June 2011 - Ministries

Pottengers-Kenya

Praises:

*We are so amazed that every time we travel we are all rather healthy and the travels go so smooth even despite cancellations, delays and sometimes exhaustion

*We were so blessed by our time in Porterville at Vision Calvary Chapel and had a wonderful visit with Pastor Ryan Ruckman, his beautiful family, and fellowship.

Please continue to pray for:

* Pastor Stephen and our friends and family in Kisumu as inflation has hit

   the country hard and our Kenyan friends are being hit hard. Please pray

   for wisdom

*Baby Peggy for continual health (she's been into the doctor several times

for her cough)

*Complete healing for Kenya Grace's ear "confection" as she puts it

*For continual health for Joellie

*For a special time with one of Peg's sisters at Disneyland Wed. (may we

shine Jesus' light in the Magical Kingdom.)

The Ramirezes-Mexico

• Pray for them as they mourn the losses of their dogs. “We have been through a lot this year, and in some ways I feel like I just can't get my head above water.”  
• we have another guy graduating,Peter will be leaving Thursday and heading towards Calvary Chapel Rosarito to serve there.
• This weekend we got to see Jose Guadalupe, he is working at CCLas Palmas Everybody said what a blessing he has been there
• One of our leaders left last week which means that George is taking on another night of teaching as well as a new project they have started with the mayor of the town we live in

M’s-Israel

Praise:

• We participated in a wonderful outreach to some unbelieving Israelis this past Shabbat.  This was an event that two ladies from our home Bible study group arranged.  They invited 15 people to visit three sites around the Galilee in a mini bus. We heard a wonderful testimony from one of the sisters in the monastery and had a Q&A time too. Along the way we had some good conversation about our faith, and a great time of building relationships. (For those of you with facebook, there's some pics of the tour posted on my fb page)
• I had a great visit with Jen in Haifa. I was able to hold her hand while she sat in the dentist's chair and had a wisdom tooth removed. Praise the Lord the procedure went smoothly, and was relatively pain free for Jen. I will be  going with her to her next appointment in about 3 weeks. It will be a process to get all her dentistry taken care of, so please continue to pray for pain free visits and recovery. A major answer to prayer and a big praise is that Operation Blessing is covering the cost of these procedures.

-Our computer is up and running again!  Thanks for the many prayers from all of you. And with some help from our friends at ifixit and at the Mac Store in SLO, it looks like we will be able to get all the software loaded and working properly again too. Since the computer was fixed, we were able to make a video update which will be posted on our blog (operationnicodemus.blogspot.com) soon.

Please pray: 

• You may remember that last week we asked you to pray for Amini, a 9 year old boy from our congregation who was suddenly diagnosed with brain cancer. Please pray him and his family: for a comfortable and complete recovery for Amminidav, for Lenga (Mom) to have peace, joy, good health and energy, and for Amminidav's older brother to be comforted as well. The Drs have come up with a treatment plan which will include physical and speech therapy, radiation and chemotherapy.  The whole process could take a year or so.
• -Please continue praying over our computer repair/ restoration needs.  JM is now in the process of trying to transfer all of the necessary data and programs back onto the new hard drive.  This is proving to be difficult and time consuming, and is impeding his ability to get his regular work done. Please pray for extra grace for JM as he tries to work this one out.

-Please continue to pray that the Lord will provide for the cost of  tuition for the private school that Ackbal attended while she was in our care. 

-For additional household expenses that we are currently behind on.

-For J.M.'s schedule and work as an itinerary coordinator and development director with the Jerusalem Institute of Justice - he is experiencing a lot of stress in this job.

-For the house church in B, that the Lord will continue to build it up, and bless those in attendance with a solid teaching from the Word of God. We will be getting a new helper this summer because our friend B(aka Paul) is getting married in August. Please pray for smooth travels/ transition for “I” (from Latvia), and grace for wedding plans for she and B.

-For spiritual growth of those we are discipling and teaching: Mr. F and his two sons, Mr. A, Mr L, Miss T. Miss F, Miss S, Gal, Jen and Baby

- For Gal in her deployment - safety and peace. 

-For the Lord's direction in growing the mid-week outreach service, and for the Lord to provide us with a Hebrew translator. 

-For health; A is still having some stress related health issues. Please pray that these health concerns can be resolved quickly.

LONDON TEAM- New place to meet for their Wed and Sunday meetings. 

Holydes-

-The Commander for the Police force in Camden came to our Wednesday night study this last week.

We gathered around him and covered him in prayer. He told us this may be the only time so many people

have come so close to him when he didn't call for back-up.

-Secondly We were told a few weeks ago that we had outgrown our Wednesday night meeting place - our last Study there will be this Wednesday night So we are in a mad hunt for a new location in Camden.

-Suzanne's parents have come for a visit - ( it is their first trip out of the country)

-Friday, we were on the streets sharing Jesus until about 3:30 am there certainly is no shortage of people, even then.

We were able to pray with some, physically help others in Jesus' name  and all in all it was an awesome time!

Lauren-

• London Pride (a Gay event) is going to be happening this weekend/week.
• To keep in prayer - “World” Pride will also be hosted in London 2012 next year
• Please be praying that the Lord moves mightily in the hearts of this lost community and they know Him before they walk even further away from their creator this weekend.
• Pray for the Christians who will probably be down there trying to reach out.
• Please also pray for the children who will be there who don’t really have a choice. There is a church down there supporting part of the event for a “Family Day” for the kids.
• This truly grieves my spirit and I would love nothing more than all the lost and missing to be restored back to the God who loves them and died for them.

Merrills-

• Pray as they are traveling a lot over the next month
• Pray that we would grow together and in Jesus this summer!
• Pray as we share the vision for the coffee house that others would get excited too as we raise support.

Tobi-

Followup w/ person she gave bible to.

conversations with the women at the center

Praises how the LORD provides for her.

the Vules-Kenya

Ramsey’s travel back to his family and all of them as they enjoy their time together. 

Compeans-Kenya

-They are back from their “whirlough” to CA. Pray for adjustment back to Kenya time.

-Their son is still in the US working for the summer, their daughter is leading a missions trip in Mexico

-Pray for safety for all.

Nancy-YWAM/Lifewater

PRAISE PRAISE!! do you remember last summer I asked SENT to pray for my sister's tenant in Washington while I was staying there?  I had the opportunity to talk with her and give her some Bible study materials.   I learned this weekend that she chose to be baptized a couple of weeks ago!!!  She's planning to move back to my sister's place next month.

Prayer:

Please pray for Amanda, my sister's tenant just baptized. transition as she moves and especially that she find a good church that will disciple her and a community of friends that will be healthy relationships for growing in the truth.

There are two students I am matched with for one-on-one discipling thru the EARS school. Please pray for wisdom & discernment as I work with them, and for C & J as they learn and grow.  J especially has some very deep brokenness in her past that matches some of mine.  Please pray for the Spirit to work in and through our relationship and bring further healing and freedom.

Pray for good connections between school staff and community members near us who are into gardening.  Please pray for opportunities to reach out and become more connected to our neighbors in this way.

Pray for salvation of Austin, a bicyclist I met over the weekend while out on a ride.  I felt the Lord direct me to go a certain way that climbed a steep hill.  At the top was a Buddhist temple I didn't know was there and he was just pulling out of their driveway.  He said he isn't particularly practicing but is becoming very drawn to Buddhist art.  Pray his eyes discern truth and be drawn only to it.

Please pray for the Jesus Village, an orphanage in Kampala Uganda.  One of our students worked there for 8 months, and this request comes from her.  a place with children who were kidnapped and forced to be child soldiers in the fighting and are now free but filled with spiritual and emotional wounds.  Apparently the expat workers had to leave and there is no one to help one local Pastor who is there. Please pray for God to provide for both the physical needs and the adults who can love on the kids and care for them, and bring healing from the horrors they have experienced..

SENT PRAYER

M’s-Israel

Pray for A’s Dad, Rich, He had a heart attack on Tues morning. He is recuperating in the Hospital. 

Praise:

- We're starting to see some new people take interest in our outreach service.  This week one of our group was able to follow up with a Jewish lady who expressed interest. Please pray for the salvation of Ms."S" and her daughter this week.

- I was finally able to get some financial assistance for Jen who needs major dental work.  I will be visiting her this Fri, and going with her to her appointment. Please pray for pain free visits and recovery.

-J M was hired by a congregation as a consultant for their sound system/ worship team. This will mean a few more work hours each week, but also some additional income.

Please pray: 

-  You may remember that last week we asked you to pray for Am, a 9 year old boy from our congregation who was suddenly diagnosed with brain cancer. Please pray him and his family: for a comfortable and complete recovery for Am, for Mom to have peace, joy, good health and energy, and for Am's older brother to be comforted as well. We are still waiting to hear from the Drs about a long term treatment plan. In the meantime,JMdav is organizing members of the congregation to deliver home cooked meals to her each week.

-Please continue praying over our computer repair/ restoration needs.  JM is now in the process of trying to transfer all of the necessary data and programs back onto the new hard drive.  This is proving to be difficult and time consuming, and is impeding his ability to get his regular work done. Please pray for extra grace for JM as he tries to work this one out.

-Please continue to pray that the Lord will provide for the cost of  tuition for the private school that Ackbal attended while she was in our care. 

-For additional household expenses that we are currently behind on.

-For J.M.'s schedule and work as an itinerary coordinator and development director with the Jerusalem Institute of Justice - he is experiencing a lot of stress in this job.

-For the house church in B, that the Lord will continue to build it up, and bless those in attendance with a solid teaching from the Word of God. We will be getting a new helper this summer because our friend B(aka Paul) is getting married in August. Please pray for smooth travels/ transition for “I” (from Latvia), and grace for wedding plans for she and B.

-For spiritual growth of those we are discipling and teaching: Mr. F and his two sons, Mr. A, Mr L, Miss T. Miss F, Miss S, Gal, Jen and Baby

- For Gal in her deployment - safety and peace. 

-For the Lord's direction in growing the mid-week outreach service, and for the Lord to provide us with a Hebrew translator. 

-For health; A is still having some stress related health issues. Please pray that these health concerns can be resolved quickly.

Pottengers-Kenya- 

They are safely back in MI

- Praise,Getting much needed rest 

• For the Lord's grace on us as we pack up and transition time-zones
• Pray for them as it gets closer for them to head back to Kenya

CCL

- For Pastor Stephen as he is very busy in this season 

- For Brad, Ellie, Rachel & Ben as the adjust to the addition of their newest family member (Ruth). 

• For Sunday as he is in Driving school to get his drivers license.

The Ramirezes-Mexico

Praises for the wonderful way God has plugged them in at Rancho Poiema

Pray for them as a couple. 

Pray for the men at the ranch.

LONDON TEAM- New place to meet for their Wed and Sunday meetings. 

Merrills-

• Pray as they are traveling a lot over the next month
• Pray that we would grow together and in Jesus this summer!
• Pray as we share the vision for the coffee house that others would get excited too as we raise support.

Tobi-

The women and volunteers at the center they need Jesus she got to share with one of the people there!

Praise for God’s provision and gifts. 

Great meeting with someone who ministers to the people who are in great need. the meeting was walking around and ministering to the people on the street, those that most choose to ignore.

Landon-

• The church is running consistently on Sundays and Wednesdays. There is a lot of lugging of gear since we meet in different locations for both studies and every time we have speakers on our backs and suitcases in our hands I laugh thinking about one day when we have a consistent building. What a fun process to be a part of. 
• We have three weekday bible studies, four including Wednesdays. They have been really good and we were talking with one of the guys this last week how much he's grown since we met him not even a year ago. J gave his life to the Lord at one of the Wednesday nights and it is amazing to see where he is now.
• Got to teach at one of the U-turn studies. My favourite part of those studies is getting to stay after and spend some time with the guys
• Rachel came over here to London about a month ago (!) and we both started training to learn how to teach English as a second language. 
• If you would be praying for A, my friend from Camden, he is wanting to read the Bible.

Nancy-YWAM/Lifewater

Praise:

• EARS school started today with 9 students, two less than anticipated. We praise God for the answers to prayer and for just the right number of students that he wants in this time.  The guy from India was not granted his visa despite the fact that he had all his school fees.  So we trust God has other good things in store for these two this summer.
• I already found a church here outside of Salem!  It's in a little town 30 min bike ride on beautiful back road from the base.  People  very friendly, they run a preschool and bus for elderly from a nearby retirement home and local food pantry.  Independent church with solid preaching & Baptist style alter call.  Yay God!
• I was actually blessed with my own private space on a YWAM base!!! I was scheduled to have three roommates and share a bath with 8, and a last minute change gave me a 5th wheel trailer all to myself.  I am so amazed at this gracious gift from the Lord.

Prayer:

• Pray for Tamara {wife of our speaker at the EARS school this week). She works with teenage girls on a first nations reservation in Canada.  On the res this week, one student committed suicide and another one had an abortion. Ask for God's help in Tamara's own grief of the loss & choices these girls she'd been ministering to made, and wisdom how she can minister to the families and other girls in the youth group in their loss.  Tamara's apart from her husband for three weeks and her partners in the ministry are also away right now.
• Pray for the Jensen family in their grief of Mark's death from colon cancer last week.  Also for the Agriculture dept at Tuamaini University in Tanzania, a program that Mark started about 6 yrs ago. Pray for those running the Ag dept in TZ to have all the guidance they need from the Lord now that they have lost their founder & advisor.
• Pray for God to speak through Matt, our school speaker this week as he covers the biblical foundations for creation care. Pray for the staff & students to bond well and adjust to community life here, and be open to all God has for them over the next 12 weeks.
• pls pray for my sinus health as the trailer is old & funky and in this rainy climate and God keep the mold & mildew at bay.  I had bad sinus headaches the first couple of days but much better today.