SAMS Prayer line

3rd July 2008
Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, PRAY

The latest SAMS GB prayer line:

Please pray for a special meeting of the church of Gómez Carreño in Chile this Saturday. Pastor Danny Morrison remains on sick leave and Daniel & Ellelein Kirk ask prayer that God will guide this church gathering and lead the congregation forward during this difficult period. Pray too for God’s healing of Danny and remember his wife Ary too.

A number of folk are travelling to the UK this week:

Retired bishop David & Rachel Leake return tomorrow from a three-month visit to Northern Argentina to assist the Toba New Testament translation project.

Sarah Yáñez and sons Samuel and Aaron also arrive tomorrow from Spain for two months, the first with her parents, the second, after husband Felipe’s arrival, visiting link churches.

Also from Spain comes Sue Woodcock on a 3-week visit, arriving Tuesday (8th).
That same day Bishop Tito & Miriam Zavala arrive back here for church visits and the Lambeth Conference.

Please remember these people in your prayers.

Finally, the staff and students of St Andrew’s and the Annexe schools in Asunción, Paraguay, are winding down for the two-week winter holiday starting on Monday (7th). Pray for a time of much-needed refreshment prior to the long term ahead until Christmas, and safety for those travelling.

Prayer line

25th June 2008
Peru, PRAY, Spain

TestersPaul & Sarah Tester in Peru ask prayer for the young people of San Patricio Mission in the Lima neighbourhood of Ventanilla. Paul and another leader, Juan Carlos, are taking a group of them away for a Youth Alpha Retreat this weekend. Paul & Sarah write: “Alpha has been a way to start a youth ministry at the mission; we are praying for the young people to encounter God in a real and lasting way and to choose to follow Christ for their whole life.”

Events in the Diocese of Spain this weekend include a Pastors’ Conference on Friday and Saturday (27/28) in Madrid and a Youth Retreat from Sunday to Tuesday (29-1st) in Reus in the northeast. Please pray these will bring great blessing to the church in Spain.

Let’s continue to remember the 6 bishops from the Southern Cone (Venables, Zavala, Godfrey, Lyons, Cavalcanti, Apeleo) gathered at the GAFCON meetings in Jerusalem. Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti has with him a number of clergy from the Diocese of Recife, including Marcus Throup, so please remember that delegation in your prayers.

Farmers lift blockade in Argentina

24th June 2008
Argentina, PRAY

Farmer's protests in ArgentinaSome good news from Argentina. Recent farmers’ blockades of main roads in Argentina have been lifted after the government agreed to debate tax levies on soy production. The protests had led to food shortages in some areas which would have made life difficult for some of the SAMS Ireland summer teams heading out soon.

Read more on the story from the BBC.

Buena Vista magazine

18th June 2008
Magazine, PRAY

Buena VistaThe new SAMS Ireland magazine, Buena Vista! Has just arrived from the printers. This magazine will initially be published twice a year giving a view of the work in South America, Spain and Portugal from our Irish perspective. This edition highlights the Latin partners who are working here in Northern Ireland.

If you receive the SAMS GB Share magazine then Buena Vista will be included in the next distribution being delivered very soon. Please give us any feedback in the contact page.

Download a PDF version of the magazine.

SAMS prayer line

17th June 2008
Argentina, Peru, PRAY, Spain, UK-Ireland

The prayer line from SAMS GB has just arrived. SAMS GB is in merger talks with CMS, as SAMS Ireland is autonomous this will not affect us directly, but please pray for our sister organisation.

Pat Blanchard in Lima, Peru, has requested prayer for an important meeting over the next couple of days. The local council are meeting with Pat to discuss the possibility of their donating land to her church of Jesús el Nazareno for their Shalom ministry to disabled people. This is a progressive ministry but does need a ‘good home’, so let’s join with Pat in prayer.

Please remember the Indian peoples of Northern Argentina, as Andrew Leake reports that some members of the provincial government of Salta have just presented a motion that could rescind the recently passed law limiting deforestation in the Chaco.

The Argentine Bible Society, meanwhile, hosts a long-awaited conference from Monday (23rd) on the provision of Scriptures in audio form. This involves the translations into Wichi, Toba, Chorote (Argentina) and Enxet (Paraguay).

Jonathan & Hilary Rowe thank us for prayers for the Gospel Choir evening in the main square of El Escorial in Spain on 7 June. Over 1,500 people attended, including the mayor. Let’s support follow-up work with our prayers. Meantime, Jonathan, Hilary and their children come to the UK on Monday (23rd) for a short period of home ministry, so please uphold them at this time.

Arriving this Friday from Chile is Bishop Tito Zavala. He and Assistant Bishop Abelino Apeleo are attending the SAMS General Council meeting this weekend before proceeding to the GAFCON gathering of bishops in Jerusalem. Pray for them … and pray too for the SAMS General Council who meet over 24 hours in London from Friday (20th) to discuss further whether the Society should merge with CMS or remain independent. Following this, the GB staff take a 24-hour retreat starting on Monday.

June Prayer letters

17th June 2008
Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, PRAY

Some prayer letters recently arrived in the SAMS Ireland office.

  • James Palmer in Chile.
  • Daved Leake in Salta, Argentina updates on the Toba Bible translation.
  • The Metcalfes in Paraguay write about St. Andrew’s School, Esperanza foster home and the English chapel.
  • FEISA teach training college in Asunción write about plans for expansion including more work training teachers in the Chaco, and a permanent play scheme for street children.

Farmers protests in Argentina

16th June 2008
Argentina, PRAY

Farmers protestSome for the SAMS Latin partners have been reporting difficulties with food supplies following protests by farmers in Argentina. The farmers are angry at taxes on commodity exports and have been blockading main roads. Several teams will be travelling to Argentina in the next few weeks and months. Please pray for Argentina at the moment.

You can read more from the BBC article, New strike by Argentine farmers.

SAMS Prayer line

11th June 2008
Argentina, Paraguay, PRAY, Spain

Here is the latest SAMS Prayer line.

Thank you for your prayers for the Women’s Retreat held last month in Zaragoza in the Diocese of Spain. Sue Woodcock described it as one of the best she’d been to. Women came from many churches, including 8 who made the long journey from Seville. Praise God for this and pray his continuing blessing.?

Please pray for Sylvia Venables, wife of Bishop Greg; she is in pain after her replacement hip came out of joint. And remember too the Somervell family as Tony returns to Paraguay on Friday to be reunited with Chris and the children as they prepare for their final return to the UK next month. This is an emotionally difficult time for them after so many years’ service in South America.

Also in Paraguay there’s a need for new teachers at St Andrew’s School: infant (1), primary (1), secondary to teach English with TEFL/languages degree (2), computing to GCSE level (1). Please pray God will supply every need.

Finally, please remember God’s servants overseas in this period when the weaker pound and even weaker dollar are making things more difficult.

Interview with Naomi

10th June 2008
Argentina, PRAY, Red Box, Volunteers

Naomi Francey

Naomi Francey is from St. Paul’s Parish, Gilford. She currently works in Armagh Planetarium, at least until Sunday when she leaves for the Red Box project in Salta Argentina.

Your leaving on Sunday right?
Yes, it’s Father’s Day!! My parents are pretty anxious about me going, but excited as well! My mum wil miss me doing the ironing, and Dad will just miss me!

So how do you feel about it all?
Surprisingly not really worried. I don’t think the reality has set in that I’m going for such a long time. I’m really excited, and will be relieved when I arrive in Salta after catching all my flights.

Do you know what you’re doing yet?
Not really! I’m happy to be put where I’m needed. I’ve done a bit of Spanish and I’m looking forward to improving it and working with the children and local community.

How will you be keeping us up to date?
I have a blog about to go online – it’s at NaomiFrancey.co.uk. I plan to keep it up to date with what’s going on, photos, and prayer points. Look for an update about once a month.

Prayer letters

9th June 2008
Argentina, Mission Partners, Paraguay, Peru, PRAY, Spain

Some prayer letters came into the SAMS office over the weekend.

1 … 80 81 82 83 84 … 89