Africa

Give thanks for successful healing for Meg Guillebaud, Salt partner in Rwanda, currently in the UK where she has been treated for a benign tumour. She is now recovering well following an operation and expects to return to Rwanda in the autumn.

"Please keep praying for Boga and Gety in general," says CMS Timothy partner and Anglican youthwork coordinator for DRC Bisoke Balikenga. "Up to now there is no war or any fighting in Gety and Boga. People are travelling well, no one is disturbing people on the way, but the thing which is making people scared and having fear is the way the Government have deployed the soldiers in Bogoro and the way they are waiting to enter to Gety which is making population to think a lot. We had a group of elders from Gety came to talk to the general commander to negotiate, we are now waiting to hear the result of their negotiation, if they have agreed not to fight. Let us pray, Bisoke."

Chris Ampadu writes, “I am hosting the Africa Working Group meeting of the Samaritan Strategy in Ghana for the first time from 19-24 March. Kindly pray for safe arrival and fruitful meeting sessions for all those attending from different countries.” (Remember Dennis Tongoi and Karobia Njogu from CMS-Africa also attending this meeting).

Rev. Moses Otunga of Kao La Tumaini Centre, says, “Let us remember victims of a bomb blast at Nairobi, Kenya’s Machakos bus terminus. More than seven people lost their lives while over 50 others were injured. Let’s pray for better security measures to be put in place to protect our city against such attacks by Al-Shabaab terror group.”

Bishop Joel Obetia of Madi West Nile diocese in Uganda says, “We are fine in Arua and grateful to God for entrusting us with the work here in West Nile. We thank God for CMS Mission partners; Dr. Anne and Rev. Allan Lacey. They both brought us depth of experience in their various fields. Allan has strengthened our parish ministries so much that God is mightily blessing our work at the grassroots. For this reason, I am proposing to make Allan a Canon of Emmanuel Cathedral on the April 15. I praise God for our partnership in the Gospel and pray for you and CMS that God will continue to bless the work and persons involved in the work.”

Let's pray for the new priests and deacons recently starting work in Bujumbura diocese. From EAB News: "On the 22nd April 2012 in Rumonge, Bujumbura diocese 6 pastors and 40 deacons were ordained by the Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Pie Ntukamazina. In his sermon the Rt. Rev. Martin Nyaboho, Bishop of Makamba diocese encouraged those ordained to proclaim the Good News to all. He reminded the congregation that sharing the Gospel is the mission of the whole Church."

CMS-Africa’s training manager, Karobia Njogu, writes, “Let’s offer our thanksgiving to God following the successful launch of the Tanzania’s Samaritan Strategy team and the Swahili VISION Conference (VC) materials. Let us thank God for the conclusion of this project. We now have a team of 22 resource people who can facilitate the various topics of a VC. They are all drawn from at least nine church denominations. The trip to Tanzania by Dennis and myself was safe and fruitful. The materials launched include a Facilitator’s Guide and a Participant’s Manual translated and edited by indigenous Tanzanian nationals who have seen the fruit of the wholistic transformation message in their churches and communities."

Pray for a team from CMS Africa planning for two strategic work trips to Tanzania and Rwanda later this month and the beginning of next month. According to CMS-Africa Mission Networks Manager, Serah Wambua, “We plan to visit Tanzanian dioceses of Ruaha and Morogoro and two Anglican dioceses in Rwanda. These are partner dioceses where some of our champions, key contacts and even the Church Mission Society (CMS) Mission Partners are currently working. Pray that this will be a fruitful trip and also a platform to enhance CMS-Africa’s newly launched, ‘Footprints' campaign.”

From the Rev Moses Otunga, "Pray against destructive heavy rains, accidents. Let us pray for families of more than 56, who perished through floods as a result of heavy rains currently pelting the nation (Kenya). Pray for families of seven young people from Mukarara PCEA Church in the city who were swept away by flash floods while on a church-sponsored retreat at the Hell’s Gate national park in Naivasha. It is such a pity that we would give one of Kenya’s finest tourist institutions such a name – depicting misery or even death; in the end turning to be ‘really hell’ - cutting short lives of innocent young people. Pray also against the many road accidents during this rainy season. Could there be a better time to all join hands in prayer against any further loss of lives?”

From mission partner Isobel Booth-Clibborn: "Dear Friends in UK, The first weekend of June is the Weekend of Prayer for Children at risk. It would be great if your church can join in with this and use the attached materials. There is more on the web site – see below. Do send the information on to the right people who can plan to use it! www.worldweekendofprayer.com"