Ali Young in Recife, Brazil

28th October 2013
Brazil, PRAY

Hello one and all!

Thought I’d send out a quick “Hello” …to let you all know that I am still alive here! Well I am still having enormous problems with technology and cannot send out a newsletter, though will continue to keep trying!

However, just to briefly update you all …

Life at Vale: was going well, until 4 weeks ago! Have been off sick since then with an infected foot/ankle that blew up for 2 and 1/2 weeks to the size of an elephant’s foot! Have taken two different types of strong antibiotics, 2 injections of antibiotics and in the end a vascular doctor took off the top crusty, dead skin! I now just have a hole in my ankle that is not healing! Yesterday I went to a dermatologist who prescribed a cream to pass on the wound for 20 days to see if this improves it! We’ll see! Has been very painful, but it a little less sore these days!

Life at the Roda: my small group has grown! Usually had between 6-8 regulars, now have between 10-13! Am thinking that we’ll have to move back to meeting at the church building, cos my lounge is a little squashed with 13 teenagers! BUT this a great “problem” to have! 🙂

Church is going well too! I don’t know IF I informed you that from May I was made the “temporary” worship leader, which was extended until August while our Pastor was on holiday. On his return it was made “permanent”! So I now am responsible for all things musical! Leading and organising music practices, music for Sunday’s, rotas etc! It’s something I really love doing and my desire is that we as a band lead our church into God’s presence!

The other biggest news is that my life as I knew it no longer exists!

I have for the past 5 weeks become “Mum” to a 13 year old girl from Vale! She came to stay with me as a result of a very traumatic, horrendous situation, that basically resulted in that she cannot return to Dois Unidos as its too dangerous! Her family (aunties and grandma) didn’t want her! Her Mum (drug addict) has disappeared again as she’s done throughout her life, so it was go and live at a shelter (which no-one deserves to experience!)  or come and live with me, as I am the only person at Vale who doesn’t live in Dois Unidos! It’s a challenge!!! Suddenly being thrown into parenthood and with a teenage girl with 13 years of baggage and trauma is interesting to say the least! After 3 weeks of trying to sort out transferring her schooling to here, since last week she’s now started studying at a school here, which is good!

So there in a nutshell is what’s happening here right now!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1) For wisdom, guidance, patience and understanding with my new charge! And to know what is God’s will for her and me! Whether its to stay with me permanently or not?

2) For healing of my ankle wound!

3) For finances for me, as school fees, books, uniforms, food and everything is very expensive and quite simply my outgoings have increased by 100%! I am trusting God for provision for this!

Thank you for your continued support!

Love

Ali

Tester Family in Peru October

21st October 2013
Peru, PRAY

Time has flown by since we last updated you on what is happening with the Youth Ministry here in Peru. We hope that the attached news and prayer letter encourages you. Lizbeth has written the letter, I’ve just done the translating and editing!

As you will see there is much to thank God for and plenty more opportunities to serve God with young people in Peru. If you’d like to know more, would like to know how else you can help or if you know anyone who would be interested in receiving these updates do get in touch. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and support.

God bless,

Paul

Monte Horebe Update

17th October 2013
PRAY

One of the first requests made to the founders of Monte Horebe in 1984 was that a school might be established as part of the mission. The state education system was indeed in existence in Itaperuçu at that time, as it is now, but, with poor resources and class sizes up to 60, the quality of teaching and learning left much to be desired. Despite a number of set-backs, Monte Horebe School developed from an initial 30 pupils to its current 300 plus and from makeshift classrooms to a purpose built school building. The school now teaches pupils up to 14 years of age through the employment of part-time teachers who are subject specialists. Much of this development is due to the continued generosity of supporters here in Northern Ireland as well as others in Canada.

Although delivering a common curriculum, Monte Horebe is deemed to be a “private school”, that is one outside the state system, able to charge fees but still open to state inspection and with the capability of benefitting from some of the initiatives which emanate from state and federal governments. While the fees are far from exorbitant, and are necessary to pay teachers’ salaries, a large number of children from impoverished families, who would otherwise not be able to study at Monte Horebe, benefit from the support of “sponsors” whose gifts ease financial pressure. Parents who cannot afford to pay even a small part are encouraged to pay in kind, for example by helping with cleaning or gardening. The education offered by the school, based on Biblical principles, is in great demand in the community and has led to a number of students gaining places in high quality schools in the equivalent of our Key Stage 4.

John and Phyllis Logan have been involved with the school since their first visit to Monte Horebe in 1994 and while John now does less teaching he remains heavily involved in Principal support as well as in matters of school improvement.  They have seen continued improvements in resourcing and teacher education in the Itaperuçu school as well as positive developments in Caçador where the community centre based school nears readiness for opening.

Please pray that Escola Monte Horebe continues to be a positive force in Itaperuçu.

Red Box Project Update

16th October 2013
Argentina, PRAY

Hola SAMS Supporters!

An evolving part of the Red Box Project has been the opportunity for me to visit and run various programmes for young people in detention centres. One of the goals in this area of work is to provide the young people with the tools to change. Along with my team of volunteers I believe that God’s love can transform the lives of the young people we encounter in prison even though they are damaged and broken. An important, but sometimes challenging part of this work is to build relationships with the young people. The majority come from backgrounds where love and attention were absent; often they have never known someone to care and accept them. Through spending time with the young people, and showing genuine interest in their lives, they begin to open up, and trust forms. Several young people from the church youth work programme have become involved in the visits. The young Christians from the church have been challenged by meeting and sharing time with young people whose situation is very different to their own. I encourage them to give devotionals and share their testimonies and by doing this they have grown and gained confidence and this has had a major impact on the young people in the prison.

Prayer and action can never be seen as contradictory or mutually exclusive. Prayer without action grows into powerless pietism, and action without prayer degenerates into questionable manipulation. In service we meet people, and in them the suffering Christ.

Pray for Peter Harrison from Belfast who has recently arrived as a Red Box volunteer. Peter has settled in well and Its great to have him as part of the team. I have enclosed a photo of Peter.

I’m really looking forward to seeing you soon.

Blessings

Cecilia Valdiviezo

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