Chris Hawksbee in the Chaco shares about his agricultural work: We are progressing well with the projects I’m helping with. In March we started with strengthening beekeeping in three communities, and next week we get the cash advance to start the fencing for two cattle projects. Please pray for a possible interview being arranged for next week with the President of Paraguay, where I hope to present projects to use Moringa Olifeira (dried leaf powder) as a supplement in the government’s school children’s nutritional programme and for patients recovering from tuberculosis, and using the fruits form the Chaco forest for income generating activities in Indigenous communities.
Suffragan Bishop, Nick and Catherine Drayson have posted some more photos of their life and surroundings on www.picasaweb.google.co.uk/catleti. Nick is taking a final trip into the forest before they leave for six weeks, for some meetings in Montevideo and Buenos Aires en route to Europe. As always Nick and Catherine appreciate your thoughtful prayers for these local trips. The current one includes travelling with Isidro Vilte to several villages en route to Alto de la Sierra, and attending an important meeting between Indians and white settlers about land distribution. Pray for protection, wisdom, and good use of language opportunities. Please pray too for Catherine in Juarez, with an Alpha leaders’ meeting on Sunday.
Thank you to you all for your prayers – God is certainly answering them!
Jordan and her friend (Zuzi) had been told that it might be next week before they could get out of Madrid – by plane, bus or train!
On Wednesday morning they went back to the bus station and two seats had opened up on a bus to Paris. They were also able to buy two seats on a bus from Paris to London. So they leave today for Paris and then on Sunday for London. Zuzi and her family live in London so Jordan will stay with them on Monday night and then fly home on Tuesday. Her flight arrives in Belfast City airport at 4:55pm on Tuesday 27th April!
The Annaghmore visit to Argentina is a good example of an evolving story. The local parish had been supporting SAMS for generations, but the relationship had become more personal with 2 Argentineans’ being placed in the parish as part of the SAMS FUSION programme. When the local church in Argentina requested help to build a church it was the perfect opportunity for a group of skilled men from Annaghmore to rise to the challenge.
Before the team travelled to South America, I was quietly confident, as I knew the skill base was extremely high. I wasn’t disappointed as the 12 lads as they definitely produced the goods on the building site as their work rate was exceptional. But projects are much more than laying blocks and sometimes teams with a focused task can miss out on the relational side.
Thankfully the Annaghmore team embraced the relational side of the project just as much as they grasped the practical side. It was an encouragement and privilege to share with them as they interacted with the local people with big hearts. They worked in challenging situations, ate their fair share of dry bread, stood under numerous showers that didn’t work, kipped in some suspect beds, and never once did they complain.
The team worked within different building methods, yet even though they had an extensive skill level compared with many of the local church members who worked alongside them from the host country, they never pointed the finger and told local people how to do things. They showed respect to the community and valued everyone who worked alongside them.
I probably don’t need to tell you that the lads didn’t let me down when it came to eating everything that was placed in front of them! I could say so much, but maybe the local pastor summed up the imprint the team made as he shared with me that for generations the story of the Annaghmore team would be passed on as one of the best gifts that God had given them.
This team was worth its weight in gold and every team member was genuine in all they did, and excellent ambassadors for their local parish and community.
The ‘Beyond the Norm’ programme aims to give participants the opportunity to encounter South America within a supportive environment. It creates new experiences, new opportunities and new challenges. It provides the setting in which volunteers experience mission and cultural diversity at first-hand.
Jordan is now stranded in Madrid. There is no sign of any Navy boat home and no flights for several days to come. Thankfully Jordan is now in a group of 4 so she has plenty of company and her mum was able to send money via the Western Union Office in Madrid airport which she has already collected. Pray for Jordan as she tries to make her way to Paris and from there to Calais and then on a ferry to England!
After the serious floods, leaving 150 people dead in Rio de Janeiro, David Weller asks for prayers for those grieving and those whose homes have been destroyed. There has been only minor damage to the church building. Praise God for the safe arrival of mission partners Marcus and Tamara Throup’s daughter Rebekah, born on 28 March weighing 6lbs 8oz.
Pray for Bishop Ken Clarke who has made it from Brazil to Portugal but is finding it difficult to make the journey from Portugal to Ireland.
Pray for Jordan Wilson our Red Box volunteer who is flying tonight from Argentina to Spain and then hopefully being transported from Spain to England with the Royal Navy. Pray for the remaining journey home.
