SAMS Prayerline
The latest SAMS GB prayer line:
It’s been a shock to hear that Walter Barrientos, pastor of the new Anglican church in Tarija, Bolivia, is suffering from cancer of the larynx. Please uphold Walter, Sandra and their three young children as he has just started six months’ chemotherapy. Tarija is the church featured in the SAMS autumn project.
From Thursday (16th) to Sunday a Cursilho evangelistic event for men takes place in João Pessoa, Brazil; Marcus & Tamara Throup ask prayer that many will come to the Lord through this.
In Chile César Guzmán, currently Director of the Centre for Pastoral Studies (CEP), has been named pastor of the new church in Peñalolén, Santiago, planted by members of Alf Cooper’s congregation, La Trinidad in Las Condes. Pray for César and his wife Ana María as they prepare to take up this exciting challenge in 2009.
Sue Woodcock in northeast Spain reports an overwhelming number of immigrants coming to the food bank and so gives thanks for a delivery of over 2000kg from the European Union. Sue asks prayer for the team that runs this ministry, as it’s a demanding task every Monday.
Megan Johnston’s blog
Megan Johnston has started a blog on her experience with the Red Box project in Argentina! Here is a snipit.
Well I returned safe and sound after a 6 day conference to Misa Rumi on the Argentine/Bolivian Boarder. It was quite an experience to be honest! During the main conferences I taught 54 children in total, basically the Happy Hours that I mentioned before. Alot of Games, Songs and teachings which was really great. Although the children where soo shy as its a very traditional place so sometimes it felt like I was doing all the talking…no change there I suppose!
Prayer Line
The latest SAMS GB prayer line:
This weekend two churches celebrate anniversaries. On Sunday (12th) the Església de Crist in Sabadell, Spain, pastored by Sue Woodcock, holds a special service for its 105th birthday, while from Saturday (11th) the very much younger congregation of Living Waters in Olinda, Brazil, begins a celebration lasting over a week, including children’s outings, competitions, and services on the rubbish dump and in church. Siméa & Ian Meldrum pastor this church. Pray for God’s blessing on everyone through these celebrations.
Also this weekend the Diocese of Northern Argentina holds its ninth EJE (Youth Encounter), starting on Friday. Pray for the leadership team and for the young people invited, that many will have an authentic encounter with the Lord.
Finally, please continue to remember the critical need for rain to end the drought in the Paraguayan Chaco.
Prayer line
The SAMS GB Prayerline:
Please have in your prayers Assistant Bishop Abelino Apeleo and his wife Paty. After a lifetime in southern Chile, they move, officially from tomorrow (1st), to the capital, Santiago, to allow Abelino to support Diocesan Bishop Tito Zavala and to pastor a new church in formation. Pray for them as they leave behind elderly parents, Mapuche churches and William Wilson School where Paty taught for 26 years.
Meantime, in southern Chile an evangelistic campaign takes place from Friday to Sunday in a neighbourhood of Temuco, with the three Anglican congregations of the city involved.
Thank you for prayers last week for Associate Mission Partner Janet Mena in Chile. Praise God that after successful surgery, Janet is on the road to recovery. Another AMP, Kathryn Broughton, needs our prayers. She has had successful surgery in London for total knee replacement on both knees, but has not been well since. Please pray for Kathryn and husband Stuart, who is also in the UK from their ministry among Portuguese-speakers in Sydney, Australia.
This week is half-term at St Andrew’s School and the Annexe School in Asunción, Paraguay. Pray for refreshment for staff and pupils, many of whom will face important exams during October.
Helen King
Helen King
I’m Helen and I went to Argentina as a Red Box Project volunteer as part of my university year abroad! It was a significant time for me and I’m thankful for the opportunity to share with so many wonderful people in South America.
Prayer Line
A week ago the new government of Paraguay declared the drought in the Chaco an emergency. Please pray for the communities there, for appropriate action by the authorities, and especially for rain. Continue to uphold nurse Beryl Baker in her tireless ministry to the sick and needy.
Also in that area keep in prayer the Enxet Bible translation team coordinated by Tim Curtis. One translator, Asunción Rojas, is about to start translating the monumental book of Isaiah.
Over in the Chaco area of Northern Argentina a two-week training course for leaders of the Indian churches begins on Monday (22nd) in the town of Juárez. Pray for coordinator René Pereira and for all the students and teachers.
Prayer line
Among the many parts of the world enduring extreme weather conditions is southern Chile, where floods have caused considerable suffering and loss. Please pray for the people of that area, and include in your prayers Bishop Abelino & Paty Apeleo, the Anglican churches and the two schools – William Wilson School in Chol-Chol and the School for the Deaf in Temuco. (Photos may be viewed on the diocesan website www.iach.cl.)
In Olinda, northeast Brazil, Ian & Siméa Meldrum have put their house on the market and want to move to a smaller place which will meet their needs and be safe. Pray for them in this, alongside their very busy ministries among the poor.
Praise God for answered prayer for Alejandro Mesco’s visa which arrived in time for him to travel to the UK, where he’s now visiting churches and telling of his pioneer ministry in Peru’s Colca Canyon. Please continue to uphold him.
Finally, three prayer points from Paraguay:
On Thursday (11th) the third Alpha Course begins in the centre of Asunción, involving the folk of St Andrew’s Church and the San Andrés morning and evening congregations. Pray for all involved, including pastors Agustín Maidana and Patrick Butler.
This weekend FEISA’s final indigenous nursery project visit to Yatnata, in the Paraguayan Chaco, takes place. Pray for Samantha Parsons and all participants.
Next week (15th -) is Youth Week at St Andrew’s School with a number of special activities. Pray for everyone involved.
Prayer request from Paraguay
At the moment there is an epidemic of vomiting and diarrhoea in the Chaco area where SAMS nurse, Beryl Baker is based. Beryl has placed an urgent request for medicines to distribute. These are expensive and funds are low. They are still waiting for the government to declare it an emergency zone.
The cause of the epidemic is probably the use of dirty water from ponds as the wells become empty. We need to get water into the communities with our water tanker to avoid people from dying of dehydration….. again an expensive task, especially with the low exchange rate.
PLEASE PRAY that the Lord will provide all the resources, financial and practical, to help Beryl to treat those who are suffering, so that deaths can be prevented.
PLEASE PRAY for the provision of funds to provide fuel to get desperately needed water into the communities.
La Caldera 2010
Following the successful mission trip by young people from Down and Dromore Diocese to Northern Argentina SAMS Ireland is launching a new project – La Caldera 2010. The project aims to help the Anglican church in Northern Argentina to develop following several difficult years.
La Caldera is a retreat centre 30 minutes from the regional capital Salta. It is a key centre for the ministry of the diocese as it is the focus for outreach and ministry training. The original building is 100 years old and badly in need of repair. In July 2008 the team of young people started to help rebuild the retreat centre. Following this trip Bishop Harold Millar has asked that the young people of Down and Dromore and DDYC will help with an on-going project called la Caldera 2010.
Another key part of this project will be to sponsor the training of ordinands in the Anglican church in Argentina. Key ministry students will be identified and brought to Ireland to meet interested churches. The students will spend some time getting to know the congregation who will then follow their progress through theological college in South America and pray for them as they begin ordained ministry. The first students to be chosen are Dani and Flavia Lescano, they are just starting their 2nd year in theological training in Buenos Aires.