Dear Friends in Christ,
Peace be with you.
We hope you are having a great Ash Wednesday. As I write this, it is 5:40 am, and pitch black outside. We are on a two hour time difference from Albany.
Thanksgivings:
1) As of yesterday, we have an offer of a long-term place to live in Lima, beginning in May, with a trustworthy landlady, in a good location, at a good price. Along with that arrangement are some other plusses. Now, comes the part of working out the details to see if this is possible, and what to do about living accommodations from April 21st to the time we could move in.
2) We also have two offers of help to get us to the airport on April 20. (The flight is overnight, so we depart on the 20th and arrive on the 21st), and it looks like we will take up both offers. Thank you very much!
3) We are continuing to be blessed by the prayers and financial contributions that support our mission work in Peru.
Prayers:
1) Learning Spanish (see below).
2) Moving forward with living accommodations in Lima.
3) For our time here in Palmer Lake.
4) Meeting with Julie's and my niece in Denver in about a week an a half.
5) Tax preparation matters both this year and in following years, as we try to figure out how to do this across long-distances.
6) Internet banking arrangements.
7) Preparing for cultural adjustments in Lima.
8) For continued support raising.
9) Continued vigilance against effects of high altitude: we are at 7,400 feet above sea level, and we are adjusting very well.
A more detailed prayer request, regarding "1", above:
Last week, I mentioned two sources of language learning that we are planning to do. Here is the basic difference between them: 1) A language school helps us learn deductively (from the top, down, instruction). 2) local helpers help us learn inductively (from the ground, up, instruction).
At first, it may sound like the methods overlap, but the content focus is different. The following is a way to understand this from a similar approaches to the Scriptures: the deductive approach involves a teacher with a set curriculum teaching the scriptures, but an inductive approach is your own daily study of the scriptures with tools that you have available.
Both methods complement each other.
We now understand that both approaches to Spanish are extremely important for what we are planning to do, and your prayers would be appreciated that we would learn much from both methods. Finding the right helpers is important (it is suggested that we do not depend on just one helper, and that we start out, trying several in succession), and your prayers would be appreciated for that.
Thank you for your prayers!
God bless you.
In Christ,
Shaw, and on behalf of Julie and Lydia.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
1Peter 5: 2-4
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Lord we pray for all missionaries and especially for Fr. Shaw, Mother Julie, and Lydia Mudge. They are your shepherds, Lord, and so deserving of that crown of glory that will never fade away. We thank You for their eagerness to serve You, for their willingness to give up high salaries and worldly goods, for their humility as they minister to others and for their exemplary lives that glorify You, Lord. Strengthen them to continue in their work for You. Amen.
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Lord we pray for all missionaries and especially for Fr. Shaw, Mother Julie, and Lydia Mudge. They are your shepherds, Lord, and so deserving of that crown of glory that will never fade away. We thank You for their eagerness to serve You, for their willingness to give up high salaries and worldly goods, for their humility as they minister to others and for their exemplary lives that glorify You, Lord. Strengthen them to continue in their work for You. Amen.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Additional Prayer Request from Fr. Shaw Mudge
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace be with you.
Our prayer list is essentially the same as last week, except that there are a few more details to the process of language learning that we would like prayer for.
There are two basic ways to learn a language, and we plan to be doing both:
1) with a local helper (a very part-time person), who can help us with pronunciation and with day to day phrases/sentences and vocabulary acquisition that we need, to get out and about on an individual basis, and
2) language school which helps us with grammar and other forms of learning Spanish in a more traditional way. Both are important.
So, our additional prayers include:
1) finding the right helper
2) learning what we can from both our helper and the language school.
God bless you.
Peace be with you.
Our prayer list is essentially the same as last week, except that there are a few more details to the process of language learning that we would like prayer for.
There are two basic ways to learn a language, and we plan to be doing both:
1) with a local helper (a very part-time person), who can help us with pronunciation and with day to day phrases/sentences and vocabulary acquisition that we need, to get out and about on an individual basis, and
2) language school which helps us with grammar and other forms of learning Spanish in a more traditional way. Both are important.
So, our additional prayers include:
1) finding the right helper
2) learning what we can from both our helper and the language school.
God bless you.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Isaiah 61: 1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
To proclaim freedom for the captives
And release from darkness for the prisoners,
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
And the day of vengeance of our God,
To comfort all who mourn,
And provide for those who grieve in Zion—
To bestow on them a crown of beauty
Instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness
Instead of mourning,
And a garment of praise
Instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
A planting of the Lord
For the display of his splendor.
Lord we pray for Fr. Shaw, Mother Julie, and Lydia Mudge as they continue their missionary training in Colorado. We thank You for the good friends that they have made this week. We pray for the Mudges and for all the missionaries in training. May Your Holy Spirit be upon them as they get ready to do your work. Anoint them, Lord, to preach the good news to both the poor and the rich. Show them how to minister to the broken hearted, those who are in the captivity of a sinful life, and are imprisoned in worldly ways. Empower them to comfort mourners, to give hope and praise. Keep them in your path of righteousness. And we pray for joy in their lives: for the crown of beauty, the oil of gladness and a garment of praise. May your splendor be visible in their lives. Amen.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
To proclaim freedom for the captives
And release from darkness for the prisoners,
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
And the day of vengeance of our God,
To comfort all who mourn,
And provide for those who grieve in Zion—
To bestow on them a crown of beauty
Instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness
Instead of mourning,
And a garment of praise
Instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
A planting of the Lord
For the display of his splendor.
Lord we pray for Fr. Shaw, Mother Julie, and Lydia Mudge as they continue their missionary training in Colorado. We thank You for the good friends that they have made this week. We pray for the Mudges and for all the missionaries in training. May Your Holy Spirit be upon them as they get ready to do your work. Anoint them, Lord, to preach the good news to both the poor and the rich. Show them how to minister to the broken hearted, those who are in the captivity of a sinful life, and are imprisoned in worldly ways. Empower them to comfort mourners, to give hope and praise. Keep them in your path of righteousness. And we pray for joy in their lives: for the crown of beauty, the oil of gladness and a garment of praise. May your splendor be visible in their lives. Amen.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
About Mission Training International
Dear friends in Christ, 14 February 2009
Peace be with you.
We are at Mission Training International, in a beautiful part of Colorado, learning how to learn a language. Lydia is doing much better than many of the adults!
We thought to augment our regular webpage with some thoughts on what the missionary life is like for those attending this program.
First, there are people from around the world who are going to various parts of
the globe over the course of the next few months, many within the next month:
An empty nester couple going to serve in Afghanistan.
A family with several small children going to Indonesia.
A single man in his twenties going to Burkina Faso in Africa.
A single young lady in her twenties going to Cambodia.
A young married couple going to the Tibet area of China.
A young family with small children going to Northeastern China.
A young couple going to Kyrgyzstan.
We are going to Peru.
Second, what do these people do? They have a spiritual ministry and a physical
ministry. To be more effective, they need to know how to learn to speak the local language(s), in the area where they will be ministering.
Their spiritual ministry is to pass on the eternal life offered by Jesus Christ to
those they meet, and to strengthen the body of Christ, world-wide.
Their physical ministry includes digging water wells for communities, providing medical assistance in specific locations, helping communities grow region specific crops for food, providing administrative assistance to organizations who could use their help, church planting, and training up leaders in the Church.
Third, what are some language issues people are likely to be prepared for?
“Where is the bathroom?”
“How do you say this?”
“Where are the land mines?”
All of us are on the edge of an important ministry, and the process can be
exhilarating. We are honored to be studying with these heroes of the faith, and
we are honored to be supported by you.
God bless you!
Shaw, Julie, and Lydia.
Peace be with you.
We are at Mission Training International, in a beautiful part of Colorado, learning how to learn a language. Lydia is doing much better than many of the adults!
We thought to augment our regular webpage with some thoughts on what the missionary life is like for those attending this program.
First, there are people from around the world who are going to various parts of
the globe over the course of the next few months, many within the next month:
An empty nester couple going to serve in Afghanistan.
A family with several small children going to Indonesia.
A single man in his twenties going to Burkina Faso in Africa.
A single young lady in her twenties going to Cambodia.
A young married couple going to the Tibet area of China.
A young family with small children going to Northeastern China.
A young couple going to Kyrgyzstan.
We are going to Peru.
Second, what do these people do? They have a spiritual ministry and a physical
ministry. To be more effective, they need to know how to learn to speak the local language(s), in the area where they will be ministering.
Their spiritual ministry is to pass on the eternal life offered by Jesus Christ to
those they meet, and to strengthen the body of Christ, world-wide.
Their physical ministry includes digging water wells for communities, providing medical assistance in specific locations, helping communities grow region specific crops for food, providing administrative assistance to organizations who could use their help, church planting, and training up leaders in the Church.
Third, what are some language issues people are likely to be prepared for?
“Where is the bathroom?”
“How do you say this?”
“Where are the land mines?”
All of us are on the edge of an important ministry, and the process can be
exhilarating. We are honored to be studying with these heroes of the faith, and
we are honored to be supported by you.
God bless you!
Shaw, Julie, and Lydia.
Friday, February 13, 2009
An Update from Fr. Shaw Mudge
Dear Prayer Partners,
Peace be with you.
We have settled into Mission Training International in the Colorado Springs area, home of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Pikes Peak. Our goal for the next week and a half is to learn techniques for learning a language.
Thanksgivings:
1) For Mtr. Kathy Coons picking us up at 5 am, taking us to the Albany airport, this past Monday
2) That we arrived safely and in a timely manner.
3) That this part of Colorado is very beautiful.
4) That Lydia has found some friends, here.
5) For the great visit at St. Mary's in Lake Luzerne on Sunday.
6) For everyone who supports us in prayer and/or financially.
7) That there is a very good Internet connection here.
Prayer requests:
1) That we would be able to apply those language learning techniques which would be best suited for our circumstances in Peru.
2) That we would learn the Spanish that we need, quickly.
3) That we would have sufficient internet banking arrangements set up by the time we leave for Peru (I have been working on this for several months).
4) For shipping arrangements for our luggage to get to Peru.
5) For a volunteer who would be willing to take us to the Newark Airport on April 20 (plane departs in the afternoon).
6) That our final visiting in March and April would glorify God.
7) For our family members who are not going to Peru with us, both in Julie's family and in my family, and for Ruth and Hannah.
Thank you for being on our prayer team.
God bless you.
In Christ,
Shaw+
Peace be with you.
We have settled into Mission Training International in the Colorado Springs area, home of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Pikes Peak. Our goal for the next week and a half is to learn techniques for learning a language.
Thanksgivings:
1) For Mtr. Kathy Coons picking us up at 5 am, taking us to the Albany airport, this past Monday
2) That we arrived safely and in a timely manner.
3) That this part of Colorado is very beautiful.
4) That Lydia has found some friends, here.
5) For the great visit at St. Mary's in Lake Luzerne on Sunday.
6) For everyone who supports us in prayer and/or financially.
7) That there is a very good Internet connection here.
Prayer requests:
1) That we would be able to apply those language learning techniques which would be best suited for our circumstances in Peru.
2) That we would learn the Spanish that we need, quickly.
3) That we would have sufficient internet banking arrangements set up by the time we leave for Peru (I have been working on this for several months).
4) For shipping arrangements for our luggage to get to Peru.
5) For a volunteer who would be willing to take us to the Newark Airport on April 20 (plane departs in the afternoon).
6) That our final visiting in March and April would glorify God.
7) For our family members who are not going to Peru with us, both in Julie's family and in my family, and for Ruth and Hannah.
Thank you for being on our prayer team.
God bless you.
In Christ,
Shaw+
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do your will, for You are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Lord we pray for Fr. Shaw, Mother Julie, and Lydia Mudge as they start their missionary training in Colorado. May they be especially attuned to hear Your Holy Spirit and to absorb all necessary to equip them to be your servants in Peru. As they are nestled in the mountains of Colorado or the mountains of Peru, may they hear your voice and be led on level and Holy Ground. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
http://mudgeperureport.blogspot.com/
Teach me to do your will, for You are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Lord we pray for Fr. Shaw, Mother Julie, and Lydia Mudge as they start their missionary training in Colorado. May they be especially attuned to hear Your Holy Spirit and to absorb all necessary to equip them to be your servants in Peru. As they are nestled in the mountains of Colorado or the mountains of Peru, may they hear your voice and be led on level and Holy Ground. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
http://mudgeperureport.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Psalm 37: 3-7a
Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord
And he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
Trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
The justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Lord, we ask for travel mercies for Fr. Shaw, Mother Julie, and Lydia Mudge as they leave for the Mission Training Institute in Colorado on February 9. Be with them every step of the way and every moment of their days. May the teachings be fruitful and may they absorb everything that you would want them to know. May they do good as they trust in You. Keep them safe and let them delight in You. The Mudges trust in You and are committed to your ways. Thank You that You will make your righteousness shine down upon them like the dawn. May the justice of their cause glitter like the noonday sun. Help the Mudges to be still before you and always wait patiently for You. May Your Holy Spirit guide them every step of the way. Amen.
Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord
And he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
Trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
The justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Lord, we ask for travel mercies for Fr. Shaw, Mother Julie, and Lydia Mudge as they leave for the Mission Training Institute in Colorado on February 9. Be with them every step of the way and every moment of their days. May the teachings be fruitful and may they absorb everything that you would want them to know. May they do good as they trust in You. Keep them safe and let them delight in You. The Mudges trust in You and are committed to your ways. Thank You that You will make your righteousness shine down upon them like the dawn. May the justice of their cause glitter like the noonday sun. Help the Mudges to be still before you and always wait patiently for You. May Your Holy Spirit guide them every step of the way. Amen.
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