PL2009-46, 18-Nov-09
Wednesday, 18th November 2009 | No: PL2009-46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 5 – PORTUGAL
James and Heather Cochrane continue in their work with the Portuguese Bible Institute (IBP), helping in the development of theological education in the Algarve region.
Prayer Points –
- Give thanks for the 18 IBP students in Olhão who have completed the first module of study and have now begun the second.
- Pray for James as he teaches the second module on ‘The Church: its nature and purpose’. The first two Friday nights went well and he will be teaching this module for a further four weeks.
- Pray for Heather and James as they mentor each of the 18 students. Although it is time consuming meeting individually with each student, it is proving to be very beneficial.
- Continue to pray for Alana and Lucy at school, where, so far as James and Heather can see, there don’t appear to be any pupils from an evangelical Christian background.
Day 8 – UKRAINE & ROMANIA
Towards the end of last week, Jenni Wolfe received the letter she needed from Kiev for her visa renewal application. At the weekend, she travelled to Budapest, submitted her visa application at the Ukrainian Embassy there on Monday (16th) and is expecting her new visa will be issued today (18th). [To keep up to date with Jenni’s news, visit her blog]
Back in Ukraine, schools remain closed due to the bad flu epidemic that’s sweeping through Western Ukraine. They are expected to reopen next week, after a forced closure by government order, which has lasted almost three weeks.
- Give thanks that the letter arrived by post just before Jenni’s visa expired and in time for her to get to Budapest in Hungary to submit her renewal application. Pray that her application will be successful and the new visa will be issued without further delay.
- Pray for all those in Ukraine and across the world who are suffering from the effects of flu. Remember especially those who do not have access to good medical facilities.
Rev Uel Marrs, Overseas Secretary, leaves this Sunday (22nd) on a short visit to Cluj in Romania, where he will be spending time with Csaba and Ilona Veres and family, as well as visiting Partner Church Representatives, the Aksza Mission Home and the Caleb House. Uel is due back again on Thursday (26th).
Prayer Points –
- For good health and trouble-free travel for Uel throughout his trip.
- For the visit to be an encouragement to the Veres family, and for good meetings with the Transylvanian Church District representatives and the staff at both Aksza and Caleb.
- Continue to pray for the Veres family, for the work of the Aksza Mission and Caleb House, and for the children and young people who live in these homes.
Days 12 to 14 – KENYA
Stephen and Angelina Cowan send the following prayer requests:
- Give thanks that Stephen Cowan is recovering after being diagnosed with pneumonia.
- Give thanks that the operation to remove a cyst from above a student’s ear went well. The student had been suffering from earache and associated headaches for a number of years.
- Give thanks that a government constitution has been released to the public for discussion.
- Pray for plans for the December mission. At present, 124 students have registered.
- Pray for the preparations for the youth camps due to take place in Tuum in December. Give thanks that more young people have asked to come from areas where the Word of God is new to them.
Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI
Una Brownlie continues to be busy at the David Gordon Memorial Hospital (DGMH) in Livingstonia. At the beginning of November, Mr Penjani Sichinga, took up the role of Acting Medical Officer In-Charge of the hospital.
Prayer Points –
- For wisdom and guidance for Penjani Sichinga as he takes up this challenging responsibility.
- For DGMH’s finances, that there will be sufficient funds for salaries and essential drugs each month and for rebuilding / repairing some homes, where orphans live with elderly grandmothers; some are starting to collapse.
- For the acute shortage of staff both in the hospital and the health centres.
- For those orphans who live alone, without adult support and council.
- For healing for those who are in the wards recovering from severe burns. Pray too for the safety of those who continue the practice of 'slash and burn' to clear their land.
Dorothy Marshall, President of Presbyterian Women (PW), and Edna McIlwaine, PW Overseas Vice-President, are now in the final week of their 2½-week visit to Malawi. Having visited the Blantyre area in the south of Malawi last week, they are now travelling round the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia in the north of the country and have spent the last few days with Una Brownlie in Livingstonia.
Today (18th) they are travelling from Livingstonia to Mzuzu, where they will stay with Diane Cusick until next Monday (23rd). During their time based in Mzuzu, Dorothy and Edna hope to see something of Diane's work in the development of Early Childhood Education; meet the Livingstonia Synod CCAP leadership and the Umanyano Coordinator.
They will also visit Robin and Helen Quinn in Ekwendeni, and meet those they work with there in the Lay Training Centre and Women's Empowerment Programme. Before leaving the north on Monday 23rd, they plan to visit Ekwendeni Hospital. Later that day, they expect to reach Lilongwe, where they will stay overnight, flying out on Tuesday 24th and, God willing, arriving back in Belfast on Wednesday, 25th November.
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.
Victoria Chihana and Helen Quinn are visiting all the congregations in Karonga Presbytery today (18th) and tomorrow (19th) as part of Women's Empowerment Programme.
Prayer Points –
- For safe travel and good interaction with the groups of women in each congregation.
- That the women will be encouraged in their faith as well as being helped materially.
- For physical stamina for Victoria and Helen, as this is the hottest time of the year in one of the hottest places in Malawi.
Day 24 – NEPAL
Despite the end of the civil war, Nepal is in the midst of a severe crime epidemic. Kidnapping gangs are roaming the capital. One human rights organisation estimates that over 2,000 people have been kidnapped for ransom. These kidnapping gangs usually focus on the middle and upper middle classes, who lack political connections.
Since the end of its civil war three years ago, the state has been all but paralysed by political in-fighting, which has undermined its fragile coalition government and allowed criminal groups to thrive.
Next week a major Hindu festival is scheduled to take place just outside Kathmandu, which will involving the slaughtering of thousands of animals as Hindus seeking to please ‘the gods’. This is usually held every five years and normally in India, however it has now been banned in that country.
Janet Campbell is attending a training programme in the USA this week, in connection with the pastoral care of mission personnel.
Prayer Points –
- Pray for the Nation of Nepal; for political stability, so that corrupt and dysfunctional systems will be ended and that people will have jobs, education, security and hope.
- Pray that God will break down the strongholds of superstition, fear and demonic activity and set people free to worship the King of Kings.
- Pray for all UMN’s staff, particularly the Hopkinsons and Campbells that they will be kept safe and secure, and that they will be inspired by the Holy Spirit to live out the love of God.
- Pray for Janet in the USA this week and that the training will benefit her work in pastoral care.
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