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Ramirez Family Personal Update
Welcome back to fall! Abraham and Caitlin are currently in Michigan awaiting the arrival of Eliana, baby girl Ramirez. We are thankful to have arrived safely and be staying with grandma and grandpa. It is truly a blessing to enjoy the beauty of fall in the mid-west after living in the Caribbean, where its summer all year long. Jeancarlos stayed behind in the Dominican Republic to continue with his studies and ministry. He will be joining us here in the U.S. on November 2. Eliana is expected to arrive November 11. Please pray for Daddy’s safe arrival to meet baby girl and for her healthy and safe delivery.
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Adapted Home Service
We will be in the U.S. from October to January for Eliana’s arrival. During this time we would like to connect with you our faithful supporters! We will be able to travel within Michigan to share updates. If you’re not in Michigan, we will also be available to meet with your church/bible study group virtually. Follow our Facebook page to see when we will be making visits. Please contact us to set up your visit, email me at Caitlin.ramirez@lcms.org or call 269.753.1357.
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Virtual Children’s Ministries continue
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After our VBS this summer we decided to continue with children’s ministries virtually. Its been a huge growing opportunity for the adults in the congregation. Each week the deaconess students teach and film the bible class for the neighborhood kids. It’s wonderful to see the children’s ministries at the congregation done entirely by the local ladies and not by the missionaries. Additionally we ask the parents to teach the story at home with their families. One mother, Sandra, who is not a member of the church yet, shared with me how she uses the children’s bible the church gave her to read with her daughter and then uses the simple questions and prayer which the church sends home to talk about God’s love and for prayer together. What a blessing to have parents teaching their own children about the love of God in Jesus Christ. Please pray for Sandra, and all the families who are participating in our virtual children’s bible ministries. We currently have about 30 children participating, which is up from 10 students in last year’s in-person Sunday school.
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Concordia El Reformador Seminary
The 4th academic year has started at our seminary in the Dominican Republic where Jeancarlos is studying. This is Jeancarlos’ third and final year of studies. We are expecting him to serve a vicarage next year to complete the program. This year the major emphasis in his classes and his practice at the congregation is on preaching. He is in Homiletics 3 and is preaching on a regular basis in the congregation. Be sure to check out facebook to watch one of his sermons. Currently the men are in classes virtually but hope next semester to be back in the classroom.
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Deaconess Courses
Along with the classes starting back up for the men at the seminary, deaconess classes for the ladies have also begun again. This year I am serving as a mentor and professor for students as well as working on writing and developing course materials. We have 140 women studying in the deaconess program in 5 countries. This year due to COVID and the difficulty of travel and large group gatherings, the seminary has decided to teach the women online. Teaching virtually this year, means that I can continue working full time while I am in Michigan awaiting the birth of our newest family member. I am currently writing a course on Luther’s Small Catechism and serving as mentor for the ladies in a New Testament course. Please pray for me as I write, for the other mentors and for the students. The goal is always that they learn more about the Lord and grow in wisdom towards him to serve their neighbor.
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