Scripture Prayer

Psalm 90: 14, 16-17

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.  Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands!

 

Lord God, thank You that you do satisfy us in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening and nighttime as well. Thank You for your steadfast love and the joy that You bring all our days.  Let your work be shown to your servants, Father Shaw and Mother Julie Mudge, and your glorious power to their students.  Let your favor be upon them, and may their work be pleasing to You.

Lord, we offer up a litany of specific requests.  We pray about the students and the faculty of the on-line theology training program; help them with anything that may be interfering with their study time:  health issues, family problems, lack of time.  We pray for Father Shaw’s October trip to Belize and for the appointments being made with students and vocational advisees.  We pray for guidance on how to incorporate English as a Second Language and translations into Spanish and Swahili.

Lord, we thank You for the possibility of linking up with the theological college in the Eastern Caribbean.  Be with Father Shaw as this is explored.

And as always, we pray for the whole Mudge family.  Guide them as they make important decisions and implement plans. 

Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,

This is our weekly public prayer mail. The autumnal equinox arrived in the United States on 12:44 pm, Belize time, this past Sunday. We are in the midst of rainy season in Belize, and in the midst of dry season in Tanzania, in theory.

This week's selective overview: 

1) I have been working on arrangements for my upcoming trip to Belize.

2) Last week, someone approached me with a desire to teach with our program, and also with the possibility of linking our program in some way with another theological college about 3,000 miles across the Caribbean from Belize. Praise God. He saw our Web site.

3) I have been developing various courses, and made a parish visit.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for the students and faculty. Various issues keep popping up: health, time, etc.  

2) We are finding amazing answers to prayer, because people are praying and because others are listening. Continue to pray for the right participants in the program (especially in Belize and in Tanzania), for the right amount of financial support, and for the right content of the program (including appropriate links with other programs). 

3) Pray for the October visit to Belize. Your prayers are making a difference, and another possible visit in January 2014 has come up.

4) Continue to pray for appointments with students and vocational advisees during the next trip to Belize.

5) Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the area of English as a Second Language (English as a Foreign Language), and for translation of materials and courses into both Swahili and Spanish.

6) Pray for the staff in Kasulu. I think they are in need of special prayer at this time: various issues are coming up.

7) Pray for our family members who are on the threshold of making important decisions or implementing plans.

8) The news from Nairobi is particularly poignant for us because: last year, on our trip to East Africa we had seriously thought we would be teaching at a theological college there. However, things did not work out, and I saw that as the hand of God at work at the time (though I really really wanted to do it). And, today, I confirm that same sense of what God was telling us, then. I am glad he called us where he did and the way he did. While life could go on without incident in the near future in Nairobi, one never knows; and that uncertainty applies, no matter where one is serving in the world. So, as we go about in our travels, keep us in prayer, and I praise God for him sending us where he did and when he did.

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+

Scripture Prayer Sept 21

Psalm 61: 1-2 and 7

 

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

 

Father God, from the ends of the earth, from Hartford and Albany, from Belize and Tanzania, Father Shaw calls out to you.  Hear his cry, O God.  Listen to his prayers.  Lead him to that higher rock where he is serving You and receiving your steadfast love and always aware of your faithfulness in watching over him.

 

We thank You Lord, for your protection and your guidance in all that the Mudges do for You.  We continue to pray for good direction as Father Shaw plans his trip to Belize.  We pray for all the students and faculty and we know that You will be with them in all their efforts.  Amen.

Newsletter

On Sunday, someone asked me how many students we have. That is a reasonable question in a traditional school setting.

For online education in Belize, it is a bit more complicated than that. The traditional program had not been continuous in operation in recent years. Our subsequent online program has enabled more continuity, but on a non-traditional basis.

A) Opportunity: as per Bishop Philip of Belize, the potential online enrollment is the entire Anglican Church in Belize, that is, those above high school age, generally.

Challenge: there is typically a 90% drop-out rate in theological colleges in South and Central America.

B) Factor out the people who do not access the Internet. Yet, we make hard copies of materials available for them.

C) High school "age" is a bit interesting, seeing that the average person in Belize is rumored to have at least an 8th grade education. So, the focus is on high school "age" and not on high school "educational level." Study skills can be an issue for some. English can be an issue for some. Most students speak English in addition to English Kriol. Some speak Guatemalan Spanish.

D) And then, there are additional potential ecumenical students with diocesan approval, such as Methodists.

E) Of the participants, they could be in an ordination process, pursuing a vocational ministry in the Diocese, or taking courses at their own pace for their own needs.

F) The students are spread across a spectrum of courses, for a variety of reasons. Some take longer to finish than others. Some have medical challenges. Some have job changes, or other life challenges. The program is designed for them to pick up the 24/7 courses at any time they can resume, any month, any year. Part of our ministry is a ministry of encouragement and mentoring to them. Courses resume at any time of life.

  

Ways to support us.

Your prayers and financial partnering with us help make our ministry happen.  

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.

https://secureq.net/Donations/SAMS/3397

God bless you in Jesus' Name,

The Revs. Shaw and Julie Mudge Missionaries of SAMS and Albany.  

Lay evangelist, Kasulu, Tanzania.

Photo provided by Fr. Shaw Mudge.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,

This is our weekly public prayer mail.  Weather was like Belize this week, in the 90s and 100% humidity. 

This week's selective overview: 

1) A great class yesterday.

2) Setting up visits with vocational advisees and students for my next trip to Belize

3) Working on Cursillo rollo and meditation for Belize. 

4) Developing various courses materials.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for the students and faculty. Various issues keep popping up. 

2) Pray for the October visit to Belize. Plans to be finalized this week. Your prayers are making a difference.

3) Continue to pray for the setting up of my appointments with students and vocational advisees during the next trip to Belize.

4) Pray for our family members who are on the threshold of making important decisions or implementing plans.

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

Disciples Making Disciples. 

Videos: type "shepherd110" in YouTube 

Newsletters and prayermail: http://MudgeMissionReport.blogspot.com/

Mission contributions: https://secure-q.net/Donations/SAMS/3397 

Ongoing work: https://sites.google.com/site/onlineanglicancampus/home

Scripture Prayer

Philippians 1:6

He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Father God, we thank You for the good start to the semester in Belize and we are confident that You will continue to be with Father Shaw as he teaches, creates new courses, and gets ready for his trip to Belize at the end of October.  Help him, Lord, to give the students just what they need so that they can do your work.  We pray for much fruit in Belize and also in Tanzania.  May there be a flurry of activity there all leading to greater knowledge of You and ways to spread your kingdom.

Be with all of the Mudge family, Lord.  Be with Mother Julie as she pursues her CPE studies and assists her husband with his mission work.  Be with Lydia as she continues her own on-line college studies and with Hannah and her work in the Albany Diocese and with Ruth in Chicago.  And be with the older generation as well.  May they all be well with a minimum of emergencies that bring the wrong kind of excitement.

We trust in You Lord.  Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,

This is our weekly public prayer mail.  We hope that everyone had a good Labor Day weekend.

This week's selective overview: 

1) Belize activities are in full swing. People are really keen on the subjects. Tanzanian faculty continue to have resources available to them for their needs.

2) As for our US mission base, I have had good visits with people this week, and have been very busy with course design, planning, and teaching matters. 

3) The devotional contribution has been submitted. I liked the latest draft, the best. Thanks for your prayers.   

4) I have finally resolved a technical challenge (that had been passed along as part of the newest operating system for my computer). 

5) Several people have been consulting with me this week about my experiences and recommendations, as part of their plans for setting up an online program in another African country.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for the students and faculty.

2) Pray for the October visit to Belize, including the Cursillo Weekend. Plans are in the process of being finalized.

3) The diocesan office in Belize and I are attempting to set up appointments with various people during my upcoming visit. Please pray that we make appointments with the people with whom the Holy Spirit would want us to connect in a timely manner, and that the conversations would be profitable and a blessing to all.

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

Scripture Prayer Sept 7

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Lord, we ask for your wisdom for Father Shaw and Mother Julie and all their students.  We pray for all the good fruits of that wisdom: purity, peace, gentleness, rationality, mercy, impartiality and sincerity.  Thank You, Lord, for answering this prayer.

We thank You for the good start to the new semester in Belize.  May the momentum continue.  Be with Father Shaw as he plans his trip to Belize and gets ready for the Cursillo weekend there.  Holy Spirit, inspire him as he writes his contribution to the Trinity School of Ministry devotional.  And be with his family, both his daughters and the elders.  Please grant to Shaw and Julie the gifts that they need to minister to both generations.  And please bless Julie’s CPE studies in Hartford.  Amen.

Scripture Prayer August 30

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We thank You Lord that You make known the path of life to Father Shaw and Mother Julie and all who love and serve You.  Thank You for the fullness of joy and the peace and the pleasures that result when doing your will.

Lord, be with Father Shaw and Mother Julie and all their students as they start the new semester tomorrow (Saturday August 31).  May this be a wonderful year of growth in the program and spiritual growth for all the participants.  Amen.

Prayer Mail September 3

Dear partners in prayer,

This is our weekly public prayer mail.  We hope that everyone had a good Labor Day weekend.

This week's selective overview: 

1) Our next semester started strongly in Belize. It always seems to. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I was inspired to try a different technique for communicating with students as part of class lectures which seems a lot better all the way around. Time will tell.

2) We have had very good responses for parish visits through November. More are in the works.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for the students and faculty over the course of this coming semester, and their families.

2) There is a bit of flooding in Belize City because of the heavy rains. Prayers for the people and parishes would be appreciated.

3) Pray for my contribution to the upcoming Trinity School of Ministry devotional. I would like the Holy Spirit to minister through my words.

4) Pray for our elderly relatives, and for all that is on our plate as a family. Our more elderly relatives are discovering that they are not 23 any more, in new and interesting ways. I am helping out in the midst of it all. Lots of adventures.

5) Continue to pray for the upcoming October Cursillo weekend in Belize, and my upcoming trip, there, and for my/our upcoming parish visits.

6) Pray for those of us in the sandwich generation. With all the excitement in the family, it sometimes feels as if the jelly is oozing out on the sides of the sandwich.

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

Prayer Mail August 27

Dear partners in prayer,

This is our weekly public prayer mail.   

This week's selective overview: 

1) Our next semester begins this coming Saturday, August 31st. We have a great group of students lined up in Belize. Resource support for the faculty efforts in Tanzania continues. There is excitement.

2) This week, I have been working on administrative matters with respect to Belize and Tanzania, in terms of ongoing projects that develop the program in each country, my upcoming trip to Belize, and organizing the efforts of the other faculty who are working with me. 

Our program is somewhat like putting the international space station together: an international effort, put together module by module, trip by trip, with the cooperation of international ongoing staff, but with a difference: eternal results. It is a great project, and very rewarding. The students and dioceses thank you for your participation (so do I). It is very important.

3) Preparations are underway for parish visits over the upcoming months.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for the students and faculty over the course of this coming semester, and their families.

2) Pray for all the items above, that I mentioned, concerning this past week. Please turn the statements into prayer requests.

3) Pray for my contribution to the upcoming Trinity School of Ministry devotional; deadline is approaching. I would like the Holy Spirit to minister through my words.

4) Pray for our elderly relatives, and for all that is on our plate as a family.

5) Continue to pray for the October Cursillo weekend in Belize.

6) Lydia's birthday is this week. It is a significant milestone.

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

Scripture Prayer August 24

Ps 143:10

 

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!  Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

 

Proverbs 3:5-6: 

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

 

Lord, we ask for your good Spirit to lead Father Shaw and Mother Julie Mudge wherever they are and whatever they are doing for You.  May the ground always seem to be level as You help them past any obstacles in their mission journey.  Especially be with them as the new school year begins.  Bring them an abundance of students and bless them with the perseverance that they need to succeed. May the Mudges and their students always trust in You with all their hearts and acknowledge You as they continue to do your will. Amen.