Farmers lift blockade in Argentina

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SAMS Prayer line

Please remember the Irene family in Bolivia. On top of the political and social uncertainties of the country, Ronny has had to go to the city of Santa Cruz where his biological mother is in intensive care, having suffered a perforated intestine. Nicky and the 3 children remain in La Paz.

This Saturday evening (7th) a gospel concert is held in the main square of El Escorial, the town in Spain where Jonathan & Hilary Rowe and family live. The visiting choir consists of 300 young people and is the largest gospel choir in the country. Please pray for God’s hand upon this event, from the weather to the follow-up ministry of the small evangelical church there.

Over this weekend another Youth Encounter event takes place in Asunción, Paraguay. Pray for the coordinating team and for the young people invited, that God will touch the lives of many, leading them into new relationships with him and with their families.

Finally, this Sunday (8th) Bishop Bill Godfrey conducts a joint confirmation service for the churches in Lima, Peru. Pat Blanchard has a number of candidates from her church of Jesús el Nazareno, and asks us to pray for a real blessing and outpouring of the Spirit in their lives and in the lives of all being confirmed.

Prayer line

On Saturday an Extraordinary Synod is held in Asunción to discuss a nomination to the post of Bishop of Paraguay. Pray for Assistant Bishop Andrés Rodríguez who chairs the meeting, and ask God to guide in all the deliberations, with the possible approval of, and invitation to, the person in question.

Already underway in Paraguay is the first Bible School of 2008 held in Río Verde in the Chaco. Ed Brice asks us to pray for the delegates from the Chaco churches as they meet with him and others to study issues relating to the health and growth of their congregations.

On Monday (2nd) pastors from Sabadell in northeast Spain meet to plan a united outreach in one year’s time. Pray for Sue Woodcock and the other leaders.

Finally, early next week we welcome Jill Ball, home for leave from Ecuador, and Assistant Bishop Abelino Apeleo from Chile, visiting UK churches before going to the GAFCON gathering of bishops in Jerusalem. Pray for them in travel and adjustment.

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