January and February update

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Psalm 118:29

We started the year off with several visits. Two of Jorge's sisters and a nephew visited us for New year's along with his mom. Then my parents visited us for a week in mid January, Jorge's mom stayed long enough to see them and do some tourist stuff with us. We greatly enjoyed all the family time we had over the holidays. 

We are still going strong with youth group on Zoom. The kids are faithful and have so much fun together. This past week we invited their parents for a "family" youth group. Almost all the parents joined us and we had a BLAST! This week the youth started a Biblical challenge where they will earn points for doing different things, bible study, memory work, sharing the gospel and doing service projects. At the end the three top winners will win their week at camp paid for. It is our goal and prayer that they will grow in their relationship with Christ. 

This month we also started an english class in our home. For now we have 4 youth from church two days a week for an hour. The first week we started with letters and numbers and this past week have been working on questions and answers. We hope to be able to use this ministry as a way to reach out and meet new contacts and share the gospel with them. 

San Nicolas- This is the first town we have started doing ministry in. Jorge lived here for a time and was leading a small group bible study. We are doing lots of visiting with some of the contacts Jorge has and started one bible study with a lady (Maribel). We are very excited to see what God has in store for us here. 

Once a month Jorge has the chance to preach at church, he just finished preaching a two part sermon on the Holy Spirit. On the Sundays that Jorge preaches or leads worship we go to church in person. As you can see everyone else attends church from home via Zoom. The pastor has made the decision to not open church to everyone because of the rules the Government has in place and because the majority of the people from our church are older or have heath issues. 

God is at work even in the middle of the pandemic. This month we started a bible study with a family that lives close to us (Benita and Pablo). The wife has been connecting for church several weeks, we invited her over for coffee and to get to know her. Her and her husband are doing the bible study with us. Lots of questions and every eager to learn all they can about Jesus and His word. 

Praise from January! After spending two full days in the immigration office I (Alicia) was granted my temporary residency. This means I don't have to leave Mexico every 6 months!! I can renew it each year here in Mexico. 6 years of leaving the country every 3-6 months, I am very happy to have this residency here. God is good!! 

Prayer requests: 

• San Nicolas- A town of 5.500 people where we have started two discipleships and feel God calling us to reach for His kingdom. One discipleship is with Maribel a mother and wife who is very eager to learn about God, please pray for her husband and son, as well as her grandkids. The other discipleship is with a young man Oswaldo a son and the owner of a store and gym. Please pray for his two brothers and his parents. 
• Youth group- Please pray for the two young men (14-15 years old) who have started giving the lesson. Spiritual growth for all the youth. That these young people will share the gospel with their families and friends. 
• Discipleships- Eliel, teen who Jorge disciples weekly. Abdy, teen who Alicia would like to start a bible study with. Benita and Pablo, married couple with 3 children, new in Christ, learning a lot and struggling to leave old habits behind. 
• Jorge's visa, he has an interview in September! Please pray that this will not change and that the visa will be granted. 
• Jorge's english- that he will be able to share with you all what God has put on his heart and be able to communicate easily. 
• Support- people who want to join our team and support what God is doing here in Mexico. Wisdom and creativity to share and meet with people in the US while we are in Mexico. 

Blessings, 

Jorge and Alicia Ramírez

jramirez@fim.org

awhitmore@fim.org

To give finically:  www.fim.org/give/whitmore