been so awesome and enjoyable. My heart is that I do not want to push Jesus onto people. I really love the Japanese people and my end geoal is not to be some Christian terminator. I just want to love them and if they ask about the hope that I have found in Jesus, great. I am really asking The Lord for wisdom from on high.

I`m finally here!

Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｗａｒｆａｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ｄｅｌａｙ　Ｉ　ａｍ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎ！　Ｍｙ　ｆｌｉｇｈｔ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｓｔ．　Ｌｏｕｉｓ　ｔｏ　Ｃｈｉｃａｇｏ　ｗａｓ　ｓｏ　ｄｅｌａｙｅｄ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｓｕｒｅ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｎｏｔ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｔｏ　Ｊａｐａｎ　ｆｏｒ　ａｔ　ｌｅａｓｔ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｄａｙ．　Ｍｙ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｂｅｔｗｅｅｎ　ｆｌｉｇｈｔｓ　ｗａｓ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｏｎｅ　ｈｏｕｒ　ａｎｄ　ａｔ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｄｅｌａｙ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｉｇｈｔｓ．Ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｔｏｏｋ　ａ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｏ　ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ　ｂｏａｒｄ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｌａｎｅ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｗａｓ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ　ｏｎ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｐｕｌｌｅｄ　ｏｆｆ，　ｔｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｔｏｌｄ　ｕｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｌａｎｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｏ　ｐｕｌｌ　ｂａｃｋ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｈｏｕｒ　ｏｆ　ｄｅｌａｙ　ｗｅ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ　ｐｕｌｌｅｄ　ｏｆｆ，　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｃｈｉｃａｇｏ　ａｎｄ　ｉ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｍａｄｅ　ｍｙ ｆｌｉｇｈｔ！　Ｔｈｅ　ｅｎｔｉｒｅ　ｔｉｍｅ，　Ｉ　ｆｅｌｔ　ｓｕｃｈ　ｗａｒｆａｒｅ　ａｎｄ　Ｉｐｒａｙｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｏｎｇｕｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｋｎｅｗ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｂａｔｔｌｅ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｏｎ　ｔｏ　ｄｉｓｃｏｕｒａｇｅ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｒｙ　ａｎｄ　ｈｉｎｄｅｒ　ｍｅ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　Ｊａｐａｎ　ｏｎ　ｔｉｍｅ．

Ｗｈｉｌｅ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｎｅ　ｔｏ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｐｐｏｒｔｕｎｉｔｙ　ｔｏ　ｗｉｔｎｅｓｓ　ｔｏ　ａｎ　ａｔｈｅｉｓｔ　ｙｏｕｎｇ　ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎ　ｌａｄｙ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｏ　ａｗｅｓｏｍｅ　ｈｏｗ　Ｔｈｅ　Ｌｏｒｄ　ｄｉｒｅｃｔｅｄ　ｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｔａｌｋ　ｔｏ　ｈｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｓｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ａｄａｍａｎｔ　ａｔ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｈｏｗ　ｉｎｆａｌｌｉｂｌｅ　ｅｖｏｌｕｔｉｏｎ　ｗａｓ．　Ｓｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ａｆｒａｉｄ　ｏｆ　ｏｆｆｅｎｄｉｎｇ　ｍｅ，　ｂｕｔ，　ｓｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｓｕｒｐｒｉｓｅｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ　ｕｓｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａｎ　ａｔｈｅｉｓｔ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ　ｗａｓ　ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ　ｉｎｔｅｌｌｉｇｅｎｔ．　Ｓｈｅ　ａｄｍｉｔｔｅｄ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ａｗｈｉｌｅ　ｏｆ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｅａｓｙ　ｃｏｎｖｅｒｓａｔｉｏｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ａｎｙｔｈｉｎｇ　ｗａｓ　ｐｏｓｓｉｂｌｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｓｈｅ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｓｅｅ　ｂｕｄｄｈｉｓｍ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｆ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｅｌｉｇｉｏｎｓ．　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ａｌｓｏ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｔａｌｋ　ｔｏ　ａ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｌａｄｙ　ｎａｍｅｄ　Ｙａｋａｒｉ．

Ｓｉｎｃｅ　ｂｅｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　　Ｊａｐａｎ　ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　６　ｏｔｈｅｒｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｐａｒｔｓ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｕｎｉｔｅｄ　Ｓｔａｔｅｓ　ｔｏ　ｗｏｒｋ　ｗｉｔｈ　Ａｓｓｅｍｂｌｉｅｓ　ｏｆ　Ｇｏｄ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｕｍｍｅｒ．　Ｉ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｌｉｋｅ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅｍ　ａｎｄ　ａｍ　ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒｗａｒｄ　ｔｏ　ｓｐｅｎｄｉｎｇ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｍ　ｆｏｒ　ａｔ　ｌｅａｓｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｗｅｅｋ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　ｇｏ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ　ｏｒｉｅｎｔａｔｉｏｎ　ｔｏｇｅｔｈｅｒ　ｉｎ　Ｍａｃｈｉｄａ．　Ｉ　ａｍ　ｅｎｊｏｙｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｍ　ａｎｄ　ｍｙ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｈｅｒｅ．