This year there are 13 Summer Step teams travelling to Latin America and Spain to serve God alongside local Christians.
On the 7th July, the first of the Summer Step teams - from Oxford University's Christian Union - arrives in Costa Rica. They are followed by the IFESi (IFES Ireland) team, who fly to Peru on 9 July, and the remainder, who fly out between then and the beginning of August, to Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.
All teams will have a practical element and opportunities to work alongside the local church with children and youth work. We will also have one team working alongside the Student Christian Union in Bolivia. This team will be working specifically with university students in four university towns. The aim is to encourage local members and leaders of the CCU (Bolivia's UCCF). Chris McBruithin says, 'we plan to use creative means like sport, drama, dance and talks to reach university students. Please pray that as they work alongside the Bolivian CUs, the team may be able to encourage them to do evangelism themselves, build them up and leave them plenty of follow-up work to do.'
Please pray for the Short-Term Co-ordinators who will be supervising the teams whilst they are away. Pray also for safety in travel, and that those on the teams will grow in their faith and be an encouragement to those they serve.
On the festival trail.
Summer's here, and that means it's festival time once again. Latin Link will have a stand at all the festivals listed below. Do pray for the people manning the stands; that they will make good connections with those they meet - and if you're at any of the festivals, remember to pay them a visit...
Fun and games. Jenny Brown is helping organise an after-school club in Cusco, Peru, using volunteers from language schools. Pray that they benefit from working in a Christian based project. Please pray for creative ideas, and that church members will want to get involved.
From Spain with love. A team from Spain is going to work with the Arco Iris project in Huaráz, Peru. María Jesús Espinola asks for prayer that they may integrate well with the permanent team and that God will bless their time together.
Free indeed. Pray for 40 female prison inmates in Quito, Ecuador, who have recently become Christians. 'They are coming regularly to our weekly Bible study and are growing in many ways,' says María Augusta Cowan. 'Praise the Lord too for new volunteers who have come on board; that the Holy Spirit will encourage them to be good witnesses.'
New frontiers. During July, Suzanne Potter will be in Costa Rica, getting to know Latin Link colleagues, welcoming a Step team, and looking at possible projects for Step and Stride placements. Please pray that she will have enough energy and for good relationships throughout.
University challenge. Phil and Carolina Rout are involved in a training event called Curso de Férias ('Holiday Course') taking place in Bauru, Brazil in July. This is a special time when leaders of university Christian Unions in the São Paulo region have time to prepare and train for mission in the University. Phil will be doing most of the morning Bible expositions and Carolina will be leading a seminar. Pray that the students will come and that they will grow in faith as they study Ecclesiastes.
Taken off the streets. The Peruvian government is trying to improve Lima's streets, and lots of street children have been put into government institutions as a result of the clean-up operation. Please pray for Kerstin Abbas and Adriano Figliuolo as they try to keep in touch with young people they have been working with; pray for wisdom as to how to react to the situation
Work of art. In August, the Medellín Seminary in Colombia is running a series on Christian vision, imagination and creativity through art. James Tugham will come from Canada as the main speaker and Manuel Reaño expects Christian artists from throughout the country to come and present their works. Pray that Manuel will have sufficient time to prepare, and that those attending are able to use what they learn.
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 Prayer pointers for the week ahead, by email 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.
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4th-6th July Please pray for the Summer Step teams and the Latin Ventures Peru team, who all have their orientation this weekend.
7th-12th A special retreat takes place this week at the Evangelical Missions Centre in Viçosa, Brazil, for all those who want to discover more about mission. From this, some go on to be mission representatives in their local churches. Others become students at the missions school and still others take up mission placements. Phil and Jan Greenwood will be taking part; please pray for this event.
8th Pray for Latin Link's Scotland Coordinator Martin Haworth as he begins a five-day tour of churches in the north of Scotland.
20th Today is Colombia's Independence Day. Pray for solutions to situations of civil unrest in the country. Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, recently called on FARC rebels to stop fighting and release all their hostages.
29th Margaret Saunderson has planned a retreat for couples, gathering together people from the different churches and annexes she is involved in. Pray that many will come and be greatly helped and drawn closer to God through it, as not all will be Christians. Pray for the couple who will lead the retreat, José and Monica Guzmán; that God will really speak through them. Pray also for the team who will be providing a childrens’ programme so that parents can be free to attend.
2nd-10th August A group of 11 people from Jose Carlos Lara's church in Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil, are going to Dungannon, Northern Ireland, to help with some outreach events. They will be bringing people to work with creative evangelism, with children and capoeira. Please pray for all those who are going to be involved in these events.
10th Pray for Ecuador as the nation celebrates its Independence Dday today. Last month, Eduador and Colombia renewed low-level diplomatic relations, following the events of March when Colombian soldiers killed a FARC rebel on Ecuadorian soil. Please continue to pray for peace.
7th-12th Orlando and Sally-Anne Castro ask for prayer for the school holiday programme this week linked to the Buen Pastor church in Tumbaco near Quito, Ecuador. Pray for all the children who will attend.
16th Pray for the Latin Ventures group leaving for Peru today.
21st-26th Strider Rosie Smith is helping to lead an evangelistic English language camp run by the Brazilian Youth for Christ in Recife. Pray that she may have confidence and that God will give her opportunities to share her faith.
22nd Pray especially for a talk that will be given today in the Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile by two pastors from China and Canada who are dedicated to working with the persecuted church. GBU Chile will be hosting the meeting; it will be attended by pastors and Bible college students.
29th (to 5th September) A group of ex-Steppers led by Martin Haworth are 'Sailing the Great Glen' between Fort William and Inverness in Scotland. Please pray as they share at churches along the way, that people will come to the events and that they will be encouraged to get involved in Latin mission.
30th Pray for energy and encouragement for those running for Latin Link in the Rathlin Run, Northern Ireland, today. If you are not yet signed up to run, but would like to, please contact Elma at ireland@latinlink.org by the end of July.
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