Latin Partner Gonzalo Soria writes from Fray Bentos, Uruguay: “We have just held a gathering of all the parishes in the interior of the country. We enjoyed times of sharing and fellowship together with time spent in reflecting on the word of God and how the Lord is working in our different communities. During these winter months, and thanks to the help received from two companies in the area and the Fray Bentos municipality, we have been able to start a cafeteria, where we give all the children in the area a glass of warm milk with bread/pastries on days when the school canteens are closed.” Pray that their wish to establish a place to not only give out food but to enable people to share their faith and provide workshops and family activities will come to fruition.

Another activity we are very pleased about and which is also a great challenge, has just started in July. Every Wednesday we are working with a group of young people who have committed offences and instead of prison have been put into a programme of work in the community. With this project we are able to offer workshops for these youngsters, which we pray could help to change the direction of their lives as they discover another way to live.” Pray for the young people and those working with them.

If you have ever experienced being in South America during a world cup it will stay with you forever. It’s so much more than football. With Uruguay in the sports media we encourage you to keep the following people in prayer.

Pray for Bishop Miguel Tamayo and his wife Martha, who is a deacon. Pray for them in leadership and pastoral oversight, for Suffragan Bishop Gilberto Porcal, clergy and people.

Remember Latin partners Gonzalo and Leticia Soria, Abril and Guillermina, leading the church in Fray Bentos. Give thanks for the home groups which build up church members through prayer and Bible study, and for their imaginative outreach into the community through craft and cookery workshops, and helping children with homework.

Thank God for the work of Gonzalo Soria in Fray Bentos in Uruguay, and praise him for all the ministries that he works with. Pray that these would grow in maturity and would also grow those involved in their walk with Jesus.

Northern Argentina Please pray for Charles and Lynn Barr Johnston as they run bible studies as Lynn has not been well recently and Charles has had a fall. Please pray for wisdom and safety for Andrew Leake and those he works alongside as he is involved in protecting land rights and advocacy for local people in deforestation issues, and as he works on a new project called Land for Life.

For some years Diocesan Bishop Miguel Tamayo has undertaken extra Episcopal duties in his native Cuba which was without a bishop. Praise God that the church in Cuba has reached agreement and now has its own bishop. Pray for Miguel and his wife Martha, the clergy, leaders and congregations in Uruguay, for new energy and vision.

Pray for Gonzalo & Leticia Soria, Abril & Guillermina and the church in Fray Bentos, for growth and encouragement through home groups for prayer and Bible study, and outreach into the community through workshops for help with homework, cooking and crafts.

Pray for Bishop Miguel & Deacon Martha Tamayo in oversight of a diocese which in 20 years has expressed its love for God through holistic mission. Pray for wisdom and vision as the leaders aspire to minister in some of the most disadvantaged situations in Uruguayan society.

SAMS Prayer Partner Gonzalo Soria, pastor of the church in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, remarks that “we are excited to be discovering Christ and working as if everything depended on us, knowing that everything depends on Him!”

This includes “restarting the young people’s group, which meets on Saturday afternoons. Please pray for this group, which is made up of youngsters from poor parts of town. We help them to keep up with their school work, and we talk about how to discover God in our lives.

“We are about to restart our community work – one group meets on the outskirts of the town and the other in the historical Anglo area, where the famous corned beef refrigeration plant used to be. Essentially these ministries allow us to carry out children’s work and to celebrate Holy Communion in the suburbs. We pray for the Lord’s guidance and that He will touch the hearts of all those living there. We are able to do this work thanks to the family who allow us to use their garage as a venue.

“We are also starting a new Bible Study group on Monday evenings at the home of a lady who used to be a Jehovah’s Witness. This is a group of people who all came from other faiths and belief systems. The process of discovering God in our midst and our lives is very lively and satisfying for us all.”

Some recent prayer letters from SAMS mission partners:

• the Barrets in the UK
• the Jordans in Spain
• James Palmer in Chile
• Mission Uruguay prayer letter.

Gonzalo and Leticia are ministers in the Anglican church in Uruguay. Read more about them in this profile.

Recent prayer letters from SAMS mission partners:

• The Soria’s in Uruguay.
• The Kirks in Chile.
• The Montoyas in Lima, Peru.
• The Meldrums in Olinda, Brazil.
• The Rowes in Spain.