Peru: Land of the Incas

Peru: Land of the Incas

Map it Monday:

Today we place the country of Peru on our refrigerator and begin to pray for the "Land of the Incas."

Map of Peru to copy and print.

Our Prayer:

"Father God, we look to You to reach the people of Peru.  You have begun a good work in these people.  Now we ask that you would bring all of your saving work to completion, Amen."

Stats and Facts Tuesday:

Geography: Three main zones: dry coastal plain in the west where most of the cities and industry are located, high Andean plateau which is more agricultural, and Amazon jungle in the east.

Official language: Spanish, Quechua. Spanish-speakers 80.3%. Most Amerindians are Spanish-speaking or bilingual; 16.5% of the total population speak Quechua 

The Peruvian population, estimated at 30.4 million

 (taken for Operation World)

Peruvian territory was home to ancient cultures spanning from

 the Norte Chico civilization, one of the oldest in the world, to the Inca Empire, the largest state in Pre-Columbian America. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and established a Viceroyalty, which included most of its South American colonies. After achieving independence in 1821, Peru has undergone periods of political unrest and fiscal crisis as well as periods of stability and economic upswing.(taken from Wikepedia)

The complex and ruthless matters of foreign exploitation, manifested via oil, mining and cocaine in particular. With oil and mining, foreign companies willingly endanger pristine environments, threatening the very existence of vulnerable peoples for grotesque profit. With cocaine, foreign demand for an illicit drug in turn drags poor farmers into cultivating the coca leaf for profit. Collateral damage from drug wars and attempts to eradicate the crop, as well as massive amounts of drug money laundered through the country, create a complex situation with no easy solution. Pray for structures of sin to be cast down, for evil to be exposed and for a godly solution to be found.(taken from Operation World)

Our Prayer for Peru today.

Walk In My Shoes Wednesday:

Heart's Cry is a missions organization that has been aiding the church in Peru with taking the gospel to the lost the cities and the jungles alike.  

Today, we will read about Arturo Marin, a Heart's Cry supported pastor and discipler in the San Marin area of Peru.  He has a very moving testimony. 

Our Prayer:

"Lord, Pastor Arturo needs more and more of Your grace as he preaches and disciples people in the jungle region of San Marin.  Would you keep him safe, give him sufficient food and shelter as he travels, and continued monetary support for all of his needs. Would you bless the church in San Rafael with many who will follow after You, Lord. We thank you Lord, that you provide for all of our needs according to Your riches in glory, Amen."

Take Action Thursday:

The following video is chock full of first hand accounts of working with the churches in Peru.  It may be fuzzy, but the information is wonderful.  It is also from about 5 years ago, but these churches and people are still working in Peru.  We will be choosing one of the places mentioned in the video and praying for those people specifically.  Superb for your young people and children to "chew on." 

Taking a Break

We are taking a break from praying for a specific country this week.  Next week we will be looking at another South American nation.  Keep praying around the world and we will check in next week.  Blessings!  

Pindorama ~ Brazil

Brazil~Land of the Palms~"Pindorama"

Map It Monday

Today, we place our map of Brazil on our refrigerator.

Maps and More about Brazil

Our Prayer:

"Father, we ask that you would show these people in the country of Brazil Your Son Jesus, high and lifted up, that all men may see Him and know that He is Lord of all.  We know you loved the world enough to send Your Son Jesus to die so that all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ would be saved.  We thank you for bringing the gospel to Brazil.  Amen." 

Stats and Facts Tuesday:

*Brazil is the largest country in South America and is home to almost half of the population of South America. It is the 5th largest country in the world.

*The Amazon River flows through Brazil.  It is the 2nd largest river in the world and is about 4,000 miles long.

*Portuguese is spoken in Brazil.

*50% of the population is under the age of 18.

Prayer Challenges:

Transformational ministry is greatly needed in a nation ravaged by inequality, injustice, crime, immorality and HIV/AIDS. While mainline churches have a long association with compassionate works, evangelicals have done far too little to effect transformation. Only 12% of churches have any kind of social programme, and most of those are very limited in scope. Once evangelicals address these challenges on a massive scale, then they can consider themselves to truly be “good news people”.

Brazil has become a leading mission-sending nation with great emphasis on the unevangelized and on church planting. Brazillians’ faith, enthusiasm, adaptability and talents (football, music, dancing) open many doors, but poor preparation and support can undermine all these.

Our Prayer:

Prayer Video (images/info. may not be for children)

Prayer Video 2 (great for kids)

Walk in My Shoes Wednesday

Today we will read a story or two from the New Tribes Missions:Brazil website.  This missions organization helps local churches to train, coordinate and send missionaries to tribes of unreached people groups. 

Our Prayer:

"Oh God of the Universe, we ask that You would rend the heavens and come down.  We ask that you would revive your church at home and abroad and put in her a love for the lost.  God, would you send workers into the fields of Brazil to plant, water, and harvest, where no one has ever heard the name of Jesus.  Amen."

Take Action Thursday

Today, we are going to read about the Royer family from the New Tribes Missions website.  We are going to discuss their question, "What part in history were you born for?" and also the verse, 

2 Corinthians 6:1.

Our Prayer:

"Lord Jesus, we ask that you would pour out your blessings upon the Royer family in Brazil.  Would you establish the work of their hands as they seek to serve the lost people of Brazil.  Lord, would you show us how we too can use the grace that God has gifted us with to bring salvation to the lost.  We thank you Father God for blessing Brazil.  Amen."

Oh, Unfading Glory ~ Colombia

Colombia

 

Map It Monday

Today we place our map of the South American country of Colombia on our refrigerator.  

Map of Colombia

Our Prayer:

"Lord, we pray that You would shine Your unfading glory on the country of Colombia.  May all who believe on Him not perish, but have eternal life in You, Amen."

Stats and Facts Tuesday

In area, Colombia is bigger than Texas and smaller than

 Alaska. Colombia’s population is about 45 million.

Northwest corner of South America. The fourth-largest country on the continent. Mountains in west; plains, forests and jungles in east.

Population: 46,300,196    

Challenge for Prayer

Satan's hold on Colombia must be broken by prayer. Christ’s lordship must be proclaimed over the spirits of violence, revenge, lawlessness and corruption as well as the occult practices that have brought the nation so low. The web of drug barons, guerrillas, paramilitaries, corrupt politicians and occult groups generates great violence against the saints through intimidation, property destruction, murder and assassination. Every year, dozens of pastors and priests are killed.

Our Prayer:

"Oh Lord we ask that You would bring the gospel of peace to the people of Colombia.  Peace among all of the different people groups and those vying for power in Colombia.  Help the Colombian church to seek peace and pursue it, while praying for more to receive life eternal.  We ask You to be Lord of all in the nation of Colombia."  

Walk in My Shoes Wednesday

Today we want to focus on the Marxist guerrillas in the beautiful country of Colombia.  Here is a brief overview of the difficulties these guerrillas can cause.

Colombian Guerrilla Groups

Our Prayer:

"Jesus, we pray for those who persecute us and despitefully use us.  We ask that You would reach all of those who belong to the guerrilla groups.  Lord we ask that you be with all people that have been affected by these rebels.  Bring healing and wholeness to the Colombian people and set them free. Amen."

Take Action Thursday

Today, take a moment to register and download the Kids of Courage Columbia activity booklet.  In this booklet, there are stories, factual information, and hands on activities for children.  We intend to make the Colombian flag and sing "Jesus Loves Me", in Spanish.

 Our Prayer:

"Jesus, we ask that You would shine in all of Your glory upon Colombia today.  We want to see a real move of God in the people of Colombia.  We want to see people who are not given to fear because that have come to know the love of Jesus.  Help those who are persecuted to stand up under the persecution and to proclaim the truth of the gospel.  May Your Eternal and Unfading glory shine in Colombia.  Amen." 

Land of Eternal Spring ~ Guatemala

Land of Eternal Spring

Guatemala

Map It Monday:

Today we place a map of Guatemala on the refrigerator as we pray for the Guatemalan people. 

Map of Guatemala to Print

Our Prayer:

Lord, today we pray for the country of Guatemala.  We know that because You sent your only Son to die for the Guatemalan people, many will believe and inherit eternal life. Show us how to pray for these dear people.  Just as they have a lovely spring like atmosphere most of the year, may their souls be given an eternal spring as well.  Amen."  

Stats and Facts Tuesday:

A land of mountains, volcanoes and lakes. Mexico’s southern neighbor.

Population: 14,376,881   

Guatemala's location between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean makes it a target for hurricanes, such as Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and Hurricane Stan in October 2005, which killed more than 1,500 people. The damage was not wind related, but rather due to significant flooding and resulting mudslides. The most recent was Tropical Storm Agatha in late May 2010 that killed more than 200.

A town along the Pan-American Highway in close proximity to a volcanic crater

Guatemala's highlands lie along the Motagua Fault, part of the boundary between the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates. This fault has been responsible for several major earthquakes in historic times, including a 7.5 magnitude tremor on February 4, 1976, which killed more than 25,000 people. In addition, the Middle America Trench, a major subduction zone lies off the Pacific coast. Here, the Cocos Plate is sinking beneath the Caribbean Plate, producing volcanic activity inland of the coast. Guatemala has 37 volcanoes, four of them are active: Pacaya, Santiaguito, Fuego andTacaná. Fuego and Pacaya erupted in 2010.

Natural disasters have a long history in this geologically active part of the world. For example, two of the three moves of the capital of Guatemala have been due to volcanic mudflows in 1541 and earthquakes in 1773.(taken from Wikipedia)

Our Prayer for Guatemala Today A beautiful video prayer.

Walk in My Shoes Wednesday:

We have dear Guatemalan friends who have lived a very hard life, yet they persevere and press forward.  They have often been apart from one another and struggle with the residual effects of a not so distant political upheaval in Guatemala.  They have three children who they are raising in the church and are continuing their education.  We have an ever growing Guatemalan population growing here in the USA ~ please pray that these people will hear the gospel and that they will let God direct their decisions so that future Guatemalan generations will be blessed.  

Our Prayer:

"Lord, we pray for the Bamaca family and so many others like them.  May the families be able to remain together and lead their children to Christ.  Would you strengthen the Guatemalan church so that the young people of Guatemala will be discipled and rise up to become the leaders of the Guatemalan church of tomorrow.  Please give these people a hope.  Hope in You never disappoints, Lord.  Amen."

Take Action Thursday:

Today we will pray this beautiful prayer written for Guatemala based on the Lord's Prayer.  We will read it like a responsive reading with the children reading the bold words of the Lord's Prayer (try it in Spanish if you can) and I will read the more personal part of the prayer underneath each bold face heading.

Praying With Guatemala with the Lord's Prayer

South of the Border

South of the Border: Mexico

Map It Monday

Today we place a map of Mexico on our refrigerator to begin our week of prayer for our first country south of the border.

Mexican Geography Printables

Our Prayer:

“Lord Jesus, we turn our eyes and hearts to the country of Mexico.  We ask that You would come in power to a nation that is so rich in its heritage and its attraction to all things spiritual.  For we know that you will not turn away from anyone who calls on the name of the Lord.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Amen.”

Stats and Facts Tuesday

Population: 110,645,154

Official language: Spanish; the world’s largest Spanish-speaking nation   

Christian:  95.03%   Evangelical: 8.3%

Topical Geography: Latin America’s third largest country. Wide range of topography and rainfall ranging from arid northern plateau, central volcanic plateau and the southern mountains and rain forests. Only 10% of the country is arable.

Prayer Challenges:

For 300 years the Catholic Church dominated Mexico. Most Mexicans are culturally Catholic but not practicing; only 10% are regular churchgoers. Many others blend elements of Amerindian spiritism, including gods and goddesses, into folk Catholicism. Pray for renewal to spread and deepen by the Holy Spirit’s power, and for the polluting influences of ancient gods and the spirit-world to be broken among those with Christo-pagan beliefs and practices.

Evangelicals have grown, even amid some opposition in certain areas. Growth is in both international denominations and in vigorous newer indigenous movements. Pray that the momentum might be maintained. The highest concentrations of evangelicals are in large cities, in northern states bordering the USA and in southern states where there is a higher proportion of Amerindian peoples. Returnees from the USA are influential in bringing evangelical Christianity back with them. Many Mexicans seek a spirituality beyond what they see as empty religious traditions. Pray for this growth to be sustained in both numbers and spiritual depth. (Operation World)

Our Prayer:

A Beautiful Prayer for Mexico

Walk In My Shoes Wednesday

     UIM Ministries reaches out to the indigenous people of Mexico located in the Sierra Madre mountain range.  These people are isolated from much of the world and have many basic needs such as clean water and healthy food.  UIM is an aviation ministry that partners with other missions, such as Wycliffe Bible Translators, to help these people groups in Mexico.  Please pray for their all-important work, in particular to the Huichol people of Mexico. 

See what UIM is doing with the Huichol people of Mexico.

Our Prayer:

“Please Lord, send the resources and men and women that these precious people in the Sierra Madre Mountains need.  Give them the message of good news in the gospel so that they have hope and a new reason for living.  Send godly doctors, translators, and pastors to help these people groups.  Let them see many generation that follow after You, Lord.  Amen.”

Take Action Thursday

Today we are going to pray for the people of Mexico, in particular the Huichol people, UIM ministries, and the people who live in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.  We will be using Romans 10:8-17 as we pray.

Our Prayer:

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, ifyou confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Because the gospel is such sweet news to those who are perishing, we might try our hand at this Mexican desert and meditate on the sweet, good news of Jesus Christ for Mexico while we bake and eat it. Mexican Apple Enchiladas

Lady of Snow ~ Greenland

Greenland

     

Map it Monday

Today we place Greenland on our refrigerator and begin praying for the people of Greenland.

Map of Greenland

Our Prayer:

 “Today, we begin praying for Greenland.  We ask Lord that You cause our hearts to be stirred with fervent prayer for the people of this strikingly beautiful yet cold country.  We know that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Amen.”

Stats and Facts Tuesday

*The world’s largest island, but with the lowest population density of any country.

*Population: 57,291

*85% of the country is a glacial ice cap.

*Official Language: Inuktitut (Greenlandic)

*Over 96% of the country professes to be Christian.  Evangelical Christians make up just over 4% of the population.

Prayer Challenges:

From Operation World,” The culture of Greenland, so finely tuned to the inhospitable environment, is devastated by modernity. The dire results are widespread immorality and sexual abuse, alcoholism, mental illness and suicide. Deep emotional and spiritual healing are necessary for many to move beyond their pain and hurt. Thankfully, some indigenous believers, missionaries and short-term workers minister in counselling, healing and deliverance and see wonderful fruit as increasing numbers are transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit. Many of those working in Greenland, including many indigenous people, are newly empowered to minister as a result. Pray for this to continue and for those receiving help to get plugged into communities of faith.”

Beautiful slide show with accompanying sounds from Greenland.

Our Prayer:

“Just as snow and ice surround the people of Greenland every day, may You come and surround them with the life giving gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus, we want to see You break through in these places where hopelessness seems to have taken hold.  We ask for You to raise up workers for the harvest that is ripe in Greenland, Amen.”

Walk in My Shoes Wednesday

The Gideons have been giving Bibles away for a very long time, since 1908.  Just this year, the Gideons began a work in Greenland.  You can read more about their endeavor in Greenland here:

The Gideons in Greenland

We praise God for opening a door for this ministry that can come alongside the existing church in Greenland.  

                                                     Our Prayer:

“Lord, give the members of the new Gideons Camp in Greenland endurance to continue and grace to share the Word of God with many.  Bless the Gideons of Greenland with the funds and the opportunity to go into many different walks of life with the life giving Word of God. Amen.”

Take Action Thursday

Today we are going to “break the piggy bank” and give a few dollars to help distribute Bibles all around the world through the Gideons.  We are also going to pray for the Greenland Gideon Camp. 

Giving To the Gideons International

Members of the first Gideon camp in Greenland. Photo: © 2013 The Gideons International.

Our Prayer:

“Jesus, so many people need to know You and many people need Your Word.  As we pray and give to this work that has begun in Greenland, would you send the Gideons and the Bibles to the people that truly need them.  Cause these Bibles to go all over this country.  Do not let the hearts of Your people grow cold to Your Word.  Bring many into Your Kingdom through the Greenland Gideons.  Amen.”