Greetings to all the SAMS Ireland family from Paraguay.

3rd August 2010
Paraguay, PRAY

Everyone arrived safely accompanied by all their luggage, almost two weeks ago now although rather tired after a 16 hour wait at Sao Paulo airport.  We have had a very full programme with redecoration of part of the Diocesan Offices in Asuncion and some very successful sewing workshops. Despite 2 days of constant rain and cold weather immediately after arrival which necessitated some quick changes to the planned schedule we have visited a number of communities in the Asuncion area where the Church is working to assist with the mobile toy library operated by FEISA the Anglican teacher training College, to distribute spectacles many of which were donated from Northern Ireland (there are more to come in August with Susan McCaul for distribution in the Chaco) and to undertake a range of work with children. Last Sunday we worshipped at Roque Alonso in the church where groups from the UK and Ireland have been based on three previous occasions.

Last night we arrived in Concepcion after a 6.5 hour bus ride. The road from Pozo Colarado to Concepcion has deteriorated considerably since last year with massive potholes but after years of waiting for permanent repairs they are now underway with the route diverted in a number of places which gave a rougher than normal ride. We arrived to a great welcome from Bishop Andres and Estella who were eager to know about the folk from St Canice´s and the other Irish churches, who had visited in recent years. Papa Noel (Noel Boyd from Donegal) received a special mention!

 

Please continue to pray for the group and for the work of the church in Concepcion. The 2nd  group are scheduled to arrive on 7th August for a three week visit which features a range of building work in the Chaco. We ask for your prayerful support as they make their final preparations and for their safe travel.This year we have once again been greatly blessed by the Lord and we thank Him and so many friends in SAMS Ireland and other supporters who have once again generously donated towards our work and given clothes, spectacles and sewing materials all of which will help the people of this needy country and promote the work and ministry of the Church here.

Blessings,

David

David Orritt (Coordinator Mission Paraguay)

 

PARAGUAY

28th July 2010
Paraguay, PRAY

Pray for Beryl Baker and her Chaco clinic. Beryl has worked tirelessly for four years without a break, and is reluctant to leave people with such overwhelming health needs. Pray for Jeremiah, who helps her with the more physically demanding jobs, that he would be able to resist illegal drugs used by many around him.

 

Chris and Alison Hawksbee ask prayer for good rains in the Chaco to fill the reservoirs, cisterns and to be able to plant subsistence crops. Chris gives thanks for the NGO, Global Chaco, providing projects sponsored by the International Development Bank. Two communities in the El Estribo settlement will benefit from these, with a filtration tank added to their water systems. Pray the communities will be diligent in the maintenance these filters require to be effective.

 

Give thanks for the work of Chris’s helper Esteban Galeano, teaching the making of adobe bricks. Pray for more people to be encouraged to make bricks and improve their houses. Chris hopes to help the pastors in La Patria build adobe houses for themselves this year.

 

Praise God for the encouraging visit of Bible Society consultants and their work with the Enxet translation team in Rio Verde. Pray for Tim Curtis and translators Juan, Martín and Asunción as they work on Psalms, I Kings and Esther, using the recently installed Paratext computer programme. Give thanks for the projector, which enables groups of Enxet readers to read Bible texts together in the translation office.

 

Thank God for Nelson Aguilera’s input into staff training and project work at St Andrew’s School. Pray for Head Gwen Carlisle and Deputy Mags Southern, for fruitful meetings with parents leading to good relationships and a clear understanding of expectations. Pray for a good break this summer after this long term.

 

BRAZIL

27th July 2010
Brazil, PRAY

Pray for God’s blessing on Josias and Danielle de Souza and Daniel in youth ministry and preaching in Holy Spirit Church, Recife and beyond. Pray for deepening faith and commitment from the young people, and unity among Christians in the area.

 

Efraim and Ruth Vilella praise God for his leading and timing in finding a home, a church and starting work in Porto Alegre. With Sara, nurse and pastor’s wife, Ruth is starting an evangelistic ministry for pregnant women similar to that in Recife. This is being advertised through local health centres, and Ruth will be able to pass women on to other health professionals. Trained volunteers help with the Bible teaching and health talks. Pray for them with the challenge of setting up a sewing workshop as part of this ministry.

 

Ruth loves the weekly support she gives at a local children’s home, helping the hardworking staff and looking at areas to address with further training. Efraim leads worship at church, has started a music group with some of the youth, and is enjoying having a prayer group in his new office. Of the move to Porto Alegre Ruth writes: “We hope you can rejoice with us now …. Thank you for your continued prayers.”

 

David Weller, chaplain of Christ Church Rio de Janeiro, wrote of serious floods in April. The worst affected were the poor of the favellas and over 150 died. Pray for those who grieve and those whose homes were destroyed. Pray too for David and Sue and daughter Rachel, in their ministry of services, Bible studies, counselling and pastoral visiting for their English speaking congregation.

ECUADOR

27th July 2010
Ecuador, PRAY

Pray for Jill Ball in Santo Domingo, that she would know an intimate walk with God as well as having loyal friends. Pray for the Women’s Project, thanking God for Ernesto, a church member who has given his land specifically for this work. Thank God too for good initial meetings with Paz y Esperanza, who have developed work among abused women in Peru, and are now in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Jill is in the UK 30 June–31 Oct.

 

Pray for Wilmer, president of LIAT in Ecuador, thanking God for the skills he brings into the Charity. He is a committed member of the Baptist church, and an engineer. Uriel coordinates the Charity and leads the Northern Baptist church. Uphold him and Lina.

BOLIVIA

27th July 2010
Bolivia, PRAY

Pray for Bishop Frank and Shawnee Lyons (SAMS USA) in leadership and pastoral oversight of the diocese and in La Trinidad church, Cochabamba with Pastor Walter Toro. Pray for spiritual growth and missionary outreach in all the churches in Bolivia.

 

Ask the Lord to bless the church of Cristo Salvador, La Paz, and to guide and equip Martín and Carla Flores and Pedro Villareal in ministry. Pray for the Light of the World and Bread of Life churches in Santa Cruz and for encouragement and refreshment in ministry for Lico and Rosa Bascuñán.

 

Uphold Walter and Sandra Barrientos and assistant pastor Julio César who studied at CEP in Chile. Pray for Jesús el Buen Pastor Church in Tarija to continue growing in love and service to one another and to the community. Remember the regular visits to the shanty town Santa Cruz Mission for worship and teaching.

Brazil

17th July 2010
Brazil, PRAY

Simea Meldrum asks for continuing prayer for many areas which are still without communication and access in North East Brazil after the recent flooding and continuing rain. “We are collecting food for those areas of homelessness and will deliver material and spiritual food. We are trying to organize a group of cars to do this… Please pray for our group. Thanks, and God bless you. Siméa”

Andy and Rose Roberts (mission partners) ask for prayer: “Give thanks for the successful mission team trip to My Father’s House. Give thanks for those boys who made a response during a youth camp and pray that they might continue to grow and mature in their faith. Pray that we might be able to find a suitable house for the project. Give thanks that, due to the delays, we have more time to look for and find a place. Pray for the financial situation of the project which has worsened slightly with the poor exchange rate and that more supporters will be found. Pray for our week’s holiday – for rest and renewal, and of course celebrating our first year of marriage! Pray for Rose and I, for strength to get everything done and for wisdom whilst we’re doing it.”

Northern Argentina

17th July 2010
Argentina, PRAY

Catherine Drayson writes from Juarez, Northern Argentina for prayer for leadership of the Youth Alpha course they are running; “We had a good Alpha Youth preparation today at 10am, but the youth leader has now pulled out, please pray as we still sense that this Alpha is very much of God. The leaders are really excited about it.”


Paraguay

17th July 2010
Paraguay

Pray for the mission partners in Paraguay who will be working with volunteer groups this summer: Caroline Gilmour-White is the Paraguayan based link person for the volunteer visits and will be working with the July group. She coordinates the sewing workshops began by Mission Paraguay in seven venues; Chris Hawksbee who will be working with the Chaco group in August on water storage projects, improvements to Church buildings, new homes and toilet facilities for Indian people; Ed Brice our link missionary who leads the Rio Verde church and supports the Indian pastors in the Chaco churches; Tim Curtis who leads the project to translate the Bible into the Enxet language.

Chile

17th July 2010
Chile, PRAY

Alf Cooper, mission partner and chaplain to the president of Chile, writes, “Please pray for multiple opportunities that are opening up in the presidential palace to spread the kingdom of God and testify to the name of Jesus.”

Andy and Rose Roberts in Brazil

15th July 2010
Brazil, PRAY

Give thanks for the successful Mission Team trip and pray for them as they return to the UK.

 

Give thanks for those boys who made a response during the camp at the farm and pray that they might continue to grow and mature in their faith.

 

Pray that we might be able to find a suitable house for the project. Give thanks that, due to the delays, we have more time to look for and find a place.

 

Pray for the financial situation of the project which has worsened slightly with the poor exchange rate and that more supporters will be found.

 

Pray for our weeks holiday – for rest and renewal, and of course for our first year of marriage!

 

Pray for Rose and I, for strength to get everything done and for wisdom whilst we’re doing it.

 

Remember to check out this month’s video update for an even better feel for what’s happening in Brazil. The video is available to see/download from youtube on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buewGA4Cy2A

 

We have also launched a new website which explains a bit about us, our work, the project etc… Do check it out and pass it on to others who are interested in our work: www.andyandrose.yolasite.com

 

Thanks again guys for all the prayer and support that you are showing us and the project.

 

Prayers.

Andy and Rose J

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