Dan and RosieButton - Uganda |
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Prayer Update March 2008
Dear Everyone,
Thank you as always for your prayers and support over the last weeks. Quite a list of prayer requests this time…
Abigail and Alex’s school…
Abigail and Alex go to a small international primary school in Kampala called Ambrosoli. It is a very friendly, lovely school – both our children love their teachers (as do we!) The school has grown a lot in the last few years and now has over 200 pupils from about forty countries, mainly European and other African countries. Last Christmas an issue arose as to whether the school should have Christmas carols, since we now have several Muslim and Jewish families in the school as well as some other faiths. Rosie has become part of a parents’ working group to look at the issue of how we approach religion in the school. The other members of the group are a Muslim couple from Egypt, a Bahai Ugandan lady, a Jewish lady from Israel, a Dutch man with Buddhist leanings, an Austrian Catholic mum and a Swedish mum who is Lutheran. The issues that have been brought up so far include: whether we want to have RE taught as part of the curriculum, whether the school should have a Bible club and a Quran/Arabic club offered (as they currently are) by the school, whether the school should recognize all the holy days of all the religions represented, whether school meals should all be halal (maybe too expensive to offer a variety of diets…?), whether the PTA should host a carol service next year or leave it purely to parents to organize “unofficially”, etc etc. This group is mainly opinion-seeking (putting out a questionnaire) and making recommendations from the parents - the final decisions will be made by the school board. Please pray for me as I participate in these meetings!! And for the Board and our new headteacher (who is a Christian) as they make these important decisions. There has always been an open and positive attitude towards Christianity in the school, as well as acceptance of the other faiths, and that is what I would like to see continue!
Dan’s department…
The General Studies department (now renamed “Foundation Studies” to reflect the purpose of its courses) is having their retreat/weekend getaway on March 15th/16th. A great programme of talks, outings and prayer has been planned, with a guest speaker Fred Mukhwana, who heads the Child Development and Children’s Ministry programme that Dan helped develop. Dan will also be one of the speakers. Last year this was such a positive time for the tutors and lecturers involved – please pray that it will be equally encouraging and refreshing for everybody this time, and pray for Dan and Fred as they share.
Women in Theology…
The Women in Ministry group has had some interesting discussions in our recent meetings, especially on the area of singleness and marriage. Evidently some of our male students are prone to advise the single female students that they must get married before they get ordained - but without offering to be the groom...! Please pray for the single girls in our group, for wisdom in this area, for God to protect them from wrong marriages/relationships, and for husbands who can support their ministry. Pray for the rest of our meetings this term, that they would be upbuilding and helpful for the women who come.
Our Students…
Another class of our Theology students will complete their studies in April, and leave for ministry. They include good friends like Nebiyou and his wife Hewan from Ethiopia, who are going to lead the Anglican congregation in Egypt. Also, Shearsby who will go to a parish in South Africa, and Phocas, a Tanzanian student and live wire, as well as many others we have become close to. Please pray for them as they finish their work and write their exams. Meanwhile we are in the process of accepting a large new group of first years who will be starting in May. Pray that the right people will be accepted and enabled to come here by the diocesan Bishops.
We wish you a Happy Easter. With our love and prayers, from
Rosie Dan Abigail and Alex.