Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - PL2009-35, 02-Sep-09

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PL2009-35, 02-Sep-09

The 'Day' and 'Country' designations below refer to the respective right-hand page(s) in the 2009 edition of the Points for Prayer Handbook, which contains useful background information to these prayer requests.

Click on these links for further information on Countries, Partners and People.

Days 12 to 14 – KENYA

Stephen Cowan reports that the August Youth Camps in Tuum [see SAAP] went well and the container with much-needed supplies for Tuum has been cleared by customs and is almost out of Nairobi. Schools in Kenya, including Tuum Girls’ Secondary School are reopening for the new school year. This year, Caragh Cowan will be boarding at St Andrews School Turi, near Nakuru.

Prayer Points –

• Give thanks that the youth camps in Tuum went well and that the Container is now on its way to Tuum. 
  
  
• For safety as the students travel back to school.
  
  
• For Caragh, as she starts school far from home, that she will settle in well and quickly make good friends. Remember Angelina and the other children as they continue home-schooling in Tuum.
  
  
• For the new head teacher who has been appointed for TGSS.

Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI

The Women's Empowerment Programme of the Lay Training Centre at Ekwendeni is being introduced in Njuyu Presbytery. A trainer/leader from each congregation was trained at the beginning of August and they are now training groups of women in their congregations. Victoria Chihana and Helen Quinn will be visiting all the congregations in the Presbytery today and tomorrow (2nd and 3rd) to meet with the groups of women, looking at their business plans and issuing loans.  

Prayer Points –

• For the needed energy for the travel, for a suitable place to stay overnight, especially as Njuyu Presbytery is one of the least accessible presbyteries.  
  
  
• For the building up of good relationships with these new groups, and the ministers and session clerks of the congregations.
  
  

During 2008, the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia put a lot of effort into drawing up a Strategic Plan. Martijn van den Boogaart, from the Netherlands, is now assisting in the implementation of the plan.  

• Pray for Martijn and the leaders of the Synod, including the Heads of all the Departments of the Synod, as they meet for a further planning conference from 9th to 11th September.

In July, the Sunday School Department of CCAP Synod of Livingstonia received a group of Sunday School children and teachers from the Church of Scotland. In October, a return visit of children and teachers from Malawi will take place to coincide with the Children's Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Iona.

• Pray for the planning and carrying out of this trip to Scotland and especially Rev Custom Kapombe, the Director of the Sunday School Department.

Day 24 – NEPAL

Beginning next Monday 7th, and running through the whole week, United Mission to Nepal (UMN) is calling its prayer supporters around the world to join with the staff to pray more than ever before for the country and people of Nepal. Staff will spend time in prayer and worship each morning and lunchtime seeking God’s blessing for the work around the country.

The key areas and topics they are focusing on are:-

• For Nepal as a country, for peace, justice and an end to poverty. 
  
  
• For God's guidance, as UMN develops their new strategy for its work into the future.  
  
  
• For Tansen and Okaldhunga Hospitals, particularly in the face of the recent threats to staff, but also for the transition process, including registration of the NGO and recruitment of board members. 
  
  
• For the on-going issue regarding the ownership of the Thapathali property – that justice would prevail and the property would be returned to UMN - it’s rightful owner.
  
  
• For leaders and pastors of the Christian community in Nepal – particularly as they face the threat of violence from the ‘Nepal Defence Army’.

Go to NEPAL-UMN calls for week of prayer, to download a leaflet with Prayer Topics for each day of the 'Week ofPrayer'.

Janet Campbell reports that the day of prayer and Bible study last Saturday in Kathmandu for staff from UMN and INF was very helpful for all who attended.  

• Give thanks for this programme and pray for another in a few weeks time and that God will bless and empower expatriate staff as they serve in Nepal.

The Nepali political visit to Dublin and Belfast from the 12th to 20th September by four senior politicians, lead by the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction, together with three senior civil servants, will begin in Dublin, move to Belfast on Sunday 13th and return to Dublin on Thursday 17th. Joe Campbell is making arrangements in Kathmandu and accompanying the group which is making this visit at the invitation of the Irish government. The purpose is to share and learn about peace building. After the ten-year civil war in Nepal a peace agreement was signed in November 2006. However, building cross-party support for a coalition government has proved very difficult.  

• Pray that in these final days before the group leaves Nepal nothing will develop to hinder the visit taking place.
  
  
• Pray also that the experiences and partnership working will support the peace process in Nepal.

Grenville Hopkinson is leading the UMN staff in developing a new strategic five-year plan for the organisation. This involves wide ranging consultations with all staff and will in due course be presented to the Nepali government for approval.

• Pray for Grenville and his team who are leading this process.

Georgie Hopkinson is chairing the Vacancy Committeefor Kathmandu International Christian Congregation (KICC).  The deadlines for applications for a new pastor to the church closed this week and Georgie is facilitating the selection process.  The committee will meet this week to short list candidates and clarify next steps of the process.

• Pray for guidance for the group and discernment as this is an important role for the Christian expatriate community in Nepal.
  
  
• Pray for wisdom for Georgie as she leads the committee through these next few weeks.

Day 26 – MISSION INVOLVEMENT

The Board of Mission Overseas’ (BMO) new web site is now up and running at www.pcimissionoverseas.org. Its primary purpose is to be a place where members of our church can find out about the nature and scope of our involvement in Mission Overseas; a key resource that will help enthuse, envision and equip individuals of all ages, as well as groups, congregations and presbyteries, for active engagement in God's mission to the world. 

Prayer Points –

• That the new web site will indeed fulfil its purpose and become a really useful resource for our members, wherever they are. Pray that enthusiasts will quickly ‘spread the word’, encouraging others to ‘take a look’ and become regular visitors to the site.
  
• For wisdom and guidance as plans are made to very soon implement Phase II Developments, which are aimed at further enhancing the usefulness of the web site.

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