Abelino and Paty in Santiago, Chile.

23rd April 2009
Chile, PRAY

 

We send you loving greetings from Santiago here in Chile.

 

We have now been in Santiago for six months pasturing a relatively small congregation with an average attendance of 30 adults and 15 children each Sunday. Our church is located in a working-class sector in the borough of San Joaquín. Most members of the congregation are working folk.

 

Since we arrived they have received us with great affection, particularly as they had been two years without a pastor of their own, and were led by the church council. Now we have got to know nearly all the members pretty well through different activities in the church and by visiting them in their homes.

 

Recently, that is, on April 10th we had a day-long spiritual retreat for the whole church, which proved to be a time of rich communion of our brothers and sisters. We enjoyed lunch together too. Nearly every member attended and there was a lovely spirit among the believers. We are so grateful to God for this.

 

We have several challenges:

  • Goal for 2016. We hope that by 2016 (date of our possible retirement) the church will have grown responsibly in numbers and in quality so as to have its own full-time pastor paid from its own resources.
  • To study God’s Word using various courses. We do lack cash to buy the materials at the moment. But we are selling items of food prepared in the church to get the money together.
  • To evangelise this sector, starting with house to house visitation.
  • To prepare more layfolk in leading and preaching the Word.
  • To improve the front of the church building – repairs and painting. It also lacks some of the finishing touches from the building process.
  • To look after a group of children suffering from economic need and serious family problems, and lacking loving care to help with their schoolwork, including food. Lady volunteers look after them for two or three hours each day helping them with their studies, forming Christian habits and teaching spiritual values with the hope that they will become part of the church family. This will continue so long as the church is able to maintain it.

 

The truth is that we are very encouraged as we face these challenges. We ask you to pray that God will be glorified.

 

For our part, we are in good health, praise God. Just a little nostalgia from time to time as we remember our families, brothers and friends in the South. I give thanks to the Lord that my sons stayed in Temuco as they remain very much connected to the activities of their church and all three are working with good prospects for the future. Elías has just been elected treasurer of the church in the IX Region; Jonatan is on the PCC of his church, Holy Trinity in Temuco, and Timi continues to play in the music group.

 

Along with my wife, Paty, we want to express our affection for you all. We remember you constantly and we are grateful for your prayers for our activities.

 

In the love of the Lord,

 

Abelino and Paty.

 

SAMS Prayer Line : Week beginning Wednesday 1 April

9th April 2009
PRAY

We ask prayer for some events taking place during Holy Week:

– In the Paraguayan Chaco a children’s programme is being held in three communities during Holy Week and the Easter weekend.  Pray for Ed & Marie Brice and a small team from Asunción as they and indigenous pastors minister in those and other communities.  Two of the communities where the children’s programme takes place have been targets of a Pentecostal group which has caused confusion and division (see http://www.samsgb.org/news.html#newsitemlink).

– On Tuesday a United Service for Holy Week is held in Sabadell, northeast Spain, between the Església de Crist, pastored by Sue Woodcock, and the three Baptist churches in the city (two of which are without a pastor).

Please pray for these events, and also for preparations and good weather for both a young people’s gathering and a pastors’ conference to be held in the Argentine Chaco over Easter.  More details next week.

René Pereira, who will be involved in these, asks us to pray against another bout of dengue fever in the Juárez area.  Two years ago, 70% of the town’s population contracted it and René fears that if the new outbreak reaches Juárez it could have fatal results.  Preventative measures are in hand – pray for these and for the folk of the town and region.

Finally, let’s give thanks for a wonderful consecration service last Sunday for the new Bishop of Paraguay, Peter Bartlett.  As we continue to remember him and Sally, let’s pray for a full recovery for the Bishop of Peru, Bill Godfrey, who was taken ill during his visit to Asunción and had to be hospitalised.

Prayer Line for the week commencing Tuesday 7 April

7th April 2009
PRAY

 

Last week we asked prayer concerning another outbreak of dengue fever in Argentina.  This is widespread across the north and is causing fear and concern; pray that the measures taken by the government, which may include mass fumigation from the air in an attempt to destroy the offending species of mosquito, will be successful.

 

Two major regional events for indigenous people in the Diocese of Northern Argentina take place over Easter.  From Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday a young people’s gathering is held in Juárez, and from Good Friday to Easter Monday a pastors’ conference takes place in the community of San Martín to the north near the River Pilcomayo.  Hundreds of youngsters are expected at the Juárez meeting, while 120 pastors will be in San Martín.  René Pereira asks prayer for good weather so that youngsters and pastors from all over the area can arrive and return without problems – and, of course, for God richly to bless both events and to build up his church through them.

 

Please keep in your prayers the children’s programme being held in three communities of the Paraguayan Chaco this week and over the Easter weekend, led by Ed & Marie Brice and a small team from Asunción. Also in Paraguay the 3rd year students from FEISA Teacher Training College are on teaching practice in state schools throughout this month, with the mobile play scheme making visits to six of those schools to give children in disadvantaged areas the opportunity to play and learn at the same time.  Pray for the students; and rejoice with FEISA over 28 new 1st year students this year – more than expected.

Red Box Return!

1st April 2009
PRAY

Give thanks for the return of Megan Johnston. Megan from Connor Diocese has been part of the Red Box Project during this past year.

Argentina’s Supreme Court of Justice orders a 90-day cessation of deforestation in the Province of Salta

1st April 2009
Argentina, PRAY

Yesterday (26 March) the Court ordered the provincial government to suspend permits granted for the removal of around a million hectares of native forest in the departments of Orán, San Martín, Rivadavia and Santa Victoria until a study can be made of the effect of deforestation on the environment.

The Court understood that while the granting of each permit had taken into consideration its environmental impact, no study had been made concerning the cumulative effect of all the permits.

It added that “the effect of the removal of around a million hectares is something that cannot be ignored and, in the words of the representative of the national Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development at the public hearing of 18 February, it will certainly be negative”.

This decision extended the cautionary measure given on 29 December and ordered the suspension of all permits, not only those granted in the last quarter of 2007.

In addition, “it warned of the clear danger of serious damage with the possibility of significant climate change in the region, affecting not only the present occupants of the land but future generations as well. Such damage would be irreversible, as there would be no way to return things to how they were before. Care of the environment is not the enemy of development and progress; rather, the two are complementary as environmental care brings lasting enjoyment for future generations.”

The Court stated that the study should be carried out by the Province of Salta together with the national Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development, “with extensive participation from the communities living in the area affected”.

Caroline’s News – Paraguay

1st April 2009
Paraguay, PRAY

April 2009 South American Mission Society
This was our big day, Sunday 29th March, the consecration of Peter Bartlett as Anglican Bishop in Paraguay. It was warm and sunny. The Cathedral was packed. Bishops from all over South America came, as well as supporters from England. It was wonderful to celebrate communion as a big family. There was a party atmosphere, everyone looking forward to the new growth and changes that Peter may promote.

For praise

  • I thank God for the welcoming generosity of the churches I visited early this year and for the support you give to my ministry in Paraguay. Just now, several sewing workshops are working well under Paraguayan leadership. There is positive interest and support for two fundraising initiatives I’m involved in – a retreat house for the churches on a lovely piece of land and the development of a diocesan library.
  • In 2 weeks, I’ll have a replacement of the identity card which was stolen with my purse in December. I was dreading the process. It can be long, drawn out and not very pleasant but new President Lugo’s reforms in the police, schools and hospitals are taking effect. Every department is more efficient and pleasant to deal with. Taxi drivers, who know everything, say there are visible signs of improvement in all three areas.

For prayer

  • The heat is tremendous. There has been little rain. The situation is becoming quite desperate in the arid Indian areas. No rain now means no reserves in the dry months ahead. Please pray for rain
  • There has been a lot of unrest in the country as the recession is biting hard. Lugo’s government is being blamed for all the problems. The country people have been marching and demonstrating in front of the Congress building in town most of the past week and hundreds are camped in a city square. Riot police have been on standby. The sesame producers have been up in arms about poor prices for their seed and have been demanding subsidies from the government. Please pray for peace here and that Lugo`s government can resolve the difficulties satisfactorily. Also that they would press through other improvements
  • Easter is very near. My Bible reading notes talk about Jesus on the road to the cross like a person going into a dark situation handling it by taking one step at a time. Because he is the Light of the world (John 12:34-36) and paid for our redemption, we have the firm hope of salvation to hold onto through all circumstances. This is Easter thinking that lasts all year through.

With love in Him, Caroline

Consecration of New Bishop in Paraguay

1st April 2009
Paraguay, PRAY

Peter Bartlett was consecrated as Bishop of Paraguay on 29 March at a service held at the cathedral church of San Andrés in Asunción. It was a warm and sunny day and the Cathedral was packed. Bishops from all over South America came, as well as supporters from Europe. Pray for Bishop Bartlett as there are many dimensions to the challenges which are faced in Paraguay.

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