PL2010-20, 19-May-10
Wednesday, 19th May 2010 | No: PL2010-20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
Derek and Jane French are thankful to God for answered prayers regarding the formation of a GBU staff team in the North of Spain. By September, they hope to have a team of at least three young people working alongside Derek full-time.
Prayer Points –
- Give thanks for the way in which the Lord is bringing a team together and pray for those joining the team as they prepare for what lies ahead of them when they join GBU in Spain.
- Pray that others would respond to the call of God on their lives, those joining the team are all female and ideally it would be good to have young men on the team too.
- Derek French’s neck has been giving him more pain than usual recently, please pray for relief from the pain and for grace as he continues to work with so much pain.
- Several women who live in the same block of flats as the Frenchs have recently had babies and this has provided opportunities for Derek and Jane to get to get to know their neighbours better. Pray for opportunities to spread the gospel with them.
- Give thanks for Gabriela, and continue to pray that she will come to faith early in life.
Day 5 – PORTUGAL
This week, James Cochrane begins teaching the final module of the academic year (2009/2010).
Prayer Points –
- For James as he delivers his classes on Introduction to the Old Testament over the next six weeks.
- For the 30 students who attend classes on Thursday and Friday evenings in Olhão.
Heather Cochrane has been invited to speak at a ladies’ lunch on Sunday 23rd May.
Prayer Points –
- For Heather as she shares with these Portuguese women.
- That Heather’s Portuguese language will be clear and fluent.
Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI
Nicolas Mwakasula, one of the CCAP Early Childhood trainers who works alongside Diane Cusick and Fiona Innes, is hoping to travel to the UK in the summer for a few weeks to attend a cultural workshop and undertake a practical exam at the Montessori Centre in London, as part of the Early Childhood course he is currently studying. The Board of Mission Overseas has provided Nicolas with a scholarship for this. However, in order for Nicolas to obtain a visa to enter the UK, he has to sit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam and achieve a certain level. It is a challenging exam and the level he needs to attain in order to pass is high. He will be sitting this exam this Thursday and Friday (20th and 21st).
- Pray for Nicolas as he takes the exam and that he will be able to obtain the necessary pass level to allow him to obtain a visa for the UK.
Day 24 – NEPAL
The political tensions and strikes that paralysed the country for many days earlier this month, have in the past week, given way to a more normal life. Travelling and commercial life has resumed. The issues which caused the strike however, have not been resolved, despite many hours of tense meetings between the party leaders. The Constitutional Assembly’s time-limited life of two years will come to an end on 28th May, unless at least two thirds of its members agree to extend its life for the completion of the constitution writing. Without a proper timetable for decision-making, many feel an extension will simply not be good enough and result in more of the same. Calls for outside facilitation are being firmly resisted.
Grenville Hopkinson is in Butwal with other senior staff supporting the UMN cluster staff there with their planning process for the coming year. Grenville is also coordinating the planning process for all UMN’s seven clusters.
Joe Campbell is speaking this Saturday (22nd) at the Nepali Church which he and Janet attend. Joe continues to support staff in the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction in implementing elements of the peace agreement supported by the main parties.
Janet Campbell continues to counsel a number of individuals and couples and is planning day retreats for staff in Tansen Hospital and in Kathmandu.
Prayer Points –
- For political leaders that the good of the people and country will be uppermost in their minds as they negotiate on a number of difficult issues in the coming two weeks.
- Pray they will have courage and exercise bold leadership. The Nepali churches are planning a rally in Kathmandu this Sunday (23rd), in support of justice and democracy and to mark the completion of 40 days of prayer for Nepal.
- For Grenville that his time in Butwal will be useful and encouraging for the UMN staff. Pray also for Georgie and the children at home in Kathmandu.
- For Janet Campbell in her pastoral role with many people and for the retreats for prayer and reflection planned in June.
Day 25 – THAILAND
Over 40 people have been killed and scores have been injured over the past week in Bangkok, following several weeks of daily clashes between the ‘red shirts’ and the army that have now culminated in the army’s storming the red-shirts’ camps. The red-shirts have largely called off their protests and a number of their leaders handed themselves over to police saying they want to avoid further loss of life. However, some protesters have vowed to fight on and the issues which caused the dispute still remain unresolved and tensions very high.
- Pray for Thailand at this time, for calm and the restoration of peace with justice and equity for all.
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