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As a church, we support Christians overseas and in the UK as they bring Christ and practical Christian care to others.
Our Mission Partners:
Marcus and Tamara Throup
João Pessoa, Brazil,
Supported by SAMS,
(South American Mission Society)
Church Contact: Glyn Roberts
Dear friends, João Pessoa, Brazil, February - March 2010
Tamara and I send you our warm, summer, 34 degree Celsius, Brazilian greetings!
NOVIDADES (That’s Portuguese for news)
As this magazine goes to press (25th March 2010) Rebekah Throup is due to be born! (Editor)
Marcus writes “We thank God that Rebekah’s doing well. The Lord has answered our prayers and suddenly Tamara is very busy: not only is she pregnant, she has just started work! It has all been quite hectic, but, thankfully, maternity leave begins at the end of the month".
As for me, (Marcus) to prepare for the long term contribution I hope to make to theological education, last October I began a doctorate in New Testament studies via the University of Nottingham. This part time PhD requires 20 hours study a week, and links in well with the New Testament modules I’m teaching in the Anglican college this term. Additionally, I have several preaching opportunities, and continue mentoring young leaders/ordinands. In spite of our comings and goings this year, Aldo, the new Dean at the Cathedral in João Pessoa, has made it clear that he wants me as his right hand man!
On the publication/conference front, 1,000 copies of my preaching book come hot off the press next month, available in all good (Brazilian) Christian bookstores! When I can, I’m working on another book on the fatherhood of God, and have recently finished writing several entries for a 2011 daily Bible notes series.
Last year, you may remember that I organised an international theological conference in Joao Pessoa. It went well and folks asked us to put on another one. Praise God that I’ve been able to get some top Brazilian pastors and teachers to come and speak at this year’s event. Sadly, because of our England visit I’ll miss the conference, but I’m leaving it in the capable hands of my colleagues here.
FORTHCOMING VISIT TO THE UK
We had hoped to spend 3 months in England this year on furlough/deputation. However, since Tamara’s maternity leave is limited, we will have just one month, arriving at the end of May, and returning to Brazil late June. This means that it will be a ‘whirlwind’ tour, so that our visits to link churches will be short and sweet, (Visit to St. Wilfrid’s, Sunday 6th June at the 10.30am Service).
PRAYER POINTS
For Tamara and Rebekah’s health, for Tamara in her new job, for the birth (27th. March) and the joys and challenges of parenthood!
For Marcus’ study, teaching and preaching commitments.
For preparations regarding our UK trip.
Thanks for all your faithful support.
Angela Walker
Ange Walker, IRIS Ministries,
Pemba, Mozambique
Church Contact: Stella walker
ANGIE’S NEWSLETTER
IRIS MINISTRIES
PEMBA, MOZAMBIQUE
Greetings from Pemba, September 2009!
Well, though it’s winter here now, it’s actually the best time of year-like a good British summer (not too hot or humid)!
But since I came back at the end of May, it has been a different season for me. I started off doing the medical outreaches until God made it clear I was to stop and have some time out with Him.
This threw me initially and I double checked I was hearing right, for it was the peak season to be doing outreaches. As I cancelled going on the outreaches, I spent more time in His Presence and He showed me I was to REST in HIM and know how to take HIS PRESENCE with me wherever the Lord sends me! Resting also involves ABIDING in Him and doing things only as you are being led by HIS Spirit! I felt He was taking me deeper into Himself so I could take on more of His Spirit for what He had next in store for me.
Then He released me into doing another medical outreach and we saw amazing healings. A crippled Muslim lady who was walking supported by a bamboo stick accepted prayer. When we removed the stick, she first wobbled on both feet, then started to walk holding onto someone else’s hand and then could actually run! She was totally healed and smiled with joy.
After she gave her testimony to the locals who knew her, others were healed too. Then another lady who looked depressed and was keeping herself back from the crowd was healed of her back ache but then started manifesting. After telling this spirit to be quiet, she accepted Jesus as her Saviour and renounced all witchcraft and evil spirits and was totally set free and healed. Her countenance changed and she seemed a different person (her mother had been praying she would be healed and set free by our visiting team).
During one Sunday, I was asked to do an emergency medical evacuation for a sick missionary in North Mozambique. He was with Wycliffe Bible translators but the MAF plane was being serviced and pilot Joe in Pemba was asked to rescue him. So we went and flew him to a city hospital.
Myself and another missionary doctor, managed to stabilise him overnight until he was air rescued the next morning by the insurance company’s air ambulance crew and flown to South Africa for more advanced care and treatment. God’s hand was with us for when we were due to land the airport landing lights were not working! But after calling out to Jesus and declaring them to work again in His Name, they came back on and we were able to land safely. The hospital had the treatment needed to stabilise the patient and though myself and the other missionary doctor didn’t work for the Government, we were allowed to look after this patient with their available drugs! (Such favour!)
Then Carol (who is a retired nurse who has helped me on the outreaches this season) and I went to the Zambezi province in Mozambique, on an extended 9 day outreach along with a group of 9 missionaries and some Mozambican pastors. During this time, we consecrated the land on a new Iris base. At the time we were going to prayer walk, it was raining, but it stopped after prayer and the sun shone through the grey clouds! Then we sprinkled consecrated bottles of water along each border.
I had a vision of the borders being on fire and God’s Spirit consuming the land and making it Holy ground. After we finished this prophetic act, it started raining again, but more like showers of blessings! It was also interesting that we had seen many poisonous insects such as scorpions and spiders on the land before we prayed, and many were trying to get into our tents between the covers. But when we revisited the land on our way back, the land looked clean! No poisonous insects were seen! Our tent covers remained clean overnight too!
We went to another Iris church in Morumballa (near the Malawi border). Here we bought clothes and blankets for the 45 Iris children. There had been major issues with the leaders there, but this was a time of repentance and foot washing by the people to re-unite the church with Iris ministries. Overall it felt a successful outreach to the places we visited.
In the meantime I was informed of desperate measures at another Iris base in Sudan and have been asked to go and help out there. The present missionaries working there have been sick and are both taking their annual breaks soon, but the base needs some other missionaries to help maintain the infrastructure of the base that houses around 100 children. I’m praying about it at present and that if I go, I will not be alone but with a team of warriors where we can support each other and be accountable to each other. The time I’ve been asked to go is for 6-8 weeks.
Please PRAY;
· God’s will for me regarding Sudan, and that He will provide the right team of people to co-labour with and accomplish all that is needed for the base, as well as ongoing protection, especially of health!
· My future work with Iris Ministries, for I will have been with them for two and a half years now and am looking into what He wants me to do next.
· My sister’s health-she is being treated for a fungal chest infection at present and still requiring intermittent oxygen at home.
Thank you all for your ongoing prayers!
Much love in Him,
Ange x
Ian & Julie Fawcett, with their two children
Lauren and Casey
Choluteca, Southern Honduras
Supported by On The Box Mission
Church Contact: Rev. Dr. John Hughes
Statistics
One day there was a particularly high tide, and thousands of ‘Star Fish’ had been left on the shore’s edge, I was overwhelmed by the sight of so many Star Fish just dying where they had been deposited.
In the distance I saw a man bending down then standing back up again, he was doing this whilst walking amid the Star Fish, I approached him and said “it is useless you could never save these Star Fish”, but the man just kept on bending down picking up Star Fish and throwing them back in to the sea, after I had seen him throw another 40 back into the sea he held up another Star Fish and replied “do you think I can make a difference to this Star Fish”?
On Sunday 24th January we were very privileged to have Ian with us at St. Wilfrid’s, he gave a presentation on his and his families work in Choluteca, Honduras
One person’s death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic. Each person is someone’s Son or Daughter. They are all children known personally to God. We can make a difference by helping just one of God’s Children.
Casa Hogar Vida is a children’s home for orphans who have been affected or are infected by HIV-AIDS. It is a Christian response to Honduran children who are victims of HIV-AIDS and a comprehensive support centre for the entire family. Whilst we have been there we have started several projects: - cultivating crops on the land, providing fresh water, providing simple housing etc. ( The houses are called after the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness).
This has produced employment for some by making our own Breeze-Blocks, and cultivating the crops. We have also set up a small industry making jewellery, which can be sold to increase the revenue for the people living on Casa Hogar Vida.
Another way we can help is by providing an education programme to the very poor children of a community we serve called Guasaule. The community live on the edge of a river linking the boarders of Nicaragua and Honduras. This community has been receiving help now for two years through our programme called Child Sponsorship. The children now receive food and education, health care and materials for them and for their schools. The children have tried so hard and are enjoying learning to read and write.
Ian is always looking for sponsorship, and can be located on www.casarhogavida.com
God’s work continues in Honduras.
James 1 v 2. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of any kind, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.<o:p>
Casa Hogar Vida
God continues to do amazing things in Casa Hogar Vida and we see different aspects of His divine grace daily. Even though recently we have been facing trials, He continues to bless us richly.
• Families are due to move into three completed houses. The selection committee has received twenty six applications for these homes. This is a real sign that we are starting to break down the stigma and discrimination that surrounds the HIV virus.
• Around two acres of maize is nearly ready for harvest in the agricultural section. We are praying that work can begin on the other areas of agriculture soon.
• “Manualidades” (Handicrafts see www.casahogarvida.com) now employ six people and expects two more to join soon. It now has outlets in the USA which are buying the lovely products it is producing. We were recently blessed with lots of suitcases full of beautiful material brought in by a team.
• The support groups continue to increase in size and new people are joining. Again this shows that the true way to help people is through Christ’s love. Casa Hogar runs the only groups in Choluteca which do not revolve around handouts and is focused on Christ.
The Gospel Spreads
We now have bookings at Casey’s school for the education program which teaches prevention from HIV and stigma discrimination reduction. This will run over six week blocks. By the end of the year we will have educated 2,500 plus children and their parents who all will receive the gospel message. Also, Pastor Giovanny has given his blessing for a new fellowship group to run from Casa Hogar. Ian has been put in charge of co-ordinating this. Currently it has around thirteen regular attendees.
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