The months fly by so quickly, it is hard to believe we shall soon be in July. Thank you all for your prayer support and interest. Today we are expecting the return of the fugitive ex-army chief, Lino Oviedo who fled Paraguay after being accused of the assassination of the Vice President in 1999. He also faces a 10 year jail sentence for leading a failed coup in 1996. Because of the exceedingly difficult situation here with corruption, economic recession and growing unemployment he is seeking to come in as the "messiah" and says he will bring "just a crucifix, a pencil and a notebook". He has likened himself to an apostle as well as messiah. Part of his aim is obviously to try to appeal to folk religion in contrast to the present President Nicanor Duarte Frutos and his wife Gloria, who are evangelical Christians, belonging to a Mennonite church, and thereby hope to gain the support of nominal, syncretistic
Roman Catholics. It is a volatile situation and we pray that there will not be major disturbances. People who are hungry and have no work will jump at promises to supply their needs. Lino Ovido has great appeal to the campesinos. Although the present government is trying to bring in reforms it is a slow process in a country like this where, as the BBC Country Profile on Paraguay says:

"Corruption is endemic, and Paraguay has become a regional centre for smuggling, money-laundering and organised crime." 

You can appreciate why we need prayer! People who become Christians and want to live in a different way, have to allow God's Holy Spirit to transform their thinking and their cultural background.

We also take this opportunity to advise our link churches in England that we are due to arrive at Christmas for a home ministry leave period during January and February. We hope it might be possible to visit many of you, perhaps even in an informal way if Sundays are not always possible, and therefore you will be soon receiving a letter from SAMS GB to try and set up a viable itinerary. Our only fixed date at present is in Northern Ireland - 17th - 21st February. We will be available for visits as from January 5th, apart from the SAMS Staff Conference - 11-14January. As we thankfully move into winter here, we wish all you a very pleasant
summer!

May God bless you in your ministry for him.

With our love and greetings,

Bishop John and Judie.

Prayer Calendar - IGLESIA ANGLICANA PARAGUAYA - July 2004

Lam. 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's great love...his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

1. Pray for Chris & Alison Hawksbee & family as they return to the UK for 6 months & seek God's guidance for their future ministry. Give thanks for the technical help that Chris has given in the Chaco & pray for wise agricultural development in the indigenous communities. For sufficient rain in the Chaco.
2. Pray for the 21 Project Paraguay volunteers who are leaving Ireland today. For safe travel, good health & good integration with the Paraguayan church members. For Phil Grainger & the preparatory work that he has already started in Remansito & San Juan, Concepcion. Give thanks for this expression of Christian love towards us. Pray for the other 4 volunteers arriving tomorrow.
3. Give thanks for the preparation made in Roque Alonso for the volunteer group. Pray for the initial settling in & for the welcome barbecue after the church service tomorrow morning. Pray for God's protection over each person, vehicle, building & equipment. For pastor Cefe & Ana & family.
4. Pray for pastor Jorge, Rebeca & the church members in Luque. For the right people to lead the adolescents group & for more musicians in music ministry. For a greater understanding of how to work together in teams which is in such contrast with the dictatorship patterns of past years.
5. Pray for the Primary school Family Day programme tomorrow in St. Andrew's School, combining Mothers & Fathers Day celebrations & for the Secondary School sports today & Wednesday. For all the teaching staff as they prepare end of term reports. For the administrative & maintenance staff.
6. Pray for 4 deacons in La Patria ( 120 kms from the Transchaco Road) - Robert, Mario, Agripino & Niño Pepe & the many churches they cover, together with lay pastoral assistants. For God's overruling in their inservice training by Bishop Andres as the last visit planned was cancelled through bad weather. Pray for greater unity between the different villages within La Patria.
7. Pray for the regular Wednesday CALEB meetings between church leaders. For an ongoing depth of understanding & commitment in our studies on "The purpose driven church" - ICP. Give thanks that pastor Luis Echeverría is now working full time in the diocese this year through the support of a church in the UK. Pray for Regina & their family. For work for their son Esteban & daughters Teresa, Rocio & Magda. Give thanks & pray for their witness in the annexe church in El Mirador.
8. Pray for the preliminary visit today & tomorrow to Concepcion by Bishop John & members of the Ministry responsible for Child and Adolescent Welfare. For good contacts to enable a future visit by the Minister & for a positive response to the need for an indigenous hostel in the city.
9. Give thanks for the positive outcome of the evaluative visit by the Ministry of Education to the Annexe School. Pray for Head, Victor Santa Cruz & staff & the in service training tomorrow.
10. Give thanks that several young people from families with few resources are now able to do further study through donations into the Bishop's Discretionary Fund. Some are finishing their secondary school studies, some in teacher training, secretarial & medical studies. Pray for God to raise up funds for many more who still have no opportunity to continue their education at tertiary level.
11. Pray for the Zeballos Cue congregation as the majority struggle with lack of work. For pastor Alberto as he leads them & Ester & the family. For Jorge, badly wounded in an attack at night, left to bleed to death, but found by a police patrol just in time for medical aid. Pray for the church council & lay assistants & give thanks for the growing spiritual maturity of many church members. For the young people, adolescents & children's ministry & those studying the guitar.
12. The school 2 week winter holiday begins today. Pray for all the St Andrew's & Annexe School staff, that they may have a relaxing time, keep in good health & be spiritually refreshed. Pray too for staffing needs for 2005 to be adequately met & for wisdom & strength for School Head Gwen Carlisle & her Senior Management team. For God's protection on buildings & equipment.
13. Pray for Claire Holmes as she prepares to return to Paraguay on Friday. Give thanks for the work amongst children in Concepcion & pray for Claire as she reintegrates with the team there. Pray too for Phil Grainger & the team of volunteers as they work in Col. San Juan with Bishop Andres.
14. Give thanks for the donations received to repair & modify the San Andres cathedral building. Pray for wisdom in the remainder of the work to be done. For its wise & creative use in a strategic part of the city. Pray for pastor Agustin & Teresa in their mutual support & ministry together with other lay leaders. For the local congregation & outreach & consolidation of contacts through EJE & EMA.
15. Give thanks for the ministry of EJE. Pray for all the follow up programmes & for Patrick as he takes a study group to Rio Verde for a few days today. For wisdom for Rosie as she combines EJE & teaching in St. Andrew's School with family responsibilities.
16. Pray for safety in travel for the volunteer groups finishing their time in Remansito & Concepcion & give thanks for this interdependence in the family of God. Pray for the young people baptized in Concepcion last month & for Alison in her leadership. For the music ministry in the church & those studying the guitar. Give thanks & pray for some members who have returned to the congregation.
17. Give thanks for the positive evaluation made by Bible Society consultant Tito Lahaye in his visit to the translation office in Rio Verde. Pray for Tim Curtis, Asuncion, Martin & Juan as they revise the first draft of Genesis chapters 20-50 together as a team. Give thanks for the computer skills they have learnt & for the great improvement in their knowledge of Spanish. For God's protection on them & their families. For Genaro & Clorinda & family responsible for the care of the Anglican Centre in Rio Verde.
18. Give thanks for the ministry through St. Andrew's Church & pray for the pastoral team, as several regular families have recently moved to other countries. For God to raise up more leaders & for the follow up to the Alpha weekends.
19. Pray for the congregation in Rio Verde & the links with pastors Elvio & Teodoro & the nearby indigenous communities. Pray for Ed Brice as he co ordinates the work there & gives in service training to indigenous clergy. For Mari as she builds up the work in the Chaco Sunday Schools & for sufficient funds to obtain a much needed 4x4 vehicle for them.
20. Pray for the development of the Bible overview course in the lay leaders study group "Paso a Paso" each Wednesday evening. Give thanks for this opportunity to study & share together from different local churches. For Bishop John as he leads it.
21. Pray for the national clergy & Mission Partner's families. For those who are now married & starting homes of their own. For adequate study opportunities, work & homes to live in. For pastor Alberto & Patrick as they prepare materials to be used for pre marriage guidance in local churches.
22. Pray to for the Chaco pastors as they also seek to prepare indigenous youth for marriage in a time of increasing change & pressure for young people. For wisdom & discernment as they get alongside the political leaders of the communities.
23. Pray for each of the teachers at St. Andrew's School as they return to classes on Monday. For God's peace in their hearts & minds & the unity of the Holy Spirit as they work together. For firmness & perseverance when pressure is exerted to give preferential treatment to students.
24. Pray for the congregation in Formosa ( N.Arg.) & a wise outcome regarding the future leadership there. For good understanding & communication with the 2 dioceses involved. For Hector, Pochi, Nora & other leaders. For spiritual restoration for Miguel & David.
25. Pray for the Family service today in Villa Guarani & the shared lunch & ICP studies together afterwards. For lay leaders to work alongside pastor Tony & Chris. Pray for God's protection for the Somervells as they continue to minister to couples seeking release from spiritual oppression.
26. Pray for strength for pastor Juan Sosa & his assistants & church council in Makxawaya. For greater trust & desire to work together within the community in confronting the sale of alcohol & in the wise use of their land. For spiritual understanding & commitment amongst the young people.
27. Pray for understanding of the implications of the new legal & financial status of non profit making educational institutions like FEISA. For staff & students.
28. Pray for guidance with regard to future projects to consolidate the work amongst semi abandoned children in San Lorenzo. Give thanks of the Paraguayan involved.
29. The next group of volunteers arrive today from England. Pray for them as they prepare to go to the indigenous community of Yatnata to finish the church building there. For good health & safety in travel & for the Holy Spirit to guide & unite when there is no common language between them.
30. Pray for the meeting tomorrow morning in San Andres to pray & study ICP chapters & consolidate the objectives of the local congregation. For wisdom , & clarity of thought & decision amongst the leadership team.
31. Pray for the nation of Paraguay - for its President Nicanor Duarte & his government. For wisdom in holding together dissenting factions within the government.

ICP - God's purposes for the Church (book by Rick Warren)
CALEB - leadership training
EJE - Youth in the Spirit weekends
EMA - Marriage Encounter weekends
FEISA - S. Andrew's Faculty of Initial Education

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