Mission Fields
 
AFRICA

KENYA: Ewen & Marie MacDougall: "Marie and I intend to return to Kenya and try to finish what we started last year: an orphanage for fifty small AIDS orphans. This can be done only with your prayers . . . Our plan is to leave about mid-June or earlier if the Lord provides good health, etc." [EoS]
 
RWANDA:  Chrissie Mulindabigwi requests prayer for a 20 year-old girl in one of the countryside churches who recently made a stand against witchcraft.  She had been wearing a belt given to her by a local medicine man, which was to heal her stomach and prevent dreams.  After hearing Chrissie’s talk about the power of God and the need to trust only in Him, she was touched, but was afraid to remove the belt in case her illness returned.  However, a group of believers prayed with her and she took off the belt, throwing it into the fire.  Pray that this girl will remain strong and be able to resist the devil. [MSC]
 
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA:  Dr Terry Gilpin tells us that the hospital is busy most of the time, mostly with AIDS cases. They have been learning much about this new branch of medicine as they have gone along, especially the treatment side, which is complicated, and difficult for patients to comply with. However, so far they are pleased with the results and some patients who arrived as “walking skeletons” are now back at work and doing well. [MSC]
 
ZAMBIA: Robert and Margaret Muir (DPG Zambia 1996/74-05) visited their former area of service earlier this year.  They ask us to remember in prayer the three Bible schools at Kashikishi, Kawama and Mambilima, and also the 34 evangelists in the area, who give themselves sacrificially for the spread of the gospel and the upbuilding of the believers. [MSC]
 
ZAMBIA: David & Grace Croudace: "We would value your prayers for protection both on the dangerous roads and at the house we are renting here [in Malawi, for seven months] . . . Pray also that the Lord will give special enabling in using the Chichewa language in conversations and messages." [EoS]
 
ZIMBABWE: Deryck and Sandra Jones have advised us that after a few months of remission, Sandra’s cancer marker has gone up and they may need to operate on her again to remove a lump.  Please remember Sandra and Deryck in your prayers. [MSC]
 
AMERICAS
 
ARGENTINA: Bobby Jack is visiting Cordoba for special meetings on the last weekend in April. Please pray that he will enjoy safe travel, that he will be helped during the meetings, and that God’s Word will speak to the hearts of those who attend. [MSC]
 
BOLIVIA: Carlos & Shirley Vargas: "[In April] the young people showed a film at the nearby park; over 80 watched and listened. Also, a drop-in coffee house started with the purpose of inviting youth off the streets into a safe environment where they can socialize with peers and know that spiritual counsel is available for them." [EoS]
 
BRAZIL: Harry and Beth Wilson ask us to pray for the Novo Hamburgo conference which is planned for 1st May. [MSC]
 
HONDURAS: Charles & Holly Wooler: "May 21-26, Charlie will travel to Tela to be one of the speakers for the annual Elders' Conference. Elders from all over Honduras are invited to attend. While attendance is somewhat low in the beginning of the week, anywhere from 50-80 men will show up before the end of the week. Charlie will speak twice a day - please pray for him as he prepares his messages." [EoS]
 
ASIA
 
INDIA: Samuel & Anna Kurien: "Bengal Bible Training Institute is planning a three day children's program in the month of May at Jamtara, India. About 400 children from the states of Bengal and Jharkhand are expected. Please pray that the Lord would bring many souls into His kingdom through this ministry." [EoS]
 
INDIA: Ron and Lilo Penny write that the prayers of many were felt at Kollegal’s special training programme held before Easter. It was a great time of blessing and enrichment for the children, staff, primary and high school teachers. Further prayer is requested for the English Medium School situation; a bribe-seeking officer in the Education Department is withholding written permission for its commencement.  [MSC]
 
INDIA: Ian and Anita Elliott ask us to pray for Ravi Kumar, who is the Travel Secretary at Hebron School, Ootacamund.  After undergoing chemotherapy he is having difficulty keeping his food down, and is very weak and bedridden, despite having had blood transfusions.  Ian also requests prayer for himself, as he has to complete his assignment for his university course by tomorrow.  This assignment is an integral part of the assessment for the course. [MSC]
 
JAPAN: Charles and Rita Lawrence would value prayer for ministry meetings taking place in Hakodate, Hokkaido, next Thursday and Friday, 27th and 28th April.  Also, Charles will be one of four speakers at the Tsurumi assembly conference to be held on 3rd May.  This will be a busy time for Charles and Rita, as two of their sons with their families will be visiting them from 1st to 3rd May. [MSC]
 
PAKISTAN: Liz Greig requests prayer as the Boys’ Hostel Board members meet on 29th April to discuss the way forward. Since the current houseparents took over, there has been a marked improvement at the hostel, and one of the older boys was baptised in March, giving another cause for thanksgiving. [MSC]
 
EUROPE
 
FRANCE - John and Ruth Hanley: "... We expect to be in France from April 18th until June 28th . . . We would value prayer for these weeks in France, specifically for: (1) God's guiding us to Arab & Berber Muslims whose hearts are prepared to accept Christ as Saviour. (2) Pastoral care and encouragement for Christians undergoing various trials, especially Christians from an Islamic background. (3) Progress in using the Uzes Bible Bookshop for outreach to the tourists who visit the medieval palace of our "neighbour", the Duke of Uzes! 4) Collaboration in the life of local fellowships, especially in Uzes." [EoS]
 
FRANCE:  John and Ruth Hanley will be in France from now until the end of June.  Please pray that God will lead them to those whose hearts are prepared to accept Christ as Saviour, and for their outreach to tourists visiting Uzès, using the Christian bookshop as a means of making contacts.  They will also be seeking to encourage local fellowships and Christians undergoing various trials, especially those from an Islamic background. [MSC]
 
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:  We have been asked by Eric Davis to pray for the next ‘Digging Deeper’ seminar, which will be held on Saturday, 29th April.  The speaker will be Mike Tardive and the subject for the day is ‘Marriage and the Family’.  It is hoped that many young people and young married couples will attend. [MSC]
 
GERMANY: Dorle Smith: "One of my burdens is to reach out to the young people on Friday nights on their way to the discos . . . We really have good literature to pass on and most times it is well received - very little is thrown away. We often also have good talks." [EoS]
 
PORTUGAL:  Colin and Grace Lovell advise of the yearly conference of the ‘Lydia’ groups being held on 29th April. Please pray that more women, especially from the city of Lisbon, may be called to this important ministry of prayer for their nation at this time. [MSC]
 
SERBIA: Steve & Jenny Luibrand: "Jenny attended a Bible study retreat for ladies from Brethren assemblies across northern Serbia and discovered that this was the second time in their history that such a gathering had occurred. She's thrilled that the ladies have started this endeavour and hopes to somehow encourage them in methods of leading Bible study groups." [EoS]
 
SPAIN:  Ken and Alison Barrett ask for continued prayer for the Alcala Book Fair, particularly for dry weather during opening hours, and that folk attending will be open to the gospel. Please also pray for Ken’s visit to the Thursday night Bible study on 27th April at Sotillo de la Andrada, where a group of believers has been meeting since the campaign by the Avila assembly last August. Some will be travelling many miles to attend – pray for safety of travel. Many of the contacts attending belong to the mobile immigrant population in the area – please pray for their salvation before they move on. [MSC]
 
SPECIAL AREAS

 
Phil and Carole Wagner, from the USA, and serving the Lord with Set Free Prison Ministries, request urgent prayer for their six-month old granddaughter, Rylie, who is in a hospital critical care unit. She was to have brain surgery but there were complications and now it is hoped that medication will sort out the problem, although this has caused problems with her heart. Pray for Rylie, and for her parents. Pray for wisdom and understanding for the surgeons. Pray for a miracle. [MSC]
 
Please remember our editor Ian Burness as he visits Sri Lanka and India over the next couple of weeks.  He will be travelling out on Friday, 28th April and returning on the 12th May. [MSC]