Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - PL2010-17, 28-Apr-10

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PL2010-17, 28-Apr-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 4 – SPAIN

The GBU mini camp in the north of Spain, which was postponed in February due to the snow, took place earlier this month with 30 students attending and a programme that went well.

• Give thanks for a good camp. Pray that God's word will take root in the heart of each student and that they will have a clear understanding of the importance of what true fellowship and community is - based on the Gospel.
  
  
• Andres, Alvaro and Gabriel, who were at the camp, want to start up a GBU group in Santander University.
  
  
• Pray that their enthusiasm would be lasting and that a new group may soon be established there.

Torre del Mar English-speaking congregation, where Jacqui Hartsmith-Foy is the minister, is holding a number of outreach events in May. Two seminars will be held on 4th and 5th May in a local hotel entitled ‘Listening in Stereo’ at which Rev Desi Maxwell will be the guest speaker. On the Sunday following these seminars, the congregation is holding a special outreach service which will be a ‘Celebration in Song’ with the Dyffryn Perris Welsh Male Voice Choir. Basil McCorriston from First Coleraine Presbyterian Church will give the keynote address at this service.

Please pray –

• For a safe journey for Desi and God’s anointing and blessing on him as he speaks at the seminars.
  
  
• For all those who attend (they will be from several countries) that they would be truly blessed.
  
  
• For a new commitment to the Lord and a fresh understanding of what is means to follow Jesus.
  
  
• For all the arrangements, that everything will go smoothly. Pray particularly that there will be no difficulties for those who will be flying in for this occasion.
  
  
• For God’s blessing on the ‘Celebration in Song’ outreach service. Pray particularly for the Welsh Male Voice Choir and for Basil, as they prepare for and take part in the service on Sunday, 9th May.
  
  
• That the offering from this service, which will be given to a small group working in Kenya with orphaned children, will be wisely used and of great blessing. This group is in the process of building a house for two British nurses who are working in Kenya with women and children, seeking to address their health and childcare needs. Members of the group are part of the Torre del Mar church family when they are in Spain, and have few resources.

Day 10 – SUDAN

Landmark national elections, which took place earlier this month, went off relatively peacefully with Omar al-Bashir re-elected as President of Sudan. However, observers and opposition parties have complained of election fraud (the two main opposition challengers withdrew from the elections beforehand as they claimed the elections would be rigged).

The elections were the first multi-party polls to be held in the country in 24 years. In January 2005, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed by parties in the North and South of Sudan, ending more than two decades of civil war (1983–2004). This is a critical time for Sudan with fears in recent months that the CPA may collapse and Sudan could descend into civil war once more. A referendum is due to be held in the South in 2011, to determine whether the South (which is largely Christian) remains part of Sudan (the north is mainly Arab-Muslim) or forms its own independent state.

• Pray for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to hold, for compromises to be reached and for a real and lasting peace for all the people of Sudan.
  
  
• Remember the Presbyterian Church of Sudan (our partner church) and pray for wisdom for its leaders as they minister to their peoples’ needs and seek to speak out for justice and peace for all. 

Days 12 to 14 – KENYA

Derek and Linda Roulston write, “...the visit of our minister, Rev Nigel Craig, was a very encouraging time! Many kilometres were covered from Galana to Kisima and we praise God we all stayed safe and well throughout the whole trip. It was lovely to see the work in Galana continuing well and know that God is still changing lives through the work of the missions. The headmaster of Galana school, plus two teachers, will be travelling to Ireland nextweek, to visit The Royal and Prior School Raphoe. Some of the pupils from the Royal and Prior in Donegal visitedGalana last year.  

We continue to have good rains, which is great for the potatoes that are now all planted. Plans are now underway for another Field Day for the community, at the end of May.”

• Praise God for safety and for many encouragements during Nigel Craig's trip.
  
  
• Pray for the new converts in Galana that they may follow God’s standards, which are so different to what they have grown up with.
  
  
• Give thanks that the Headmaster and both teachers received their visas in time; and that pray this trip to Ireland would be life-changing for these teachers, especially spiritually.

Naomi Leremore has been suffering recently from typhoid, but thankfully her condition is improving.

• Give thanks that Naomi is responding positively to treatment and pray that she will continue to make good progress and will soon be restored to full health and strength.

Edwin Kibathi is back safely in London after attending the PCEA General Assembly Committee in Kenya, where he gave an update report on the work of PCEA UK outreach. The meeting went well and among the important things discussed was the draft of a new Constitution for Kenya, which will soon be put to the nation in a referendum. The PCEA has joined with other Christian organisations in rejecting the current draft, if the clauses on abortion and Kadhi courts are kept in.

Whilst in Kenya, Edwin also had an opportunity to visit the Internally Displaced People, who are still camped at Mai Mahiu in the Rift Valley.

Prayer Points –

• Give thanks for safe travel for Edwin and that his family in London remained safe and well while he was away. 
  
  
• For the success of the PCEA General Assembly Committee meeting.
  
  
• For Kenya at this time, that the debate on the draft constitution will not tear the country apart; and that the government will listen to the churches’ request for contentious clauses to be removed from the draft.
  
  
• For the internally displaced people who are still living in tents in the Rift Valley with nowhere else to go.
  
  
• For Mary, a member of the Kibathi’s church whose sister died recently in Kenya, that she will find the comfort that comes from God at this difficult time. 

The April youth camps in Tuum went well and a visual presentation on female circumcision showed the young people how it is physically damaging and causes problems in child birth.

• Pray that the young people will take this message back to their villages.
  
  
• Pray that the Word of God will encourage those girls who refuse to be circumcised and challenge those who have yet to decide whether or not to undergo this traditional cultural practice. 

Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI

Scripture Union Malawi (SUM) is holding training for staff and committee members from Thursday, 29th April to Saturday, 1st May. The training will be taken by Kudakwashe Gwemende, Scripture Union’s Sub-Regional Director for Southern Africa, who arrived in Malawi on Monday of this week. There will be staff training on Thursday and Friday and training on Saturday for committee members.

Please pray for –

• Kudakwashe Gwemende as he leads the training sessions.
  
  
• SUM staff as they train in ministry engagement and activity.
  
  
• SUM Committee Members as they focus on effective governance of the national movement.

Peter Rowntree from The Mall Presbyterian Church, Armagh arrived in Malawi three weeks ago and is working with SUM until the end of May. He will be involved in schools ministry and discipleship groups.

• Pray for Peter as he continues to settle in and adjust to life and work in Malawi; and remember him as he prepares and presents lessons over the coming weeks.

Day 24 – NEPAL

Nepal is moving into a time of even more political uncertainly. One commentator described it as a ‘functioning anarchy’. With nationwide demonstrations called for Saturday, 1st May and all out strike from 2nd May, unless the government resigns, the functioning could end abruptly. The political parties have been unable to implement some aspects of the 2006 Peace Agreement which ended the ten-year war and the Constitutional Assembly has been unable to complete the writing of the new constitution. Planning events and travel in the coming weeks is likely to be very difficult for UMN staff.

UMN staff members working in some of the remote clusters have been asked to make ‘donations’ to political parties. While there is never any direct threat to staff, such requests can make things very uncomfortable for UMN and its partner organisations. For staff living away from family and friends these are difficult days. The Nepali church has called for sustained prayer during at this time.

UMN has again recruited a small group of Nepali Christian young people as interns and trainees. Young Christians are often discriminated against when searching for work in Nepal. This training programme of six to 12 months helps many to gain skills and experiences and to find suitable jobs. It is reckoned that over 50% of Nepal’s population is without regular work.  

Please pray –

• For the political situation in the country that wise leadership will prevail and politicians will pull back from the brink of anarchy.
  
  
• For the meeting on Friday evening that Joe Campbell is having with politicians from the main three political parties.  Pray that these men will exercise leadership among their colleagues.
  
  
• For UMN’s staff and especially the young cluster team leaders that they will be given wisdom and that all staff will be safe and free from unnecessary fear.
  
  
• For the church in Nepal, that during services this weekend and in the coming weeks, pastors will give people hope and a sense of security in God.
  
  
• Give thanks for the group of Christian young people recently recruited by UMN and for the freshness they bring to the fellowship.  Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they seek to discern God’s will in terms of jobs and a future in the country.

Day 25 – THAILAND

In Bangkok, the anti-government protesters known as the ‘red-shirts’ continue to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister, the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections to be held. In the context of the continuing unrest, Rev Sayam Muangsak, General Secretary of the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT), our partner church, writes to CCT’s friends and partners overseas:

“Many of you have written to us with assurances of prayers and expression of concern for our situation hereinThailand since I last wrote. We in the Church of Christ in Thailand are truly grateful for your solidarity and supportatthis difficult time in the life of our nation.

The situation has not improved since 10th April, when 24 people were mortally wounded and over 800 injuredinclashes between the security forces and the ‘red shirt’ demonstrators. Since then the tension has escalated.Anestimated 63,000 people have not been able to return to their places of work in the normally busy centre of thecity of Bangkok because of the disruptions and barricades. The number of tourists coming to Thailand has tailed off drastically with warnings by several embassies around the world. Other groups have started to take to the streets todemonstrate against the ‘red shirts’ and in support of the government. These have clashed with the red shirt factionand there have been more injuries. Last Thursday night several grenades were launched into a crowded area ofdowntown. One of these exploded in the mass transit system killing one more person and injuring many others."

• Please continue to pray for Thailand and its people at this time of tension and disquiet throughout the nation.
  
  
• Pray for calm and the restoration of peace with justice and equity for all.
  
  
• Pray particularly for the Church in Thailand, that it may have a clear understanding of its God-given place in society, having the courage to speak prophetically into the current situation and seeking to find ways to help bring about a lasting peace to a deeply divided and fearful nation.
  
  
• Give thanks for a recent gathering in Bangkok of over 700 Christians from various churches and denominations who came together to pray for peace and order to be restored to the streets, and for a  solution (acceptable to all) to be found to the current political turmoil.

Days 27 to 29 – INDONESIA

Rev Agustinus N Aesh, a former Moderator of our partner church Gereja Masehi Injili di Halmahera (GMIH) – the Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera – remains seriously ill in hospital, in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.  The latest news is that the treatment seems to working well and he is gradually getting stronger. 

• Please continue to pray for Agustinus and his family at this time. Give thanks for indications that the treatment he’s receiving is helping and pray that it will lead to a full recovery.

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