Author: Aaron and Jena Garcia

There’s an expression that we use when looking back and learning from the past, we say, “hindsight is 20/20.”  It’s a great time at the start of every year for reevaluation and what needs to improve going into the next year.  There has been so much that we have learned from the Lord in 2019 and in hindsight, we can see clearer on exactly what He was teaching us.

God Always Has A Plan

This past year, we felt like a pinball in a pinball machine.  We’ve never traveled this much in our lives and didn’t expect to do as much as we did throughout South Asia and Nepal.  We are not travel thrilled people that use the hashtag #travel on social media postings, yet this year was filled with going and going all around.

We took trains, local buses, planes, cars, drove bumpy dirt roads, motorcycled around, rode elephants, and hiked through mountains all to reach our beloved church planters, pastors and leaders.  When circumstances arose in South Asia we were led to travel more, which meant living out of a suitcase in multiple places for months.  What seemed chaotic for us at the time, we soon realized that God wanted to teach us more dependence on Him and cause stronger relationships with the pastor in each location.

We also learned that this was the heart of Paul in the book of Acts, he led 3 missionary journeys and traveled from place to place spending years on the road.  Paul was always trying to maintain a relationship with those precious churches that were planted.  He gladly spent and was spent for the sake of their souls.  We have never been so inspired for the work of God, transforming lives and revolutionizing communities through the Word of God.  No longer do we have to picture in our minds what it would look like but now we understand what is going on in the churches lives.  In what potentially could have been tiring, we can say we have never been more committed to reach the world for Christ.

Conferences Are Good!

We’ve always done conferences for pastors and leaders, yet sometimes we wondered how were we able to inspire long-term the next group of church planters / gospel preachers and how much have we done in the endeavor to preserve the purity of teaching the word of God.  In the beginning it was easy to be impressed by pulling a big crowd of men together, no doubt it was always an encouraging time to gather and bless the men who attended our conferences but what was and still is important for us is making a lasting investment in their lives.

In years past there wasn’t as many like-minded Calvary Chapel ministers in Nepal.  But over time, through the churches that have been planted and through meeting other Calvary workers in Nepal we were able to host the first official CCA Nepal Calvary Chapel Conference and it was a much different conference!  Gathered together for a few days were pastors and leaders we’ve trained, sent out and called back to encourage.  The conference taught through 1 Timothy, and had much time to discuss the relevant issues that are being faced in our Nepali churches today. Aaron taught a workshop class on sermon preparation, and he was amazed to see the humility and hunger for Gods word among all of the pastors. 

We called together all of the men we have relationships with and it was amazing to fellowship and stand side by side the pioneers of the gospel in unreached Nepal.  The guys were so excited to spend time and encourage one another as they all face the same challenges and were able to propel each other onward to continue in their calling. We look forward to being part of the churches collective effort toward advancing God’s kingdom more and more this year.

Time In The States

We have been very thankful to reunite with our family in the States during the Christmas season!  After a very eventful year overseas, we were ready for the eventful time we were about to have stateside.  We are grateful for the opportunities we were given to fellowship & personally update the partnering churches about the CC Pastor’s Training Center & School of Ministry, as well as the churches and Bible Colleges throughout South Asia.  There is always an excitement to share about the people we love so much with groups of faithful prayer warriors.

The Vision Is The Same For 2020

The vision never changes: we want to keep serving the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The church for the past 2000 years has had the same vision to carry out Jesus’ commission to us: to be witnesses to the world and make disciples of all nations.  What becomes clearer to us every day is that we need God to help us and we need your prayers. 

Please pray that we would continue to love and reach lives for Christ, train them up and send out Bible teaching church planters.  The future is bright, and we are excited more than ever to keep planting churches in Asia.

We thank each of you, and we are tremendously grateful to partner together with you in the Gospel.  May you abound in the work of the Lord this year and know that the work you do for Christ is never done in vain.

In Christ,

Aaron & Jena Garcia

aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray that God would sustain all the bible colleges and church plants, and that He would make us into efficient, productive senders into every corner of Asia. 
• Pray that the gospel would spread even more this year despite the opposition of the government or villages turning hostile, but that the church would be bold and faithful to preach the gospel.  
• Pray for those who are already serving in the Lords harvest field, for them to not lose heart and that they would be encouraged.  
• Pray that we would love each other in our homes, in the churches and on the field.
• That God would provide financially for us and for the ministry in Nepal & South Asia
• For those divine appointments to share the Gospel with people
• Endurance to be faithful in the work of the ministry

“You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

~ Matthew 5:14 ~

Time Spent Well

After finishing our time in Nepal, we traveled back to South Asia to serve with our brother, Pastor J.E. who shepherds Calvary Chapel H (for security purposes we’ve abbreviated his name and place).  We stayed for a few weeks in this town and jumped right into their weekly schedule at the church.

During the mornings, Aaron would have daily Bible studies with Pastor J.E. and his right-hand man, A.M. teaching through Romans and pastoral leadership.  In the afternoon & evenings, we would attend different house fellowships and have Bible studies.  Many of the believers were from Calvary Chapel H, but they would also invite their family members or friends who are unable to attend Sunday church service due to family persecution. 

Spending our time with the church, we also hosted a two-day evening conference where Aaron taught the men and Jena taught the women.  It was a great opportunity to share with the believers and to get to know them more while being encouraged through God’s Word.

To end our trip, we drove a few hours outside of town to meet and visit with J.E’s and A.M’s village to meet each of their families.  It is always a blessing to connect with the national pastors on a deeper and more personal level as our friendships grow throughout the years.  We spent the day being a part of J.E’s sister’s engagement ceremony and celebrated with their whole family.  Then we ended our night at A.M’s family home with what we thought would just be a last-minute, small prayer meeting, but turned out to be a full house of 40 people who came to pray, worship, and have a Bible study!  It was an encouragement to be there with all of these families, who loved us, hosted us in their home, and treated us like we were a part of their very own.

Walk By Faith

Next, we traveled southwest to visit W.J. (name abbreviated for security reasons) again and serve alongside him at the new Calvary church plant in his hometown.  This past month, W.J. stepped out in faith to start classes at the new Bible College, and we were delighted to jump in on the class schedule.  Aaron taught a two-week block class through the book of Acts from 9 am to 3:30 pm and Jena taught English to the students for an hour every day.

During our time there, we got to join the all-night prayer that W.J. and his family host on a monthly basis.  Believers from the local town and neighboring villages from that region come to spend the evening (9:30 pm) to early morning (6 am) together to share a meal, worship, pray for one another, and listen to Bible studies.

City On A Hill

Our latest move this month has been to our third and last location here in South Asia.  This time we traveled north up to a town in the mountains to spend time with another Bible College and Calvary church here.  We’re learning how things go around here as far as living: getting to live in a home surrounded by mountain jungle, hearing the monkeys run on our roof or watch us as we walk outside, and living so high up that at times we’re completely covered in the fog of a cloud.  We’ve been able to hike into town and become undercover locals around here, thanks to our brown skin. 

Aaron joined in the class schedule and has been teaching through 1 Corinthians and Exodus.  The group of nationals has grown very close to each other, and we’ve appreciated our time spent with the students and the leadership.  Currently, we have two guys that are third semesters and have taken initiative to help the new students get settled in this new place, this little “city set on a hill.”  Our heart with the students, especially the returning ones, is to encourage them to begin praying about starting up ministry back in their home places after they graduate.

Thank you so much for your prayers and partnership with us!

In Christ,

Aaron & Jena Garcia

aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for Pastor J.E. to be able to find a bigger building to host the church meetings since they have outgrown their current building.

• That God would provide financially for us and for the ministry in Nepal & South Asia

• For those divine appointments to share the Gospel with people

• Endurance to be faithful in the work of the ministry

We feel so blessed to be given the opportunity these past few years to host teams and visitors in Nepal and form relationships with many believers across the U.S.  This summer, we are very thankful to all of you who hosted us in your homes and to be able to share updates at the churches that partner with us in the gospel. 

Not only are we sharing about the work God is doing in South Asia and Nepal, but also we are all able to rejoice together in how the Lord is using you through your partnership and prayers.  Thank you so much for every one of you who welcomed us into your home, treated us like your own family, prayed for us at your church and allowed us to share about the people we love in the two countries that we are able to serve in.

In God’s sovereignty, as we were mid-flight to South Asia, some serious issues arose at the campus making it not safe for us to stay there.  Thankfully, many of the issues were resolved but our missions organization made the decision out of protection of the national staff and students to not have foreigners at that specific campus in South Asia for this semester.  For security purposes, we’re not able to share the details but please pray for the students and staff as the college is continuing there. 

Open Door

As God closed the door for now on us going to the south, He opened one for us to visit W.J’s (for security, we’ve abbreviated his name) place in south-central Asia and showed us his family’s land where we can also start a new Calvary work in that area.

It was obvious that Gods grace is upon this family as their home was a revolving door of love to anyone who came by.  We spent a few days with W.J and his family and learned much about how their family has been investing in the people there and preaching the gospel for many years. The need is to now effectively disciple all those that have come to faith in Christ.

This past summer, W.J taught a month long Bible-teaching course that was open to the community where 70 young adults and youth came everyday and learned from God’s Word.  It has been on W.J’s heart for years to start a new work in his home state and now it seems like the Lord has opened the door for a Calvary church plant and Bible College. Now, they have taken the step of faith and have begun their first semester. Pray for W.J as he teaches and leads this new school. We are making plans to go again and join forces next month, please pray for that.

House to House

We traveled from one state to another and were able to visit our brother, Pastor J.E, (for security, we’ve abbreviated his name) in his place where he is serving. He is our dear brother and we cherish our times of shared encouragement.  Our first day there, J.E took us house-to-house all night to visit the believers of the church.  Picture meeting nonstop with widows, healed people, new believers, recommitted believers, preaching to unbelievers, and then of course everyone wants to make you a cup of tea.  At every place we taught from the Scripture, then prayed for them and their families.  It was awe-inspiring going house-to-house and hearing amazing stories of their faith in this colony.

That Sunday, we attended Calvary Chapel H (where J.E pastors at) and Aaron taught through the service, then we got to meet many of the new people who have come to Christ.  We all sat in a tiny room on a third story building, packed with 40+ believers singing praises at the top of their lungs and eager to learn from God’s Word.  Since last years visit, the church continues to be a healthy and close-knit fellowship.  We were both encouraged after talking with people after church service, listening to their testimonies and praying with them.

Sojourners

Part of living in the 10/40 window is trusting God and being willing to go wherever He leads.  This area of the world is where so many are unreached without Christ.  We face governments that are bound in darkness and false religion, in our case, Hinduism.  Yet God opens the doors and directs our steps, all along our souls sing Jesus’ words, “All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given unto Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… ”  No matter what happens to us, we trust in God.  So, after visiting the different locations in South Asia, we decided to come to Nepal to help with the start of the semester at CC Pastors Training Center & School of Ministry.  We are excited to see what the Lord will do, and pray for His wisdom and guidance.

Praise Reports:

• Our dear friend, W.J and the new school in his hometown
• Seeing the growth and love in Pastor J.E’s CC church plant
• Since the start of both Bible Colleges in South Asia & Nepal, there have been 20+ students each semester who have been learning from God’s Word and willing to serve!

Prayer Requests:

• For our team to be like-minded, have the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind.
• That God would provide financially for us and for the ministry in Nepal & South Asia
• For those divine appointments to share the Gospel with people
• God’s guidance for these next few months in Asia

In Christ,

Aaron & Jena Garcia

aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

Matthew 28:18 – 20

Calvary Chapel Lapu

Thank you for praying for us while we were visiting Calvary Chapel Lapu! Our 4 day trip outside of Kathmandu started with 12 hours of driving and then a 6 hour hike straight uphill to the top of the mountain where we were able to visit Pastor Raju (one of our graduates), in Lapu village.  The scenery was beautiful and we were very excited to see Raju in his home where he has been faithfully serving.  Our team was welcomed as a part of Calvary Chapel Lapu as we attended Saturday morning service, followed by a woman’s fellowship, and a small children’s ministry during a Q&A session. The church fellowship continues to grow and the people who are attending Calvary Chapel Lapu are beginning to understand the Bible as Raju teaches verse by verse.  Raju has been helping out people in his community with their farming or fishing, as well as discipling and sharing the gospel. 

It has been a huge blessing to see the fruit in Raju’s life as a Bible College student to seeing him now pastoring a church and ministering to the people up in his remote village.  Being able to visit for ourselves and to see Raju pastor a Calvary church plant was so encouraging for us.  We love being able to visit where our students are from, it gives us perspective on how far they travel to come to study the Bible and what they endure to continue in their labor for the Lord.  Please pray for Pastor Raju as he continues to serve in Lapu Village, and for him to be faithful to do what God has called him to do.

Calvary Chapel Baniyatar

We have been able to visit with Pastor Rabi and his home fellowship!  Rabi graduated from Bible College two years ago and has been fulfilling his desire to teach God’s Word.  Pastor Rabi and his wife, Mahima, are newlyweds and began their Bible study in their living room.  Their family, along with many people from their community, has been attending this growing church service at Calvary Chapel Baniyatar!  Along with his other responsibilities at the Bible College, Pastor Rabi has been faithful and committed to the start of this new Calvary church plant.  Please pray for him and Mahima as they reach out to the people in their neighborhood as well as their family.

Pastor Rabi has also been serving with us at Calvary Chapel Pastor’s Training Center & School of Ministry.  He teaches twice a week through the Gospel of Luke, and has been helping a lot with translating some classes from English to Nepali.  From when Rabi was a student in Bible College, he would host Bible studies during the semester breaks, and disciple many of his friends here in Nepal and some friends who had gone to work abroad.  His calm personality turns to a bold and courageous one when it comes to preaching Jesus to anyone who would hear.  Rabi is also going to train the students in weekly evangelism through our community and help them prepare for our semester outreach.

Calvary Chapel Dumre

Most recently, we took a trip to visit with Pastor Milan at Calvary Chapel Dumre.  We enjoyed our time spent with our brother and his family, and being able to see how the church fellowship is doing.  We brought a group of students from the Bible College who are from the same district as Milan so they could see their families as well as seeing a Calvary Chapel church plant in their hometown.  During our time in Dumre, we hosted a small youth fellowship one afternoon, attended church service at CC Dumre and Milan’s uncle’s church, and had family time at Milan’s home.  It was encouraging for us to see our brother serving wholeheartedly, and watching him be faithful to the work of the ministry.  He has been pouring into the lives that have been placed in front of him and has demonstrated a life surrendered to Christ as he has been serving in his village.  Please pray for Milan who has been sharing the gospel in his community and discipling the youth.  Please also pray for him as he has been managing the remaining construction work of the church building.

Pastors Conference 

This past week, Pastor Bond, Heather and Breanna have come to visit!  While they are here, we’ve invited the pastors of our students who attend the Bible College and also the Calvary Chapel pastors who have graduated and started church plants like Pastor Raju, Pastor Rabi & Pastor Milan.  During our three-day conference, we hosted 9 visiting pastors at the college campus, taught through 2 Timothy and had a time of Q&A about Calvary.

It was a great time of glorifying God in the praise reports of what has been going on in each others lives. Among the attendees was Pastor Majiya, who shared an update with us about his work in the east side of Nepal of beginning Calvary Chapel Rangeli. While Majiya was a student, he sacrificed two years apart from his wife and two small kids to study God’s word. It has only been four months since he graduated and he has been traveling into Rangeli which is one hour on his bicycle to teach the bible in that area. Together with raising a family, sharing the gospel and teaching God’s word, he is working daily 12 hour shifts in an oil making factory to support his family. He makes the equivalent of seven dollars and fifty cents per day. It’s our heart to help Majiya and take away part of the financial burden so that he may focus more on his family and ministry. This will allow him to be about preaching the gospel in the midst of unreached people groups. Majiya wants to move into Rangeli so that he and his family will be missionaries in this new village.

We are beyond grateful to be a part of this work of training up future pastors and leaders!  Please continue to pray for each of these men who have listened and obeyed God’s call on their lives.

Praise Reports

• Each visit to the three Calvary church plants has been so encouraging and a blessing to be a part of this amazing work!
• CC Pastor’s Training Center & SOM has been going well, we are thankful for all who are on staff and serve with us.
• We’ve been having more new people attend he CC Nakkhu fellowship after hearing Pastor Anand on the Radio Program
• The Pastors Conference was an uplifting and inspiring time

Prayer Requests

• For our team to be like-minded, have the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind.
• That God would provide financially forus and for the ministry in Nepal & South Asia
• For those divine appointments to share the Gospel with people
• Pastor Raju’s parents who are practicing Hindus and don’t fully understand why Raju is pastoring a church.  He has been trying to be a good witness for Jesus, but can feel lonely at times when even his family isn’t the most supportive.
• Pastor Ravi’s mom is a new born again Christian, but his father is not. Also, please pray for Ravi’s mom who has diabetes and has been struggling with her health.
• Please pray for Pastor Majiya and the God would provide for him & his family financially.

In Christ,

Aaron & Jena Garcia

aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6: 31 — 34

God taught us so much in the year of 2018 and reminded us of the great truth that He is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord our Provider, spiritually and physically. Why worry about the things in this life, when we are supposed to be focused on Him, to move forward in our calling and seek His kingdom! We pray that we would be faithful in the work that God has called us to and faithfully update all of you who partner with us in the gospel.

So Much Encouragement
We returned to the States with anticipation to see our family and also church family. Our time State-side was a blessing to be able to share about the fruit of what God has done in Nepal & South Asia and encourage those who have been partakers in the ministry here. It was exciting to see some of your eyes light up each time we would say “you helped us do this”. Truly every single moment on the mission field, you that pray and give are helping reach this area of the world. We couldn’t say thank you enough to all of you who helped put together and came to our missions gathering last month. We were able to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary on the same day as our missions gathering with you was definitely a day to remember! It was more encouragement than we had ever expected. We felt so honored to share all of the amazing things that the Lord has done!

Home Away From Home
It has been 5 years that we have been serving in Nepal. We moved here when we were first married at the age of 21. This country has become like home, especially since we have so many loved ones here. We have some that have become like family. We know each others birthdays, check on each other when we are sick, and even better we all serve the Lord together.

Our third official semester at Calvary Chapel Pastors Training Center & School of Ministry began January 28th with 20 students! The staff has been working together gathering students from almost every side of Nepal. We always believe that if God brings the students He will supply the finances to operate the school. From the start of this new school, it has been incredible to see how God has continually provided for all of the needs to have this college up and running. Over the holiday, the college moved into a new building that is able to house more students, beds were purchased, fresh paint was put on the walls, and soon enough students were moving in again for the new semester!

Get Into The Groove
Since arriving in Nepal, we jumped into the routine of helping manage a Bible College and adjusted to the Nepali life. That’s really something we pray when arriving. Time goes by so fast and we want to do as much as we can. Funny as it sounds it takes time to get used to the time zone, the temperature drop, get back into speaking Nepali, the odd smells, and who could forget driving a motorcycle through Nepali traffic. Aaron has been teaching through Acts and teaches through 1 John for our mid-week Bible study. Jena began to teach English classes 4 times a week to the students. We are excited getting to know the students and spending more and more time with them even outside the classroom. To a Nepali, time spent together is sometimes worth more than anything you could give them.

Praise Reports:
– Thankful to have spent Christmas with our family in the States!
– Excited to be back in Nepal and working with the new CC Pastors Training Center & School of Ministry.
– All of the students have traveled from many different places around Nepal and are eager to study His Word.

Prayer Requests:
– For our team to be like-minded, have the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind.
– That God would provide financially for us and for the ministry in Nepal & South Asia.
– For those divine appointments to share the Gospel with people.
– We are traveling to a remote village to visit the new church plant, Calvary Chapel Lapu, on February 28th – March 4th, and visit with Pastor Raju who graduated from the Calvary Chapel Pastors Training Center with us and has been teaching a group of believers in his hometown mountain area. Please pray we would be a great encouragement and a blessing to them.

In Christ,

Aaron & Jena Garcia

aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

~ 1 Corinthians 15:58 ~

We are so amazed at how God has filled 2018 with many incredible highlights! Here are ten that we hope would be used to glorify the Lord we serve, and that you would be encouraged on how the harvest is ripe for laboring!

Flood Relief — In South Asia during this past monsoon season, many areas were flooded and landslides destroyed several homes due to the heavy rain.  We were able to serve alongside our students, going out to these affected areas to comfort those who are hurting during this time.  The team was also able to distribute care packages and share the gospel in these communities.

Leprosy Colony – We’ve been blessed to have teams come visit our friends at the leprosy colony in Nepal to serve them and visit with them.  For the past few years of forming relationships and spending time in this colony, we have been able to learn more of their personal needs.  A team was recently able to fund solar panels to provide hot showers for them, which will help many to not get pneumonia in the winter.

Slums Outreach – We recently were able to have a “Happy Birthday Jesus” party in the beginning of December to celebrate the birth of Christ and share why He came!  Over 250+ kids were able to hear the gospel, play games, sing songs to the Lord and were later gifted a brand new backpack filled with school supplies!

Calvary Chapel Pastors Training Center & School of Ministry – We had our first set of graduates, Majhya and Raju, who have completed their two-year program of studying the Bible verse-by-verse! We are very thankful to have gotten to know them and their families and are excited to see what the Lord has in store for their lives.

Still Honeymooning – This January 19, 2019 we will be celebrating 5 years of marriage!

Church Planting – Two New Calvary Chapel Church Plants this year in Nepal. Calvary Chapel Naku and Calvary Chapel Japla. Both are doing so well and growing in Gods Word.

Jehovah Jireh – The financial support has allowed us to be able to continue to invest in lives through discipleship, we are very thankful to have been able to serve in Asia for almost 5 years.

Family Team – These past few years, we have been blessed to be a part of training up nationals in the Word of God.  Some of them are now serving alongside us, who have shown that they are quality men and women of God and dwell with us in unity.  They are great friends who have become family to us.

Protection — Amidst the growing persecution and heat from the government, we have been able to keep going and sharing the love of Christ.  People are learning about Jesus, giving their lives to Him and getting radically saved! 

Travel – We have met teams of people from around the country who have come to Asia, and we all share the common bond of Jesus in our life.  You have partnered with us through prayer and/or financially and we are grateful to have been given the opportunity to travel to visit with you and your churches to share about the work of God that you are a part of.  We pray that we could encourage you as you have all encouraged us.

Thank you for partnering with us in the work of the Lord this past year! We are very grateful for your prayers and friendship and are excited to see what God has for 2019! We pray that you would always abound in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Happy New Year!

Aaron & Jena Garcia

aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
~ Ephesians 2:10 ~

Girls Discipleship
In Bible College, we are training up future pastors and church planters while equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12). We are also training
up and discipling future pastor’s wives and women’s ministry leaders! God has brought a sweet group of girls to CCBC South Asia who each have radical testimonies and are sold out for Jesus. Jena has been enjoying her fellowship with them and teaching them English four times a week. They are all first semester students and are excited to learn the Bible in a class setting. Through serving and practicing English together, the girls have all formed a special bond with one another. It is true, Christ’s love for one another breaks down all barriers, even the language barrier.

Living It Out
Our dear brother, John Edward, who attended CCBC with us in Nepal
recently was able to visit in South Asia! He is someone who has
stepped out in faith and answered the call on his life to start a Bible study that soon turned into a Calvary Chapel in his home state. It was amazing to see him take classes at CCBC South Asia during his week visit. He was able to share with the students his personal testimony of living out the call of God on his life and being able to start a church. We made more memories together and he shared how it always feels like coming home to see family every time we are able to spend time together.

Time To Shine
Due to the heavy rains this past monsoon season, there has been very much landslides and floods that have destroyed many homes and land in the southern part of our state. A team of students and staff were able to travel to a coastal area that was recently affected and minister in a community of farmers & daily-wage workers who lost all of their food. This was their time to shine their light that Christ has given us to share with the world. They were able to put together care packages and distribute to each family, which provided a time to love the people and pray for those who were hurting. The students showed great boldness for Jesus and shared the gospel. It was an amazing time to preach and also train the students how to prepare and go on an outreach.

Since We Were In The Neighborhood
On our way back traveling to Nepal for the second half of the semester and graduation, we were able to make a quick stop in North Asia. We decided to visit with some of the young Calvary Church planters along the way and reunite with old friends we have been praying for! This is an area in tremendous need for the gospel and it remains majorly unreached. Each of these young pastors have all experienced great power of the Holy Spirit to step out in faith and start a new work in their villages and neighboring villages. Some of them are pastoring two or more churches each, traveling from village to village and discipling young men and women to help with the work of ministry. It’s encouraging to see these men step out in faith regardless of persecution and how they have each encouraged each other to continue to stand firm for Christ and be faithful to the ministry.

No Leprosy In Heaven
We have arrived back onto Nepali soil and are excited to have jumped right into serving with a visiting team from California. The team went to visit our friends at the leprosy colony where we shared a meal together, had some time of worship, went house to house to pray for each family and give a care package gift. We were welcomed by some new faces but couldn’t find our friend whom we sang worship songs with when we spent time in her home. Later we found out that she had gone to be with the Lord a few months ago and is now alive in glory. Our sister in Christ is missed but we are excited that she is no longer in pain. She now has her hands back and is lifting them, worshipping in the presence of Jesus!Prayer Requests:
– For our team to be like-minded, have the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind.
– That God would provide financially for us and for the ministry in South Asia.
– We have three visiting pastors from the States that will come and spend time with the students this coming week, please pray for a fruitful and blessed time.
– For those divine appointments to share the gospel with people.

Praise Reports:
– We are in Nepal until the end of the semester and are excited to be back with our Nepali family!
– The team we were with in South Asia has been amazing to serve with, and they are continuing with the Bible College semester.
– We will be in the States on December 8th to spend Christmas with our family!

In Christ,
Aaron & Jena Garcia
aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

“Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

— Philippians 2:2 – 4 —

We have been so blessed to be a part of this work that God has begun here in South Asia. We are humbled by the fact that the Lord brought all of us from not just different parts of Asia, but also from different parts of the world to be serving here altogether. There has been a unity that is only found in Christ that has knit students and staff close together as a family.

Student Life
This group of young men is eager to learn and have been studying very hard. It has been a month of classes from 8am to 3:30pm and the students have been so hungry for God’s Word that they’ve been asking Aaron to teach them more during their free time before and after their dinner. They are each learning the balance of studying, doing homework, and working around the campus grounds.

English Classes have been encouraging to see the students improve each week. With practicing how to read aloud and learning grammar, they are becoming more and more confident to speak English.

Taming the Jungle
Everyone has been working together to make the compound more of a home. Plants have been trimmed, and a good portion of land has been tilled for the start of a vegetable garden! Many of the students are from families that plant and harvest crops, so they became the teachers and we became the students when they showed us how to properly plant and water seeds.

Campus Life
While the students have been having fun in the classroom, they have also been having fun outside of the classroom. When working out in the field, a volleyball court was made and the students have been able to play during their free time. We all could get caught up in the day-to-day list of things that you want to complete, but there also needs to be a time for fellowship and a little friendly volleyball competition.

We recently celebrated Jena’s 26^th birthday and we rejoiced in the Lord for another great year! The day began with opening gifts and a delicious pancake breakfast! In the evening, there was a surprise gift from the students where they sang “Happy Birthday” and brought Jena a cake. We all praised God for an awesome family in Christ that He has brought together and gave thanks for another memorable birthday.

Prayer Requests:
– For our team to be like-minded, have the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind.
– That God would provide financially for us and for the ministry in South Asia.

Praise Reports:
– We’ve had new students join the Bible College!
– One of the graduates who started a Calvary Chapel in South Asia has sent his assistant leader to be trained here for further church planting possibilities.
– Jena felt very loved on her 26^th birthday!

In Christ,
Aaron & Jena Garcia
aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”
Philippians 1: 3 – 6

So much of our life and the ministry we are a part of are spent very far away from you, yet each summer we are thankful to be able to return to the States and spend time with most of you. This past summer, the Lord allowed us to visit Northern California and the East Coast to have a very sweet, connected time of fellowship, making new friends and growing deeper in our friendships with church families who have been co-laboring with us in all parts of the world.

We have been very thankful to be given such a great opportunity to partner with and encourage you how God has been mightily glorified in bringing the good news to people who have never heard, and teaching God’s word to students who are hungry to learn and grow.

You have made a deep impression upon us with your hospitality, generosity and sacrifice. We are encouraged by you and wanted to personally thank you for loving and praying for us. Though we are a world away, we feel closer to you than ever.

A Shepherd’s Heart
We recently were able to make a quick visit to Nepal and fellowship with the pastors and leaders involved with the new Pastor’s Training Center. As the first official semester of the school was about to begin, we held a small, intimate day-conference to encourage and seek the Lord together as a team before all of the students arrived. Aaron taught from Acts 20, exhorting everyone from Paul’s heart of being a shepherd and we had a time of prayer where the men prayed together and Jena prayed with the pastor’s wives. It was a very uplifting time and the team grew closer as we opened up with one another.

Laying The Foundation
Greetings from South Asia! Returning students and new students traveling from all parts of Asia have arrived and the classes at CCBC SOUTH ASIA have officially begun. Aaron has been teaching through the Bible everyday and Jena is helping with teaching English to the students twice a week. We are excited to serve the students and live life with them. Please pray for them as they begin to study through God’s Word and that they would “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that they may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10)

In Christ,
Aaron & Jena
aaronjenagarcia@gmail.com

For security reasons, please do NOT post this version of our update online or share on social media without our permission. We want to avoid any issues with the government and need to be vague in our mention of certain details online.

The Dove Is Up
Thank you so much for praying over our travels and our time here serving in South Asia. We are very excited to be a part of this team helping with the new CCBC. It has been great to see the progress of the construction on the land, as it used to be covered with overgrown plants but now it has walls, buildings, dormitories, student kitchen, library, offices and classrooms! Jena was also able to bring out her paintbrushes and add the Calvary dove to the front gates. It is our heart that this ministry would always exalt God’s Word and be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Please continue to pray for the completing of construction, as there is still more that needs to be done.

For this first semester, the students and team have been working construction jobs on the campus during the morning and evening. In the daytime, Aaron has been teaching Bible classes through a translator. There has been a great bond serving with the students and studying God’s Word together. We’ve gotten to know their personal testimonies and how they’ve overcome serious persecution but have continued to stand firm in their faith. Many of the students have traveled up to a four-days train ride to come and study the Word. They’re so eager to learn and it has been an amazing time of great encouragement for these courageous men of God.

Church Planting
A few years ago, our dear friend Pastor J.E studied at the Bible College we served at in Nepal. He went back to his home state in South Asia to start a Bible study that has turned into a beautiful Calvary Chapel fellowship. Recently, we went and visited Pastor J.E to celebrate 3 years of their church plant. Pastor J.E had been led to a community of railway workers and has been given much favor to have a place among them to teach and disciple. During our visit, we were so blessed by their beautiful worship, filled with much joy for the Lord. Please pray for them as they are growing in their knowledge of God’s Word and that they would be faithful witnesses. Seeing Pastor J.E be used so mightily for the Lord and being able to watch him grow while he was studying God’s Word at Bible College, showed us more than ever that by simply teaching through His Word will change the world.

Bringing Updates
Our intent in coming to visit this campus in South Asia was to discover in what ways we would have opportunities here to serve. We have learned so much during our time and are excited to Lord willing return for the Fall semester. We are going back to the States on May 10^th to visit and update the church on the new work in South Asia.

Hope to see you!

In Christ,
Aaron & Jena Garcia