Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - PL2010-09, 03-Mar-10

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PL2010-09, 03-Mar-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 1 – BOARD of MISSION OVERSEAS

The Boardmeets next Wednesday morning (10th).

Prayer Points –

• For God’s wisdom, guidance and, as decisions are made, for a strong sense of His purposes for the future focus and direction of our Church’s place and role in the worldwide mission of Jesus Christ.
  
  
• For those who will speak or present reports.

Day 2 – BRAZIL

Naomi Keefe has arrived safely in Recife, following her home assignment and is catching up with friends and colleagues as she settles back into her house in Aguazinha. 

• Pray that she will settle back well into life and work in Brazil.

Many people in PCI may remember Max, James and Heather Cochrane’s close colleague and dear friend whom they worked alongside when they served in Brazil. Max’s mother, Neivalene, in her early 50's, died on Saturday after suffering a stroke last week. The funeral service was held on Sunday. Thankfully, Max, his brother Maxwell and their father Sobrinho draw strength from Neivalene’s strong faith. 

• Pray for comfort as they mourn the loss of a dear mother and wife.

Day 4 – SPAIN

Derek and Jane French with Gabriela arrived safely in Ireland last Wednesday (24th) for a short home assignment. Next Wednesday (10th), Derek and Jane will be speaking at a special event in Woodlands Presbyterian Church, Carrickfergus, commencing at 7.45pm, to which everyone is welcome to come to. 

• Pray for Derek and Jane as they undertake a busy schedule of deputation both in the north and south of Ireland over the next few weeks. 
  
  
• Pray for good attendance at the event in Woodlands next Wednesday (10th). 

Day 8 – UKRAINE

Jenni Wolfe continues to be busy teaching at Nagyberegi Református Líceum. 

Prayer Points –

• God’s guidance for Jennie in all her work. 
  
  
• The students as they prepare for and sit their exams. 
  
  
• The students going on various trips from school. 
  
  
• The Roma community and the work with the children. 
  
  
• Safe travel for Marie Kane, from Jenni’s home congregation, who is going to visit her soon. 

Days 12 to 14 – KENYA

At very short notice, Derek Roulston competed in a 50km bike race, to raise funds for school fees for students from Galana. The 14 students successfully completed their primary education in Galana and have already started secondary school. Their parents had already raised over half the fees. Derek finished the race - coming in 11th out of 54 in his 50km class!

There is very wet weather at the moment, but Derek is still hoping to hold a field day as planned (4th March), which is a great chance to meet a cross section of the farming community.  Many in the area are farmers but have never been to agricultural college and have very limited knowledge of good farming practices.

Derek has also been asked to lead a ceremony for renewal of wedding vows which will take place next Wednesday (10th). 

Prayer Points –

• The students to get all the funds needed to continue their secondary education.
  
  
• The field day will go well and stay dry on the day.
  
  
• Wisdom for Derek as he leads the ceremony and that it will be a very special and meaningful witness of God’s grace and love.

Stephen Cowan writes, “It has been raining in Tuum for almost a week.  It is lovely to see it green but hard to imagine if there will be a normal rainy season in April /May.  As a result of the rain, good foliage recovery has taken place in the girls’ secondary school field, which was ruined by overgrazing with sheep last year.  The head teacher of the girls’ secondary school has returned to Tuum after an accident in December.  It has been a discouraging week in the school with five girls leaving due to pregnancy.  Many do not see the dangers of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.”

• Give thanks for the rain and pray that over the next few months there will be a good supply of rain to allow plenty of water for people, animals and vegetation. 
  
  
• Give thanks that Halima, the head teacher has returned to school, pray for her as she resumes her work and that she will continue to recover. Pray that teachers will be encouraged. 
  
  
• Pray for leadership training which will begin again in Nakuru. Some will continue with level two and one or two will begin level one. (It is encouraging to see the impact of this Christian leadership on corruption at a local level, and a desire to build society on Christian principles for the next generation, not just inside church.) Pray for safety in travel and good preparation in advance of the course.

Last Saturday, the newly planted PCEA congregation for East African expatriates in London, where Edwin and Anne Kibathi serve, held two successful functions. The men had a breakfast together and the attendance was very encouraging, and the youth had their dinner on the same day; 35 young people turned up and they had a wonderful time together. However, when the Kibathis returned home in the evening, they found their house had been broken into and that the thieves had stolen several items.

Prayer Points –

• Thank God for the men and pray that the breakfast will be a time of encouraging one another.
  
  
• That the youth group will continue growing both spiritually and in numbrs.
  
  
• That the thieves who broke into the Kibathis’ house will meet with Christ and be transformed.

Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI

Fiona Innes has arrived safely in Mzuzu. 

• Remember Fiona as she settles in to a new culture and as she prepares to take up the role of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in the Synod of Livingstonia’s Early Childhood Development Programme. 

Diane Cusick will be in Belfast from 6th to 16th March to attend a course at Stranmillis as part of her ongoing study for a Masters degree in Early Childhood Studies through Stranmillis University College.

• Pray for Diane’s travel and for her studies to go well. 

Neil and Sara Kennedy are meeting with the new Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) student leaders this week to help them with programme planning and direction on useful topics. 

Prayer Points –

• For Thandie and Florence, the new Christian Medical Fellowship student leaders, and that they will be able to balance the time they spend on their studies with time commitments for CMF.
  
  
• For the first joint meeting between students and qualified doctors to be held on the 12th March.

Victoria Chihana and Helen Quinn are visiting all the congregations in Champira Presbytery today (2nd) to meet with the groups of women in each congregation who have received loans through the Lay Training Centre’s, Women's Empowerment Programme Micro-Finance Loan Scheme. The rains have been better of late, but that means very wet and muddy conditions on the roads. Last week Helen and Victoria found the road blocked at one point late in the afternoon as darkness fell with many vehicles stuck in the mud. Fortunately it was not too far from Ekwendeni and they got home by 7.00pm.  

Prayer Points –

• For safe travel in these difficult conditions.
  
  
• That the present groups of women will be able to repay their loans so that others will benefit.
  
  
• That these women will be encouraged in their faith and be more able to provide for their families.

Today, (3rd) is a public holiday in Malawi for Martyrs' Day. The elders in Livingstonia congregation are meeting for an ‘elders' school’ today being taught by Revs Stephen Bota and Robin Quinn.

• Pray that this will be a blessing to the elders and equip them better for their ministry in the Prayer Houses of the congregation.

The Synod Planning Committee of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia meets this Saturday (6th). The main item on their agenda will be to review the work of the four taskforces working on the implementation of the Synod's Strategic Plan.  

• Pray for good attendance as some members have to travel long distances. 
  
  
• Pray that the committee will have vision guided by the Holy Spirit, and make decisions that will enhance the spiritual life of the Synod and advance its ministry.  

The Synod Health Board of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia meets next Tuesday (9th). The three Synod hospitals continue to face many challenges. 

• Pray for all the Board members, many of whom are new and for wisdom as they deals with the challenges.

Day 24 – NEPAL

Nigel Eves (BMO Asia Secretary) and Rev Dr Trevor Morrow (Minister of Lucan Presbyterian Church) are coming to the end of their visit to Nepal and are due to depart tomorrow (4th), arriving home in Ireland, the following day. The United Mission to Nepal (UMN) Expatriate Retreat last weekend was attended by 90 people including children. Trevor Morrow’s talks were inspiring. Grenville Hopkinson helped lead the praise times and Janet and Joe Campbell lead small group workshops. Nigel Eves returned last night from a visiting to Dhading cluster, about four hours drive from Kathmandu, where he met partners implementing a peace-building programme supported by this year’s Sunday School and Youth Project.

Prayer Points –

• Give thanks for the very successful time Trevor had with denominational leaders last Wednesday and Thursday. UMN is now planning with the leaders how this sort of interchange and partnership working can continue. 
  
  
• Give thanks for Trevor and Nigel’s good health and for the successful programmes they have been able to be part of in the past week. 
  
  
• Trevor speaks to UMN staff in an open forum today Wednesday 3rd March. Pray for a good attendance and for God’s Spirit to do His work among the staff. 
  
  
• For safe and trouble-free travel home for Nigel and Trevor. 

Joe Campbell travels to Bangkok tomorrow (4th), where he will be participating in and presenting a paper on Peace-building and Development to the heads of nine organisations working in four Asian countries. 

• Pray for safety and blessing on this gathering as the region has more than is fair share of conflicts and unresolved tensions.

Grenville Hopkinson will be in England from 10th to 17th March to complete a module as part of his Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Management. 

• Pray for Grenville’s travel and for his studies to go well.

Day 26 – MISSION INVOLVEMENT

‘Seize the moment!’ is the theme for this Spring’s ‘Celebration of Global Mission’ event taking place on Tuesday, 23rd March in Banbridge Road, Dromore Presbyterian Church (7.45 pm – 9.30 pm).  The speakers will be Ron & Hilary McCartney (Pakistan), Derek & Jane French (Spain) and Maurice & Helen Kennedy(Malawi). 

Prayer Points –

• For all those involved in preparing for each evening.
  
  
• That as publicity for these events reaches congregations many will be encouraged to attend. 

The Board of Mission Overseas is also organising the following Training Events over the next couple of months aimed at those sendingteams or short-term workers overseas, and those leading/going on overseas teams. 

Briefing for Senders on Saturday 6th March in Hillhall Presbyterian Church, near Lisburn

Overseas Teams Training on Saturday, 17th April in Hillhall Presbyterian Church near Lisburn

Debriefing for Senders on Saturday 15th May in Banbridge Road, Dromore Presbyterian Church

Prayer Points –

• For those involved in organising and preparing for these events.
  
  
• For good attendance at these training events. 

Information Leaflets including booking forms for these training days can be obtained from the Mission Overseas Office (Tel: 028 9032 2284) or online at: www.pcimissionoverseas.org/events/.

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