“To whom I belong and whom I worship”~ Acts 27:23

It seems that as I draw closer with the Lord, my enjoyment and wonder grows when I consider who He is…His power and gentleness, love and wrath, His greatness and humility. The reality that I get to worship the true and living God by His mercy is equally amazing and humbling. I know who and what I am apart from Him, and yet He bids me to come near, serve and worship Him…

Our Family:

We praise God for Dave, Twinkle and Natasha’s return back to Kenya to assume their ministries. The last four months have been a stretch to say the least, and yet I can joyfully say that because of my precious wife Nasiema’s God-glorifying testimony in the home, I was freed up to allow God to use me in the capacity that He alone has done and continues to do through my life. Even after laboring at the church, Bible College and in the home for quite an intense season, without hesitation Nasiema not only stood by me, but encouraged me to preach the everlasting Gospel in Congo alongside our brother Ibrahim in the beginning stages of CCN’s first church plant. Our boys are, by God’s grace, just as much a part of the ministries as they actively labor in prayer together for Daddy. I am grateful to God for the eternal perspective He has planted in the hearts of my family.

Our Ministry:

Nasiema… She has already begun the history and science portions of the upcoming years’ homeschool work with our boys, continues to serve in the Children’s Ministry on alternate Sundays and has been enjoying discipling and serving our Kenyan Women’s Ministry leaders in our home once a week…Normal Christianity seems to allow for opportunities to minister to the women God brings to her in our apartment complex between walking to a local “duka” (vegetable stand), hanging clothes on the line together or watching the children in the parking lot together…Recently she was able to explain the gospel to Anne our new female guard and share with Christine what the Word says about our salvation, dispelling the lies of man’s/church tradition that has “cheated her from walking in the victory and grace of her salvation”…More and more she is realizing how truly being a “missionary” is simply being available in our normal day-to-day activities, walking in “normal Christianity” simply in a different cultural context.

Somali Discipleship… A bitter-sweet praise: Two of the Somali brothers were resettled in Sweden and have gone to serve our King there. They called me last week to express their commitment to love and serve our Lord wherever they may be. *Please pray that our faithful Lord would quicken their minds to learn Swedish, adapt to a new culture and much colder temperatures than they are used to, that He would help them find a church to plug into where they can understand what is being taught and thereby grow in their faith, find fellowship, and opportunities for evangelism.

Bible College, by the grace of God, I have been able to direct and teach alongside three other teachers (2 of which are Kenyan nationals) and we have come to the end of another semester and another graduation! Our King is allowing us to invest in the nationals not only of Kenya, but also of surrounding nations of Africa.  We are seeing God raise men like Ibrahim who have a choice to resettle in the U.S. or Australia but choose to go back to his own war-torn country because the Word of God is lacking and the need is great. May God be magnified!                      

Pastor/Leadership Conference in Congo…The goal of our trip to the Congo was two-fold: to share the Word of God with the Congolese leaders so they may also see our God as he describes Himself in scripture and equip them to minister to their sheep with sound doctrine. Secondly, to come along side Pastor Ibrahim as he establishes relationships through his first Bible study in Baraka, Congo and, Lord willing, establishes Calvary Chapel Nairobi’s first church plant…

We arrived in West Tanzania. Nothing was sure…trusting in God for the details, and God was opening up doors…arrangements were made for 9 hours on a hired 6 x 25 ft boat across Lake Tanganika into the Congo. God opened opportunities for Ibrahim and another translator that joined Pastor Dave, Brian and I, to share the gospel with the men navigating the boat in their native tongue.

Upon arrival, our first conference was held in a small town called Alundja to around 100 brothers and sisters. The second day we visited the plot where Ibrahim’s home used to stand before the war. The conference was held nearby in Baraka with around 260 people who attended with steadfast attentiveness and an incredible thirst. The following day we went door-to-door praying and ministering to the people of the community, inviting them to Ibrahim’s Bible Study and I had opportunity to share the gospel open-air where 2 men made a commitment to Christ. Praise the Lord! We were so blessed to watch Ibrahim build relationships with those in his former community. He was now finally “home” fulfilling part of the vision the Lord has been burning in his bones! A local government official sought us out and was trying to build relations with us! Lord willing he will be instrumental in helping bring favor in finding a location for Ibrahim to re-settle and for location for a church in the near future. After the last teaching all of us got miserably sick. The next morning we were a bit held up by the attempts for sordid gain at Immigration, yet again God faithfully worked it all out…we prayed and said our goodbyes’ to Ibrahim and back onto now an 11 hour boat ride, sick, Pastor Brian being the worst off, finally made it back to the Tanzania side without too much event. We give thanks to God for Calvary Chapel High Desert and Pastor Brian Du Pont for funding this venture of faith and catching vision of what God is doing in and through our brother Ibrahim. We also thank God for your partnering in prayer in our venture of faith…We know it was your prayers that carried us.

*Please pray for Ibrahim, his wife Masoka and 9 children that recently just joined him in the Congo, for a place to re-settle, for God’s divine intervention in leading him in his vision for a church plant, for all the logistics and support, against corruption, for health and protection physically and spiritually over his family

*Please pray for adequate translations of the Bible in Kiswahili that many at the conference were requesting to replace the many remaining JW translations

*Please pray for wisdom as I will be taking on the new role of “Missions Pastor”, encouraging and discipling our brothers, being the liaison between CCN and those starting church plants in Africa

Speaking/sharing engagements in the U.S.A… I will be available during the Months of August through mid November to guest speak in churches during our furlough to share what God is doing through our family here in Kenya. If you would like to have me speak at your church or Bible study, please contact me via e-mail as soon as possible so that I may schedule properly.

Extreme Missions Training Program…Our King has opened a door for me to be a part of Far Reaching Ministries EMT Program. I will be able to disciple individuals who desire to serve as missionaries. This will entail two months in the States teaching the practicals and theory of missions along with literal application as they return with me to Kenya for 6 months on the mission field. *Please pray for my time of preparation to minister to these missionaries-in-training, and for the preparation of their hearts to receive what the Lord has for them during this time.

Thank you again for co-laboring with us for the gospel’s sake. We are truly grateful for each sacrifice made so that our family may be here in Nairobi to serve our Lord. May His blessings be upon you all.

By His grace, for His glory,

The Ramirez Family, Psalm 73:25-26

Arie, Nasiema, Clay, Joram, and Ezra

slavebygrace@yahoo.com

“But he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God…”
~Romans 4:20

Teaching five times a week, administrating the church matters as well as the Bible College has been quite a test. Yet it is more difficult to describe how God wonderfully sustains during difficult or challenging times.  I have learned that through giving God the glory, which is rightfully His, I am somehow strengthened.  Giving God glory is the end result of seeing God as He is in scripture! Truly our God has given me this privilege to see His worth and respond to Him in a God-glorifying manner during this season. Please pray that during this time I might continue to have the right view of God, and in turn, be strengthened as God sees fit, to be poured out in the ministries set before me for His glory alone.

Our Family:
Our home… As we’ve been so busy with life, ministry, and simply “rolling with the punches”, it dawned on us that we should ask for prayer again concerning the apartment we now stay in. We have been constantly without electricity and without water. It seems that every other day for some reason or another we lack one or both bringing many challenges. Please join us in prayer that God would somehow regulate our water and electricity. Having the basics taken care of would make a world of difference…

The boys are nearing the end of another homeschooling year wrapping up studies of The Ancient World  (~6000 B.C. – 330 B.C.), The Historicity of the Bible, and Astronomy (which has been so exciting for them to discover “creation confirmations” and proofs for a “young earth” through the study of Astronomy! For those searching for a solid creation-based science curriculum, check out www.apologia.com. Clay (7 years old) is also finishing up his 2nd year of reading and pronunciation of Koine Greek, working on conversational Modern Standard Arabic, learning music theory and learning to play the keyboard. Joram (5 years old) is really getting the hang of reading now, also learning the sounds of the Greek alphabet, and slowly learning Arabic as well.  Ezra is getting quite familiar with the world map (that hangs on our wall next to our dinner table) and asks mama if she will come with him to all the different countries he names and points to J… Ezra is also joining in with his brother’s memory work as we are memorizing, meditating on, and learning to apply several verses from the Gospel of John (John 13:34-35; John 14:1-6,10-17; John15:7-17; John 17:1-3).  Please pray with us that God will quicken our minds to learn Arabic that we might be more equipped to minister to any Arabic speaking peoples.

Harvest-time… Behind our apartment Nasiema took the boys to help with the harvesting of maize. In the process, she was able to share the Gospel with the women in whom she was working side by side. One of the ladies named Jane, initially appearing hardened of heart, later began to ask questions. By the time we were slinging the large harvest sacks of maize on our backs to take them down the hill, she knew with soberness the choice she was faced to make: either choose to receive forgiveness of sin by acknowledging Jesus’ work accomplished on the cross for her and find the victory over sin in the newness of life found only in Jesus, or choose by default the path to hell as she continues living for self…Please pray that Jane would genuinely choose to follow Christ.

Our Ministry:

In addition to the Zavala’s having left on furlough until mid May, Natasha, a precious team member, also had to leave, returning to Russia for visa purposes. Nasiema has now taken the “Acting” Overseer role of Women’s Ministry and the income-generating project. This involves administrative, quality control and discipleship, meeting with the leaders and encouraging them in the faith weekly. Please pray for wisdom for Nasiema in administrating this ministry so that it may continue, as this ministry is providing an income opportunity for the majority of the ladies in our church. Pray that God would lead Nasiema with insight as to how to invest in each of the leaders and to their specific needs as well…

Bible College Graduate Discipleship… I am now having the men teach me different texts of the Bible. They are being challenged to use more intense hermeneutics and proper Bible College homiletics. It has been both a joy and a blessing to see these men grow in a short period of time! Pray that they might be equipped with proper materials so they may teach with greater effectiveness.

Somali Discipleship… We have been continuing through the book of Colossians. The great truths of this study have both encouraged our brothers and challenged them to uphold God and His Word above all else.

The second Pastor/Leadership Conference in Congo, with our beloved Ibrahim, is being planned in the first week of June 2010. Myself, Pastor Dave and Pastor Brian Du Pont (from CC High desert) will be joining together to help Ibrahim lay the foundation for a church plant. There are many challenges that come with re-settling in a war torn country and starting a church. Please pray for provision to fly there, for Bibles to take with us, and for the ministry that will continue through our brother Ibrahim.

Extreme Missions Training Program …Our King has opened a door for me to be a part of Far Reaching Ministries EMT Program. I will be able to disciple individuals who desire to serve as missionaries. This will entail two months in the States teaching the practicals and theory of missions along with literal application as they return with me to Kenya for 6 months on the mission field. We are asking that you pray with us so that I will not be apart from my family during this time. I would like my family to join me in the States so that we can connect at the least on a weekly basis. Please pray for provision for my wife and sons airfare.

Thank you again for co-laboring with us for the gospel’s sake. We are truly grateful for each sacrifice made so that our family may be here in Nairobi to serve our Lord. May His blessings be upon you all.

By His grace, for His glory,

The Ramirez Family

Arie, Nasiema, Clay, Joram, and Ezra

Psalm 73:25-26

slavebygrace@yahoo.com

As many of you know that Pastor Dave and his family are in the States for furlough, which has blessed me with new additional ministries and responsibilities. This time has been an incredibly stretching time for me and yet it has been an even greater time of experiencing the grace of our God in a whole new way. I have seen God’s grace not only carry me through the many responsibilities and the trials that come from just living in Africa, but to do them in a God glorifying way. I do not believe I am called to “just get through” my responsibilities and trials and call it “the grace of God” but to live a life that is impacting to all those around me, especially my family; for God’s grace is enough for all the challenges we face, small and great. Thank you for praying for me and my family during this time.

Our Family
On the morning I was heading out to teach at the Bible College, I learned that the night before 7 men were killed by the local police, which instigated riots on the streets which I needed to travel through that morning. As Africa can be so unstable, when we ask for prayer for safety, these are the kinds of things that we face often unexpectedly…

*Please continue to pray for our safety.

Clay, our 7 year-old, has been learning that he is also responsible to turn to God personally for help (not just lean on daddy and mommy’s prayers) and to trust in the LORD’s care for him…As he too has been praying for himself, he has been gradually having more victory over his night terrors. We are so thankful to God!

Joram our precious second born has celebrated his 5th birthday (Robot theme)! Every birthday we have the tradition of asking “the” question: “So, what important lessons has the Lord taught you this past year?” He shared with us that God has taught him this past year to protect and care for others (he is our aggressive lover, whom often pummels or injures the person of his affection)…

Ezra (our 2 year-old) was listening to his mama and brothers discuss what it looks like to “walk with God”. In the middle of the discussion, he declared he too wanted to walk with God. Trying to assure us that he understood he confidently explained back to us what we had talked about, then said, “let me get my sandals on right now!” May it be that easy for us all!

*Please continue to pray that our family would glorify Christ in all that we think, do and say…that truly we would be willing to be spent for His glory alone as we learn to apply the truth of God’s Word by faith to our own lives…

Quick praise report: God took care of my hernia surgery reimbursements as the full amount was paid by our insurance company without problem! Thanks for your faithful prayers…

Our Ministry
Thank you for praying as I was able to teach at a pastor/leadership seminar this past month. Over 100 pastors/leaders sludged through thick mud from the rain to a small tin roof church in the Kibera slums. The funny thing is after I taught, I discovered that this particular church has a lot of cultic practices that I was directly contradicting as I simply taught the Bible. Thankfully I didn’t get stoned, but more so, weeks after the seminar the pastor that invited me shared that the attendees are still marveling over God’s Word. Praise God for the sufficiency of His Word and its power!

Bible College: Associate degrees from Calvary Chapel Bible College, Murrieta, California have finally arrived! We thank God for all the labor that so many people have poured into the students whom also have worked hard to earn their AA in Theology. We do praise God we have received more funding for the Bible College, though I ask for prayer for wisdom in the administration of developing a fully independent, Kenyan-sustained program in the near future.

New discipleship class: I started a new discipleship class for graduates of the Bible College. My vision is to invest and train-up graduates to properly teach the Word and also administrate in a Bible College setting. Beyond this, I hope to disciple these graduates in preparation for their next venture of faith (as many of our graduates have expressed their desire to move back to their villages, to teach and pastor).

*Please pray for wisdom and grace to pour into these vessels what they will need in order to reach Kenya for Christ’s sake.

Youth ministry: This month I was blessed with the opportunity to invest in the “next generation” and minister to our youth group (early 20’s). I was met with countless questions concerning doctrine and real questions about how to live pleasing to God.

F.I.C. Concert: Our outreach was held in the Kibera slums this month and was incredibly impacting as other Christian churches in the community have been stirred with a desire to imitate what Calvary Chapel Nairobi does to reach the youth. What a blessing!

Somali Bible study:  The Somali young men are growing in their hunger for the Word of God and asking important questions about their faith. These young men are constantly risking their lives as they apply their faith by sharing the truth of God’s Word compassionately, with urgency, among this mostly Islamic people group. Many Kenyans do not even believe that there are Somali Christians because this people-group seem “too difficult to reach”.

*Please continue to pray protection, boldness, and anointing over our Somali brothers who are risking all to share the delivering, transforming, life-producing truth of God’s Word among their people!

Church services: Glory to God the messages are bearing glorious fruit! I heard from a church member giving testimony that he and few others were in the same matatu (local transportation) actually discussing the Bible message after church. That kind of testimony is every Pastors dream, because people are truly walking away with the Word in their minds and hearts!

Death seems to be a regular event here in Kenya. Just as often as one might attend a birthday party on the weekend in the States, there seems to be an occasion to help with the burial of someone we know. Another beloved sister in our church passed-on, provoking an opportunity for our church to respond with great love. As it is, our members struggle to pay rent, get enough simple food, let alone the fuel to prepare food daily, yet our church was able to raise enough money to send her body “up-country” (to her village area) for burial. We praise God for the testimony of the churches love that was powerfully seen in the family of the deceased!

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support. We know that in order for you to be supporting, it is with a great love for the gospel and our family. We humbly ask for your continued prayers concerning our support that we may remain in Kenya and share God’s truth in love.

By His grace, for His glory,

The Ramirez Family
Arie, Nasiema, Clay, Joram, and Ezra

Psalm 73:25-26

slavebygrace@yahoo.com