AMBUKAS SEPTEMBER 2012 UPDATES

Greetings in Jesus name; my wife and I have just completed a three-week ministry in conferences in three different cities. Our children are doing very well. Rose completed her Post Graduate Diploma and is waiting for graduation in December this year. Darwin & Luke have been on a 3-weeks vacation and are returning rd to college tomorrow. Darwin starts 3 year while Luke nd begin 2 year. Charity is on field attachment teaching English Language at ICM in Burundi till December. She resumes classes in January 2013. Israel is also fine and back to school after 4 weeks of vacation. Please, know that you are the reason we can invest our time in the peoples lives here in Burundi.

We deeply express our heartfelt and sincere appreciation for you as you serve the Lord by supporting our ministry through ICM with your prayers and financial gifts. That steady, monthly support allows us to have the time available to help leaders and couples deal with tough issues in their lives, churches, families and marriages. The training we offer to pastors and church leaders are bearing much fruits as we witness the church grow both spiritually and numerically.
Teaching in a couples seminar

In the past five months we have continued training Pastors both at the seminary and through seminars. In the seminary we have 170 students who are undertaking certificate courses in English Language, Bible and Theology. Through seminars, we have trained many youth leaders, couples, pastors and congregations in different churches.
Painito Preaching in a local church service

We have conducted several couples and leaders seminars where we have witnessed many transformations in families, marriages and churches. Bibles have also been given to leaders

Burundians Watching Jesus Film; 356 gave their lives to Christ

Cadence team, Police, Military & ICM minister to the local community July and August were great months for ICM Burundi in that we received teams from USA and Germany, which came and supported our

local efforts in serving God in our country. Cadence Ministry, a team of 17, helped us work with Burundi Military, Police and Civilians. Together with this team, we gave gifts of clothes and chicken to the locals, it was Fantastic!

Living Grace with ICM Burundi staff Living Grace, a team of 9, served with us in training pastors through conferences in 3 different provinces. The team also helped us build the ICM property fence, and assisted us connect with local leaders. I thank God for this team that God used to solve one of the most critical challenge we were going through; thank you very much. Mark Thompson who trained pastors in Bujumbura has left a great impact in the hearts of many.

ICM property has been fenced one side, 3 sides remaining Thank you for your generous support that has enabled us to construct the front part of ICM property, may God bless and enlarge you. We look forward to starting the second side when God will provide funds.

ICM Building resumes construction. It has been a great challenge getting the construction going on. We thank God that it picks up now.

Kindly pray for the following items: That transformation may be realized in the lives of the students we are training at ICM center. That God will take preeminence in their families and churches. That Rose, Darwin, Luke, Charity, Israel and I may remain focused on God and that we keep growing spiritually. That we the ICM staff in Burundi shall be united and keep working together as a team. Funds for ICM Multipurpose Ministry Center Building. That the Lord shall provide for all the funding needed for the construction. School fees for our 3 children who are in private universities. That God may enable me to begin a PHD program next year with Pan Africa Theological Seminary in Nairobi & Togo.

It is such a joy to know that you lift us in prayer. Thank you for your partnership. Making an eternal difference together. Painito and Rose Ambuka To support ICM and the leadership training in Burundi, please use 4201 Ardmore Avenue, Suite 6 Bakersfield, CA 93309 OR visit us at www.icmusa.org OR contact us in the contact below Painito & Rose Ambuka PO Box 734 Bujumbura, Burundi. Email: pambuka@icmburundi.org ; rombuka@yahoo.com Tel. +257-79456744

Americans visit Burundi, support local ICM efforts

By Heidi Sanders

group of 17 Americans many of whom are affiliated with the U.S. Army in Germany traveled to Burundi for a week in July to work with International Christian Ministries.

The groups three main goals during the short-term mission trip were to proclaim the Gospel message, bless the Burundian people in tangible ways and help the Burundi Army and National Police gain favor in the eyes of the local population. Members of the group used their diverse talents to set up an eye clinic and distribute glasses, organize a childrens ministry, put on an ethics seminar for police and military officers and give away donated clothing and shoes. Kyle Smith, an optometrist in the U.S. Army, helped organize the eye clinic. The group brought approximately 2,000 pairs of eye glasses to Burundi and was able to see more than 450 people and distribute more than 400 pairs of glasses, Smith said. He said he enjoyed being able to help the people of Burundi see better. The purpose of what we were doing was to help them see the love of Jesus in a very tangible way, Smith said. Some of the group spent time with the local children doing crafts, playing games and singing songs. Gabe Russell, who helped with the childrens ministry, said he enjoyed working with the children.

Members of the group that traveled to Burundi and locals from International Christian Ministries at the ICM grounds near Bujumbura.

Thomas Cooper photo

It really touched me how excited they were helping its people and the people learning to to see us, Russell said, referencing the way trust their government, Kleager said. children ran to greet the groups bus as the Painito Ambuka, ICMs country director for group arrived each morning. Burundi, said the groups visit was a blessing. Although the group did not speak the same language as many of the locals, they found Your courage to come to Africa was something amazing to us, Ambuka said. ways to communicate. We thank God for that. You didnt care about It was cool that even with the language the dirt, what they (the people) looked liked. barrier, laughter, fun, dancing and tears were That really shows your great love for our all universal, said Mark Napier, a soldier people. in the U.S. Army, who along with his wife, Ambuka said ICM and the people of Burundi Hannah, went on the trip. appreciated their visitors kindness. JJ Sanders, who helped coordinate the The people feel they are loved, cared for, childrens ministry, echoed Napiers views. Ambuka said. God has visited us. Although our languages separated us, we had a common denominator in Jesus Christ, Sanders said. The goal of the team was to show the love of Jesus Christ. I believe we were able to accomplish that. Brian Kleager, one of the organizers of the trip, said although things did not always go according to how the group had planned, he is certain Gods will was done. The things we really thought God wanted us to do happened not always the way we wanted, but the visions God had given us before came to furition, Kleager said. Kleager said he believes the trip was successful. What we are seeing is a government ministering to its people, a government
Thomas Cooper photo

Optometrist Kyle Smith examines a soldiers eyes.

Brian Kleager photo

A member of the Burundi military helps a family pick out clothing items that were donated.