Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - PL2010-18, 05-May-10

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PL2010-18, 05-May-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 8 – UKRAINE

After spending a good part of yesterday ‘grounded’ at Dublin Aiport due to ‘volcanic ash cloud’ delays, Rev Uel Marrs (Overseas Secretary) finally took off late afternoon and arrived safely in Hungary last night.  He then travelled on by car to Transcarpathia in Western Ukraine, arriving there in the early hours of this morning.  Uel is in Transcarpathia at the invitation of Bishop Sandor Zan Fabian of the Transcarpathian Reformed Church (TRC), an ethnic Hungarian denomination linked with the Reformed Church in Hungary (HRC) that serves the mainly Hungarian-speaking population of Western Ukraine.

The purpose of Uel’s visit is twofold: (1) To discuss with Bishop Sandor how we in PCI might further develop and strengthen our links with the TRC, which in recent years has been mainly through various teams; and (2) To meet with Jenni Wolfe (from First Islandmagee) and staff at Nagyberegi Református Líceum (NBRL), the Reformed Church secondary school in the village of Nagybereg(Berehi) where Jenni has been teaching since last August.  ‘Ash Cloud’ permitting, Uel is due home again on Saturday (8th). 

• Pray for safe and trouble-free travel home.
  
   
• Pray for Uel and Bishop Sandor as they meet and seek to find ways of strengthen the links between our two churches.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to know what is practical and what would be a blessing and help in both our contexts.
  
  
• Pray that Uel’s visit will be an encouragement to Jenni and to the staff and students at NBRL. Give thanks for Jenni’s faithful and fruitful service to date and pray for her as she looks to coming back home later this summer.

Days 12 to 14 – KENYA

The Reid family continues to struggle with illnesses at present.  Gary has pneumonia and Mary has tick fever and amoebiasis, and all the children are feeling unwell too. 

• Continue to pray for the Reid family that each of them will soon be restored to full health and strength. 

Naomi Leremore is thankful for all those who have been praying for her as she recovers from typhoid. 

• Continue to pray for her full recovery and remember Thomas who is also unwell.

Day 24 – NEPAL

Following the large May Day protest in Kathmandu last Saturday (1st May), which passed off peacefully, the Maoists, as they threatened to do, began an indefinite nationwide bundh (strike) the next day, Sunday 2nd.  They say it will only end when the Prime Minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, resigns and the current government makes way for a Maoist-led government of national unity.  This is a right the Maoists feel they have, being by far the biggest party elected in 2008, and because the government has not yet completed the writing of Nepal’s new Constitution nor fully implemented the peace agreement signed in 2006, which ended a 10-year conflict.  Although the protests have so far been largely peaceful, therevare widespread reports of intimidation with many businesses closed and roads that are empty.  The government and the Maoists are continuing talks to try to find a resolution to the crisis, but things seem increasingly tense. 

The Campbells and the Hopkinsons are affected, like everyone else, but they are endeavouring as far as possible to continue with their normal routines, taking each day as it comes and in God's strength.  Schools are now closed, including the one the Hopkinson children go to just a short distance from their home.  Georgie Hopkinson says, “The shops are opening between 6.00 pm and 8.00 pm andthere's still food on the shelves but no further supplies are getting through and fruit and vegetables are almost gone!”  Getting to and from work has to be on foot as the movement of all cars or motorbikes is impeded by roadblocks.  They report that the streets are quiet at present but the continuing political stalemate means that the situation is becoming increasingly tense as each day passes.  Unsubstantiated reports going around say curfews are possible and that the bundh (strike) is likely to last 15 days.

• Pray for the country of Nepal at this critical point in its history, that it will be kept from imploding and that reason and calm will prevail.
  
  
• Pray that politicians from all the parties will continue meeting and talking with each other and soon find a solution to the present stalemate, one that all can accept.  Pray for bold and decisive  leadership that will lead to peaceful working together in place of the current entrenched standoff.
  
  
• The safety and welfare of all who are affected by the strike and for continuing peace and calm on the streets.  Remember particularly those who need to work each day in order to eat, normally the poorest of the poor, who are now struggling just to survive as they can’t find any work with many business activities and work-opportunities severely curtailed.
  
  
• Remember Joe and Janet Campbell, and Grenville and Georgie Hopkinson and their children, living in Kathmandu and seeking to carry on a ‘normal life’ as far as possible. They ask particularly for prayer for wisdom and guidance for each new day.  Pray for their safety too.
  
  
• Pray for the Church in Nepal, that it will find appropriate ways of letting the Light of Christ shine at this time, that is will be able to serve the needy and vulnerable in Jesus’ Name demonstrating His love and compassion for mankind; and speaking with a prophetic voice at this critical cross-roads in the life of the nation.
  

On Tuesday of last week, Grenville and Georgie Hopkinsoncompleted the Alpha course they have been running with four people from the expatriate community, who greatly appreciated the opportunity to explore Christianity.  The Hopkinson's enjoyed running it and felt challenged by the questions and discussions that took place.  Georgie was at Patan Hospital last week to have two moles removed.  

• Give thanks that the Alpha Course went well and pray for God’s blessing on those who attended. 
  
  
• Pray for Georgie as she recovers and waits for the results of the biopsies. 
  
  
• With schools closed because of the strike, remember Georgie as she helps the children do school work at home.
  
  
• Give thanks that members of the International Church (KICC) were able to met in the Hopkinson's garden last Sunday.  Some 60 people came together for worship and fellowship despite the strike. 

Day 25 – THAILAND

There is hope in Thailand that there may soon be an agreement between the government and the red-shirt protesters, bringing an end to the protests (now into their eighth week) which have paralysed some areas of central Bangkok

The red-shirts had been demanding the immediate resignation of the Prime Minister and government, and for new elections to be called.  The government has now offered to hold elections on 14th November and put forward a reconciliation plan which includes respect for the Monarch, reforms to address social inequality, an impartial media, an independent inquiry into the recent fatal clashes, and a debate on the need for constitutional reform. 

The red-shirts have said they will join this reconciliation process provided a date is fixed for the dissolution of parliament and that there is an assurance of “sincerity”.  They have also asked the government not to involve the King in the conflict and to stop aggressive behaviour towards the protestors.  Meantime, their protest continues. 

• 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.

Day 26 – MISSION INVOLVEMENT

The Board of Mission Overseas, along with the Mission Agencies Partnership (MAP), is organising a Debriefing for Senders Workshop – for team leaders and those sending teams overseas to train them on the how to provide effective debriefing to those returning from short-term mission assignments overseas. 

Debriefing is an important tool that aims to help such people work through the impact of their feelings and emotions, helping them to benefit from their overseas experiences as they settle back into the routines of ‘normal life’ at home.  The workshop will be held on Saturday 15th May in Banbridge Road, Dromore Presbyterian Church. 

Links: More information and Information Flyer (174Kb pdf).
To book, contact the Mission Overseas Office.
Closing date for booking is Thursday 13th May 2010.

Prayer Points –

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

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