Last Prayer Mail

Dear friends,

This coming week, a chapter is closing on our lives at this end, and I plan on this being the final prayer mail related to our mission work. Of course, we could always use your prayers in the times ahead as you happen to think of us.

The following is based on my final note to people involved in the distance learning program, sent Saturday:

Distance learning update for Saturday, 24 September 2016: 

Good day!  

1) This is planned as my last weekly distance learning update before my attention will be focused in other ministry directions, with a few exceptions. Aside from individualized emails, for any future distance learning updates please look to the announcement section of the distance learning Web site. 

1a) As one of my remaining connections, I am currently revising the Christian Doctrine/Christian Theology course to be a Christian Doctrine/Christian Theology course with an Anglican perspective, instead of an additional course focusing specifically on Anglican Doctrine/Anglican Theology. It may be finished in a few weeks.

1b) When I have finished that project, another of my remaining connections that I am planning will be to work with the Main Administrator to turn the current notes and slides from the individual courses into Kindle-based documents that can be downloaded from the Internet. 

2) One of our students is nearing the very end of the final course in the program.  

3) These courses will be open for the rest of 2016. Beginning in 2017, I plan to be the Benefactor of the course Web site, to keep it open for all of 2017 and for as much as I can beyond, but I won't know for sure how this will work until January 2017. 

4) Three people have stepped up as my replacements in the following capacities:

Main Administrator. 

Curriculum Design Director.

Dean of the Faculty.

This has been a full week in other aspects of ministry and in family life as well. 

Prayers: 

 

1) For guidance on the path ahead are appreciated, including a smooth transition, and also for people in Belize in the wake of my departure.  

2) For the transition of the Diocese of Belize Web site to the creation of a new one in due course.  

3) For the publication of the Spanish Prayer Book, scheduled for this month, but I have not heard anything about it. 

4) For the parishes and other matters that we are involved with. Julie continues as a hospital chaplain. I continue as an Interim Rector. Lydia continues as a student. 

And mission work? As you can see from the above, there is a small bit to do yet. In the near term, Julie and I both continue as Associate Missionaries with SAMS, probably for as long as we have a missionary connection of some sort with Belize, unless something changes.

My prayer for you, this week, is that you would be open to what the Holy Spirit is guiding you to do and say.

  

God bless you, in Jesus' Name,

 

Fr. Shaw, and on behalf of Rev. Julie and Lydi

Prayer Mail

Dear Friends,

This is our prayer mail for Monday, 19 September 2016. 

This is our penultimate prayermail/update. Next week will be our final week. 

This week has been another full week.

On the missions front:

Regarding the distance learning program with Belize, I have arranged for the program to continue via a Main Administrator for technical matters, a Course Design Director, and a Dean of the Faculty (coordinator of the faculty). I plan to continue in the roll of Benefactor for the time being, and continue as Director of the diocesan seminary until my replacement is named. One of the upcoming projects to be undertaken by the Course Design Director is a confirmation curriculum for the diocese, all things being the same.

The future Course Design Director completed a course this week, would complete the entire curriculum at the end of the current and final course that the person is taking. I plan my handoff of the remaining parts of the program to take place when this person has finished the final course, and soon. That means: some information will be passed along, some training to go, my being available for questions, and so forth.

I also made a recommendation for someone interested in Holy Orders (diaconate). 

This week in hindsight: phenomenal, and answered prayers for actually potentially expanding the program. To paraphrase what someone has said: I enabled the program to take off, and now it has wings. The timing was good for doing this. 

     

It was a full week in other aspects of ministry and in family life as well.

Prayers: 

1) Prayers for guidance on the path ahead are still appreciated, including a smooth transition, and also for people in Belize in the wake of my departure.  

2) For the transition of the Diocese of Belize Web site to the creation of a new one.  

3) For the publication of the Spanish Prayer Book, most likely this month. 

I continue to pray for you, every day.

  

God bless you,

Fr. Shaw, and on behalf of Rev. Julie.

Newsletter

Mudge Making a Difference Newsletter. September 2016.

Thank you!

On October 1st, both Julie and I will have become Associate Missionaries with SAMS. This is to say that after 7 years of mission work, neither of us will be employee missionaries of SAMS.

We will continue to turn our attention to other ministry, with two possible exceptions, below:

1) From the U.S., I may still be involved with Belizean long distance learning ministry in some way.

2) The diocesan office in Belize may need my as- sistance briefly from the U.S., to move items from the current diocesan Web site that I designed, to a new one.

Our mission work has been built upon an extensive foundation of our previous work and experiences. Looking ahead, our mission work provides a founda- tion upon which our future endeavors will be based.

Because of your continued prayers and financial support, you have made it possible for us to do what we have done.

So, thank you for having enabled us to do what Jesus has called us to do, by supporting us through SAMS.

We and SAMS could not have done what we have accomplished without you.

Best wishes, and God bless you.

In Jesus,

Fr. Shaw, and on behalf of Mtr. Julie and Lydia.  

Prayer Mail

Dear Friends,

 

This is our prayer mail for Monday, 12 September 2016. I am attaching our September newsletter.

It has been a full week. As I close down my larger participation in connection with Belize over the next three weeks, I am finding that I may have an ongoing limited role from the U.S. for a bit longer.  

Prayers: 

 

1) Prayers for guidance on the path ahead are still appreciated, including a smooth transition, and also for people in Belize in the wake of my departure.  We are thinking of prayers for the immediate future, as well as for longer term: perhaps at some point after Lydia graduates. It is an adventure, every step of the way.

2) For the transition of the Diocese of Belize Web site to the creation of a new one.  

3) For the publication of the Spanish Prayer Book, most likely this month. 

4) To discern what Jesus may be saying in terms of a ministry prayer support team beyond October 1st, as our adventure in ministry continues in a new direction. 

I continue to pray for you, every day.

  

God bless you,

 

Fr. Shaw, and on behalf of Rev. Julie.

Prayer Mail

Dear Friends,

 

This is our prayer mail for Sunday, 4 September 2016, the first day of the week, Labor Day weekend.   

It has been quite a week, working on final matters regarding Belize before the October 1 transition date to Associate Missionary status, and for other areas of ministry as well. 

Lydia had a great birthday.

The countdown continues....

Prayers: 

 

1) Prayers for guidance on the path ahead are still appreciated, including a smooth transition. We have some plans in the works, and also for people in Belize in the wake of my departure. I think everything is in really good shape, as the timing was good. There are a few loose ends. 

2) For the wrapping up of the distance learning program. This will be on-going after October 1 for one student, and I anticipate to the end of the year.

3) For the transition of the Diocese of Belize Web site from the temporary one that I have been maintaining, to the creation of a new one (I will be on-call to help out with this transition possibly even for months after October 1st). The Web site up as a subject the week before last, I believe.

4) For the publication of the Spanish Prayer Book, most likely in September. 

5) For the Holy Spirit's guidance as to what to say in our final monthly newsletter.

6) To discern what Jesus may be saying in terms of a ministry prayer support team beyond October 1st, as our adventure in ministry continues in a new direction.

Thank you for being faithful with us through the years. We have been thankful for your prayers.  

I continue to pray for you, every day.

  

God bless you,

 

Fr. Shaw, and on behalf of Rev. Julie.