SAMS Ireland Partners in South America:

• Claire Holmes - mission partner in Concepcion, Paraguay.

Latin Partners
• David Alanis - working in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.
• Dani and Flavia Lescano - training for ministry in Argentina.
• Cecilia Valdiviezo
• Gerardo & Suyai Gimpel - spent a year in Northern Ireland. Gerado is now studying theology in Chile.
• Raquel Greco - from Paraguay, studying theology in Chile.
• Gonzalo and Leticia Soria - ministers in Uruguay.
• Hugo Vergara - Diocesan manager in Northern Argentina.
• Bishop Andres Rodrigez - auxillary Bishop of Paraguay, based in Concepcion. Claire Holmes is the diocesan youth worker.
• Rossi & Diana Guillermo - pastor in Concepcion, Paraguay.
• Edmeia Williams - manages the Dona Marta project.
• Pablo Ochoa - now back in Chile, was based in Primacy Parish in Bangor.
• Pamela Gomez - Northern Argentina, Red Box assistant.
• Alf Cooper - in Chile.

SAMS Ireland Latin Partners based in Ireland:

• Samuel Lago - from Chile, based in All Souls Parish in Belfast.
• Esteban Alvarez - from Chile, based in St. Saviour’s Parish, Craigavon.

SAMS Ireland Mission Volunteers in South America:

• Helen King - with Red Box in Argentina
• Megan Johnston - with Red Box project in Argentina.
• Naomi Francey - with the Red Box project in Argentina.

SAMS Ireland staff based in Ireland:

• Denis Johnston
• Geoff ‘Titch’ Hamilton

SAMS Ireland volunteer staff based in Ireland:

• Dawn Hamilton
• Tom Stevenson
• Felix Blennerhasset

Ex-mission partners and volunteers

• Elaine Hutchinson - taught for a year in St. Andrew’s School, Paraguay.
• Stephen and Eileen Trew - taught for eight years in paragauy

Updates and news about the people involved with SAMS Ireland are below.

Two SAMS Ireland volunteers have recently started work. Helen King is a volunteer in Argentina with the Red Box project. Meanwhile David Alanis has come from Argentina to work in Lisburn, Co. Antrim.

You can read more about Helen and David in their profile pages in the People page.

The people in Makxawáya church put the section of roof blown off back on, in August, just a day or two after I went in with David Orrit and Rev Peter Hunter. They have done a very temporary sort of repair, with bits of sky visible from the inside of the church, and some of the wall near the roof missing some bits! The wedding on Sunday August 10th went ahead and none of the guests mentioned the roof!
 
Chris Hawksbee has been in Mak today with Caroline Gilmore-White and a couple from one of Chris’s supporting churches. I think they were probably going to look at the church and see what needed doing. The people in Mak keep asking me when proper repairs are going to be done!
 
I shall be in Mak this weekend, taking young folk / musicians to a couple of weddings in El Estribo, weather permitting. Rain is forecast.

Read more…

Claire has sent her latest Prayer news from Concepcion.

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!

Read more in her blog. More about Megan.

I’m Helen and I’m going to Argentina to work with Cecilia and the Red Box Project as part of my university year abroad! I was there a few years ago as part of the SAMS btn programme, so as you can imagine I’m looking forward to getting back to see everyone again and enjoying some ‘dulce de leche’. I know that Argentina is where God wants me to be at the minute and I really can’t wait to see what He’s going to teach me – your prayers are appreciated!

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.

Red Box volunteer Naomi Francy continues to update her blog and recently uploaded some photos. Please have a read for her latest updates. She shares some prayer points:

Some prayer points for Salta :

For all the children in the orphanage, that they learn to treat eachother as they would like to be treated. That their hearts be filled with love for God and they will open their ears to our teachings.

For the happy hours in El Redentor (my church) that the children will be able to put into practice the memory verses they learn each week and for the leadership teams that they can work well together and come up with new interesting ways of teaching Your word.

For the young people at the church, for being so young they have an amazing faith and I pray that they will continue to let their hearts overflow with God´s love.

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

SAMS GB, our sister mission agency has recently appointed a new Director, he is Bishop Henry Scriven. As you may know SAMS GB is in discussion with CMS about a merger. Henry will become Director of South America in a new SAMS/CMS mission agency. This will not affect SAMS Ireland as we are autonomous from SAMS GB.

For more on Henry see: http://www.pitanglican.org/leadership/scriven

Please join us in praying for Henry and Catherine as they plan their transition into this new role.