Brownes’ Newsletter
Recent Brownes’ Newsletter update received into the SAMS office:
SNAP
Claire Holmes Pray for Claire in all the work she does in Concepcion. Pray for the young people and the women’s group that Claire works with, that they will be strengthened in their faith. As Bishop Andres has now retired, please keep San Pablo church in your prayers that they will know God’s guidance for the future. Give thanks for Bishop Andres and for his ministry in Paraguay over the years, pray for God’s continued blessing on him and his family as he begins his retirement.
Mags & Gwen Pray for both Mags and Gwen with their many responsibilities in St Andrew’s College. Pray for the other members of staff too and for the students, that they will be well settled in the school year and that they will know the love of Jesus in their lives. Pray for all the activities that Mags and Gwen are involved in outside of the school also.
The Testers Pray for Paul and Sarah as they minister to young people and children in Peru, sharing the good news of Christ with them. Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in the work they do. Pray too for Sarah and the baby, that they will both be healthy throughout the duration of the pregnancy. Pray specifically for Sarah, as she may be limited to what she can do.
Monica Almeida (SAMS FUSION Volunteer) Monica’s time in Magheralin Parish has come to end, pray for her as she arrives into Brazil today. Give thanks for her time working in Northern Ireland and pray for God’s blessing upon her life.
Cecilia Valdiviezo Pray for Cecilia and her work with the girls in the detention centre. Pray that the girls will hear more about God through Cecilia’s visits and that each of them will come to know God. Pray especially for Lilian and the possibility for her staying with a family from the church during the weekends. Pray too for good relations between Cecilia and the detention centre staff, that there will be no barriers in the way of her visits.
Alec Deane Pray for Alec and the Garden Project, for strength and growth in those involved in the project. Pray for the families involved, that it will help them to provide food for their families and spiritual growth within their community. Pray too for the indigenous church leaders, that they can share the message with the youth in a way that is relevant to their lives. Pray that Alec and his family will know God’s strength in all the work they do.
Dany Retamal (SAMS FUSION Volunteer) Pray for Dany within her placement in Maghera. Give thanks for her willingness to serve here and pray for God’s blessing upon her as she shares her faith with others. Pray specifically for her school ministry.
Argentina Team Pray for the team of 6 people visiting from Argentina. Give thanks for their visit and for this opportunity to deepen our partnership with each other. Pray for them as they visit several churches in Northern Ireland, that their visit will be a blessing to both those who meet them and to the team. Pray also for their safe travels throughout their visit.
Paraguay Pray Calendar
Paraguay Prayer Calendar May & June 2014 received into the SAMS office:
FEISA Update
Recent FEISA update received into the SAMS office:
Interested in using Alpha in South America?
If you’re interested in using Alpha in South America, please go to http://www.alphalatinoamerica.org
Argentine Bible Society – latest news
Dear SAMS>
Thank you so much for your prayers this week. Ernesto Lerch of the Argentine Bible Society (ABS) came to Salta on Monday as planned, and met with Michael on Tuesday. We had a very positive meeting, planning some of the practical details and working procedures for the coming months.
In particular, we give thanks for the following:
(1) A formal presentation of the team and ABS staff will be held in one of the Toba villages late June.
(2) As from now, the ABS will cover the costs of Michael’s visits to Juárez, or on occasions for the translators to come for meetings in Salta, as well as providing materials such as stationery, ink jet cartridges, etc.
(3) It will be possible to include Ana and Estela, the two girls who had been helping with the checking process, as new team members, as long as it can be shown that their contribution is helping the work to move forward.
(4) The ABS will provide ongoing training for the team, particularly in computing skills.
(5) As from next month (probably), the ABS will provide a small level of financial support for the team members – not a full salary, but a small amount, probably in the region of £150 per month for each translator, and £250 per month for the coordinator (Michael).
(6) A selection of the Minor Prophet books already translated will be printed, probably starting with Jonah and Obadiah.
Do please keep praying for the translation work with the Tobas. In particular for Michael now planning to travel to Juárez for the last weekend of May.
Every blessing,
Michael Browne
World Cup Resource
Check out the latest SAMS resource entitled The Big World Cup Weekender, which is designed for churches here in the UK & Ireland to make the most out of the 2014 World Cup.
Please feel free to pass on this resource to every contact you have, as we seek to enable churches here at home to connect and impact local communities during these coming weeks.
Blessings
Team SAMS
Alf & Hilary in Chile
News & Prayer letter from Alf & Hilary in Chile received into the SAMS office:
Chile & Peru Updates
News and prayer letters recently received into the SAMS office:
SNAP
Concepción, Paraguay: Pray for San Pablo church in Concepción as Bishop Andrés prepares to retire later this month. Pray for the team within the church that they will know God’s wisdom, direction and courage at this time of change. Pray too for Claire in her work with the young people, that they will continue to be encouraged in their weekly meetings. Recently, a teenager named Arlan Fick was kidnapped from Concepción, thought to be by a terrorist organisation, and the church in Concepción continues to pray for his safe return home.
St Andrew’s College: Pray for Gwen in her role as Head Teacher at St Andrew’s College in Asunción, for wisdom and direction in the current school year. Pray for Mags in her teaching role and for the other members of staff as they work with the students. Pray for the students and their parents, that they will know more of God.
Peru: Pray for Julio Montoya, minister of the Most Holy Trinity parish and his wife Norma. The Montoya family are strongly focussed on running a school for underprivileged children in Lima, pray for the family in the work they do, that they can give the care and education to the children that they need. Pray to for Paul and Sarah Tester and Lizbeth Varillas in the youth development work and children’s ministry.
Chile: Continue to pray for Cristóbal Cerón in Chile and student worker Max Diaz, as he has been working and doing street evangelism around the university. Pray for him as he tries to connect to students through Bible studies and university courses.
Argentina: Pray for the team visiting N. Ireland from Salta, Argentina at the end of May. Pray for their safety as they travel throughout their trip. Pray that their visit will be a blessing and an encouragement to themselves and everyone they meet.
Red Box Project: Pray for Cecilia and her work in Salta. Pray for the girls that Cecilia meets in the detention centre that they will come to know Christ. Peter Harrison (Red Box Volunteer) concluded his time in Salta on 28th April and is spending some time in the USA before returning home. Give thanks for his time in Argentina and pray for his safe journey home. Pray too that he will know God’s guidance as he returns home to complete his studies at University.
Garden Project: Pray for those involved with Garden Project and for Alec as he leads it. Pray for more involvement from the Government that they will help extend the Garden techniques to more communities.
FUSION: Give thanks for Dany Retamal Álvarez from Santiago in Chile volunteering in Maghera Parish. Dany’s openness to participate and engage within the local church and wider community has been a real blessing.