Prayer Mail Jan 24

Dear partners in prayer,

This week's selective overview: 

1) By the time that many of you receive this, I should be in the air, headed for Belize. (Julie will have driven me to the airport at 3:30 am; pray for Julie). I have decided not to take my computer with me this time because of the projected rain and my location near the Guatemala border. So, this will be our weekly prayer mail.

2) We are planning to have a new server arrangement in the first week of February. Praise God, and a thank you to Bill Schrull! 

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for safe and timely travel and that Jesus would accomplish what he would like to do on this trip. 

2) Pray for dry weather. Pray for an absence of mosquitoes between now through Wednesday, especially an absence of the malaria and dengue fever types. Bug spray with Deet: check. Long sleeve garments: check. Hat: check. 

3) Pray for the outcomes from the meetings from recent weeks and pray for any meetings that will be taking place over the next week or so. A lot of important ground is being covered, and Julie and I sense the presence of the Holy Spirit through it all. Your prayers are very helpful. 

4) Pray for the Holy Spirit's provision and that our parish visitation schedule be his schedule. If your parish would like me to visit, please let me know.  

5) Continue to pray for my upcoming visits to Belize in March (clergy retreat and more), May (during lay vocation month), and October (diocesan Synod).

6) Continue to pray that the Holy Spirit would guide and supply the needs of: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

Scripture Prayer Jan 22

Isaiah 49: 1-3

Listen to me, you islands;
    hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the Lord called me;
    from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.² He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
    and concealed me in his quiver.³ He said to me, “You are my servant,    Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”

Isaiah 49:6

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

Lord, thus You said to Isaiah and I believe that these words are for Father Shaw and all missionaries as well.  Thank You for the calling in his mother’s womb.  Thank You for the sharpened sword in his moth, the guidance that your Holy Spirit gives to him when preparing his teaching lessons and during meetings with authorities and students.  Thank You that You have kept him safe in the shadow of your hand.  Thank You for making Him a polished arrow, helping him to create the most effective lessons for his unique students.  Thank You for making him your servant, a light to many nations so that your message of salvation can reach the unsaved in Belize, in the U.S., in Peru, and in any other nation that You send him to in the future.

Father God, we pray special travel mercies as Father Shaw prepares to fly to Belize this week for a SAMS conference and for important meetings.  May your will be done and may all be done to your glory.  Amen.

January Newsletter

Beginnings.

.

Golden sunrise, Belize City. Photo: Fr. Shaw Mudge (c) 2013.

I was a businessman. Our manufacturing firm never knew what our future was going to be like, more than 30 to 45 days ahead; it was that way for the 18 years I was there: day in, and day out, even as the company grew. 

Missionary life is like that. We never know what is going to happen next. Every day is a new adventure. Why? Because there are so many unpredictable things that might happen in any particular day, that anything could happen. 

So, as in business, we have diversified our ministry opportunities, to prepare for the future. We have several different ministries in fact. And we never know what is going to happen more than 30 to 45 days ahead. I think it is that way with many missionaries. It is a daily trusting in God that I learned in business that has stood me well in the ministry.

So, what does our 2014 look like? Well, I suspect it will continue to be a view of 30 to 45 days at a time. Beyond that, as in the case of many businesspeople and missionaries, it will be hard to tell. There are quite a few possible variables. 

In the meantime, every day becomes a valuable gem. You cherish it, and at the same time, you invest it for the Kingdom of God. After a while, a bigger return on our investment can be possible because other people invest, as well. Those who support missionaries invest in the eternal gem business.

But is hard to see the finished gem in the beginning. In the beginning a lump of coal does not look terribly promising: that is the shape of most new ministries. But when the Lord gets finished with it, people will be falling all over themselves to get the diamond. To hoard a diamond would be a mistake. When God turns coal into a diamond, the diamond becomes a bigger investment for the Kingdom of God.

2014 holds the promise of a transformation. Some people who just seem like regular old folk at the beginning of the year, may become transformed in God's eyes by the end of the year, becoming gems of great value through the work of the Holy Spirit because of what you do to support us. And your partnering in God's work with us helps make the personal transformation of the work of the Holy Spirit possible.

Ways to support us.

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

In Jesus' Name and God bless you,

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

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,

This week's selective overview: 

1) This was a planning and preparation week for 2014. All the faculty have been lined up, course work has been successfully realigned because of recent server difficulties and faculty schedule changes. 

2) The server situation has been fixed. 

3) Tickets have been purchased for the trip to Belize in March; Bishop Phillip has given me an outline of the agenda for that trip and asked me to extend my trip a few days from the original plans.

Prayer requests:

1) I travel to Belize later this week as part of a SAMS retreat in Belize and to meet with the Belizean Chair of the Commission on Ministry. I will also be preaching at a local parish. Pray for safe and timely travel and that Jesus would accomplish what he would like to do.

2) Pray for the outcomes from the meetings from recent weeks and pray for any meetings that will be taking place over the next two weeks. 

3) It is getting to be that time of year when I begin to set up visits to parishes for updates and for introductions to people who have not met us before. Pray for the Holy Spirit's provision and that our visitation schedule be his schedule. If your parish would like me to visit, please let me know.

4) Continue to pray for my upcoming visits to Belize in March, May, and October, and for parish visits in the U.S. 

5) Continue to pray that the Holy Spirit would guide and supply the needs of: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

Prayer Mail Jan 13

Dear partners in prayer,

This week's selective overview: 

1) It was a busy week. Trip plans for Belize in March were outlined. Several great and important meetings took place, including an update for Bp. Bill of Albany. 

2) Due to server difficulties and faculty changes, course adjustments were put in place.

3) Julie's dad stayed with us, but he was delayed several days returning to his home because of the weather.

Prayer requests:

1) Pray for the various outcomes from the meetings.

2) Pray for continued blessing for everyone involved with our ministry and mission work. Prayer for course development work would be appreciated.

3) Continue to pray for upcoming visits to Belize: later in January, March, May, and October, and for parish visits in the U.S. 

4) Continue to pray during Epiphany Season that the Holy Spirit would guide and supply the needs of: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

Scripture Prayer Jan 10

Colossians 1: 9-12

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Father God, as Paul prayed for the Colossians, we intercessors pray for Father Shaw Mudge.  May Father Shaw be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of You, fully pleasing to You, and bearing fruit in every good work he does for the Diocese of Belize and always increasing in knowledge of You.  May Father Shaw be strengthened with all power, according to your glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.  We give thanks to You, Father, that you have qualified Father Shaw to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 

May all of Father Shaw’s work bring glory to You, Lord.  Guide him in all meetings and in all plans to improve the ordination process in the Diocese of Belize.  May your Holy Spirit guide and supply all the needs of Father Shaw and his faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan programs and parish visits.

Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,

This week's selective overview: 

1) This is our first prayer mail of 2014. Happy New Year! Blessed Epiphany!

2) Courses continue, and new ones are in preparation. Ordination processes continue.

 

3) We had a wonderful visit over Christmas and New Year's with family and friends. Some plans were juggled due to changes in the weather and travel plan disruptions, but we had a good time, just the same.

 

Prayer requests:

 

1) There are important meetings coming up this month. Special prayer is requested for guidance and discernment, and that at each of these meetings the Holy Spirit would direct our steps forward. Thank you for your prayers so far, and please keep praying.

 

2) Pray for continued blessing for everyone involved with our ministry and mission work. Prayer for course development work would be appreciated. Your prayers are making a difference.

3) Continue to pray for upcoming visits to Belize: later in January, March, May, and October, and for parish visits in the U.S. 

 

4) Pray that at the moments while highlighting the importance of missionary bishops, that people would remember the other workers, too, so that all God's missionary workers would be supported as Jesus' would like. God calls many kinds of people with different kinds of gifts as complements to one another in the mission field.  

 

5) Continue to pray during Epiphany Season that the Holy Spirit would guide and supply the needs of: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

 

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

Scripture Prayer

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

As we begin a new calendar year, Lord, we pray this ancient blessing upon Father Shaw Mudge, all his family, all who work with him in delivering teachings to the people of Belize, and especially to all his students.  Lord, please bless and keep them. Lord, make your face to shine upon them and be gracious to them; Lord lift up your countenance upon them and give them peace.

We pray for the special meetings this week and for Father Shaw’s visit to Belize this month.  We pray for guidance as he makes reservations for the trip in March.  And may the Holy Spirit guide and supply the needs of faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans and parish visits.

Amen.

 

 

Prayer Mail Dec 29

Dear partners in prayer,

This week's selective overview: 
 

1) Merry Christmas season, and have a Happy New Year!
 

2) It has been a busy week preparing for the New Year. Faculty are being lined up. Trip itineraries are in the works. There is a possibility of making a connection with one of the theological seminaries in the Caribbean. There are ordinations in the works. We have a good year coming up.

 

3) Details of the next trip to Belize are beginning to take shape.

 

Prayer requests:

 

1) There are important meetings coming up in the first week of January. And, I plan to make reservations for the upcoming trip in March that week, as well. Special prayer requested, for each of these.

 

2) Pray for continued blessing for everyone involved with the ministry and mission work. Prayer for course development work would be appreciated.

 

3) Continue to pray for upcoming visits for Belize in January, March, May, and October, for an increased awareness of our mission work, and for parish visits in the U.S. across 2014.

 

4) Continue to pray in good times and lean times during the Christmas season, that the Holy Spirit would guide and supply the needs of: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

In Christ,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.