Happy Birthday Trina

December 19th was my birthday. Forty has mistakenly been called the "Over the Hill" age but I intend to live to be 100 therefore not even half my life is over. I have told my family they cannot consider me old until I reach at least 99 but by then I will have started counting backwards so you may never again know my real age (hehe). My day started with breakfast in bed and ended with a party given by our South African family and hosted by my dear friend Liezel Essop. I was very blessed by the royal treatment. There is never a day that goes by when I do not think of and miss my family in the States but it is a huge blessing to have very close friends around the world. I feel very loved and treasured. Thank you to all of you who made my birthday so special with visits, cards, calls and emails.

2009 Recap

December 11, 2009


Greetings to all our friends and family in Christ Jesus! We can hardly believe that 2009 is almost finished and it marks the end of our second year in Africa. While we are currently in a time of prayer for 2010, it is safe to say that this past year was easily our busiest time ever in the ministry.

Travelling Work

The year literally began in Lusaka, Zambia with our first trip to this country. Several well trained men hosted us in a city wide meeting open to all believers that desired to come. The ministry included radio messages and we worked with pastors from all over this capital city. As it was our first time to travel to Lusaka, we did not know what to expect. We now have a much better understanding of the particular needs for our return trip in 2010.

We followed this by doing a seminar in Maputo, Mozambique. These meetings were very leadership centered with around 100 pastors in attendance. The reception was fantastic in spite of the swarms of mosquitoes!

The next trip was to Harare, Zimbabwe for a leadership meeting that called leaders from all over the country. We’ve been ministering in Zimbabwe for many years and this conference was the best run and most fulfilling we’ve had. This country has been one of the most oppressed nations in the entire world for most of this decade and it is a profound relief to see the intensely challenging circumstances begin to subside.

Our last international trip this year was to the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the DRC we are working with a group of seventy churches helping to train their leaders and encourage the many believers that attend these fellowships. This was a most challenged venue in the natural but one in which the Lord spoke great hope for the future of the church and the country as a whole.

The bulk of our travel is within the nation of South Africa. We spent several months on the road during various trips this last year and found ourselves working with leaders and ministries in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape town, the Drakensburg and Zululand areas of the Natal province in South Africa.

Because we consider our primary function to be trans-local training and equipping ministry, it was very exciting to see the Lord open more doors than we had time to walk through!

Local Work

During the times that we weren’t on the road, we worked with several groups in our local area. There was a considerable amount of time spent with Indian pastors in the community of Phoenix, which is a significant part of the larger Indian community in Durban. We have a love for Indian people and had the opportunity to spend many Sundays this last year encouraging churches in this area.

We have also started a weekly bible study in the TeTe area near our home. It is a time of prayer, worship and study that has seen many young men and women saved, healed and delivered. The group is made up of around 50 refugees to South Africa from other African nations and we have seen the Lord accomplish incredible things in their lives. When we started almost all were unemployed, but through prayer and God’s Grace they are now all working!

Financial needs and prayer considerations

Travel is a very expensive part of our work. Gasoline prices vary from between $4 and $5 dollars a gallon and we travel the entire nation several times a year. Some of the countries have very little air traffic into them which drives the price of airplane tickets up. In addition to this we have to have some funds to help set up the meetings and provide for safe, basic accommodation while we are in these third world venues. We also have relationships in Asia and Europe that we must help and encourage in 2010. In order to accommodate these things and still maintain a reasonable household budget, please stand with us to believe God for a $750 increase in our monthly support for the coming year.

There are two specific projects we are committed to in 2010:

1) We would like to provide 150 flu vaccines to the residents in the TeTe area. This is an impoverished community in which the average person’s diet often doesn’t provide proper immunity to diseases like influenza. It is our desire to bless the community at large with these vaccines as a practical expression of Christ’s Love. We have also committed to provide flu vaccines to about 50 of the orphans we work with in Monzi.

2) We would like to provide mosquito nets for an orphanage in the Zululand area. During summer months the heat and humidity is stifling and it is almost impossible to sleep covered up in these conditions. The nets will help protect the orphans from mosquito born malaria.

We estimate the cost of these projects to be a combined $2750. Please stand with us to believe the Lord to provide the funds for these endeavors.

Lastly, please pray for us to have the wisdom of the Lord to know which parts of the Body of Christ to work with in 2010. We have more to do than we can get done and it is important to us that the Lord leads our efforts every step of the way.

We are forever indebted to all of you for your prayer and financial support. Please contact us through our website for updates on the work and the different teachings the Holy Spirit is putting on our hearts. Any checks written in the United States are tax deductible and should be made out to “IRC Ministries” and mailed to PO Box 614 Buna, TX 77612. You may also make a donation via PayPal on our website at www.ircministries.org.

Love and Blessings to all in 2010,

Rodney and Trina Kirkpatrick

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We just wanted to send a note to remind you all of how much you are loved and missed. We really appreciate all you do for us and the many prayers that are prayed on our behalf. The Christmas season in South Africa is anything but cold but we still enjoy listening to Christmas music and pretending with our can snow sprayed on the windows. We have been very blessed to have Jeron with us again this year for the Holidays. It is nice to have family around and we will think of you all as we sit on Christmas morning singing songs while Jeron plays the guitar.


We love you all and hope your Christmas is a very blessed one.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Love,

Rodney, Trina, Bridget and Jeron

Pastor's Rogers and Cookie Narainasami in Phoenix, SA

December 7, 2009

Ministering to the Indian community in South Africa is a small but important part of our work. We have been ministering in the predominantly Indian community of Phoenix since 2004. However, over the last two years we've had the opportunity to "watch and pray" much more closely for this beloved city. Please join us in these specific prayers:

1)There is a significant amount of pride and elitism in parts of the Church Leadership in Phoenix. "Revelation" is more often used as a weapon than a tool to encourage or correct the Church. Please pray that the lessons of 1 Corinthians 8 ("Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies") will impact the hearts of these leaders.

2)Selfish ambition also affects some leaders in this area. Please pray that leaders will see the devastating effect of this heart attitude on the Body of Christ as a whole and repent (see James 3:16).

3)The vast majority of Church leadership in Phoenix isn't describe by either of the above circumstances. Many pastors have been hurt and become cynical because of the deception covering the few. As a result, it is very difficult for most pastors in Phoenix to embrace any corporate pastoral gathering. Please pray for the healing grace of Christ to touch these leaders and that Ephesians 4:1-3 will motivate them more than any past hurts.

It is because of its destiny in Christ that Phoenix is plagued by these spiritual attacks. The Lord intends to greatly use Indian Believers to spread the message of His Kingdom to the much more populous Zulu people group in the Durban and surrounding area. Our prayers will help hasten the work!

Blessings in Christ,

Rodney, Trina, Bridget

Tete

The Saturday morning bible study in Tete is going very well. We are averaging around 15 people the majority of whom are men. Around eighty percent are French speaking Congolese refugees and twenty percent Zulu locals. Someone is always willing to translate for those who do not understand English. There is a continual request for more Bibles and it has been a blessing to give all that we have.

A month ago ninety percent of the men were without jobs but through prayer they are all now working. Praise the Lord! Most of the men are working nights as security guards for various businesses in the area. It is a real commitment for them to get up at 10:00 am and they are doing it faithfully. We are very blessed by their desire to know more and grow in relationship with Christ.

Entuthukwent Creche

Meet the children at Entuthukwent Creche and Preschool. We spent a fun morning with Angel and her children. They were all very happy to sing songs for us and show off their counting skills. Angel said fifteen of the children are orphans and live with her and her husband. They have a nice three room house and separate building for the school. This is by far the nicest creche we have seen. We are constantly made aware of the needs in our community. It is nice to see a place where some of these needs are being met.

Please continue to pray for the children in KZN and around the world that Gods love will reach each and every one of them.

Bridget's 13th Birthday

Bridget's 13th birthday was celebrated this weekend with a swim party. Last year we were visiting family in America so this was the first time she had a summer birthday. She thought that was very cool. It was a special treat to have Aunt Letha with us for this occasion. Bridget made homemade play dough for the young kids to take home and Letha made one of her famous cakes. I am still getting requests for the recipe, which of course is a family secret. Many members of our South African family were present for the festivities. We are very privileged to have friends all over the world who accept and love us as family.

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY BRIDGET!

Democratic Republic of Congo

 November 2, 2009

Revelation 2:8-9 (NASB)

8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

9 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Prayer for pastors in a rural Congolese Church

If there is a modern representation of "the church in Smyrna" it is the Body of Christ in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many people asked me about the harsh difficulties this country faces. To respond accurately, I must say that while there is natural "poverty," they are truely "rich" as Saints of Jesus Christ. Christians have seen despotic rule, criminal explotation of natural resources, and war while continuing to faithfully serve the Lord and display His heart to the world. Our enemy has taken his best shot at destroying these wonderful people and he has failed.

Worship with "drums" in the Congolese tradition

The Lord is restoring the DRC and we had the privilege of participating in His work by encouraging pastors and other Christians in the cities of Lubumbashi and Likasi.

Please pray for the wisdom and finances necessary to return to these cities and new ones on a return trip in June of 2010.

Blessings in Christ,

Rodney, Trina, Bridget

Rodney is home from Congo. The worship was lively and the Christians are on fire for the Lord. The Congo has been known for its destitute & poverty striken people. The people who have money there are few but very wealthy. The rest of the population has to pray daily for food. There is no choice but to turn to the Lord as thier provider.

God is truly doing an amazing work through His people as He continues to bless them with wisdom and grace to continue the work He has called them to.

Time with my sister Letha

It has been great to have my sister here with us these last three months. We had a fun filled girls week while Rodney was away ministering in the Congo.

Crèches left stranded - Zululand Observer

Here is the link to the story I have been telling you about the children in Monzi that we have been taking food and clothes to : Crèches left stranded - Zululand Observer The community where these children live is about an hour and a half North of our house.

Thank you to all who have given but know that the need is still very much real and we will continue to take supplies as we receive them.

I Survived Umphalosi

How close have you been to an elephant, a hyena or a pride of lions? Is there such a thing as too close? I can tell you this I have been too close. Waking up in the bush camp with a hyena pushing his head in under the edge of the tent flap about two feet from my face was quite exhilarating (frightening). Now I know why all these guys fought over the top bunks. I found out later that chicken bones had been "accidentally" dropped out side our tents.

The camp fire burned until wee hours of the morning providing and atmosphere of openness that was great to see. The many game sightings were truly God sent. I am told it is almost unheard of to see the amount of game as close up as we did this weekend. Everyone had a great weekend and I do not thing one man left there untouched by the Lord.

Men's Retreat to Umfolozi

I dropped Rodney off at Life 316 Church this morning for a fun filled weekend at the bush camp in Umfolozi. He told me all about the big plans for spiritual break through and was all set to pray for freedom and blessings for his mates. I think they may need a lot of prayer. Think about it, twenty grown men chasing lions through the mud and not showering.
They stopped at a tourist shop on the way up to try and find a hat to keep the sun off Rodney's head and maybe a souvenir for my sister to take home from Africa.

I am sure it will be a fun filled weekend and a great precursor to the Congo trip next week.

September 26, 2009

We've just finished a great trip to many different areas of South Africa. What can we say other than it is an indescribable honor to be serving the Lord in the way He is leading us.

While ministering near Cape Town the Lord spoke to us "to prepare our hearts for an expansion of our team." While it was initially surprising, we do have need of help in many areas of ministry. Please pray with us for the Lord's wisdom for what this means for us and the work we are doing.

During the three weeks of this trip, we worked with many Churches and Ministries in the Western Cape area of South Africa. Here is a small list: First Love Church (Wellington, SA), Christian Community Center(Mbeqweni, SA)Light House Community Church (Paarl, SA), YWAM Muisenburg (Cape Town, SA). Our sister, Letha, got to spend week with her son who is a leader at the YWAM Muisenburg base. They are a dynamic group of youth who are sold out to the purposes of God.

Pictured to the left are Pastors Mqokeleli & Nosipho Mntanga from the Mbekweni Township who are working to bring together many different groups of Christians to effect change in their community and the surrounding areas.

On the drive home Bridget got to make some new friends at the Cheetah Sanctuary in Bloemfontein, SA.

We can't do justice to all of the great things the Lord did on this trip as many relationships were restored and made stronger. We are preparing for much more to be done in this part of South Africa.

Blessings in Christ,

Rodney, Trina, Bridget

IRC Ministries

South Africa

September 5, 2009

We've finished the first leg of our current trip in South Africa. Our first stop was in a remote part of the Northern part of our provence called Monzi. We support Keith and Angela McClaren who are true "Elders" in this area. They pastor a local work called "Edwaleni" which is Zulu for "The Rock". They also oversee and provide for several orphanages and creche in the area. It was a blessing to be able to pass out food and clothing donated by the ladies at a bible sutdy Trina attends.

Jesus told his disciples in Luke 10:5-6 (NASB),

5 "Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' 6 "If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you."

It is our pleasure to be a spiritual support and encouragement to those whose work and labor brings "peace" to the areas they serve. The McClarens are a prime example of people whose lives are being given for His service and it is our pleasure to support and encourage them in the Church that they pastor and the outreach to the rural communities that they work with. Please pray for them and be looking for specific requests we make concerning their work.