Newsletter

.Bishop Sadock Makaya, Diocese of Western Tanganyika

“Wow!”


There is really only one pithy way to summarize the recent mission trip to the Diocese of Belize in Central America and to the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in East Africa: “Wow!” That is my one word update: “Wow!”

Transforming lives… talking to people about the Good News of the Gospel… making a difference. This would not be possible without you and your support.

In the Diocese of Western Tanganyika, our focus has begun with making the online seminary program and its resources available to faculty at Kasulu Bible College, for their benefit, as well as for the benefit of the students and clergy in the diocese. And, we broadened our staffing by adding assistants on the ground.

In the Diocese of Belize, our program is expanding with more people interested in it, and more support on the ground “in country”, as they say in missionary parlance, including a program developer and a contact person in Belize. But the trip summary does not end, there. And… I was asked to participate in the next Cursillo weekend in Belize by Bishop Philip on behalf of several Cursillistas (which would be in October 2013), and I agreed to do that. And… Bishop Philip asked me to be Spiritual Advisor/Spiritual Director for all persons currently seeking either lay ministry or clerical vocations in the Diocese of Belize, and I agreed to do that.

And… that was just part of the outcome of the trip. Wow!

With Bishop Philip Wright of the Diocese of Belize just after our interview about Christianity and Christian beliefs in this day and age, on national Belizean television.








Ways to support us.

Your prayers and financial support make the online educational ministry happen. Thank you.



Please make checks out to: "SAMS", and put "Mudge" in the memo space. The mailing address is: SAMS, P. O. Box 399, Ambridge, PA 15003-0399.



God bless you,



Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+

The Rev. Dr. Shaw Mudge

The Rev. Julia Mudge

Missionaries of SAMS and Albany.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
As I send this out, it is almost Pentecost in Belize City, Belize, Central America!

This week's selective overview:

1) The two different national television interviews were awesome. The presence of the Holy Spirit was apparent, and Bp. Philip and I, with help of a friend, addressed questions that people generally ask, such as along the lines of how you tell when the Holy Spirit is guiding you, the relevance of the Church today, what about struggles between denominations, and what difference the Christian life makes. I did my usual praying during the Interviews, and addressed my comments to the interviewers, the camera crew, as well as the viewing audience.

2) I hear that Julie has been continuing to do an awesome job in Ogdensburg.

3) Bishop Philip asked me to be a kind of vocational counselor for people considering lay and clerical ministries in the Diocese of Belize.

4) We are getting local offers to participate in the online program, in Belize. Anything from: people wanting to design courses to wanting to help with administrative ends of things. Also, there is continuing and additional interest in the courses, themselves.

5) I am having a good time with the Bishop of the Diocese of Belize, but now our time together is wrapping up, concluding the Vocation Month in the Diocese (a successful experiment this year). On Saturday we both led a workshop for Lay Ministers, and a new Lay Ministers' guild was launched for the Diocese. Sunday, I preached at the 7:00 am service in Belize City, about 300 people attending; the Bishop preached at the 9 am service, which is rather fitting since 9 am was a key moment in time in Acts 2. My presentation on Lay Ministry was well received.

Prayer requests:

1) Travel mercies over the next few days.

2) Pray for sorting through the development opportunities of our online courses, for an increase in the student body, and financial support for the program, for God to open the doors we are to go through and our obedience in going through them.

3) Pray that we focus on the essential language matters that God wants us to attend to, in the online program.

4) For our missionary table at the annual Convention in the Diocese of Albany in June.

5) For the balance of our time in the North Country.

6) For a resolution to the persistent health insurance issue, God's way.

7) For direction on everything that is before each of our family members.

God bless you, and thank you for praying. I pray for you every day. You all are really great. We could not be doing this without you.

In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+

Scripture Prayer

Ezekiel 34: 30-31

And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture and I am your God, declares the Lord God.

Lord God, we pray for this blessing, that you gave the Israelites while they were in exile, for Father Shaw and Mother Julie, for their whole family, and for all of their students in Belize and in Tanzania and in the U.S. May they truly know that they are your people, your sheep, your human sheep of the pasture. Thank You triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for being their Lord God.

We pray especially this week for Father Shaw as he finishes up his time in Belize. Be with him as he gives a major presentation on Saturday and preaches a homily on Pentecost Sunday. Come Holy Spirit, come. Come in all your power and might and use Father Shaw in a strong way. Let his ministry increase. Bring more students into his fold.

We thank You Lord for the good work that Mother Julie is doing in Ogdensburg and for the news that Lydia will start on-line college courses in June. Guide them both Lord, in the work that You have for them to do.

And we ask for travel mercies as Father Shaw returns to New York.

Come Holy Spirit, come. Come in all your power and might. Do marvelous things in our sight. May your glory be seen. Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
Happy Easter season from Belize City, Belize, Central America!

This week's selective overview:

1) I have been focused on the many presentations and events which have taken place or are planned during my time in Belize. My acolyte presentations on Saturday went well.

2) I hear that Julie has been doing a great job in Ogdensburg.

3) Lydia is moving forward with plans to attend University, starting in June, online.

4) I am having a good time with the Bishop of the Diocese of Belize. On Sunday, we left for a church service, beginning our day at 5 am, and driving two hours to get to St. Paul's by the Sea in Corozal, Belize. My presentation on Lay Ministry was well received.

Prayer requests:

1) Upcoming events (revised list as of 12 May), pray for the Holy Spirit's movement at these items:

The Monday evening television interview is now intended for Tuesday, to be taped - for inclusion during a live interview segment on the following Monday, on Love FM, beginning about 10 pm, with live streaming on the Internet.

Tuesday morning, 8:30 Albany time, another television interview (both Bp. Philip and myself and a student in our program); this will be followed by a homily I am to give at a 11am Albany time service at the Cathedral of St. John's in Belize.

Wednesday morning, beginning at 10 am, Albany time, I deliver a homily at a service at the Cathedral, and then, beginning at 11 am Albany time, I deliver a homily on vocation awareness to 400 teenagers, at the Anglican Cathedral College. Life can be a real challenge for some of these kids.

On Thursday, I and Bp. Philip plan to visit fellow missionaries in San Ignacio, Belize, near the Guatemalan border. An evening social-discussion group convenes in Belize City, after that.

On Friday, I may meet with several people, individually, regarding vocational discernment.

Saturday, 18 May, beginning at 11 am (Albany time), one of my major presentations: to address Lay Ministers Training in the Diocese. This is an event in both the morning and the afternoon.

Sunday, 19 May, Day of Pentecost, preaching a homily at an area parish.

There will also be planning and preparation times, during the week, as well.

2) Pray for the development of our online courses, for God to open the doors we are to go through and our obedience in going through them, and for wisdom about including others in the development of our program.

3) For translation work and further language learning.

4) For an increase in enrollment, for financial provision, and for program and course development, in God's way and in God's time.

5) For our missionary table at the annual Convention in the Diocese of Albany in June.

6) For the balance of our time in the North Country.

7) For a resolution to the persistent health insurance issue, God's way.

8) For direction on everything that is before each of our family members.

God bless you, and thank you for praying. I pray for you every day.

In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+

Prayer Mail

Dear Friends,

I have arrived safely and in a timely manner in Belize.

I am sending out this special edition of our public prayer mail, so you can be praying that the Holy Spirit will move on the following items in my agenda in Belize. (I just finished a great time in Tanzania. Please pray that the Lord would continue to work his program there, especially by getting the orientation presentations off the ground.)

It is vocation month in the Diocese of Belize.

Ahead:

Tomorrow (Saturday), probably 9 am Belize time (11 am Albany time): I make a brief presentation to about 35 acolytes.

Monday evening; television interview (both Bp. Philip and I will be interviewed)

Tuesday morning, 8:30 Albany time, another television interview (both Bp. Philip and myself and a student in our program)

Wednesday morning, beginning at 11 am Albany time, I deliver a homily on vocation awareness to 400 teenagers, at the Anglican Cathedral College. Life can be a real challenge for some of these kids.

Saturday, 18 May, beginning at 11 am (Albany time), one of my major presentations: to address Lay Ministers Training in the Diocese. This is an event in both the morning and the afternoon.

19 May, Day of Pentecost, preaching a homily at an area parish.

There will also be planning and preparation times, during the week, as well.

God bless you,
Shaw
Belize City, Belize

Scripture Prayer

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Jesus, we thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and we ask that Father Shaw be filled to overflowing. He is your witness in Ogdensburg and Albany, in Belize and Tanzania, and to the end of the earth! May his mission work everywhere be pleasing in your sight.

We pray especially for travel mercies as Father Shaw travels from Africa to New York to Belize. Keep him safe and healthy and well rested. We pray for many blessings from the times in Africa and in Latin America and in the diocese of Albany. We ask that he gains some students and financial help and lots of encouragement.

Be with his family as well: for Mother Julie and Lydia in Ogdensburg and Mother Hannah in Troy and Ruth in Chicago. May their endeavors also be led by your Holy Spirit and be fruitful. Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
Happy Easter season from Kasulu, Tanzania!

This week's selective overview:

1) I have had many discussions and presentations about our online program with people at Kasulu Bible College, putting the program into place and introducing it to students. In addition, Bill and Cathy Schrull and I visited churches and an orphanage, on Saturday, driving within eyesight of Burundi.

2) On Saturday, I held an online class for students in Belize on the Old Testament context, which included a cameo appearance with Julie. So, for a brief moment we had three continents participating at the same time, and our Internet speed seems to be the usual speed in all three places. This was a trial run, and it was excellent, thanks to the recent improvements in computer infrastructure work at the Bible college (seminary). Kasulu Bible College probably now has one of the best Internet networks in most of Tanzania because of our online program needs. It seems to be equivalent with Ogdensburg, New York.

3) On Sunday, I preached at a new parish, on the subject of God's peace. The Bishop was scheduled to preach, but he asked me to preach instead. The parish began about 8 months ago, and now has about 400 people, half of which are children.... The Bishop mentioned last night that having a visiting missionary preach to a new and small church such as this one, is encouraging for the parish.... I am part of a ministry of encouragement. Praise God!

4) I am having a good time with the Bishop of the Diocese of Western Tanganyika.

5) We are getting more interest from the occasional person in North America and elsewhere to take our courses, and from my time in Tanzania, I am beginning to see that the links we offer and the materials we offer have three applications: resources for students (lay and ordained) and other people who want to grow in their walk with Jesus, resources for faculty who develop courses, and resources for parish clergy and lay people who need resources (Bible study materials, preaching materials, other adult education and parish life materials).

6) Julie has been doing an excellent job in parish ministry at St. John's, Ogdensburg.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for the development of our online courses, for God to open the doors we are to go through and our obedience in going through them.

2) For safe and timely travel this week. I travel from Kasulu to Kigoma, and from Kigoma to Dar es Salaam (East Africa). From Dar es Salaam to New York (North America). Then, I visit my mom. From there, I travel from New York to Belize (Central America), all in the same week.

3) For the Holy Spirit's guidance as we embark on the agenda of the Bishop of Belize. We have quite a lot to do for vocation week.

4) For translation work and for further language learning. My Swahili from a few years ago has come in handy.

5) For an increase in enrollment, for financial provision, and for program and course development, in God's way and in God's time.

6) For our missionary table at the annual Convention in the Diocese of Albany in June.

7) For the balance of our time in the North Country.

8) For a resolution to the persistent health insurance issue, God's way.

9) For direction on everything that is before each of our family members.

God bless you, and thank you for praying. I pray for you every day.

In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+