Prayer Mail

Dear Friends, 

For everyone in the Diocese of Albany, I hope you have a wonderful convention. I shall be in Belize.  

This is our public prayer mail for Tuesday 2 June 2015.  

Among the highlights of this past week: 

1) National holiday week: Commonwealth Day. 6 chapel services at three schools, 1 teachers devotions, 2 church services, most with electricity. The lack of electricity was a surprise (1 church service and 2 chapel services), especially when I had one of the chapel services and a church service planned for a powerpoint format. Missing in action at the mission: the Sunday School teacher. Missing in action at the parish: the acolytes. Present and accounted for: the Holy Spirit. 

The "missionary triad' comes in handy in times like these: "flexibility, sense of humor, and organization". Note to self: keep repeating that.

2) Attended presentations in Belize City by Dr. Neville Duncan on Social Entrepreneurship, sponsored in part by the Anglican Diocese of Belize. Goals: job creation, and making a profit intended in part to be passed along to Belize and towards the ministry goals of the Anglican Diocese of Belize. If this catches on, this could really be big for Belize. We are at the beginning. 

  

3) Have been working on preparations for various pending events, appointments, and courses. 

Prayers:

1) The upcoming Hurricane Service and Baptism at St. Ann's in Belmopan this coming Sunday.

2) Something has arrived in Belize and of interest to upper elementary students here: "Charlie-Charlie". Apparently this "game" has ties to questionable spirituality and warnings have been issued to the schools. I have been asked by the schools to address it. I did so at three chapel services this past week; more to come. Pray that I may address the students in a way that they will hear and will spiritually benefit from the warnings.

3) The dam upriver from San Ignacio where I am staying. I was asked on Saturday whether I had heard anything about the crack in the dam. It was news to me, but apparently it is a significant one that needs attending to, and the rainy season progresses. We are not sure what is actually happening in terms of repair work. I am not really fond of having to participate in flash flood evacuations (plus the warning system assumes that there would be power at all to announce the warning), so pray that a solution would be provided in a safe, economically viable, and timely manner, preferably sooner than later.

4) Please keep each of the above items in prayer: health issues, our mission work, parish supply work, driving the truck that I use, the various language opportunities, food, the time in Belize, and the weather (rainy season has started; hurricane season begins in June). Pray for safe and timely travel, smooth transitions, that the grant be granted for the publication of the prayer book, and the Holy Spirit's priorities for us.

5) Pray for my visa extension attempt next week. I will be heading for Belmopan to make that happen. It is supposed to be routine, but pray that all would go smoothly in a safe and timely manner as the Holy Spirit wishes.

6) Please keep various family members in prayer about: relationships, events and appointments, decisions to make, educational goals, gainful employment, fruitful ministry, and God's presence while I am away.

7) Please pray for Lydia as she continues to work on her Fall education plans. She is making progress.

Your prayers are very important. I am praying for you every day.

God bless you,

Shaw, and on behalf of Julie.

San Ignacio, Belize, Central America.