Beryl Baker In Paraguay
Dear Praying Friends,
The prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16
Thank you all for your prayers. Please keep praying.
Comings and goings.
The Lord knows the end from the beginning of all things.
Newly qualified American doctor Sharon Mauus has been with me for two weeks as part of her Paraguayan experience. She has now left but has left me with Oscar, a three month old giant anteater. Misty and Oliver died within 5 days of one another – they are greatly missed
Rhett’s 70th birthday celebration gave way to renewed contacts with his friends and Sherry from Houston has been reading a Christian book and for the first time ever was beginning to see her own spiritual needs. Pam also a Texan who lives in Paraguay wants to get back to God and the Anglican church. Her husband is Paraguayan but looks more Texan than she does!
Patrick is coming back to the ranch. He was there when he was 17 to toughen up before he entered the US Marines. Now after two postings to Iraq and a time at University in Texas he can’t get a job. May the Lord’s purposes be achieved – he needs to get acquainted with Jesus.
Urgent prayer
For Tomasa Gomez. wife of Miguel (Rhett’s Paraguayan ranch manager) Tomasa has renal failure – nearly died two days ago but people prayed and now she is doing a lot better but is not off the danger list.
Her daughter Graciela,son-in-law Silvino and their two small children are at a Bible school here in town. Their cousin Hector became a Christian in my Chaco home last Good Friday and he and his partner Paula are reading the Bible. Tomasa and Miguel need to be born again and we pray for Tomasa’s physical recovery and for a new abundant life that only God can give. Aria Salinas, indian lady with ? cancer of the cervix. Likewise Dolores Alvarico,Paraguayan lady with 7 children who are still at school.
Rodrigo fernandez, 4 year old indian boy acutely ill in Asuncion. Teresa Maidana, pastor Augustine’s wife who is suffering from a nervous breakdown Health Promoters Liberato Cabanas – still unable to see.
Norma who is going to Washington USA in June D.V. for a conference, Lydia Ayala – that she may soon receive a government salary- praise for her recovering from T.B. Narcisas Rojas who has problems with her alcoholic schoolteacher husband, Marciel.
Praise for
Positive attitudes and progress within the Ministry of Health – more doctors and nurse now in the Chaco – food for T.B. patients and milk for undernourished children.
Praise for the rain that has fallen and prayer for more.
Lots of love and prayers,
Beryl.
Paraguay
Linn Tedman, mission partner at the San Andres school in Asuncion, asks for your prayers: Please pray for Paraguay where there are many more people struggling to exist without jobs. There is no welfare state here to help them. Also pray for San Andres school as primary exams start next week, and for the staff as they have marking to do and reports to write, especially for the English staff who have a double load each. Pray for their stamina and for good health. Linn asks you to pray for a librarian to be found to help her, and for their much-loved school nurse, Mariella, who has just left to have a baby. Also pray for secondary English teacher Nicky Irene who has been off school with a few pregnancy problems. She has been resting. Pray for her husband Ronnie and the family all helping Nicky and each other. Pray for our churches as changes begin to happen, for the Lord to guide each congregation and for him to open their hearts and minds to move forward.
Chile
Daniel Kirk, in Vina del Mar asks you to pray for Danny Morrison, pastor of the Gomez Carreño church, who has had to take time off due to stress. Please pray for him and his family during this time and for Daniel who will be looking after the church for several months in his absence. Daniel will also be giving his first school assembly this week at the St Paul`s School on Matthew 5:7 and is slightly nervous about all these ‘firsts’! Daniel’s wife Ellelein has been doing some translating of Jonathan Edwards and some other Puritan writings which as you might imagine is quite testing. She has been enjoying it and learning lots but has meant that she has been pretty tired recently. Please pray for strength and patience with the kids.
Brazil
We have news and prayer requests from the Steering Committee of My Father’s House, in Recife: Your prayers for the following would be greatly appreciated: There has been a meeting of 19 people to discuss and plan a mission school for approximately 50 young people to train them to deal with difficult times, preparation for disasters which might happen, and how to deal with emergencies. The consultant and his wife who works for World Vision who has been twice before makes another visit in May and is hoping to train and encourage the directors of My Father’s House. He hopes to encourage fundraising activities. The two new directors are very keen to move things forward. The school at Living Waters is progressing well for those children able to attend. There are 150 children waiting for the opportunity to attend but lack of funds prevents this. There are a lot of teenagers attending church and it is going well.
Latest news and prayer letters
Some news and prayer letters received into the SAMS office:
Brazil
Pray for God’s blessing on the life and witness of the church in the Recife Diocese, and for encouragement and guidance for Bishop Robinson and Miriam Cavalcanti and for all clergy and leaders.
Marcus Throup combines teaching in the Anglican College in João Pessoa with studying for a PhD in New Testament studies. He also mentors young ordinands. Pray for God’s grace for him and his wife Tamara and baby daughter as they come to the UK at the end of this month for 5 weeks, visiting supporting churches.
Ask the Lord to use Josías & Danielle de Souza and Daniel in youth leadership and preaching, to encourage faith and commitment to Christ. As he works alongside other churches in Recife, pray for growing trust and unity among Christians.
Uphold Ian & Siméa Meldrum in Olinda in their demanding ministry among the poor in the Living Waters church and Community Centre and ‘My Father’s House’. Pray for the families who they have contact with. Pray also for more helpers and for daily encouragement, joy and discernment.
Pray for the project ‘My Father’s House’ which provides a home environment for boys who have been on the streets. Pray for Andy & Rose Roberts and the staff, for strength, wisdom and vision in working with the boys whose behaviour and responses can be unpredictable.
Peru
Pray for Bishop William & Judith Godfrey in pastoral oversight of the diocese, and for three auxiliary missionary bishops, for growth in each of their regions. Remember too the seminary training for ministry and leadership, praying for both students and teachers. Pat Blanchard praises God for the new building they have for the Shalom project. Pray for Pat, for the therapists, and all who help to improve life for the children with special needs and their families. Pray too for volunteer Jessica Helyar helping in Shalom.
Pray for Juan Carlos & Penny Marcés, Rebeca, Lizi and Jonny in their ministry in the church and community of Jesús el Salvador, Lima. Pray for the children who attend the Compassion sponsored student centre ‘The Lord’s Treasures’, that they and their families will benefit from the practical help given, and grow in their knowledge of the Lord. Pray for health and daily strength and encouragement for Julio & Norma Montoya who give pastoral and practical care in Holy Trinity church and in several very poor areas of Lima.
Home Sweet Home!
Bishop Ken Clarke and Jordan Wilson (Red Box Volunteer) are now safe and well at home after several days of travel chaos. Praise God.
Paraguay
Pray for David Orritt as he organises Mission Paraguay 2010. As you can imagine there are numerous logistical and practical issues to be sorted. Dave as we call him at SAMS Ireland is a valued friend so pray for Gods peace to be upon him in a rich and discerning way.
Caroline Gilmour-White asks prayer in identifying the right translators and transport for the volunteers and for safe travel in all their journeys. Pray too that the decorating of the library and diocesan offices this month will create a smart and welcoming workplace for all users.
Uphold Ed & Marie Brice in their teaching and pastoral ministries in the Chaco. Ed works with indigenous church leaders, and Marie with women and children, including a twice monthly Saturday group in Rio Verde for women.