Latin Link News and Prayer Guide


	NEWS Row between Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela For a week in March, it seemed as if war was about to erupt in Latin America! A huge diplomatic row ensued between Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela after Colombian forces shot a FARC rebel leader dead in Ecuadorian territory. It was finally settled at a summit meeting in the Dominican Republic, with each country claiming some sort of victory.

Manuel Reaño - a member of Latin Link's Colombia team - kept a blog during that tense week. Here are his concluding prayer points:

‘Having sighed our relief and celebrated that Venezuelan and Ecuadorian soldiers have gone back to their barracks to their normal do-nothing routine, let's say a prayer for the Colombian soldiers and the Colombian people, who have not seen one day of peace in 50 years.

‘Let's have a word of prayer for the over 4,000 people who remained kidnapped (some of them for over ten years!) just because someone thinks they are economically or politically valuable as merchandise.

‘Colombia can now go back to its everyday war against evil
in all its ugly manifestations.'

‘Let's mention in our intercession before God the three million people who have been displaced, violently uprooted, terrorised into leaving their home because someone just fancied it, people who one day were poor but fairly comfortable peasants, and the next day are begging for a coin in one corner of a city they had never been to before, while their kids sleep off their hunger under the rain on the sidewalk.

‘Yes, the threat of international war is over, and now Colombia can go back to its everyday war against greed, against corruption, against evil in all its ugly manifestations... a battle that is ultimately against sin. Care to join us?'

To read the full blog, go to http://reanews.blogspot.com

Bolivia: life after the floods

River people:
life on the banks of the Beni

Many parts of Latin America have suffered from severe weather over the past couple of months. Bolivia saw some of the worst; weeks of heavy rain there led to severe flooding, leaving 48 people dead and over 40,000 families homeless.

John Suarez is a pastor based in the Amazonian region of Trinidad, and has played host to many a Step team and Strider. He sends this report:

‘Thanks for your prayers. We continue in difficult times here in Trinidad. There have been many disasters and people have lost their houses; the water has been contaminated with dead animals… you can see the news on the Internet. However, we the church have been able to send volunteers, doctors and medicines to 150 families who are sick and injured. We have also trained 1,000 families to use water purifiers to prevent dysentery - especially amongst children. Some 300 families have received food for a week from donations by churches in Santa Cruz and Trinidad.

‘It's beautiful when people listen attentively to God.'

‘We want to ask you to continue praying for us. At times I feel tired from all the work. But it's beautiful when people listen attentively to God. 16 people have received the Lord during this time, and we hope that many more of them understand God's love.'

Castro's retirement: repercussions for the church in Cuba?

The retirement of Cuban president Fidel Castro has left Christians all over the world wondering what the future holds for Cuban Christians.

Castro announced his retirement on 19 February, following a long period of ill health. His brother Raul has taken over from him as president.

‘It's difficult to predict what possible effects Raul Castro's appointment will have in terms of the relationship between government and church,' says the Chairman of Cuba Para Cristo.

‘On the one hand, he's seen as a potential reformer, somewhat more pragmatic than his brother. On the other, he has been Fidel's right hand man at every step of the way, often perceived as being the harsher of the two. One early indication is that the new leader of the Cuban Parliament was asked some questions about openness and Internet access, and the government promptly enacted a clampdown on Internet use in the country. This does not bode well.

‘The country has been remarkably orderly and stable in the last 40 years, even with harsh opposition of Christians at times. It's still not easy to be a Christian there - on top of the difficulty of us living on this earth when our citizenship is in heaven.'

There are 11.3 million people living in Cuba. Over the Easter period, the Western Cuban Baptist convention launched a mission committed to reaching a million of them for Christ by the year 2010. They launched the mission with 50 days of prayer for the nation and for the Cuban government.

‘1 Timothy 2v1-2 calls us to pray for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness,' say Cuba Para Cristo. ‘This continues to be the prayer for Cuba at this time of change. We pray for stability and peace in any change that comes - and that whatever does happen will be good for the gospel in that country.'

Andy Kittow

Welcome to Andy Kittow, recently appointed as Latin Link's new Head of People Resources, based in Reading. Andy's main focus will be on recruitment. If you're thinking about going into mission in Latin America, why not come along and meet him on the 18th? (details in Diary section). Please pray for Andy as he learns about mission needs in Latin America and seeks the right people to fulfil them.

On the night shift. Strider Jo Tillotson works at Hogar Paraiso (Paradise Place) - a women's refuge in Morón, Buenos Aires, Argentina. This month, she starts living in at weekends as a night warden. Pray that she may build good relationships with the women and children living there as well as for their safety.

Treasure hunt. Tunari Treasures - the metal workshop run by Graham and Andrea Parker in Bolivia - has outgrown the boys' home it is currently based in. Please pray as they look for more accessible premises, which would bring in more work and enable them to employ more staff.

Wandering angels. A new term has started at the Angel Tree Centre in Oruro, Bolivia, where Julie Noble works with the children of prisoners. At present the centre has 35 children and three new staff, and uses a local church as a temporary venue. Julie asks for prayer that they may find a suitable permanent home, so that they can expand the days they work and the number of children they can accommodate.

The apprentice. Ian Darke is looking to find and train a new assistant for the Letra Viva office in San José, Costa Rica, to take over when his present assistant moves back to Mexico in April. ‘It isn't easy to find someone who is efficient, can communicate well and who understands the complex worlds of Christian publishing across Latin America,' he says.

Services, fixtures and fittings. The new building of the growing Vinha (Vineyard) church in the Roda de Fogo (Wheel of Fire) community in Recife, Brazil, now has a roof and is being used to hold meetings. David and Vanda Smith-Dziuba ask prayer for the next stage of the project: flooring, windows, electricity, plumbing and then interior furnishings.

High church. Latin Link members Markus and Päivi Koivu have started Sunday services in Canchacuta, near Huaráz in Peru - at an altitude of 4,000 metres! Markus is arranging the meetings with local Christians. Pray that God may touch and change the lives of those who attend.

Happy convergence. As Latin Link members Stuart and Jenny Oliphant settle into their new roles with AMI, the overseas mission department of the Baptist Convention in Argentina, AMI's new Director, Daniel Cabanas, joins them in Buenos Aires. Please pray as they start to work together in training and preparing people for mission.

LATIN VENTURE PERU
16-31 AUGUST 2008
This is a fantastic opportunity to travel the length of Peru with Latin Link - and it's happening this summer! Trek the Inca Trail, see the places, and meet the people you pray for.
Don't delay - apply now!
Contact Catherine on 0118 957 7111 for further details.

News and Prayer Guide, sent on request by email or post, is one of a number of Latin Link prayer resources.

> The 2008 Prayer Calendar features all current Latin Link members with a brief description of their country, team and work. Pages are dated 1-31 for use each day, each month of the year.

> Latinfile is Latin Link's 12-page magazine with features, news and information. It is usually mailed three times a year on request.

> Prayer groups offer an opportunity to join Latin Link's praying network. If you'd like to join a group or start a new one in your area, please get in touch.

7th-11th This week in Temuco, Chile, the student Christian Union movement (Grupo Biblico Universitario) has planned an evangelistic tour with a local music and theatre group, visiting universities that have a Christian Union. Ruth Gardner asks prayer for the logistics of organising a week of events and for the students as they have the opportunity to share their faith with fellow students.

14th-22th Margaret Saunderson revisits Jeberos in a remote part of the jungle in Northeast Peru, together with Striders Sharon Jones and Sanna Aspray. Pray for health and safety in travel - plane, bus and 30 hours by boat. Pray too for a worthwhile time with the church and the community there and that their visit may be an encouragement.

18th Here today... lunch with Latin Link in Reading, followed by an opportunity to find out what it means to live and work in Latin America as a member of Latin Link. If you'd like to join us, please contact Katy Griggs on 0118 957 7104.

19th-21st Brazil's IFES student movement holds its regional student council meeting in the city of São Carlos, in São Paulo state. Phil Rout will be speaking twice at this event. He says, ‘I would appreciate people's prayers for that, because it will be my first regional event after taking over as the only staff worker in the region!'

22nd-26th The Latin America Consultation on Integral Mission takes place this week in Lima, Peru, under the auspices of the Micah Network. The theme of the consultation is ‘Progress, Setbacks and Challenges'. This is a strategic and crucial event for the Latin American evangelical community. Latin Link members Ian and Juliana Horne will both lead seminars: Juliana giving a presentation on Christian concern for the environment, and Ian coordinating a working group looking at how churches can work together better.

23rd It's the turn of potential Striders to visit the Reading office, as it's Stride selection day. Please pray for all those coming in today, and for Manny and Sarah who will be interviewing them.