Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - PL2010-08, 24-Feb-10

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PL2010-08, 24-Feb-10

The 'Day' and 'Country' designations below refer to the respective right-hand page(s) in the 2010 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 2 – BRAZIL

Naomi Keefe departs tomorrow, Thursday (25th) to return to Recife having completed her home assignment. She will return to her work with the Christian Centre of Help to the Family, which works with those who seek to eek out a living from the city’s rubbish tip. 

• Pray for safe and trouble-free travel for Naomi.
  
  
• Pray that she will settle back well into her work.

Day 4 – SPAIN

Derek and Jane French with Gabriela are due to arrive in Ireland today (24th) for a short home assignment. 

• Pray for them as they undertake a busy schedule of deputation both in the north and south of Ireland over the next few weeks.  

Day 5 – PORTUGAL

James and Heather Cochrane, continue to be busy in their work teaching degree modules to students enrolled with the Portuguese Bible Institute. They send the following prayer requests:-

• Pray for the new class of 19 students which started on 18th February and will run on Thursday nights, alongside the Friday night classes. Pray that the students will settle into the way of studying very quickly.
  
  
• Having classes on two nights requires a lot of support from teachers in Lisbon. Pray for the teachers as they travel down to the Algarve each Thursday, returning on Saturday morning.
  
  
• With 37 students in the Algarve there is a lot of administrative work - communicating with students, keeping records of their marks, etc. Pray for Heather as she carries out most of this.
  
  
• Both James and Heather are involved in mentoring the students of the Friday night class. Pray for these individual meetings that they would be of benefit and encouragement to the students. Pray for wisdom for James and Heather as this is the first opportunity they have had to be mentors. 
  
  
• James will be teaching ‘Introduction to the Old Testament’ later on in the semester. Pray for him as he prepares for this. 

Day 10– SUDAN

There are signs of hope to the people in Darfur. A ceasefire agreement has been signed between the Sudanese government and Darfur’s largest rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), which includes a framework for further talks, discussing issues including power sharing and the return of displaced people. It is hoped that a final peace agreement could be signed by 15 March. Unfortunately, the other main rebel group, the Sudan LiberationArmy-AbdulWahid faction still refuses to enter peace negotiations, however it is hoped this rebel group and the others may yet join the process. 

The conflict in Darfur has been ongoing for seven years now, and although in the past couple of years the intensity of the violence has reduced, fighting has continued and around 2.5 million people remain displaced from their homes. 

Prayer Points –

• That this agreement and ceasefire will be implemented and lead to a lasting peace. 
  
  
• That the other rebel groups will enter peace talks and that they too may agree to stop the fighting. 
  
  
• Remember those who continue to be affected by the on-going conflict and for aid workers bringing humanitarian supplies. 
  
  
• Continue to pray that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 ending the civil war (1983-2004) between north and south Sudan will continue to hold. 

Days 12 to 14– KENYA

Stephen Cowan reports that it has been peaceful in the Tuum area of northern Kenya for the past two weeks, allowing both ethnic groups to move more freely and for some economic activities including animal trading to take place. It is hoped that the new dormitory at the primary school will be finished for next term, and that both Turkana and Samburu in the last years of primary school will learn together.

Tuum Girls’ Secondary School’s fourth year girls’ trip was a beneficial event. It was good to see vegetables being grown commercially for local markets and export. It is hoped that exposure such as this will raise the motivation of the girls.  Many go through school with little hope of progress for the future. Initiation into adulthood is a major contributor to this hopelessness in Samburu culture.

Prayer Points –

• Give thanks that the stand of one of the girls is bearing fruit. Pray that the forthcoming awareness seminar on female genital mutilation in April will begin to encourage the younger generation to refuse this initiation. The spiritual bondage experienced by those who have been initiated in the lives of girls is horrifying. 
  
  
• Pray for the monthly seminar which is on this week. Give thanks that there has been a good attendance generally, however unfortunately few men have come from outside villages. Praise God that evil cultural values are being challenged by the team of local Samburus who have been born again, and who are growing in Christ.
  
  
• Pray that first planned Christian wedding to take place in Nyiru will be supported by Presbytery and that this will show the younger generation that syncretism does not bring any blessing. God is a jealous God.
  
  
• Pray for the outreach this month which will be near Larrarok which is within walking distance of Tuum.

Naomi Leremore writes, “The follow up curriculum workshop went very well last week. The committee were able tocomplete most of the lessons for book 1 for age 4 to 6 year olds. They hope to have the book ready for publication in July.”

• Thank God for the successful workshop and that book 1 is nearing completion.
  
  
• Pray for the remaining stages in the process, that all will go smoothly.
  
  
• Remember Naomi and two other members of the committee as they meet tomorrow (25th) for a review.
  
  
• Naomi will be speaking to the Church School executive committee on Saturday in Kitengela. Pray for God’s help as she prepares and presents the talk on ‘children’s ministry’, and for safety in travel.

Days 16 to 19– MALAWI

Fiona Innes leaves this Saturday (27th) to travel to Mzuzu, where she will take up the role of Monitoring and Evaluation Officerin the Synod of Livingstonia’s Early Childhood Development Programme.This will involve working closely with Diane Cusick in the development of the Montessori teaching and training methodology in pre-schools throughout the Livingstonia Synod area. 

• Remember Fiona as she says farewell to family and friends. 
  
  
• Pray for safe and trouble-free travel.
  
  
• Pray that she will adapt well to life and work in Malawi. 

The CCAP Synod of Livingstonia has been working on a strategic plan for the whole Synod for some time. Now the implementation process is 'getting into gear' under the guidance of the Synod Capacity Development Officer, Martijn van den Boogaart, a young mission partner from the Netherlands. Of the 12 priorities areas of the plan, the first four are being addressed at the moment.  They are (1) Improve the spiritual life of the Synod; (2) Increase Minister and Lay Leadership Training; (3) Improve the financial resource base, and (4) Improve the financial management and reporting.

Prayer Points –

• Give thanks for this process which has the potential to be a means of great blessing to the life and work of the Synod.
  
  
• For Martijn as he oversees the process. 
  
  
• For wisdom and commitment of the members of the taskforces and the Synod Planning Committee. 
  
  
• For vision and energy for the Synod leaders, even as they deal with many challenges and the day-to-day matters of the Synod.  

The College of Theology at Ekwendeni asks for prayers as they seek to prepare people for the ministry in the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia. At present, there are 24 students doing their basic training for the Ministry. Some of the staff are known to people in PCI - Rev Dr Silas Nyirenda, Rev William Mumba, Rev Binnie Mwakasungula, Rev Dr Winston Kawale, and Rev Robin Quinn.

• Please uphold them and their colleagues before God, that they may be used to prepare these young people well for effective service in the years to come.

Day 24 – NEPAL

Nigel Eves (BMO Asia Secretary) and Rev Dr Trevor Morrow (Minister of Lucan Presbyterian Church) arrived safely in Kathmandu on Monday evening (22nd). Nigel has a series of meetings with several UMN senior staff and will travel to Dhadingone of the UMN cluster areas to see the progress of the PCI Youth and Children's supported peace project there.

Trevor is speaking at a gathering of 18 key denominational leaders, UMN leaders and Nepali Board Members at an overnight conference entitled, ‘Jesus, Justice and Peace’concluding today (24th). From Thursday evening (25th) through to Sunday evening (28th), Trevor will be the main speaker at the UMN Retreat for expatriate staff which will involve some 65 adults and 30 children. Trevor will also speak at an open forum next Wednesday morning, (3rd) to which all UMN staff have been invited. Nigel and Trevor leave Nepal next Thursday (4th), arriving home in Ireland the following day.

Prayer Points –

• For safety and good health for Nigel and Trevor throughout their trip.  
  
  
• For God’s rich blessing on all they undertake while in the country, and especially that Trevor will be used to bring God’s message in his two main speaking events. 
  
  
• That the retreat will be a blessing to all who attend.

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