Gwen & Mags in Paraguay

6th June 2014
Paraguay, PRAY

Gwen & Mags Update recently received into the SAMS office:

Dear Friends,

It might officially still be Autumn but Winter weather has arrived. It came quite suddenly after months of heat. It meant a quick change of bedding to winter duvets and of clothes as out came the woollies. With it has come the coughs and colds that are affecting many of the kids at school. Some days we have up to 7 off in the infant class.

The beginning of the month was still warm and we enjoyed two days off to celebrate Worker’s day. Two weeks later that was followed by Independence day with 2 more days off. Whilst it’s great to have days off it gets us out of routine and the children take a while to settle back again. Independence Day was celebrated on May 14th and 15th. This meant we were back in school for the Friday which was strange. We used the day to celebrate Mother’s day and the mums were invited to breakfast. The kids had been allowed to put on little shows and the primary all wanted to do something. Sally Bartlett spoke first and then came the singing and dancing. It wasn’t the best due to lack of practice and it went on for too long…we’ve learned from that. Father’s day will be far more structured! That will take place in mid June.

Exams for the 6 to 15 year olds have also taken place and have now finished. The Ministry of Education excelled itself by reversing a previous decision yet again and decided we would go to two terms instead of three. This decision came out just as the kids were finishing their exams for the first term. The new ruling means exams should take place in June now! I think ours will be counted for June…we can’t put them all through it again!

Mags was due to go to the Chaco with some of the older pupils to dig latrines but they also had a lot of rain. They were flooded out in some areas and difficult to reach with flooded roads so that was postponed. They now plan to go at the end of June if the weather helps us.

The 5th form want to show support for Arlan Fick, the 16yr old who was kidnapped by a terrorist group in the North of the country. It is 57 days since he was taken. They are going to bring white ribbons for everyone to wear on their wrists and for the parents and staff to put on their cars to show support. Then next Friday they want everyone to wear white Tshirts and bring a white candle to have a special prayer time for him in our assembly. They hope that it will start other schools also to show support. It is Mags’ assembly on Friday. We are looking at the Names of God and it just happens to be “The Hope of Israel”. The kids are impressed that it has worked out since they wanted verses about hope for their prayers.

We have been taking the services in church once a month. It takes a lot of preparation but I think we gain from it almost as much as others. Our next one will be June 15th so we are already thinking of that. We’ve also both had assemblies to do.

We are both fit and well. Our puppy is growing fast and is very naughty but he’s also very cuddly so he wins everyone over! The lady who brought him put him into a dog show the other week and he won Best Puppy in show from an Argentine judge!  …needless to say, it wasn’t for good behaviour!! Our oldest dog, Milly, isn’t very well at the moment and we aren’t really sure what’s wrong with her except she doesn’t want to eat. That in itself is most unusual!

Thankyou for your support. We really appreciate it.

God Bless and lots of love, Gwen and Mags xx

PS : Flooding in the Chacarita

Gwen was at the Annexe school today and Catalino, the head, told her about the flooding in the Chacarita which is affecting school families. 47 children have had to move, some to other family members, most into temporary wooden huts and one family to a food kitchen run by the big Pentecostal church. Catalino sent us some photos. The people put up the wooden huts with materials provided by the government. It is likely that two or three of the families will need help soon.

SNAP

3rd June 2014
News

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.

 

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