Esperanza Update

I wanted to share the good news recently received from Paraguay. The lady who took over temporarily in Esperanza when Juana left, called Dominga, has changed her mind and offered herself to stay on in the foster mum role. This happened because an English girl Rachel, who Murray and I used to teach with but who we haven’t been in contact with since we left, suggested she reconsider and Dominga felt convicted to stay on indefinitely if the team would like her to, or if they decide not, to stay at least till an alternative is found. Meanwhile a school mum from our old school has been round with play equipment for the Esperanza garden, and the head of the nearby nursery school has offered her teaching assistants to do some hours voluntarily in Esperanza. Teresa Maidana, who now supervises Esperanza, hopes to reopen on March 20th! We’re so grateful how this has fallen into place!

Please can you pray now for Dominga and for the right helper to support her.( She’s 45, and has 5 older children of her own.) Also for the next group of children who will be cared for in Esperanza once the courts assign them.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Penny Metcalfe

SNAP March 2013

BOLIVIA

Pray for Rev. Federico Bascuñán and the church plant at Km 18 on the northern route in Santa Cruz which has been growing and developing. Pray for the right plot of land to build a church centre and for more leaders to come forward to help in the ministry.

LAND FOR LIFE

Andrew & Maria Leake who have set up a new conservation initiative LAND FOR LIFE in the Chaco. Many churches exist in this area, in a setting of severe poverty because of deforestation & neglect of the land. Pray for patience and wisdom for the Leakes as they pursue their vision and for guidance as they develop the idea of a Church based survey. On a really practical note pray for a car for them to use during their visit to the UK in July and August.

GARDEN PROJECT

Alec Deane observes that water remains a number one priority for the Garden Project to indirectly lower the malnutrition and infant mortality rate. Pray for the various meetings Alec attends to keep pressure on the government so that all the unfinished pumps are completed. Pray also for patience as this role is ongoing and deeply frustrating at times. Pray for Alec as he promotes family agriculture as a crucial tool to fit into the basket of survival techniques for Wichi communities creating a tangible alternative to migration. Alec depends on Wichi leaders to transfer the necessary know how to the wider communities, this is strategically important. Pray for Alec as he resources and encourages key people.

PARAGUAY

Give thanks for the ongoing work of FEISA and the numerous people who support young adults through training. Here are a couple of comments from two girls who have received support.

I want to thank you so much for the help you’ve given me by way of a half scholarship, without which I wouldn’t have been able to follow my dream of becoming a professional infant teacher.  May the Lord continue to give you the means and the concern to help others! (Dámaris Gómez)

I want to express to you my great sense of gratitude for having helped me complete another year of educational studies.  Although it’s been quite tough, with many challenges, I feel victorious!!  Your help means so much to me.  I can’t begin to find the words to tell you how grateful I am for your support, although you don’t know me!  I thank God that such people as you exist! (Rut Ortiz)

There has been excessively heavy, unseasonal rainfall in Paraguay recently. There are large areas where water has not drained away, including the school Sports ground at Surubii. This has led to the prolific reproduction of mosquitoes and a major outbreak of dengue fever. Little Samuel, Pastor Ronnie Irene’s youngest son has it. Please pray for his swift recovery from the “Boneshaker” disease. Pray for the entire family to be protected as mosquitoes carry this from human to human. Please pray for all our mission partners, that their work may go unhindered. Pray for the children to be protected, especially those who have already had dengue. Pray for the doctors and nurses in the hospitals, which cannot cope with the thousands of patients they are receiving.

Pray for Gwen, Mags, Hannah and all the staff team at St Andrews in Asuncion as the new school year gets into full swing this month. In many ways March in Paraguay is like our September. Thank God for fifty years of Christian witness in St. Andrews.

Pray for Claire in Concepción as the children and young people get back into the routine of a new school year. Pray specifically for the various discipleship meetings which take place in Claire’s house.

Pray for David Orritt who will be running an Orientation day on 16th March for a group of young adults who will be going to Paraguay later in the year.

NORTHERN ARGENTINA

Pray for Catherine and Nick Drayson as they minister in Northern Argentina in a wide variety of settings and geographical locations! Pray specifically for:

  • The Faith in the Family programme for the coming year – that key leaders will be identified who can resource local communities.
  • Training of new leaders – both men and women who will make a difference in their communities.
  • The resurgence of the urban church.

RED BOX PROJECT

Gives thanks for Cecilia’s time in Peru. Cecilia was able to minister to local Peruvian young people and youth leaders. Pray for the young people and the ‘not so young’ who were challenged during this time. Several young adults are presently considering participating within the Red Box Project, pray for Cecilia as she works on the administrative process.

ABIDE

ABIDE

What does God want us to do with our lives? The answer is this…

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom. 12:1-2).

That means the old way has to go…

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:22-24).

So what does that mean for you and me today?

Spiritual transformation is so clearly demonstrated in the words of Jesus in John 15 (KJV). Jesus uses the word abide 9 times in 6 verses. The above question can be answered with one word and that word is abide.

Brazil Prayer update from John Logan

Hello folks,

Have received message from Earl and Ruth which includes these objectives for their visit (6 weeks beginning 2 March).

These are not just positive and informative but might serve as points for prayer.

God bless,

John

Earl and Ruth Trekofski (founders of Mont Horeb) have a lot of work cut out for them while they’re in Itaperuçu in March and April. Their objectives are:

1.) The selection and installation of a new director. Please pray for God’s will to be accomplished in this urgent matter.

2.) Developing a job description for the director’s position (Bebeto trained under us for several years and knew what his responsibilities were).

3.) Making sure there are contact people in place for both SAM Ministries Canada), and SAMS UK & Ireland, for the sponsorship program, as well as for other matters such as pictures, articles and reports needed for public relations and fund raising efforts carried out on behalf of M.H.

4.) Re-writing criteria and regulating our ‘university grant program’ that has been operating with help from a Canadian Foundation.

5.) Considering support links. Earl and Ruth have been seriously thinking and praying about asking the Prado Baptist church in Curitiba to act as an overseer or spiritual guardian of Mount Horeb since most of the board members and administrative staff are younger people with very little experience. Earl and Ruth write, “This is the church that has been involved with M.H. almost since its inception and M.H. Vice President Elcio is their missions pastor. People from this church (doctors, dentist and church workers) have been volunteering to serve the community of Caçador and they have certainly earned our trust and confidence. We would ask them to present the names of people for us to consider inviting as MH associates.

6.) They continue, “We plan to have a businessman and founding member of M.H. come in and teach our board about how an organization functions, the proper procedures that must be followed, and the importance of being faithful in following our constitution in order to avoid confusion as well as clarifying the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors. Earl only has one year in his term as president and we are hoping we can find a Brazilian capable and spiritually prepared to take on this important role as well.”

Prayer Request from Paul, Sarah and Sophia

Dear Praying Friends,

A quick prayer request, asking that you keep the Diocese of Peru’s teenager’s summer camp in Lima in your prayers in these few days. The camp is running from the 7th-10th February with young people from across Lima and Ica. Please pray for the leaders involved, for patience, strength and grace and for the young people participating, for God to work in their lives, for protection and for a wonderful experience. May all see God’s Spirit at work.

Many thanks,

God bless,

Paul, Sarah and Sophia

 

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