Paraguay Elections

21st April 2008
Paraguay, PRAY

Paraguay mapToday sees the biggest change in the political landscape in Paraguay for 61 years. The current government was led by the Colorado Party. They had been in power since 1947, the longest-serving party in continuous rule in the world. Today the opposition, a centre-left coalition, led by Former Roman Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo has won Paraguay’s presidential election. He campaigned on being a government for the poor and seeks to bring real change to one of South America’s poorest nations.

Please pray for the nation of Paraguay at this time of change, and for the SAMS mission partners who work there, particularly in St. Andrew’s School. As Penny and Murray Metcalfe say in a recent e-mail,

“The need for a leadership that can move away from the corruption that is such a part of every public sector is essential.”

More information on the Paraguay elections is available from the BBC.

SAMS Prayer line

16th April 2008
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, PRAY

Today Bishop Greg Venables travels to the Diocese of Northern Argentina for meetings of the Diocesan Council tomorrow and the AGM of the diocesan legal body on Friday. Pray that the proceedings will run smoothly, that the Lord will inspire, unity will prevail and the right people end up with the right responsibilities.

This Sunday a presidential election is held.in neighbouring Paraguay, with current president Duarte Frutos barred by the Constitution from running for re-election. The candidates include the current Minister of Education, a former Roman Catholic priest and a former disgraced army general. Please pray for this nation in its desperate need for a just and trustworthy government which strives for the welfare of the people and against corruption.

Ian & Siméa Meldrum in Olinda, Brazil, have said how important our prayers are against the violence, drug dealers and the dangers of the area; so please keep in your prayers these issues, as well as the staff and 11 boys aged 6-14 being cared for at My Father’s House (safe house). Among these are two drug addicts put there temporarily for their own safety by the court as they are being hunted by gangs. They are causing disruption in the house and affecting the other boys who have recently come off drugs and glue-sniffing and had been making good progress. So please pray.

Prayer Line

9th April 2008
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, PRAY, Spain

News from the SAMS GB prayer line:

This weekend the Diocese of Argentina holds its Synod in Buenos Aires, with visitors from its link Diocese of Sheffield. Pray for Bishop Greg Venables in the chair and for the worship, Bible study and discussions on future planning in the light of a severe shortage of clergy.

Far to the north in the midst of the Argentine Chaco Pastor Tuqui Ayala will baptise on Saturday seven new believers among the settlers of the small town of Laguna Yema. Pray God will bless this event and encourage them in their new life with Christ.

Over this weekend the young people of Espirito Santo church in Recife, Brazil, are going away to pray and study the Bible together. Pray for them and for their pastor, SAMS Latin Partner Josias de Souza and his wife Danielle.

From Monday to Thursday (14th-17th) the ‘Gospel in Spain’ conference is held at the SEUT seminary in El Escorial to highlight the vital work of its staff, in particular SAMS mission partners Jonathan & Hilary Rowe. Pray for this event and for its coordinator Tim Greenhalgh.

On Tuesday (15th) Tim Curtis returns to Paraguay after his UK ministry. Pray for his travel, his reunion with the Enxet Bible translation team and the continuing project.

Finally, Tuesday also sees the long-awaited conference on revival held in Santiago, Chile. Alf Cooper hopes for a turnout of 5000 pastors and leaders. Pray for this gathering.

Short term mission trips 2008

7th April 2008
Argentina, Get involved, Go, Paraguay, PRAY, SAMS Ireland, Volunteers

During the coming months several SAMS Ireland teams are heading to South America. Each of them will be doing a variety of work to server the Anglican church in their outreach and ministries. The teams are:

  • Lisburn Cathederal – Salta; Red Box Project, from 28th June to 19th July. Team leader – Jonny Best.
  • Down & Dromore – La Caldera 2008, Northern Argentina; from 4th July to 25th July. Team leader – Stephen Trew.
  • Dungannon / Fivemiletown – Salta; Red Box Project, from 24th July to 15th August. Team Leader Jo Hamilton
  • Love For Life – Paraguay; From 1st August to 17th August. Team Leader Hannah Collins. Following up the Love for Life Paraguay 2007 trip (report).
  • Eglinton / Ahoghill – Mission Paraguay 2008; From 1st August to 23rd August. Team Leader David Orritt.

Items for prayer

19th March 2008
Chile, Paraguay, PRAY

From the SAMS prayer line:

Alf Cooper, who arrived back today in Chile, has asked us to pray for preparations for a major event on 15 April. This is a Conference on Revival to be held in the main Methodist Pentecostal Cathedral in Santiago and Alf hopes that as many as 5000 pastors and leaders will attend.  He writes: ‘Chilean pastors need great refreshment in their experience of revival and church.  Chile’s 20% of [evangelical] Christians [in the population] needs to become 30%.’ Let’s pray with Alf and the church in Chile for all the work for this event.

Though a Bank Holiday here in the UK, Monday is a normal working day in South America. It’s a big day at FEISA, the Anglican Early Years Teacher Training College in Asunción, Paraguay: not only do the new First Years begin their course but the long-planned degree course also starts. Please pray for the students as they embark on these ventures, and for the staff in teaching and administration.

Easter weekend services and outreach events are wonderful opportunities for evangelism and churches across South America, Spain and Portugal will be holding these. At Living Waters in Olinda, Brazil, for example, Maundy Thursday will see a service of the washing of feet, Good Friday a film, Saturday a picnic, and Easter Sunday worship from sunrise through the day. Let’s pray for the events in Olinda and similar ones elsewhere, that many people will be transformed by an encounter with the Living God.

Prayer news

13th March 2008
Chile, Paraguay, PRAY

Welcome to the SAMS Prayer Line for the week commencing Wednesday 12 March.

Please pray for the members of the Anglican church of ‘Vida Nueva’ in Canal Beagle, Viña del Mar, Chile, which has been devastated by fire, caused apparently by an electrical fault. Remember them as they meet together in homes and begin the long process of rebuilding.

John Sutton of SAMS GB continues his short tour of eastern South America. Currently in Recife and Olinda (Brazil), on Friday (14th) he moves to Uruguay. Among those he will spend time with are SAMS Latin Partners Gonzalo & Leticia Soria. Pray for John’s time with them and with other members of the diocese.
Two special services merit our prayers:
(i) On Friday St Andrew’s School in Asunción, Paraguay, holds its Easter Service, with Patrick Butler preaching. Pray for Patrick’s ministry and that the whole service may bless students and staff with the life-giving message of Easter.
(ii) on Tuesday (18th) in northeast Spain, the Church of Christ, pastored by Sue Woodcock, will be holding a united service for Holy Week with the Baptist churches of Sabadell. Pray for this special event at a special time in the church’s year.

Finally, please remember Alf Cooper as he flies back to Chile on Monday (17th) after UK ministry, rejoining Hilary and the family in Santiago.

Yellow Fever in Paraguay

13th March 2008
Paraguay, PRAY

Linn TedmanLinn Tedman, a SAMS Mission Partner in Asuncion Paraguay writes..

The main news focus has been on an outbreak of yellow fever in the country and some people have died. This caused widespread panic. The Government issued warnings as far back as eighteen months ago that Yellow Fever could reach Paraguay but no vaccination programmes were started. When yellow fever was confirmed there was very little vaccine in the country. People have been demonstrating and fighting each other and the authorities in order to get vaccinations.
Eventually neighbouring South American countries sent in vaccine and France has just sent 2 million doses. Over the course of a fortnight more people have been vaccinated. The problem seemed to be down to lack of monetary resources to pay for vaccine, but some money has now been found.
There is now a massive clean-up campaign to try to eradicate the breeding areas of the mosquitoes in rubbish which can trap water. A new law means that anybody who does not clean up will be put in prison. (Prisons are already grossly overcrowded.)

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