Carnival
The streets of Brazil will be awash with colour and full of noise as Carnival takes place during the first week of February. For many Brazilian Christians, this is usually retreat time as they head off to camps and other events far away from all the hedonism. But for others, Carnival has become a period of intense evangelism. They hit the streets, spreading the gospel to thousands of revellers, while a growing number of Christian 'Samba Schools' compete in the parades. Some have even won!

Strider Rosie Smith will be joining in a joint church evangelistic project in Recife, organised by YWAM. Over a million people are expected to participate in the Carnival events in Recife and Olinda; Rosie and her team will be on hand to pray for and mingle with the people crowding into the cities.

Carnival is also celebrated in Bolivia, from where Chris MacBruithin informs us: 'You're never safe, from the moment you step out your door until you get home. People chuck water balloons at you, and if you look vaguely foreign your chances of being a target treble! It's a laugh if you don't take getting soaked on your way to a meeting or somewhere else important too seriously – which I don't 80 per cent of the time – but not so if the balloon contains a liquid other than water… as some do!'

In Bolivia – as in Brazil – some Christians go on retreats during Carnival time. Striders Dean and Ruth Such are helping to run the Communidad Cristiana Evangélica church camp in Sucre. Dean will lead a teaching session and Ruth will help with the worship.

Please pray:

• for God's protection on the teams of Christians involved in evangelism during Carnival; and that they would see many come to faith.
  
• for those who choose to go on retreats instead – that they will encounter God and come back home inspired and motivated.

Strictly come dancing
Adrian Stewart has been given the green light to research starting up a Christian ‘capoeira’ class in the Afogados church in Recife, Brazil. Capoeira is a mixture of dance and martial arts, and Adrian hopes the classes can be used to attract unchurched teenagers. Pray as he meets leaders of the group in Recife, and tries to set up the project during February.

Lula in Cuba
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited Cuba in January. He had talks with Fidel Castro, and signed agreements with Fidel's brother, acting President Raul Castro. The agreements included an aid package worth up to $1bn in credits – which, it is believed, will help Cuba increase its food imports and investment in infrastructure and oil exploration. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Fidel Castro has called this a 'special period' in Cuba's history – please pray that good international relationships will be forged despite the continuing US embargo.

A home at last!
Praise God for the small house which has been made available for Mustard Seed to use as a pilot project for the rehabilitation of older street boys and young men in Lima, Peru. As Kerstin Abbas says, ‘People have prayed for years for this to happen and now the Lord has answered!’

• Pray especially for its first resident, Juan, 25, who has been asking for months when the house will be ready. Pray that he will adapt well to life away from the streets; and for Enrique, one of the team who is spending a lot of time with him.

Bible language
Strider Karen Schnugh starts work on university campuses in the region of Zacapa, Guatemala, in March. Please pray for her safety as she travels, and for good relationships to develop with the students as she teaches them English through the Bible.

Kids behind bars
Pray for the 1,500 teenagers in the young offenders' prison in São Paulo, Brazil, visited by JEAME (Jesus Ama o Menor – 'Jesus loves young people') volunteers each week. Latin Link member Verna Langrell goes to one of the units with a team on Mondays. Pray that the gospel will make an impact and change many lives.

• Pray also for the reopening of the JEAME Street School, also in São Paulo. Visitation has started to get to know the street children living in the centre of the city of and in 'Cracolandia', (Crackland!) also near the city centre; the school has been refurbished ready to receive them. Verna asks for prayer that this term it might get into full swing and have all the resources it needs.
  
  
• Strider Joel Jakob will be helping the children of prisoners in Oruro, Bolivia, with their homework, giving them a chance, as well, to have some time outside the prison. Pray for this team as they get alongside the children and help motivate them to study and do well at school.

Teaching preaching
Sigrid Fähnle is running a weekly preaching course for a group of laypeople in her local church in Gama, Brazil. Pray for the students with busy lives, but needing to find time for their assignments in order to benefit from the course.

Amazon Hope

Medical ministry at a stretch
For several months, the medical ship Amazon Hope I has been out of action, while being cut in two and lengthened. Martin and Vannesa Bone, working with Scripture Union in Iquitos, Peru, ask prayer for the remaining work to be finished without problems – the carpentry, plumbing and furnishing – so that it's ready for medical trips. Pray also for provision of new personnel: that God would help them find the right people, to stay long-term.

Lost in Translation
In last month's Prayer Guide, Ian Darke asked for prayer for work due to start on the production of a one-volume Latin America Bible commentary. Ian sends this report on developments so far:

'Discussions reconvened in Miami in January – the first since a round of meetings last March in Buenos Aires. Back then, there were unresolved issues concerning ownership, philosophy, organisation, manpower and funding.

'At first it seemed as if we were going round in circles. But then came one of those divine moments when issues are resolved and a new plan emerges.

'A core team is now in place, consisting of Rene Padilla (Buenos Aires) as General Editor, Rosalee Ewell (Brazil) as New Testament Editor and Milton Acosta (Colombia) as Old Testament Editor, with myself as Project Coordinator. The working title is the Contemporary Bible Commentary. We "guesstimate" it will take five or six years to complete.

'Please pray for the right contributors and editors, for finance, for administration; we'll need to appoint a Project Manager and someone who can construct an Intranet to resource the 80 or so contributors.'

RP — Rogelio Prieto who contributed our Lent reflection moves on from Latin Link at Easter. He has been our Area Coordinator in South England for the past 18 months, but is now taking up an international training role with European Christian Mission. Please pray for Rogelio in a new job; we are thankful to still retain links with him as a member of our personnel care and selection group.

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.

> e-prayer/prayerline Prayer pointers for the week ahead, by email on request, or on 0118 957 7118.

> 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.

Back to Top