Brazil and the UN

23rd December 2008
Brazil, PRAY

Brazil should have a greater role in international affairs and a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, says French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

On a visit to Rio de Janeiro Mr Sarkozy said Brazil and the EU would adopt a common position on the global financial crisis at the next G20 meeting. The French leader was speaking at a summit between the two sides. During his trip Mr Sarkozy is expected to sign a deal to help Brazil build its first nuclear-powered submarine.

Defence deals

It is one of a number of defence agreements Mr Sarkozy is due to sign during talks with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Among them is a deal in which France is expected to allow for the transfer of technology, enabling Brazil to build four conventional submarines. It is reported the agreement will also include the purchase of 50 French Cougar helicopters that will be built in Brazil.

Mr Sarkozy is being accompanied by several ministers and French industrialists. The French leader’s visit is his final act as EU president. From January the six-month rotating position goes to the Czech Republic. At the EU-Brazil summit Mr Sarkozy said the Latin American country had an important role to play in global decision-making. From January the six-month rotating position goes to the Czech Republic. At the EU-Brazil summit Mr Sarkozy said the Latin American country had an important role to play in global decision-making. “I’m being honest when I say we need Brazil in world governance,” he said. “I think we need Brazil as a permanent member of the Security Council,” he added.

New financial order

Presidents Sarkozy and Lula ata news conference in Rio de Janeiro.
Mr Sarkozy says Brazil has a role to play in world governance

Brazil is also pressing for a greater role to be given to developing countries in controlling the world’s financial systems, following the global economic crisis and here too Mr Sarkozy was supportive.

He suggested that Brazil and France would jointly bring proposals to the next meeting of the broader G20 group in London next April aimed at supporting business people, not speculators.

“We decided with President Lula that things must change and change profoundly,” the French leader declared.

“We decided to narrow our positions and arrive in London with a common vision, on the future role of the IMF, the system of management of financial institutions,” he said. “We cannot allow a single financial institution to be uncontrolled or unsupervised,” he added. The BBC’s Gary Duffy in Brazil says Latin America’s biggest economy and diplomatic power has had a long ambition to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and the support given by President Sarkozy will undoubtedly be welcome.

Prayer line from SAMS GB

18th December 2008
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, PRAY

We begin by praising God for some news received this morning from Sandra Barrientos in Tarija, Bolivia. Her husband Walter had his second round of treatment for throat cancer last month; it took place in Córdoba, Argentina, and involved a new procedure performed with a laser. The tumour was reduced by 68%, way above expectations. Sandra and Walter thank us warmly for our prayers and encourage us to pray on for Walter’s full recovery.

Last week the new Anglican church for the Pehuenche communities of Alto Bío Bío in southern Chile was dedicated in Cauñicú. Bishop Abelino Apeleo conducted the service, with Terry Barratt and members of other churches present. Praise God for this and pray for the Pehuenche people and their leaders, including Gumercindo Queupil. A group of leaders also took the final exam of the SEAN Level 2 course, with an 80% success rate.

Finally, some arrivals this week:

  • on Thursday (18th) Gwen Carlisle and Mags Southern, Head and Deputy Head of St Andrew’s School in Asunción, Paraguay, arrive in the UK for a short period of leave
  • on Friday (19th) Bishop Henry Scriven and his wife Catherine fly in from the USA in preparation for Henry to take on the role of SAMS Mission Director from 1st January
    and on Saturday (20th) Efraim Vilella, husband of Ruth Hollingdale, arrives from Brazil to join her here for a month.
  • and on Saturday (20th) Efraim Vilella, husband of Ruth Hollingdale, arrives from Brazil to join her here for a month.

Pray for their journeys, adjustment to the British winter and subsequent ministries.

SAMS Prayer line

9th December 2008
Chile, Paraguay, PRAY

The latest SAMS GB prayer line.

SAMS Prayer Line for the week commencing Tuesday 9 December

The next few days see plenty of travel between the UK and Paraguay. The 3½-month visit here by Ed & Marie Brice comes to an end and they fly back to Paraguay tomorrow. As we give thanks for their time here visiting link churches, let’s pray for their journey and resettling into the hot Asunción summer.

Coming from Paraguay are Babs Owen, arriving on Saturday for UK leave and Murray & Penny Metcalfe and their three children whose arrival on Tuesday (16th) completes nearly ten years’ service overseas. Pray for Babs on home ministry during the St Andrew’s School summer vacation, and for the Metcalfe family as they face this major change in their lives. And also on Saturday Linn Tedman jets off from Paraguay to South Africa to visit her sister and family, so please keep them all in your prayers. Her sister is very ill.

On Saturday evening the graduation ceremony for six students from the Centre for Pastoral Studies (CEP) in Santiago, Chile, takes place at San Lucas church. Bishop Frank Lyons from Bolivia will be present and the graduates include Raquel Greco from the Diocese of Paraguay. Let’s give thanks for these students who have completed their studies and ask God’s blessing on them as they put knowledge and gifts into practice in different situations. And please pray too for student Daniel Hueche who is suffering from cancer and has returned to his Mapuche community.

Finally, this weekend a regional conference for indigenous young people in the northern Argentine Chaco is held over two days in the town of Las Lomitas. Please seek God’s blessing on organiser René Pereira and all participants.

Sams prayerline

8th December 2008
Argentina, Paraguay, PRAY

The latest SAMS GB Prayer Line for the week commencing Tuesday 2 December

On Saturday SAMS GB General Council voted overwhelmingly to approve in principle a merger of SAMS with CMS. [Note: this does not affect SAMS Ireland) CMS members will vote on the issue on 20 January. Give thanks for God’s clear leading and pray for the Trustees and staff, including from 1st January new Mission Director Bishop Henry Scriven, as this decision begins to be worked out.

Nick Drayson, former mission partner in Northern Argentina and Spain, has been appointed Assistant Bishop in Northern Argentina with special oversight of the Indian work. Pray for Nick and Catherine as they take up the new post sometime in 2009.

In that area Michael Browne, Silvia and their two boys plan to spend most of December in the town of Juárez in the Chaco, making a final push to complete the checking process of the Toba New Testament translation. Pray for them in this work as they prepare the text for handing over to the Argentine Bible Society for typesetting and publishing.

Linn Tedman in Paraguay is having physiotherapy for an injured back. On 13 December Linn is due to visit her sister and family in South Africa for the first time in nine years, and asks prayer that the treatment will relieve the pain enough for her to prepare, pack, travel and enjoy this holiday.

In Concepción, Paraguay, we are asked to pray for God’s light to penetrate the spiritual darkness and bring people into his Kingdom. On Friday (5th) a Nativity play is held for children in the Ramonita and Villa Alta neighbourhoods. As we pray for the impact of this, let’s thank God for Claire Holmes’ ministry there to children and young people, and remember her especially as she flies out on Monday (8th) for home leave and ministry in Ireland.

Also travelling from Paraguay, on Saturday, is Caroline Gilmour-White who will be on UK ministry until early March. Pray for Caroline in travel and readjustment.

Daniel and Flavia Lescano visit N Ireland

30th November 2008
PRAY

Dani and Flavia LescanoDaniel and Flavia Lescano visited Northern Ireland this weekend. They come from Salta in Argentina and are currently studying theology in Buenos Aires Bible Institute.

The couple are the newest link with SAMS Ireland and we will follow them through Bible College over the next three years. They will be linked with St. John’s Parish in Moria. They visited the parish today and Daniel preached at three services and a youth meeting.

When asked what they thought about Ireland they said that it was cold! They day they visited began with a frost of -3C. It gets that cold in Salta at times, but daytime temperatures rise to the mid 20s even in winter.

They also were impressed with the friendliness and family values of people here. Daniel was very touched with the faithfulness of praying people, and the interest in mission. He said, “The sense of mission is very strong here. I met someone who said I’ve prayed for you every day for the last three years. And the thing is we can feel it. There were many times we said, if God wasn’t here this would not have happened. We can feel the prayers of faithful people.”

Since the SAMS Ireland team visited in July the Lescanos held another Youth Encounter (EJE) in Salta. This time over 100 young people attended one of the most successful events they have seen. Many young people have come to faith and are members of the church by an initial invitation to EJE. The Lescaons asked for prayer for this on-going ministry.

They also asked for wisdom to balance time demands on their Latin Link ministry and Biblical studies.

They really enjoyed their visit and are looking forward to hopefully seeing us in Ireland sometime in the future.

Prayerline

11th November 2008
Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, PRAY, Spain

The latest SAMS GB prayer line:

Let’s give praise for answered prayer in response to the Youth Encounter weekend last month in Salta, Northern Argentina. At least 4 young people made a profession of faith in Christ, others expressed real interest to consider the implications and others made renewed commitments. Pray for them.

Praise God too for answers to prayer at the two women´s retreats held recently in Lima and Arequipa, Peru. Penny Marcés asks us to pray that the challenge to serve isn´t forgotten back in the normal routine of life.

Still in Peru, please continue to pray for the health of Bishop Bill Godfrey. Bill has been undergoing surgery in Florida to try to resolve the wound sinus from last year’s operation. Pray that this will resolve this aspect of the problem; and keep Bill and his wife Judith in prayer.

Sue Woodcock is encouraged by good worship and a growing congregation in Sabadell, northeast Spain. One result is a new monthly meeting for folk between 20 and 35 years of age starting this Saturday (15th). Sue asks us to pray for this group to gel and for deep fellowship as they get to know one another and share together.?
Sue also requests prayer for a conference address she is giving in one of the Barcelona universities on Friday (14th), with a repeat in a different context on Wednesday 19th. It’s an opportunity to proclaim good news with sensitivity, so please pray.

Finally, end-of-year exams for 1st and 2nd years at FEISA teacher training college in Asunción, Paraguay, begin next Monday (17th), continuing for three weeks. Please keep students and staff in your prayers.

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