july step earthquake in Peru mission in Britain
Get a glimpse of the reality of life for Bolivia’s urban poor – see the One Minute Window below
Summer’s here! For Latin Link, the arrival of summer means the departure of Step Teams to work with churches in Latin America for seven weeks, and the return of the Spring Teams after four months there. Freak weather conditions have been affecting several countries, bringing fears of the return of El Niño. And news of an earthquake in Peru reminds us, as the apostle Paul tells Timothy to ‘be prepared in season and out of season’ (2 Tim.4:2). Please take this an exhortation to pray.

1 Earthquake. Please keep Peru in your prayers as the recovery operation in the south begins. Latin Link will channel any donations to help those affected via our Peru Team.

3 Departure. Please pray for Latin Link’s Summer Step Teams, who have chosen to experience a different kind of summer this year – especially for the Leaders of each team with their added responsibilities.

6 Re-entry. Returning Spring Step Teams will be adjusting to life back home. Sometimes Step is not all smooth, but coming home can be an anti-climax. And it can be hard to share what for many has been a profound experience. Pray that what the Steppers have learned will stay with them.

diary

4 Latin Link/Fellowship Afloat Step Team leaves for a boat-building project in the Amazon basin in Bolivia (featured in the Spring issue of Latinfile). Team Leaders: Ruth and Ben.

9 The Peru Step Team flies to Lima, and then on to Ayacucho. Team Leaders: Gavin and Rebecca.

17 Step Teams leave for Buenos Aires, Argentina with Leaders, Lucy and Richard, and Quito in Ecuador, Leaders Tim and Elma.

18 The Brazil Step Team flies to Belo Horizonte. Team Leaders: Brian and Helen.

10 It never rains… Prolonged drought in certain areas of Brazil is affecting the hydro-electric generating system, and causing a national energy crisis. Much rain is needed to replenish the reservoirs. Latin Link members, Glenn and Winifred Every-Clayton write: ‘Yesterday the post brought our statement from the electricity company telling us to reduce our consumption by 22 per cent. So we have unplugged our freezer and
switched off the microwave and are learning to take cold showers. Heavy fines and a punitive three-day cut off are the alternative. The same applies to everybody, not just homes, but churches, colleges, shops, offices, industry. It’s a heavy blow to the economy, and will increase levels of unemployment.’
The Prayer Guide is designed for flexible use and the points may be used at any time during the month. We include a Diary of events, and for those who prefer to pray systematically, suggested dates against each prayer point.

suggestions we offered her. All the while her mother was listening too, and interrupted several times, “Surely you can offer her something?” Finally, in desperation, she said, “We have no food in the house.” Glancing around the dark room, there was nothing other than a few old bananas to be seen, and in an instant I saw the truth in the collarbones that protruded through her papery skin. Just then, one of the children appeared with a bag of tostados – a toasted grain snack. Thanking them, I took a few. “No, these are for you.” They wanted me to take the whole bagful. But I couldn’t, knowing this would rob the family of what little nourishment remained for them that day.’
Please pray for:

  • Mery and her family, who stand for so many families who live on the mountain slope above the church, and who crave the opportunity for a better life.
  • Charles and Suzanne Windsor and Mayorazgo church nursery as they provide good care for children, allowing mothers to work.
  • the whole church to be challenged to make the eternal gospel meaningful to those around them for whom Christ died

‘Tostados’
One Minute Window with Charles Windsor, Bolivia

‘The nursery Suzanne and I are involved with at Mayorazgo Church recently advertised a post. After appointing someone, it fell to me to visit the unsuccessful candidates to break the news. One was 18-year-old Mery. She lives in one cramped room with her mother and small brothers, who ran in and out of the doorway, playing, as we talked. Mery took the decision well, listening carefully to the

 

12 …but it pours! You may have heard news reports in June of heavy rain in Ecuador, resulting in landslides in the country’s Andean region. Thirty-one people died, buried under mud and rocks that tumbled down a mountain onto a road, the Red Cross reported. Landslides also damaged a 200-foot section of Ecuador’s main oil pipeline, suspending movement of crude oil – Ecuador’s primary export. Four days of heavy rain forced 2,500 people to evacuate their homes after rivers overflowed in the Amazon jungle region. Please pray for Ecuador’s people struggling with these added problems alongside the current economic crisis.

More ways to pray:

Prayer Guide, sent on request by post or email each month, is one of a number of Latin Link prayer resources:

  • Latinfile is our regular publication, with news and stories from Latin America
  • Members’ prayer letters – an insight into their work and country of service, as well as personal and family news – on request
  • Prayer groups – join with others in praying for the work of Latin Link. Ask for your nearest group, or we can help you start your own
  • Prayer cassettes, with recorded news and interviews, are produced bi-monthly to provide additional material for prayer groups
  • Prayerline – call 020 7939 9018 any time, updated weekly
  • 2001 Prayer Calendar features all current Latin Link members, with a brief description of their country, their team and their work. With pages dated 1 to 31 and prayer points for each day

For further details, please telephone or email us.

If you would like to make a donation to the cost of producing Prayer Guide, we suggest £5 annually.

15 Free to be different. Two prisoners who came to Julie Noble’s English classes have emailed to tell her they have been released. Both are Peruvian: David and his wife Yuliana, plan to return to their family in Lima; Luis will stay in Bolivia with his girlfriend and three-month-old baby. ‘Pray they can make changes in their lives,’ asks Julie, who is in England at present.
Prisoners in San Pedro main courtyard

20 College expands into Latin America. The Open Theological College (OTC), based in Cheltenham with a branch in Madrid, has given the go-ahead for expansion into Latin America. The OTC offers high quality, distance-learning theological training up to degree level, and Latin Link members in Ecuador and Argentina are seeking out local tutors. Pray for the development of this excellent opportunity for on-the-job training of Latin Christian leaders.

23 Extended service. A year ago we featured Anny Rosciani, the tennis-playing Argentinian based in London’s North Finchley, working with the Japanese community. After two years, she’s encouraged that her visa has been extended for another three, but is facing the daunting task of finding more permanent accommodation – everything is very expensive, either to rent or buy. Please pray as Anny considers before God the possibilities, together with her supporting church in Argentina, and Japan Link with whom she works.

26 Invitation to return. Please pray for Fanny Loza, a Peruvian who spent six months in Britain on a Latin Partners placement. She has been invited back by the church she was with in Leicester – apparently the largest Hindu city outside India – and she is in Peru considering this. Pray for Fanny as she takes her vision for mission onto the next stage, and for support from her home church.

29 Going up. Ruth and Izaias Daniel de Assis hope to finish the third floor of their new building in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, by the end of July. Please continue to pray with them for the completion of this ambitious project, which will benefit children and families in need. The project’s needs are being met, but the list continues to grow – an industrial size oven, sinks and toilets, lots of practical support… To find out more about Missão VER (Life and Hope Restored Mission), ask for Ruth and Izaias’ regular prayer letter – contact Robert and Margaret Clark in Britain on 01604 768058.

  • Ruth and Izaias are supervising the Step Team to Brazil, who will be doing a jungle trek into the interior, bringing the gospel to small villages.