Prayer Mail

Dear Partners in Prayer,

Peace be with you.

This is this week's public prayer mail.

¡Feliz Navidad! Merry Christmas!

Wow. I started to write this week's prayer mail on Sunday, and the week's events distracted me. That is a signal for more prayer.

Praise reports:
1) We have been invited to two missionary homes over Christmastime, December 24 and December 26. This was a real blessing to us. The one on December 26 is with a family we met in Scotia in April, this year, through homeschooling friends, and is not part of SAMS of the Anglican Church. Her aunt owns Jumpin´ Jacks restaurant.

2) We talked with my mother and brother yesterday over Skype for the first time, a video conference. That was a real blessing on both ends. You can talk about Peru, and read about Peru, but until you see it, it is sometimes hard to appreciate it. They could not believe they were talking to us in Peru for free. (Feel free to do the same.)

3) We will share the Holy Eucharist with two congregations in the next few days: Mission of Ascencion on Christmas Eve in the Surco District, and Mission of Jesus el Salvador in the Villa el Salvador District on Christmas morning.

4) That we are doing what the Lord wants us to do. That sounds rather basic, but for me there is a deep sense of eternal joy and eternal peace connected with that focus, that I do not have if we do other than what Jesus would have us do.

5) We have enjoyed the Christmas fiestas of chocolate, and panetone bread.

Prayer requests:
1) pray for the vision, mission, ministries, priorities, finances, deeds, thoughts, words, and relationships of the Diocese of Peru, the seminary, the SAMS missionaries, including the Mudges.

2) There are a lot of details and coordination matters at the moment relating to the seminary, diocesan ministries, ordination process, and missions with which we are associated, particularly some of these matters which have very little lead-time. These need your prayers. Pray for the teams that work together to the glory of God, amid all the accompanying stressors. Pray for the peace of God to be at work among us all in harmony in accordance with God´s plans for our lives and his mission, and that the Lord would protect all our hearts and minds, and that lives would be transformed by the Holy Spirit through what we do.

3) For the people we minister to, that the Gospel may spread like wild-fire, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God. Pray for the Bishops Suffragan election process, that the Lord´s candidates be selected and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to his glory, for his purposes here, and that it be obvious to all, whom they are, in peace, love, and joy; pray for the people in the selection process that they be guided by the Holy Spirit. Pray that the Holy Spirit would pour out his spiritual gifts on all the people in the Diocese for the mission to which they are called, in humility and love before God, that the Diocese may grow fruitfully for the Kingdom of God, 100 fold.

4) For those who need healing in soul and body and spirit, whom we meet daily. In the United States, we pray especially for Nigel, Hap, John, Ron, and our parents.

5) For Mike and Linda Chapman as they move into our condominium over the course of the next two weeks.

6) For Ruth and Hannah, our daughters, for safe and timely travel over the next two weeks. Pray for Bishop Godfrey and his beloved as they travel and visit in England.

7) Pray for the short-term mission trip that is coming down in July, pray for the preparations and plans, to the glory of God, for transformed lives as a result of the trip.

8) For Julie who is preparing to preach on Christmas morning as she tries to prepare her sermon. I will be celebrating at the same service (10:30 am). Lydia is coming as well. We need prayer for transportation matters back and forth, logistics matters for getting things done, coordination matters to the glory of God, for the spiritual atmosphere at this time of transition for the mission, and anything else that comes to your mind, that the parish may grow and be fruitful to the glory of God.

We are part of a seminary faculty team that is beginning to serve there (Jesus el Salvador) in a rota, starting Christmas morning, now that the missionary couple there have gone on deputation, for a few months. In a way, on Christmas morning, we are setting the tone for the team, although the official debut of the entire team is on December 27, the same day when the 4 seminarians who will be doing internships there, will start (and please pray for Sunday as well, in which there two services, one at 10:30 am and the other at 6:30 pm, both services to be led by the Rector of the seminary, and we will be attending both services; pray for the Rector of the seminary as he prepares to lead and as he prepares to preach.). Pray for all that, as well.

Your special prayers are appreciated for Jesus el Salvador, for the transition, for the ministry team, for the three of us in particular, and for the people at the mission of Ascencion (who will be missing us as we take our turn on the rota at Jesus el Salvador).

There is a lot that will be new for both the congregation and for the clergy on Christmas morning at Jesus el Salvador, including the Eucharistic liturgy, all in Spanish.

9) Thank you for praying for us. I pray for you every day, in Spanish (I am noticing that in Peru, my daily prayers for you seem more grace-filled and more full of God´s peace when I pray for you in Spanish).

As intercessors on our behalf, you make a difference.

God bless you.

In Christ,

Shaw, and on behalf of Julie and Lydia
Lima, Peru.