Gwen & Mags in Paraguay – December Update

18th December 2013
Paraguay, PRAY

Gwen & Mags Update recently received into the SAMS office:

Dear Friends,

The last minute rush is upon us! School has now finished and although we only pop in for an hour or so, we end up staying all morning and not getting on with all the things we need to be doing. The office closes today and will reopen again at the end of January.

Our school year finished well with our church service and supper for the leaving 6th form plus their party and then their actual graduation. They were quite subdued really. I think reality was hitting home and they realized they were actually leaving after 15 years in the same school with the same classmates.

Last week we had our staff lunch as the teachers finished for the year. We also had our service for those who left 10, 20, 25 and 30 years ago. We had about 60 people at our service and it went very well. I am always thrilled afterwards by the ones who come to tell us how much the service meant to them; many of them being ones that didn’t seem interested as pupils. There were a number of them quite tearful this time too. Pastor Ronnie gave the message.

The end of the year wasn’t without its  problems though as we’d had to let some staff go. Also some parents weren’t too happy at the rise in fees for next year. Hopefully they have calmed down now as we sent out a letter explaining our reasons for the rise.

We are now trying to get sorted to travel shortly! We are going home to England via New York where we will stay for a few nights. We are both looking forward to the break but wonder how we’ll cope with snow after temperatures of 38ºC here this week! It really is far too hot at the moment.

Thank you for all your support and prayers for us. We are hoping to see some of you in January. In the midst of the rush I pray that we might all know the Peace of the Lord this Christmas as we remember Him coming to Earth to be born as man and die for us.

God Bless, love Mags and Gwen

Beryl in Paraguay

18th December 2013
Paraguay, PRAY

Casilla 1124,  Asunción,  Paraguay, Beryl Baker bbakerparaguay@gmail.com

Dear Praying Friends,

The theme of the Every Day With Jesus Bible notes for last month was “Worship”.
Psalm 34 is a wonderful inspiration as to what our constant mind set should be,
I WILL PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES. I WILL CONSTANTLY SPEAK HIS PRAISES.”

Praise and thanks to the Lord for all the wonderful rain that has fallen in the Chaco alleviating many communities of many months of drought and hardship. The wonder of the Lord’s creation is ever present but even more so now that everywhere is green and beautiful.  The frog and toad concerts in the evenings have started again after several years of silence.  Hopefully this means the amphibian population is on the increase again after world surveys showed a dramatic decline.

Praise for the money to pay off all the current bills for medicines.  A big thank you to all the churches and friends who make this possible. Praise for the good recovery of Maruca Ruiz at Sombrero Piri after a stroke left her without the use of her right hand arm and leg.  Praise for Sharon Mccreery’s ongoing recovery from the cerebral vascular incident that left her almost dead.  She is now in the States with her sister.  Please pray for her sister who is not a believer and well into all New Age thinking.

The longer evenings and scorching afternoons mean working hours start earlier and end later leaving a break in the middle to avoid the worst of the heat. Early days to see how the new government will handle the Chaco Health programme.  All I can say is that on my last visit to the Regional Health authorities all was doom and gloom and one of the lady doctors and the obstetrician were actually in my arms crying!! The people at the next door ranch are going through hard times – indians and non-indians alike.  Please pray that they will turn 100% to Jesus for help in their time of trouble.

Being realistic about the future and the present means I have to move all the cats,  dogs and tortoises from Asuncion to the ranch as the next door neighbours are again throwing poison over the wall and Ana who looks after the house and the animals is 5 months pregnant.  As I planned to move the animals out Ana rescued three tortoiseshell kittens that were being swept away by rapidly flowing water in the road during the last heavy rain.  Please pray for new homes for them urgently. Please pray, too for Ana and her husband Jorvy as they prepare for the baby and I need wisdom as to whether I sell the house in Asuncion or not. If, when and how.

Just to keep everyone happy, I now have some medical insurance in Paraguay which I guess is the sensible thing to do no matter how old or young you are but equally my trust for health is in the Lord.

At Rio Verde a Jehovah’s Witness couple have moved in and are visiting everyone in the area.  The lady is English and her husband is Spanish.  Tim Curtis and I on separate occasions have chatted with them the reality of what the risen , living Lord Jesus makes to people’s lives and these people are now feeling very unsure of their beliefs.  Please pray that the Holy Spirit will free them from all the lies of the Devil and that they will come to know Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. Their names are Claire and Rafael.

Preaching at St. Matthew’s church Rio Verde regularly is an enjoyable challenge and praise the Lord the congregation is growing. To leave you with a word from the Lord for myself and for you.

Psalm 138: 8a “The Lord will work out his plans for my life – for his faithful love endures forever and the words from one of my favourite country and western gospel songs “One day at a time, sweet Jesus.”

Lots of love and prayers

Beryl

Tension in Argentina

11th December 2013
PRAY

Hola Amigos!!!!

Not very good news from here. Outbreaks of looting have spread across Argentina as mobs take advantage of strikes by police demanding pay raises to match inflation.

Last night, the death toll from the chaotic outbursts climbed to five as officers rallied outside negotiating sessions, citizens huddled inside their homes and businesses, and federal troops were deployed to trouble spots.

Pami who was a SAMS FUSION volunteer in Annaghmore and Peter who is a Red Box Volunteer from Belfast where coming from town in the bus when they had to literally fall to the ground because people with stones where trying to destroy the doors of the supermarket with the aim of looting it, and they were also attacking busses and everything they had in front of them. They are safe now but believe me they were shocked….

I am typing you this and my heart is going so fast because I can’t believe we are experiencing what we did  in 2001….amigos, when are we going to learn? How can I teach my people that hard work is the only thing we should be focusing and not this….

Guys your prayers make a difference… so please keep Salta on your prayer list during Advent.

Love, Cecy

Gwen & Mags December Update

4th December 2013
PRAY

Gwen & Mags December Update recently received into the SAMS office:

Dear Friends,

We are now coming to the end of our school year with all its activities. It’s been a very busy year especially with our 50th anniversary celebrations but everyone enjoyed remembering God’s goodness to us over the past half century.

We have had the most amazing storms. 104mm of rain fell yesterday in 40mins leaving the roads flooded up to waist deep in some areas. It was almost as bad this morning in the Primary service. Afterwards we took our shoes off to go to and from the cathedral getting it ready for our service this evening.

The youngest pupils finished their year first and all of them put on a performance for their parents. The nursery class had theirs on their last afternoon and the parents were delighted. The little ones have had a really good year in school and settled well. The next day the other two infant classes had their show. They did really well and their English was quite clear. Gwen hadn’t been part of the preparations for that but was thrilled to see how well they did with an ex pupil teaching them.

The Infants had their little graduation ceremony when they receive their diplomas. They are all ready for 1st grade next year. It was also great to see how well the two boys who have difficulties have come on during the year and are ready for first grade.

The secondary had a final visit to the Sports ground for water day. They had a 13m high bouncy slide and fun and games with water balloons. In the hot sun it didn’t matter how wet they got. Mags has learnt and took spare clothes with her. A great soggy time was had by all.

Later that day the annexe infants did their show and were really good.

A week later it was the turn of  the primary children to finish their year. Primary officially goes up to 9th grade and that’s the end of compulsory education. The children are fifteen years old by then. Last Thursday Mags went to the annexe for their service before all the pupils left and then returned later for a special ceremony for their 9th grade leavers.

The next day our younger primary had their service in the cathedral. It was a lovely Christmas service. We sang 10 000 Reasons and the children really sang their hearts out. An ex teacher, Diego who is now a missionary in Africa gave such a clear Gospel message about John 3:16 inviting everyone to be part of change in the World.

In the evening it was our 9th grades turn. The difference there is that ours don’t leave but stay on for the rest of their secondary education. The pupils led the service with Pastor Donald sharing about God’s love and living it out in obedience in the World.

Mags attended all of these events as Gwen was in Ecuador. Gwen was invited by the British embassy to attend a British universities fair in Guayaquil and Quito. One of the highlights of her trip was the discovery that Rosie Banbury (daughter of other missionary friends  and our god daughter) was in Guayaquil on her year out and so they were able to meet up. We hadn’t seen her for 5 years but hope she’ll visit us next year when she goes to spend some time in Brazil.

Our 6th form have also finished all their exams and have almost left! We invited them to our house one evening along with their staff and we had a Sausage Sizzle in our back garden. It was a really lovely evening with them despite the heat and humidity! We brought the event forward by a day as the forecast was bad for the planned day. Even so, the humidity was building up ready for a big storm the next day. This class now wait for their final service where they will all be prayed for individually on December 5th and then their official graduation the next day. Before all of these they have their own party on December 2nd to which we have been invited.

We have more or less finished interviews for the nursery class 2014.There are so many brothers and sisters and children of ex pupils that we haven’t been able to look at anyone new. It looks like being the biggest nursery class that we have had for a long time. There are still many people looking for places for next year and recently we have had ex pupils back asking for places for their older children and it’s been very difficult having to say that we don’t have room for them.

It’s not long now till we will be heading back to the UK. We leave on the 18th Dec and spend 4 nights in New York which we are really looking forward to. Hopefully we will see many of you in Jan.

Wishing you the joy and peace of Christmas.

Thank you for all your prayers and support this year.

Lots of love,

Gwen and Mags xx

 

 

Glimmers

13th November 2013
PRAY

Hello SAMS

Great news! I just phoned the detention centre to see if they could authorise one of my wee girls to attend our church service this Sunday as she is now allowed to go out and do something she likes until she gets her freedom. She told me she wanted to come to church so for the last three weeks I have been sending letters, making phone calls and seeing people to see if that was possible and I’ve just found out it is …….I’m so happy amigos

I’ve just phoned her and she is over the moon counting the days to visit church. So I just wanted to share this with you I LOVE WHAT I DO HERE!!!!!!! Thanks SAMS for supporting this ministry.

God Bless

Cecy

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