Please continue in prayer for mission partner Catherine Drayson as she prepares for further kidney treatment in the UK. Her operation takes place on 10 August. Tentative plans for return to Northern Argentina are that Nick will now return on 21 Aug and Catherine on 12 Sept (with their daughter Stefi, who will be heading to South America for her gap year).
Cecilia Valdaviezo and Guadalupe her sister have spent the past few months in Ireland . Cecilia has been working with different churches and groups during that time. They are now back in Argentina . As we thank God for their time here, we pray for them as they settle back into Argentina , for Cecilia’s ministry there in schools and for her health.
Penelope Perez from Chile will be arriving in Ireland in September where she will be volunteering with “The Church of the Resurrection” Queens University and working alongside the Church of Ireland chaplain for QUB Barry Forde in pastoral ministry there. As we thank God for Penelope’s visa coming through, we pray for all the practical details as she prepares to leave Chile and as preparations are made for her arrival here.
FUSION Volunteers Jackie McCallum and Oscar Leon have now been with us for coming up on a year. We pray for God’s guidance for the future for each of them, giving thanks for their faithful witness in Northern Ireland . We continue to pray for them and for their family and church at home. We also continue to pray for Gerardo and Suyai Gimpel, and Tommy as they minister in Knockbreda, thanking God too that Tommy is learning English so quickly.
Esperanza Foster Home in Asuncion has received the news that they can no longer rent the current house that they have been using for many years. We pray for God’s guidance for the right way forward for esperanza in the light of this. We give thanks for Barbara and Victor who are now being visited by future adoptive parents after more than 3 years of being in care and pray for the family into which each of them will go. We also pray for Jose Antonio another child in the foster home that he will be able to have his squint operated on. We praise God for the ministry of Esperanza Foster Home and pray for all those who are involved in any way.
The Hickmott Family have now been in Asuncion for almost 3 weeks where they have gone to work in St Andrew’s College. Matthew is teaching Science through English and Kim is teaching English in Primary and Secondary. The boys are settling into school very well and the family hope to get involved in the English speaking church. We pray for them as they continue to settle in, and for their language training that Spanish will come easily and naturally to them. Matthew writes “we do both feel as though we are in the place that God wants us to be and it is with that certainty that we relish the next few weeks and months as they unfold in front of us.”
Team Concepcion Paraguay The team to Concepcion Paraguay has been and gone. We are very grateful to God for being in control of every aspect of the team and we thank Him for safety in travel, good health, easy communication despite language barriers, and for the opportunity to serve Him and to serve and encourage the Paraguayan church. The SAMS team from Ireland worked alongside the Paraguayan church in the ongoing children’s and youth ministry. As a team we were also encouraged and learnt a lot from our brothers and sisters in Concepcion.
Mission Paraguay The first part of the Mission Paraguay team is now almost finished and we pray for them as they travel home, and also for the next group who are beginning their work in the Chaco . The team has been involved in practical projects, sewing workshops, and children’s work and we praise God for all He has achieved through them. We pray for David Orritt as he co-ordinates the team, and for his wife Jean at home.
Catherine & Nick Drayson Northern Argentina Please continue in prayer for mission partner Catherine Drayson as she prepares for further kidney treatment in the UK . Her operation takes place on 10th August. Tentative plans for return to Northern Argentina are that Nick will now return on 21 Aug and Catherine on 12 Sept (with their daughter Stefi, who will be heading to South America for her gap year).
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT
News and prayer letters recently received into the SAMS office:
SAMS BTN Team Give thanks for the safe arrival of the team which Claire Holmes is leading in Paraguay. Pray that God may imprint His mission upon them and all who they meet.
Land for Life, Argentina Please pray for Andrew and Maria Leake working with their Land For Life initiative in Northern Argentina working towards better creation care in the region of the Chaco. Pray for wisdon for them as they explore ways of promoting the work they are doing and as they work with and alongside other organisations.
New believers in Paraguay Peter and Sally Bartlett give thanks that five new believers are attending Bible studies run by the San Andres Cathedral congregation and there are two new believers in the Mirador Church. They give thanks for the joyful, creative and memorable events which marked Paraguay’s bicentenary celebrations, leading to an upbeat atmosphere and greater valuing of Paraguayan culture. Please pray for over 40 lay leaders and clergy from Anglican churches in the Asuncion region attended a series of evening workshops as part of a two-week leadership training course led by Dr Richard and Joan Forde.
Temuco
Please pray for Janet and Alberto Mena as they visit rural churches and minister to those congregations. Please also pray for the women’s group and give thanks for the recent baptism service.
Asuncion Please pray for Linn Tedman and all the staff and children of St. Andrew’s as they take our two week winter break. Everybody is very tired after a busy term. Pray for rest and refreshment for everyone. Pray for safety for those who will be travelling. Please pray for Jo, Zoe and Beth as they leave the school, that their futures will be secure in Christ. Pray for the new science teacher and his family who will be joining us later this month from Ireland, that they will arrive safely and settle in quickly. They have two boys aged five and eight years. Pray that they will learn Spanish quickly and that they will be welcomed into school. Please pray for Linn’s health as the holiday comes.
Dear SAMS
Pilagá Indians: Give thanks for Michael’s visit last month to the Pilagá Indians in Campo del Cielo, central Formosa Province, where the Argentine Bible Society (ABS) presented the recordings of the Gospels and Acts, on audio CDs, mp3 CDs and solar-powered mp3 players. Very encouraging to see the people using their New Testament!
Printing of the Minor Prophets: Michael also talked with representatives from the ABS about the possibility of printing the Minor Prophets in Toba: there is a very good possibility of funding for printing selected books.
Future Ministry: As a result of this visit, there would seem to be good possibilities for further work. The Pilagás want the Old Testament, and they’re keen to continue with the recording of audio Scriptures. And there’s the same need for literacy materials as in the Toba schools. But there’s no one to coordinate the work: could this be me? As the two languages are very similar, it would make sense to work in parallel with the Tobas. Please pray!
Michael’s next visit to the Tobas will be after Christopher’s birthday (18th July). Aims: to complete the first draft of the Minor Prophets, and begin checking Joel and Habakkuk. Michael hopes to start Hilario and José on the production of literacy materials for school children.
Give thanks that José and Hilario are able to continue working on these translations: pray for good health for them and their families, and for continued support for them (a small monthly allowance is included in Michael’s budget).
Celebrations: During 2011 the Diocese of Northern Argentina celebrates its 100th anniversary with events throughout the year. The Tobas will have their celebration on 30th October.
In Salta: Continue to pray for Nano, with a growing group of teenagers playing volleyball in La Unión estate, some now attending a youth group too. Also for Nilda leading the children’s ministry in Juan Manuel de Rosas estate. These are poor areas, with big drugs problems and little or no Christian presence.
Health matters: Pray for our health and wellbeing as a family – for spiritual refreshment and protection. Give thanks that we continue to enjoy good health generally, although coughs and colds try to bother us. Pray for Silvia still with treatment for premature menopause. We’re hoping for a restful time during the winter school holidays, 11th – 24th July.
Jehovah Jireh: Give thanks for support received in June for the ongoing work with the Tobas! We now have July’s costs covered: the months go by, and we are still here! God is faithful! He provides!
Teaching English: Meanwhile Michael has a student who comes for two hours a week to learn English: it’s stimulating for Michael, but doesn’t use up much of his time.
Further details of these stories, with photos and other information can be found on our web site: please look at www.michaelandsilvia.com
Many thanks for all your support in prayer! God bless you!
Michael, Silvia, Kevin & Christopher Browne
With love in Jesus!
News and prayer letters recently received into the SAMS office:
News and prayer letters recently received into the SAMS office:
News and prayer letters recently received into the SAMS office: