News items are published below as they come into the SAMS Ireland office.

News can also be read by category. From any page on the web site you can click in the news category box in the right margin to read relevant updates.

Pray for David and Jean Hucker and praise God for many blessings in Arica since their return from the UK. They have been working hard at completing the church building and hope to have the inauguration this month when the bishop visits. They ask prayer for Winfield and his desire to be ordained. Pray too for Wesley and Caleb at university and school in Arica.

 

Pray for Bron and Bruce Hallyburton who serve the church in Antafogasta. Pray especially for their small study groups, that people will be encouraged in fellowship and prayer, and in deepening their Christian understanding.

 

Thank God for the diocese’s Christian witness through its schools. Pray for St Paul’s school in Viña del Mar, for head Nicolás Gana, staff and students; for Robinson Olivera and the William Wilson school in Chol Chol, drawing students from a wide area and for the school for deaf children in Temuco with Elizabeth Cabelín and her staff. Pray that all these schools may be key in the Christian formation of young people, and may also minister to parents.

 

Thank God for the longstanding work of the Rural Bible Institute in Temuco, for all who have taught and studied there, and pray this training for service may continue to bear fruit in lives transformed and equipped for ministry. Pray for the scattered rural churches and for Archdeacon Joel Millanguir, zonal coordinator, in his ministry of encouragement and pastoral support.

 

Pray for the witness of the Anglican church in the community of Punta Arenas, and for wisdom, inspiration and guidance from the Holy Spirit for pastor Alistair and Julie Morrison. May the church demonstrate the love of God and be true to his word.

 

Big question - how to condense all that’s happened with sewing into something quick for you to read?

Zeballos Cue
Regina at ZC not stopped smiling for 2 weeks now! Five women meeting on a Sat p.m. (Emilia, Cornelia her d-i-l, Deolinda, Regina and Mirta - can’t always come because has twin boys aged 12 and an older one. Husband Ramon works in wood yard.).   In the first week, E, C and D had made 5 different variations of the Judit bag, some smaller according to the cloth they had. All three decided to give their own first bags as an offering for the building fund. When I followed up with the cards with Jude’s scripture Matt 25.21 about the talents, both of us were amazed - that’s what they had done without knowing it!  They have made all the placemats - the one you see was the last and are planning how to make bags with other cloth they have. I took the photos in the school shop were Regina works. I can take her stuff on Weds when Luis comes to pick her up on his motorbike. She `s taken back the two Janomes on this.

San Andres

San Andres also gone mad about bags. Everyone made about 4 each with any cloth they could get hold off - this is a first. Teresa`s daughter has made some with lace on  I was overjoyed to see this, I`ve got bags and bags of lace. Both SA and ZC are

selling the bags for around 30.000 which is a good price. All three people at  SA  got orders for more, also at ZC.  Two great things had happened when I re-met this club. Club been given a good Singer from an ex missionary and Marta been given a good machine for home by Sharon  - so all feeling really good.

Not many people have finished their skirts but this is okay. Better that they practice on the bags and then return with more confidence to the skirt. In their minds this a tall order and they lack the time to concentrate on the zip. I’m sure we’ll get an opportunity to go back to this.  Miriam, the lady Jude helped with the zip, has finished hers.  Marie, an older lady with a machine that she fought with through not knowing it, is now making miles of sheets for her home and completely happy. Everyone has come a long way. Most are now happy on modern machines.  Juana, who had never really sewed with an electric or any machine is now making bags on a Janome at the club. She was given a 1946 treadle converted to electric which is okay but heavy going. Today I took her the Lervia from SL - a modern machine which sews beautifully but the bobbin winder has packed up. We discovered she can wind the bobbins on 1946 and sew on the Lervia!   David O has been saying for a while that the way forward could be machines at home (as reinforcers for those at the club) and this year that looks as if it is the way forward.

Breakthrough in self-sustaining/donation scheme
For ages been wondering how to handle cloth donations with clubs making things to raise money for church ministries where the participants themselves are poor and not making ends meet. In SA it’s been unclear for a long time and caused personal difficulties. Yesterday we hit on a scheme - a cloth bank. We can provide some cloth of certain types for the clubs to make what they can make to sell for their ministries and other cloth (prob for bags) at a reduced price for the participants to buy to make bags at home, now that most have machines at home.  Teresa`s daughter (SA) knows a good shop in Petirossi which sells good bag material cheaply. Sally, Teresa and I hope soon to make a round trip to visit this shop, the Pilar off cuts place and a great place further away which has a brilliant wool selection because we all want to knit more and wool or similar is not common here. It will be great to go with others because more heads are better than one any day.

Chaco, Rio Verde
Jeny and Sue McCaul launched sewing with 2-3 women, 2 Paraguayan and one Indian, and Marie (now more confident on her own machine) and Ed will talk to them about how to take this forward. All things worked together for good here, in spite of, and in the long run as we’ve seen with the two clubs above, the tough bit about turning women away this time. Their time will come and it will bring blessing and growth for them as it has for the two clubs above.

Caroline’s Wycliffe Skirt
When I’d finished my skirt and it was all perfect according to Wycliffe rules,  I couldn’t work out why I didn’t really like it. Then I saw a photo of the model Twiggy in a short skirt and jacket and got my answer. I’ve got legs (below the knee a bit) and I can do a Twiggy with them, if I have a good pair of skirt shoes (taking a leaf out of Christine`s book) .- so, another middle of the night job, I pinned up inches of the hem till it was the Twiggy height and hey presto, it looked better. I just have to take it in at the sides a bit and then re-draw my Wycliffe pattern and then I can go off for eternity making Twiggy skirts.

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Thank you all of you so much for all the support and encouragement and effort and sacrifice you gave to make all this possible. Sally B is hugely encouraged, the long run up (Moira - you’ve been part of this) has led to this and we couldn’t have skipped any of that - that’s the Lord’s way and training.

God bless and lots of love, Caroline

Click to view the Paraguay Prayer Calendar for September & October 2010.

Pray for everyone involved and especially the engineers in Chile have begun drilling the rescue shaft through which they hope to eventually free the 33 men trapped in a collapsed mine. The miners have been stuck 2,300ft underground for the past three weeks.

 

 

Pray for Bishop Peter and Sally Bartlett as they pastor a church in Paraguay and help leaders and potential leaders to mature in faith. Pray for all who teach God’s Word, that they themselves may be teachable, and for each member of the church to understand the spiritual battle they are engaged in and to use the spiritual resources God has given.

 

Pray for Teodosio Rivas and assistant Donald Brooks, working together in the diocesan administration, for wisdom in the setting of priorities. Teo is also Provincial treasurer for the Southern Cone. Thank God for gifting him to serve the church in this way.

 

Lift to the Lord the two schools, St Andrew’s and the Annexe: head teachers, staff, pupils and parents. Pray for good relationships between parents and teachers, and for parents to learn new parenting skills through special classes. Pray that high academic standards and clear Christian teaching may be maintained.

 

Pray for the work of Gloria and Ana as they lead FEISA, that they will be granted the Holy Spirit’s anointing as they head up the training of teachers for early years. Thank God for Ruth Maidana’s secretarial help, which has speeded up documentation on the academic side.

 

Ronald and Nicky Irene praise God for his faithfulness and provision. Pray for Ronald in his role as chaplain in St Andrew’s School, helping with Sunday services and also studying, for wisdom and discernment and good time management. Remember Nicky as she teaches and their family, all pupils in St Andrew’s.

Ask God’s continued blessing on the life and witness of the church in Recife Diocese and pray for Bishop Robinson and Miriam Cavalcanti and clergy. Thank God for the encouragement of Bishop Robinson’s visit to the Vilellas’ church in Porto Alegre.

 

Marcus and Tamara Throup and Rebekah have a busy ministry in João Pessoa where Marcos teaches in the Anglican theological college, mentors young ordinands, preaches, is studying for a PhD in New Testament studies, and with Tamara runs a group for young married couples. Pray for a right balance between work and family life.

 

Pray for Latin partners Danielle and Josías da Souza and Daniel in youth leadership and preaching in Holy Spirit church, Recife. Ask God to bless this ministry, and for mature, committed and faithful young people to emerge as leaders for the future.

 

Pray earnestly for Ian Meldrum’s health and for the necessary treatment, for strength for Siméa and God’s peace for them both. Siméa Meldrum has been leading the School of Mission for 23 young students in the Living Waters Church. Part of the course uses Tearfund material on preparing for an emergency, teaching them to lead in times of tragedy. She writes, “these youth….overcome difficult situations with more ease than people who always had everything.” Pray they may be empowered by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to assume a leadership role.

 

Keep praying for Andy and Rose Roberts and the staff team at My Father’s House, for daily strength and wisdom to do the work and respond to needs, both the expected and unexpected. Pray for the boys, for their physical, emotional and spiritual welfare, and for their future. Commit to God the need for accommodation, should the road building go ahead through the current property.

Uphold Bishop Greg Venables and Sylvia, praying for good health and strength for them both, safety in travelling and wisdom in pastoral oversight in the two dioceses in Argentina. Pray for the churches and clergy in Buenos Aires, Rosario and Cordoba, for those training for ordination and for those working with the youth and children. Remember the staff, volunteers and children in Hogar el Alba.

 

Thank God for Mario Ágreda’s gifts in leadership, teaching and with young people. Pray for him and Paula with Manuel and Maite serving in Villa Devoto and also in Lomas. Pray for spiritual growth in the lives of those in the home groups and youth groups and for the emergence of new leaders.

Uphold the work of Life in Abundance Trust, thanking God for the children’s classes and the new opportunity to have them one day a week in a rural setting, with horse riding therapy. Pray for the group of women who recently had two days of intensive training in working with abused women and pray for the right person to head up this ministry. Remember Uriel and Lina: Lina looks after the PEPE Christian pre-school in Laura Flores.

Sonya Brown from Carryduff Parish who is with the Red Box Project updates us on her 5 week placement.
 
I help 2 missionaries over here, Graziela and Lorena, I am so grateful to having the chance to help these girls in their work on Saturdays making lunch in one of the poorest areas here in Salta and on Wednesdays at the hospital.  This week I am helping them organise for a Bible event for the children this Saturday - busy times!
 
I help in a local school on Tuesdays and Thursdays with English lessons. The teachers and children are so welcoming and its great being there and helping in whatever way I can, whether answering questions, helping with their work, or marking exams!!
 
Your prayers are valued. Pray for the time that I have for myself, that I will reflect on my experiences and take time to refuel! The language is a barrier, in that I can’t build relationships with the majority of the people I meet, which is a tad frustrating to say the least but I’m learning that sometimes words aren’t needed, a smile never fails to get a response!!
 
Also I’m only here for a short time so I ask that you pray that I can plant seeds in the people that I’m spending time with and that I have the energy needed for the long days that I’m out and about, for safety and that my travel back goes as smoothly as arriving here.
 
Many thanks
love & prayers
 
Sonya xx

Dear Friends
 
As we haven’t been in touch regarding the Esperanza Foster Home since the Spring I thought it was time we told you all their latest news. Some short term volunteers who have been in Asuncion with a project called “Mission Paraguay” have just returned and it’s been great to hear of their visits to Esperanza. They took clothes and a sewing machine which they used to repair clothing and even a playpen. They also repaired toys and played with the children. They commented on the fact that language difficulties did not prevent them all from having fun together. They felt that the children looked well and happy despite the extreme cold that has been experienced in recent months.
 
The children in the home are still the same ones as when I last wrote. ( From what we can gather, the legal process leading to adoption is even less of a priority for President Lugo’s socialist government than for the last one - very disappointing ). The eldest child is Barbara who is now very proud to be at a Preschool run by the Anglican church. She and her younger brother Victor have been in care for over 2 years now and have still not had their legal situation resolved. The youngest child is Christian who is 13 months old and who arrived at the beginning of the year.
You may remember me mentioning Jose Antonio who had a hair lip and a cleft palate. He has had surgery on both now, his palate courtesy of the “Smile” programme which is well known worldwide. Apparently the operations have been successful but there is increasing concern over his delayed development in the areas of walking and talking. Having a child like Antonio with special needs is always a challenge but Juana ( our fulltime foster mum) is wonderful with all the children. This is even more admirable given that the level of help she receives is now considerably reduced. The increasingly difficult financial situation has meant that she is helped now by a smaller team and so has very little time off at all. She remains committed and positive however, for which we’re very thankful!
 
Teresa Maidana, who took over the supervision of Esperanza when we left Paraguay, has been looking into ways to increase fundraising in Paraguay, such as through sales of needlework and second hand clothes. But it is hard in Paraguay when there is so much need all around and most members of the Anglican church who run Esperanza are poor themselves. In fact Teresa has been ill recently and had to have a month off work. In her absence Sally Bartlett, Bishop Peter’s wife, was able to help out and support Juana.
 
The Esperanza Home has been open for nearly 5 years and if anything the need for such projects is now even greater in Paraguay than in 2005. If you’d like to continue supporting the home financially we’d be so grateful if you could check that your standing order is now going via SAMS (South American Mission Society) Ireland and no longer through SAMS GB. If you need copies of the necessary forms for standing orders or gift aid please send me your address and I’ll send them to you. Alternatively you can download the necessary forms from www.samsireland.com.

 

You can even make an on-line donation using a debit or credit card via www.samsireland.com/support . For all of these you do need to specify that the donation should go to the Esperanza Foster Home in Paraguay. Thank you.
 
On a personal note, thank you to everyone who has enquired about our own family life. Murray and I have had a good year in various temporary part time teaching posts. The British adoption of Alber, Jack and Luli is now complete and Alber has been awarded a Statement of Special Educational Needs which means he has a Teaching Assistant working with him for the majority of his hours in school. In fact his current Teaching Assistant will accompany him up to Secondary school very shortly!

I have just started a part time job at Cirencester College as a Personal Tutor and Murray will soon start fulltime languages teaching at Kingham Hill School near Chipping Norton. One implication of this is that he will finish the school year at the beginning of July and so may well arrange to visit Paraguay then to help on the “Mission Paraguay” projects and encourage all involved in Esperanza. If you fancy going with him let us know!
 
Every blessing
 
Penny and Murray Metcalfe
  
We have had some problems with our email and now find that the following address is the most reliable    metcalfe.pm@gmail.com