Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - PL2010-33, 18-Aug-10

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PL2010-33, 18-Aug-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.

Days 13 to 15 – KENYA

‘Team Tuum 2010’, a team of 10 people from Waringstown Presbyterian, who have been helping to run the August youth camps in Tuum alongside Stephen & Angelina Cowan, shares the following points for prayer:

• Give thanks for life-changing and vibrant youth camps in Tuum over the past 10 days. Praise God for those who came to know Christ for the first time, and for others whose faith and commitment have been deepened. Pray that these changes would last. Pray also for local church leaders as they disciple these new Christians.
  
  
• Many Christian teenagers travelled into Tuum from surrounding areas. Pray that they would be a help and encouragement to each other as they return to their villages and to school, and that they would stand firm in their faith and commitment to Christ.
  
  
• Give thanks for health, stamina and a great unity within ‘Team Tuum 2010’. It was evident that many lives were changed. Pray for safety in all travel as the team returns home.
  
  
• Continue to pray for the Cowan family. Their Christian witness in this area is very evident to any who visit, with their ministry being an integral part of their everyday life. To see their love and concern for the Samburu people around them was a huge encouragement to the team and the benefits of a long-term influence for Christ in this area can be clearly seen throughout the whole community.

Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI & SOUTH AFRICA

Una Brownlie continues to be busy at the David Gordon Memorial Hospital (DGMH), in Livingstonia.

• Pray for safe travel as hospital drivers and staff use difficult and dangerous roads every day. Last week a pick-up vehicle rolled from bend 2 to bend 5 on the 'Gorodi' road. Fortunately no-one was killed or seriously hurt. However, two people were admitted to DGMH for observation and treatment.
  
  
• Pray for more staff to come to work at the hospitals and health centres along the lake shore; there are staff shortages at all levels. Pray especially that a new matron will be appointed soon; the current matron is due to leave at the end of August. 
  
  
• Mr Nyasulu, Senior Clinical Officer who was working at out Mlowe Health Centre died after a short illness. Remember his wife and family as they cope with this tragic loss.
  
  
• Pray for Mr Penjani Sichinga and the management team of the hospital as they work and plan together. 
  
  
• Pray that the continued need for drugs and laboratory supplies will be met.
  
  
• Pray for Naomi, a four-week old baby, who has been left an orphan; her mother died following a short illness. Josephine (Orphan Care Coordinator) is helping with milk and other supplies for the baby. Pray that the resources needed to care for orphans such as Naomi will be found.

The College of Theology at Ekwendeni has made a good start to the second semester of 2010. There have been a few changes to the 12 new students starting their training for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments, but the class is now settled. The Principal of the College, who missed the opening of the semester because he was in hospital, is returning to work this week. A house has been found for the new lecturer, Rev C C Mambo and he too has settled in.

• Give thanks for the settling in of the new students and staff, and that the Principal, Rev Dr Overtoun Mazunda, has resumed his work at the College. Continue to pray for his recovery. 
  
  
• Pray for the staff of the College that they will be effective in their teaching by word and example. 
  
  
• Pray for the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the students; that their calling will be confirmed, their commitment deepened and their faith strengthened.
  
  
• Pray for the provision of the resources needed to keep the College going, especially with the increased number of students.

This week, Youth Conferences are taking place in a number of the Presbyteries throughout Livingstonia Synod, from 17th to 22nd August. Robin and Helen Quinn will be addressing two of these, in Ekwendeni and Henga Presbyteries.

• Pray that these conferences will be great times of challenge, fellowship, teaching and spiritual growth for the young people who attend. 
  
  
• Pray for God’s guidance for all the speakers and leaders of the seminar groups.

Over the next few weeks, the Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Norman Hamilton, his wife, Evelyn, and daughter, Julie, will visit South Africa and Malawi. In South Africa, they will meet church leaders and seek to learn from their experience coming out of a divided society, as well as exploring the link between evangelism and reconciliation. In Malawi, they will visit CCAP church leaders and projects in the Blantyre, Nkhoma and Livingstonia Synods, and meet with PCI missionary personnel currently serving in Malawi.

• Pray for safe and trouble-free travel for the Hamiltons, and for good health and safety throughout their trip. 
  
  
• Pray that their visit to South Africa visit will provide a good learning experience. 
  
  
• Pray too that their visit will be an encouragement to all the church leaders, missionary personnel and others they meet.

Rev Uel Marrs, Overseas Secretary, leaves this Friday (20th) on a visit to South Africa and then Zambia, where he will attend the annual meeting of CCAP Zambia Synod. He is due home again next Saturday (28th). 

• Pray for trouble-free travel and for good health and safety for Uel throughout his trip. 
  
  
• Pray for Uel’s meetings with church leaders and for God’s blessing on the CCAP Zambia Synod as it meets. 

Day 23 – PAKISTAN

Last week, the Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Norman Hamilton, launched a church-wide appeal to support relief work in Pakistan following severe floods. It is now estimated 20 million people have been affected by the floods which have swept away lives and livelihoods. 

Contributions received from PCI members through their congregations will be channelled primarily through partners of Tearfund and Christian Aid. Both agencies have been working in Pakistan for a long time (Christian Aid since 1954) and are already providing emergency food and medical assistance through their well-established networks. A portion of contributions received will also be donated to the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, a partner of PCI through the Board of Mission Overseas. This symbolises our standing alongside our suffering sisters and brothers in a time of particular need.

£50,000 has already been sent to Tearfund, Christian Aid Ireland and the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan. For further information on the Appeal click here.

• Pray for all those who have been affected by the floods; especially for those who have been injured, have lost loved ones, or have suffered damage to their homes, possessions, and/or livelihoods.
  
  
• Pray that emergency supplies will quickly reach all those in need. 
  
  
• Pray that the funds needed to provide for emergency assistance and for the repair and rebuilding of damaged properties and infrastructure will be quickly found.

The Moderator’s letter encourages congregations to support this appeal and send their donations to the Financial Secretary’s Office, Church House, as soon as possible. Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Presbyterian Church in Ireland’ and marked ‘Moderator’s Appeal for Pakistan’. Where possible, members should be encouraged to contribute under the Gift Aid Scheme. Alternatively, people may give directly to Tearfund and Christian Aid. Details of how to contribute are available on their websites.

Day 29 – INDONESIA

This Sunday (22nd), Barry McCroskery is flying to Alor, wherehe will taking part in leading a ministers retreat for around 80 ministers and assistant ministers from all over the Alor Archipelago. The theme Barry will be introducing is ‘Spirituality and Ministry’.

• Pray for God’s guidance in preparing of the material, and for the Holy Spirit to work amongst us to encourage and challenge us. Pray too for safety in travel for all participants.

OVERSEAS TEAMS

A number of teams are overseas over this next week.  We encourage you to pray for them:

KENYA – A team of 10 people from Waringstown Presbyterian have been helping to lead the youth camps in Tuum, alongside Stephen and Angelina Cowan (see above, under Kenya). 

ROMANIA – A team of 10 adults and young people from High Kirk Presbyterian, Ballymena are in Oltenia, Romania where they are running holiday clubs in three churches for local children, and also holding meetings with adult women. High Kirk has been forging links with these churches over the last three years. The team is due home this Saturday (21st).

TANZANIA – A team of eight people from Knock Presbyterian is in Dar es Salaam to support Kenny and Andrea Woodrow from Knock, who are working with Wycliffe. The team is spending a week in the Sala Sala district working with street children, and then will lead a spiritual envisioning week in HOPAC (Haven of Hope Academy), a school serving over 300 children and young people whose parents are missionaries, full-time Christian service workers (attached to 37 different Christian service or mission organisations), or local or international business people. The team returns home on 1st September.

UKRAINE – A team from First Islandmagee, with support from the Presbyterian congregations of Second Islandmagee, First Larne and Ballyclare, is in Transcarpathia in Western Ukraine, where they are leading a two-week English language camp in the school run by the Reformed Church in Nagybereg and supporting the Roma Mission outreach there, where Jenni Wolfe (who is also on the team) served last year. The team is due home on 27th August.

Prayer Points for these teams –

• Good health, safety, strength and energyfor all the team members and those they are working with.
  
  
• The work that each of the teams will be involved in.
  
  
• For the Word of God to be explained clearly and for spiritual fruit in the lives of those the teams are going to help or work alongside.

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