THE MISSION PRAYER CALL
International Ministries, American Baptist Churches
Weeks of July 18, 2010
David and Laura Parajon, Nicaragua
David and Laura are serving in remote rural communities in Nicaragua through the training and support of village health leaders. These health care providers staff clinics in their communities to diagnose and treat the most common illnesses, teach nutrition and hygiene, and coordinate diverse community-oriented projects to improve health and prevent disease; they have significantly reduced deaths among children and women in their communities. David is an internist and Laura is a family physician. Their ministry to serve the poor focuses on health, hope and healing. Based in Nicaragua, they serve through AMOS Health and Hope and the Council of Protestant Churches in Nicaragua (CEPAD)
They write: “Alone” is how Catalino found Ana on the side of the road. He is on his way to his farm, and asks her if she is okay because at this time of the morning she was usually on her way home with a bucket of water on her head. She doesn’t answer and just keeps looking on the ground. So he tells her to cheer up and says he will see her later. But when he returns from the farm and passes by the same spot later that day, he said, “She had gramoxol (an herbicide) in a bottle next to her, and she drank it shortly after I left. She died a terrible death, and I wonder to this day if I could have done something….” Catalino is one of the health promoters that we trained from the rural community of Cumaica Norte in Boaco. He recently shared this experience during a training we had on suicide prevention.
Since 2009, 6 people in municipality of San Jose de los Remates where we work have committed suicide because of domestic violence. The majority were young women, and many of the suicides could have been prevented had the risk been recognized earlier. AMOS trained the health promoters from 23 communities in suicide prevention.
After the trainings, Catalino said: "If I had known then, what I know now…I would have suspected something and stopped to listen to Ana’s pain. And just maybe, I think that she might still be here.”
Another health promoter, Arellys, said: "Before, I didn’t know we could prevent suicide, but now I have the tools to be able to tell someone I am here for you, I can listen so I can help them cope with their emotional pain.”
How many times have we passed someone in pain and walked right on by? Jesus encourages us and reminds us of who we strive to be -- someone who cares and knows to stop on the side of the road for someone in need. So we thank you for caring and taking the time to "stop at the side of the road" - listening to the stories of people in need we convey to you – and offering your support through prayers, financially, and by simply being there, allowing us to also be there for those we serve.
· Pray for David and Laura as they provide health care and train health care providers.
· Pray for the ministry of the health care providers as they minister in Christ’s name.
· Pray for their life as a family and for their children: Cristina (14), Scott (11) and David (9).
Chuck and Ruth Fox, Thailand
Chuck and Ruth work with the approximately 75,000 Akha hill tribe people living in Northern Thailand. The Foxes' ministry focuses on evangelism, pastoral care, leadership development and women's ministries.
Chuck writes: The people of the hill village of Azi do not have any title to the land for their bamboo houses, they are squatters from Burma. A few have Thai citizenship of some form, only a few are full Thai's. I met an older lady there who is 87. Her husband passed away as well as six of her nine children. She came out and gathered around while we prepared to teach about 30 children in the village. There is no electricity. Her name is Mi Tsu. As we talked she made sure that I understood that before she became a Christian she had bad dreams at night. But now that she believes the frightening dreams have stopped and gone away. I enjoyed sitting with her and hearing her story.
This village has asked for help in forming a village. Together with the Akha workers, we are trying to find a way to get a small portion of land for them. We have one blockage at this point because the head army leader in the area said they could not obtain land until they have more Thai citizenship.
From this point, we traveled over to another village for dinner. There I met my Akha friend, Yahweh, who used to be addicted to opium but changed as we sent him to this Christian Rehab sponsored by American Baptists. I went with him to his coffee plantation and saw some of his beautiful coffee. That day I helped divide up fertilizer to each family in this village to help their coffee plants flourish a bit. When Yahweh became a Christian his two wives left him. He was a bit sad about that. His wives did not want anything to do with him as he now was not following the old ways of the "spirits". He has remained faithful to Christ and wants to find a new wife. So far, none on the horizon. Later that night, we had some of the best food in the world - Akha vegetables, meat with some spices and rice, of course.
There is much joy and love in being able to share our lives and resources with struggling people on this side of this world. Together with my Akha friends, we spend time with them and they in turn have enriched my life also.
· Pray for Chuck and Ruth as they minister among the Akha tribal people of Thailand.
· Pray that the Akha people will respond to the Gospel message and become followers of Jesus Christ.
Pray for International Ministries Volunteers
· Michael Feicht, leading a team of 5 from New Jersey, serving in India, July 22 – August 1.
· Tim Spring, leading a team of 11 from Pennsylvania, serving in Nicaragua, July 16 – 25.
· Dana Crompton, leading a team of 39 from Connecticut, serving in Dominican Republic, July 16 – 24.
· Richard McClure, leading a team of 7 from West Virginia, serving in South Africa, July 11 – 25.
· Mariko Prigel, leading a team of 17 from Missouri, serving in Japan, July 15 – 29.
*For info on prayer ministry - Contact Rev. Bob Santilli at 610-768-2187 or