Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - PL2010-51, 22-Dec-10

• About Us
• Contact Us
• Resources
• FAQs
• Useful Links

• Home
• Countries
• People
• Partners
• Get Involved
• Opportunities
• Projects
• News
• Blogs

PL2010-51, 22-Dec-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 – ROMANIA

Csaba and Ilona Veres and their two children arrived safely in Ireland on Home Assignment on Monday (20th). Csaba and Ilona send the following prayer points for the residents and staff at the Caleb House as they prepare for the Christmas celebration together, and for IKE. 

• Pray for the young people in the Caleb House who feel the absence of a caring family especially at this time of year. Pray too for those who have to deal with families who are in conflict with one another. Pray that the young people will know the love and care of the Saviour and the compassion and love of the staff at Caleb. Pray too for Jozef and Szunita, the house-parents at Caleb, who won't have a break this Christmas, although will have time to recharge their batteries in the new year. 
  
  
• Give thanks for the ministry of IKE’s 'waiting for the Lord' youth festival, which took place earlier in December, and pray for the ongoing student ministry throughout advent.  Pray for the Reformed Church University Chaplain Elod Szakacs and his team of volunteers as they finish up their ministry for this year and plan and prepare for the outreach and teaching ministry in the new year.
  
  
• Give thanks that the Veres family arrived as planned on Monday, and remember Csaba and Ilona as they prepare for deputation, commencing in mid-January. 

Day 11 – PASTORAL CARE

A number of missionary personnel will be in Ireland over the Christmas period, but many will be remaining overseas and celebrating Christmas with those they live and work amongst. 

Prayer Points –

• For those who will be remaining overseas for Christmas. Being separated from family and friends can be especially difficult at this special time of the year.  Pray that they too will know the Lord’s special blessing and encouragement over this Christmas period.
  
  
• For those in Ireland that they will not only have a restful and relaxing time with family and friends but will also be blessed and encouraged, as they celebrate the birth of the One they are seeking to serve in other lands. For safe and trouble-free travel for those who are returning overseas soon after Christmas / New Year. 

Days 12 to 14 – KENYA

The senior youth camp in Tuum which started on Saturday (18th) continues, surrounded by the constant singing and chanting of the circumcision ceremonies in many nearby homes. Many of these young boys and girls (who are being circumcised) and their families have heard through much teaching how destructive, both spiritually and physically this blood covenant is. Its blatant continuation shows some of the darkness that exists in the area. The final challenge and ministry session of the senior youth camp is on Thursday evening, and on Friday morning the land-rovers will return the young people to their villages, - a round trip that takes most of the day.

• For the young people at the senior youth camp that they will be challenged to become followers of Christ and that they will grow in their faith and commitment to God. 
  
  
• The 81 university students who are helping to lead the camp, arrived safely after 22 hours on the roads. Pray that their enthusiasm, commitment and life stories will open up the minds and hearts of their fellow Kenyan youth. About 60 students have gone out to the villages of Seren, South Horr and Lonjorin, along with many of the leaders, translators and worship leaders from Tuum. This leaves an 'emptiness' in some of the seminar sessions here.
  
  
• Pray that those who have remained will have wisdom and the required energy to deal with this practically, and with the understandable discouragement felt, as the lack of depth or direction of many of the senior youth is so obvious.
  
  
• The students have made a commitment to stay out in the villages until Sunday (26th). For most it was hard to be away from families during the Christmas break. As they share in scenarios that are much closer to that night in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago than our western interpretation of Christmas, pray they will feel a deep peace and joy that only Jesus can give. Temperatures soar in December and January and dehydration is frequent especially in semi-desert locations where there is little shade from the harsh sun.

Over the past year Derek and Linda Roulston have been building friendships in the local community in Timau, many of whom don’t attend Church.  Amazingly, these people have said they are going to come to the Christmas Eve service as Derek is doing the talk.  

Prayer Points –

• That God will give Derek the words to speak and that God’s presence will be felt in the service as they sing those incredible words in the Christmas carols.
  
  
• For the next field day due to take place in Timau on 20th January.  (Derek and Linda know it is because of prayer that the previous field days have gone so well).
  
  
• Give thanks that Laura-Jayne and Amy who are at school / university in Ireland, both arrived safely in Kenya to spend the Christmas holiday before the disruption of air travel in Ireland due to the bad weather. 

Days 16 to 19 – MALAWI

Whilst the UK and Ireland are suffering from unusually cold conditions, northern Malawi is suffering from the heat. Many people have planted maize, but there is a risk of their crop withering due to the heat and lack of rain. 

Mphatso Nguluwe, the Director of Livingstonia Synod AIDS Programme (LISAP) was due to move into her new home, however the electricity has not been connected yet.   

• Pray for more rain to fall in Malawi, to allow crops to grow well. 
  
  
• Pray that the electricity supply to Mphatso’s new home will be connected very soon. 

Day 21 – INDIA

The Gujarat Samachar (Gujarati News) and Asian Voice publications which are widely read within the Gujarati community in London will print the Christmas message this week in both the English and Gujarati languages. Over the Christmas period, Christopher and Nivedita Benjamin are looking forward to welcoming many of their Hindu friends to their home. 

Prayer Points –

• That people who read the Christmas message in the newspapers will understand the true meaning of Christmas and experience the infinite love of the Lord Jesus at this special time of the year.
  
  
• That through their friendship and fellowship, Christopher and Nivedita will have the opportunity to share the Good News with their non-Christian friends. 
  
  
• For the members of Wembley Park United Reformed Church as they seek to take up the challenge and the opportunities to witness the Christ in the local community. 

PLEASE NOTE – The Mission Overseas Office will be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays from Friday, 24th December, reopening again on Tuesday, 4th January 2011.  As a consequence, there will be no Prayerline service on Wednesday, 29th December. The next Prayerlinebulletin will be issued on Wednesday, 5th January 2011.

Thank you for your continued prayer support for the work of God’s mission around the world. 
May you know God’s peace and blessing this Christmas and in the coming New Year.

The 2011 Edition of the‘Points for Prayer’ Handbook is now available.

If you have not received your copy or wish to obtain one, please enquire within your congregation.
Alternatively, contact:  The Communications Office, Church House, Belfast BT1 6DW.
‘Points for Prayer’ email:pfp@presbyterianireland.org  Tel: (028) 9032 2284

Designed by hamillBosket