: PRAY

Some news and prayer letters received into the SAMS office:

• Andy and Rose Roberts
• Andrew and Maria Leake
• Clarie Holmes
• Latest news on land issues in Northern Argentina

Work by the Argentine Bible Society on typesetting the Toba New Testament is taking place in Buenos Aires.  Pray for the accuracy of this work, prior to printing in Korea, and for the Toba people, coordinator Michael Browne and his Toba translator colleagues as they eagerly await publication and launch in December.

Also in the Argentine Chaco the annual Wichi Marathon is scheduled for this Sunday, when Indians and non-Indians run along one of the roads to highlight a particular issue.  This year the focus is on prevention of cancer of the uterus, which has claimed a number of lives in the area in the past year.  Pray for Alec Deane and the organizers, for participants and spectators to have fun, and that the message will be communicated and heeded.

On Friday Felipe Canuto flies home to Brazil after ten months as a SAMS Latin Volunteer based in a parish in Sheffield.  As we give thanks for Felipe’s ministry here, particularly among young people, let’s pray for his journey and readjustment to life in northeast Brazil.

Finally, the funeral of former missionary Amy Nicholls, whose sudden death we reported last week, takes place on Monday.  Pray for her daughter and son-in-law, who’ve flown in from Canada, and also for SAMS’ Finance Director Philip Tadman, who will take part in the service.

During August a second group of short term volunteers are doing Mission Paraguay. The UK part of the team are building a new church in Río Verde, a strategic location in the Chaco and a stopping-off point for many travellers, while the Irish half are in Concepción, Bishop Andrés Rodríguez’ base, and are involved in activities with children and young people.

In the early hours of 10 August Amy Nicholls, who served as a SAMS missionary in Chile and Brazil with her late husband Edgar, died suddenly at her home in Felbridge. It was in Brazil that Amy & Edgar looked after the Boys’ Town orphanage near Petrópolis. Amy has a daughter, Pam, who lives in Canada and one of her neighbours and close friends in Felbridge is Barbara Kitchin, another long-serving former SAMS missionary.

This has been the longest, coldest winter for 34 years in Paraguay, writes Linn Tedman. The poor living on the streets (many are children) have really suffered. It is so sad to see children in freezing temperatures with no shoes on their feet. One or two temporary shelters were opened up and other people went to sit in the bus terminal out of the cold south wind. Hopefully the temperature will rise during August.

Felipe Canuto completes his year as a Latin Volunteer in the UK on 21 August, when he flies back to northeast Brazil. Felipe has worked in the parish of St Polycarp’s, Malin Bridge, Sheffield, much of his time being spent in helping the exciting young people’s work there. His farewell takes place on 19 August.

The annual Wichi Marathon takes place on 23 August, postponed from July. This year’s focus is on prevention and control of cancer of the uterus.

SAMS have completed their representation at New Wine 2009, with Richard Crofts, Tim Greenhalgh, Bob Lunt, Elizabeth Lunt and Felipe Canuto all helping staff the stands at Shepton Mallet and Newark. SAMS will share a stand with CMS at the Momentum event for 20-somethings at Shepton Mallet from 22-26 August.

Suffragan Bishop-elect Nick Drayson and his wife Catherine fly to their new ministry in Argentin in late August, and Felipe & Sarah Yáñez and family return to southern Spain, but to a slightly different ministry, giving hospitality to Latin missionaries passing through Málaga en route to Africa and helping set up a work among immigrants in Torremolinos.

Glory to God (Gloria a Dios) is the title of a new book by an ex-SAMS missionary. It’s the autobiography of John Jacklin who served in Chile with his wife Ann from 1962 to 1975, and tells how God used a self-effacing and selfdeprecating man and his wife to do extraordinary things as they put themselves at his disposal. ‘Glory to God’ (ISBN: 978 086071 623 5) is available from the publishers, Moorleys, 23 Park Road, Ilkeston DE7 5DA (0115 932 0643) or via their website www.moorleys.co.uk/shop. It costs £9.50 + £2.69 p/p.

Revd Peter Wood, a SAMS missionary in Chile from 1963 to 1972, has died in Norfolk. Peter, who was married to Evelyn, was in charge of St Paul’s School, Viña del Mar, planted and served at the Spanish Church of San Pedro, and was chaplain to the St Peter’s English congregation there.

Bolivia is celebrating 200 years since its declaration of independence from Spain. Its capital, La Paz, was the first city to break from the colonial power, triggering a 16-year war. In coming years other South American countries will mark their bicentennials, starting with Argentina next year. Pictures of Bolivia’s celebrations are on the BBC website at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8155083.stm

Later this year we look forward to the visit of Latin Partners from the capital cities of Chile and Argentina. Cristóbal Cerón, Assistant Pastor in Santiago, will be here in September visiting link churches and participating in the Paddock Wood Roadshow on 19 September. Mario Ágreda, also an Assistant Pastor but in Buenos Aires, Argentina, comes in October; his visit includes time in the Diocese of Sheffield, a companion link to the Diocese of Argentina. SAMS will also hold a Roadshow in this diocese on 16 April. For both Roadshows see http://www.samsgb.org/eventsandresources/events.html

SAMS Ireland wants to congratulate the Rev Trevor Johnston who has been appointed the Crosslinks Ireland Team Leader. Trevor takes up his post on 1^st September 2009.

First, Paul and Sarah Tester give thanks that the youth mission trip to Juliaca in the south of Peru, mentioned in the Prayer Line three weeks ago, went very well.  The church plant there is beginning its own Sunday School and Youth Group as a result. Please pray for Rev. Rubén Mancilla and the congregation of St Mary Magdalene’s mission as they seek to grow these ministries.

Thank you too for praying for the Morrisons in Chile.  Both Marion and Ary are out of hospital; Marion has had 5 stents and is feeling like a new person.  All the family are grateful to the Lord and to all those who have upheld them in prayer.

Richard Crofts of SAMS GB goes into hospital on Thursday for an operation.  Please uphold Richard in your prayers.  Also in Tunbridge Wells Beryl Round, former PA to Philip Tadman and his predecessor, suffered a stroke on Saturday.  Beryl is back home; please pray for her full recovery.

Confirmations take place next Sunday in the church of the Redeemer in La Serena, Chile.  Pray for the service, those who are taking this important step, and for pastor Pablo Zavala and his wife Pamela in their ongoing ministry.

Finally, we’ve received the sad news of the sudden death early yesterday of Amy Nicholls, who served as a SAMS missionary in Chile and Brazil with her late husband Edgar.  In the latter country they looked after the Boys’ Town orphanage near Petrópolis.  As we give thanks to God for Amy, please remember particularly in your prayers her daughter Pam in Canada and for her neighbour and close friend Barbara Kitchin, another long-serving former SAMS missionary.

Some prayer letters and news recently received into the SAMS office:

• Linn Tedman – St Andrew’s School, Asuncion, Paraguay
• Mags Southern and Gwen Carlisle – St Andrew’s School, Asuncion, Paraguay
• News from Olinda
• Mission Paraguay – extracts from the penultimate report from the July team by John Barnes
• Final report on Mission Paraguay 2009’s July team from John Barnes

Please continue to pray for the family of Latin Partner Danny Morrison in Chile.  His mother Marion has had a second heart attack and his wife Ary is in another hospital after suffering thrombosis.  Danny himself is off work recovering from illness.  Uphold this family through this very difficult time.

Tomorrow Ian & Siméa Meldrum return to Brazil after a period in this country, in order to resume their ministry in Olinda.  Currently a lot of input is being given to the projects at Living Waters Church as the Presbyterian Church has bought land to build 9 classrooms for the school, a clinic, a library, and a kitchen and dining area.  Praise God for this partnership and pray for the Meldrums as they fly back and take up the challenges ahead.  As Ian says, “The Lord has much more to do, so let’s get on with it.”

Another partner returning to a challenging but fulfilling ministry is Pat Blanchard.  She flies back to Lima, Peru, on Friday to continue work in Jesús el Nazareno parish and the Shalom project and church for disabled people.  Pray for Pat and uphold her mother and sisters in the UK.

Also in Lima, tomorrow is the day when 70 new children and several new tutors start at the Compassion Student Centre at the church of San Juan Evangelista where Paul & Sarah Tester worship.  Pray for the newcomers and for the work of the Student Centre which opened last year and is an important ministry to families in the area.

The SAMS and Love for Life team have returned safely from Argentina. They delivered the ‘Amor para toda la vida’ (Loving for Life) programme in schools and the programmes were very favourably received by young people, teachers, parents and church leaders alike. There was also the opportunity to network within the local diocese of Northern Argentina which Down and Dromore is linked with.