Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - PL2009-45, 11-Nov-09

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PL2009-45, 11-Nov-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.

Day 8 – UKRAINE

The Reformed School (NBRL) in Nagybereg, where Jenni Wolfe works, remains closed due the government of Ukraine’s response to the swine flu outbreak in the country. All schools were ordered to close for three weeks at the end of October and are not allowed to reopen until 22nd November. Restrictions on non-essential long-distance travel within Ukraine also continue, and as a result Jenni will not be to able to travel to Kiev to obtain the letter she needs for her visa application. 

Prayer Points –

• For pupils and teachers at this uncertain time.
  
  
• That Jenni will be able to obtain the letter she needs from Kiev in good time. 
  
  
• For all those in Ukraine and across the world who are suffering from the effects of swine flu.  Remember especially those who do not have access to good medical facilities. 

Day 11 – BOARD OF MISSION OVERSEAS

Dr Terrance Fulton OBE, a former Honorary Medical Officer of the Board, passed away on 4th November. 

• Give thanks for Dr Fulton’s assistance to the Board and pray for his family at this difficult time. 

Days 12 to 14 – KENYA

Tuum - This week, there have been several attempts by an outlying group of Samburu to attack Turkana people in the area. While one attack succeeded, the attackers’ escape route was blocked by another group of Samburu. With continuing inter-tribal tensions in the area and the fear of further cattle-raids, many of the animals are being kept on the top of Mount Nyiru, safely out of reach of any would-be raiders. Sadly, all attempts to bring about a peaceful resolution to this situation have gone nowhere as, more often than not, the wrong people have been involved in the negotiations.

• Pray for restraint on all sides and that a way may be found to resolve these inter-tribal tensions amicably, so that all the people in the area, regardless of their tribal affiliation, may be able to live side-by-side in peace, without fear of being attacked.
  

Preparations are continuing for the mission in December, which will be led by members of the Christian Union from Nairobi University. Eighty people plan to travel to Tuum to assist in the Youth Camps and to help in the outreach to neighbouring villages that will follow the camps. In preparation for this, Stephen Cowan will spend part of this coming weekend with the students on their campus in Nairobi.

• Pray for all who will be involved in leading the camps and in the outreach that follows; for all the preparations still needed; and particularly for Stephen, as he meets with team members and helps them think about and prepare for what is to come.
  
  
• Pray that this experience of mission will inspire the students to serve in remote and needy places in their own country, rather than opting for the lure of comfortable jobs in major centres.  Pray too that more in the Church in Kenya will be committed to supporting mission in their own country.
  

Stephen Cowan writes: “We are disappointed by the behaviour of some of the young girls who, when theyassist the men with cooking food and washing clothes, then get involved in immoral activity. There are noeasy answers to this problem.”

• Please pray that the web of sin that entraps these girls can be broken; and that this will begin with a true Fear of God and rejection of everything else that distracts and pulls them down.
  

The student who has been bothered by earache, and associated headaches, for a number of years is to have a cyst removed from above her ear next Monday (16th).

• Please pray that the procedure will go well.

Nairobi - This week, Naomi Leremore is training three volunteers from Joy Children's Home. They will be making games out of nylon sacks for the children to play with.

• Give thanks for the many children who receive much love and care in the orphanage and pray for the volunteers that this training will be very valuable for them.
  

Thomas Leremore wants to give thanks for 50 church leaders from Nyeri Presbytery, who attended a one-day training on peace and reconciliation in Nyeri town.

• Pray that they will be encouraged to be agents of peace and reconciliation within their society.
  

Last week, from 3rd to 7th November, Thomas attended a National Stakeholders Forum meeting in Kisumu, organised by UNDP. Forty non-governmental and faith-based organizations attended the workshop to deliberate on issues of peace and governance.

• Give thanks for all the deliberations made and the networks established during the workshop.

Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI

Dorothy Marshall, President of Presbyterian Women (PW), and Edna McIlwaine, PW Overseas Vice-President, are currently in the first week of a 2½-week visit to Malawi. They arrived in Blantyre on Sunday last (8th). This week Dorothy and Edna are spending time with Neil and Sara Kennedy and family; meeting Rev. McDonald Kadawati, General Secretary of the Blantyre Synod CCAP; and visiting the Henry Henderson Institute (HHI), a CCAP-run secondary school; the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where Neil works; Zomba Theological College (a day trip from Blantyre); the Blantyre Synod Development Commission (BSDC) and the Madziabango Project, which Maurice and Helen Kennedy are involved with, though they aren’t in Malawi at present.

Early on Friday 13th, they are due to leave Blantyre and travel to Lilongwe, where they will stay one night before continue their journey north the next day, Saturday 14th, travelling with Una Brownlie to Livingstonia, where they will spend the weekend resting and attending church. They will remain in Livingstonia until next Wednesday (18th) and during their time on the plateau they will meet the people involved and those they serve in the David Gordon Memorial Hospital (DGMH), a number of Primary Health Care Programmes and Livingstonia University.

With such a busy programme of visits and meetings, and all the travelling they will be doing, they value daily prayer support -

• For their safety at all times; for renewed strength for each new day; and that they will remain fit and well throughout their time in Malawi.
  
  
• That their visit will be an encouragement to all they meet; and for the ability to listen to and learn from their Malawian sisters and brothers.
  
  
• God's guidance for all they are planning to do and see, and that all will go smoothly without any major difficulties or setbacks.
  
  
• For wisdom in discerning how this visit can help strengthen the interest in, and support for, the work of the Church in Malawi amongst PW members throughout Ireland; and in identifying ways PW and Umanyano members can work more closely together in partnership.
  
  

At the College of Theology in Ekwendeni, lectures finish today, Wednesday 11th with the students have study days leading up to the end of semester exams, which run from 19th to 26th November. For nine of them this is the end of four years of a BTh course. 

Prayer Points –

• For all the students, as they prepare for and write their end of semester exams.
  
  
• Those for whom this is the end of their first semester that they may be spiritually enriched through the life and fellowship of the College.
  
  
• Those for whom this is the end of their basic training, that they may go out to congregations in Malawi and Zambia well-equipped for ministry.
  
  
• For the resources needed to be able to send the students back to their homes.
  
  

Robin and Helen Quinn, who have been on a private visit to the UK, return to Malawi this Friday (13th) and, en route back to Ekwendeni, will attend the wedding of one of the Lay Training Centre staff who is getting married in Lilongwe on Saturday,14th.

• Pray for safe travel and for the 'catching up' after being away.
  
  

Diane Cusick is due to return to Malawi next Monday, 16th November, after a short period in Belfast during which she has been getting started on a Masters degree through Stranmillis University College.

• Give thanks for the opportunity for Diane to undertake this further study and pray that all will go well as she continues working on her Masters when she returns to Mzuzu.
  
  
• Remember her in the few remaining days she has in Belfast; as she prepares for her return to Malawi; and for safe travel next week.

Day 24 – NEPAL

This week, Joe Campbell is with the UMN Cluster Team in Doti, where he is giving some training and also holding meetings with local partners and government officials.

Working overseas in tense situations puts particular strains on family relationships. Janet Campbell continues to be involved in counselling a number of individuals at present. 

Grenville Hopkinson continues to work with UMN staff and leadership in the development of UMN's new strategic plan. 

Prayer Points –

• For God's Spirit of love and compassion for Joe as he travels and interacts with pastors, UMN staff and their partners, and local government officials in Doti. Pray too for safety in all travel. 
  
  
• Remember Janet who has remained in Kathmandu this week. Pray for continuing wisdom and God's leading for Janet, as she seeks to help individuals and couples work through challenging times in their relationships. 
  
  
• Continue to pray for Grenville, as he seeks to enable good and inclusive decision-making in shaping the strategic plan for UMN. Pray too for Georgie and the children, that they will be kept safe and well and know God’s blessing and protection in all they do each day.

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