Monday, February 22, 2010

It has been too long

Sorry it has taken me so long to post an update....I have moved from the house I was living in to an apartment. It's a nice 2 bedroom apartment with secure underground parking. I am enjoying it. I am waiting today-Monday for the cable/internet guys to come and install those systems. I hope to post pictures soon of the apartment once I have a more constant and stronger internet service.

I would ask for your prayers in these next two weeks. I would ask that you would especially pray for me as I teach a seminary class in spanish. It will be on interpersonal communications. I have always had a desire to teach at a seminary level, little did I know that it would be in a different language one day. I feel inadequate but I know that God has given me this opportunity and He will be there to guide me and help me.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

February Prayer Requests

THE NICODEMUS PROJECT, GUATEMALA CITY
February 2010
Valentine’s Day is a day that has been celebrated since the Middle Ages. And in some museums across the globe, greeting cards can be seen which date back to 1415. While the origin of Valentine’s Day may be debated, one thing is for certain. It’s a popular time for sending memorable messages of love. Why not take some time this month to send messages of love to those who have encouraged you in your spiritual walk? God gave us the ultimate gift of love in His son as we can see in John 3:16. Pray that you along with all the ones listed in the prayer requests would have the opportunity to share this love with others during the month. Thank God for the precious gift of His son, Jesus Christ.

Monday Feb 1: This month Carol Wilkinson will be moving to an apartment. It has been a great blessing to be in the Hardeman house, but they will be returning to Guatemala this month. Pray that things would work out for the apartment which God has for her. Pray that she would be able to meet her neighbors and share with them. Pray for the logistics of her moving and all that is involved.

Tuesday Feb 2: The tragedy in Haiti is still fresh on our minds. Pray for Adam Hammond as he leads the Baptist relief effort in Haiti. Pray that Adam would be strengthened in Christ. Pray for the workers and volunteers who have been there and seen a lot of life and death. Pray that they would all feel a sense of God’s presence. Praise God for those who have been found alive in the rubble after 7, 11 or 14 days.

Wednesday Feb 3: The Wednesday Ladies Bible study group has started meeting again at Jennifer Hammond’s house. Praise God that some others have the desire to join the group. Pray that even with their busy lives of being mothers they would still be able to find the time to attend the Wednesday group for fellowship, support, and encouragement.

Thursday Feb 4: Two of the Nicodemus project families are grieving over the loss of a baby. Continue to pray for Daniel and Nikki Hardeman and their family. Pray for Manuel and Siomara as they grieve over the loss of their baby (due to a miscarriage) during the Christmas holidays. Pray that God would continue to restore Siomara’s health. As they hold on to the hope of Christ, pray that they would be strengthened each and every day.

Friday Feb 5: Join George and Helen Hardeman in praising God that his mom is doing better physically. The doctor has said that she does need to get out and exercise more and to have more social contacts. Pray for his mom as she tries to incorporate this into her lifestyle. Pray that she would find walking buddies who would help her stay committed to exercising and getting out.

Saturday Feb 6: Today there is a luncheon at Impacto Biblico Church for the ladies. Sharon Cook will be teaching the ladies how to make cards and a luncheon will follow. Pray that the ladies will invite their neighbors, coworkers, friends and family and that it would be a good time of outreach to others.
Sunday Feb 7 Pray today specifically for Impacto Biblico Church and the members of the church. Pray that they would desire to have a closer relationship with God and that they would desire to share God with others. Pray that there would be a unity and cooperative spirit among the members and among Christians throughout the world.

Monday Feb 8: Join Carol Wilkinson today as she prayerwalks at the university campus. Pray that the 2,700 students would have a desire to have a personal relationship with God. Pray that Carol would make more contacts on the campus. The campus is in a really pretty setting with trees and a small pond. Praise God for the beauty that He has created throughout the world. Pray for Brian a potential help for her in the university ministry.

Tuesday Feb 9: Judy Leagans mother was so encouraged when Judy showed her the list of people who had been praying for her during her time of illness. Thank you for being one of those. Join Judy and Elbert in praising God for the healing that He has done in Judy’s mom and that she was able to go back to her home after the doctor told her everything looks good.

Wednesday Feb 10: George and Helen Hardeman will be returning to Guatemala tomorrow. Today they will be doing all the last minute things that come up when one is preparing to leave. Pray that they would have a good enjoyable day today with family and that they would have safe travels tomorrow.

Thursday Feb 11: Richard Cook and the leaders at the Baptist Seminary have worked hard at implementing a plan to help students from other countries attend the seminary in Guatemala City. Pray for the students from Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico who will be participating in classes. What a great opportunity for them to take their newly acquired knowledge back to their countries and share it with others.

Friday Feb 12: Being without a job and income is difficult in any culture. Pray today for Mynor, Pablo Daniel and Lucilla’s brother who are looking for work. They all want to work and need to work in order to support themselves and their families. Pray that they would find doors of opportunities as God leads them. Thank Him for the provisions He makes in their time without employment.

Saturday Feb 13: The Leagans are having an enjoyable time of rest in the US. Continue to pray for them as they speak at different churches, visit family and friends, and fulfill other responsibilities which they have to do. Pray that they would have wisdom, guidance and knowledge in decisions that they have to make.

Sunday Feb 14: Today is Valentines Day, it’s a day that brings great joy for some people and sadness for others. Praise God for the great love that He gave the world through His son. Pray that the hearts of people throughout the world would be open to Him today. Take a minute to simply say thank you Lord for the loving gift of your son.

Monday Feb 15: Even though George Hardeman has been working by email and phone from the states he still has quite a few business matters waiting for him in Guatemala. Pray that he would have the wisdom, adaptation, and patience in dealing with these items. The office workers have done a great job of helping him out while he has been gone which has been a great blessing.

Tuesday Feb 16: The small group at Manuel and Siomara’s are studying the Crown Financial Concepts. Praise God that they have the desire to study together again after taking a Christmas break. Pray that each one of them would come to understand having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Wednesday Feb 17: Having supportive family in the US when missionaries are living internationally is a great blessing. Join Sharon Cook in saying thanks to God for her sister who is so willing to help take care of Richard and Sharon’s children while they are in the states. Pray also for George Hardeman’s sister as she is the primary caregiver for their parents. Praise God for her and her availability. Pray that both of these ladies to have wisdom and guidance and encouragement in their life.

Thursday Feb 18: Helen Hardmen asks that we pray that she would be sensitive to the Lord’s leadership in how to budget her time. Pray that she would have open doors to new contacts in the Nicodemus people group. Pray that the people would have a desire to truly know God and that it would be more than just a religion to them.

Friday Feb 19: David and Mayari did not expect to still be in Guatemala in February, they thought they would be in Spain or in the US preparing to go to Spain. Pray for them as they wait on God’s perfect timing to leave. Praise God that they are able to enjoy more time with their family and friends in Guatemala even though the waiting time can be a very difficult time.

Saturday Feb 20: Taking her children to swimming lessons is a way in which Jennifer Hammond can reach out to other moms. Pray for Jennifer as she meets and visits with other moms during the lesson times. Pray that they would be open to Jennifer’s sharing about God with them. Pray for Jennifer’s children as they share God’s love with the other children in the class.

Sunday Feb 21: Praise God for the outreach and ministry that is occurring at Impacto Biblico. Pray for the members of the church as they gather today for worship. Pray that God would call out more leaders to assist in the ministry whether it is in music, nursery work, teaching or other facet of the church.

Monday Feb 22: Pray today for David, Mayari, Manuel and Siomara as they lead the members of Impacto Biblico. Pray that they would be committed to what God is calling them to do. Pray that today they would remember Phil. 4:13, “I can do all things through God who strengthens me”.

Tuesday Feb 23: Carol Wilkinson enjoys participating in a book club once a month. It is a multi cultural group of ladies from Guatemala, USA, Scotland, Canada and other countries. Pray for Carol as she desires to share the love of God with these ladies. Praise God for the times He allows us to outreach to others through doing the things that we enjoy doing.

Wednesday Feb 24: Siomara was able to share Christmas cookies with her neighbors. Pray that she and Manuel would have an opportunity to share their testimonies with their neighbors and that the neighbors would have an open heart to God.

Thursday Feb 25: Pray for Richard Cook as he prepares for the upcoming on campus classes in March at the seminary. Pray for the students and professors who will be participating in the March classes. Pray that they would study and share God’s words with an open heart and mind.

Friday Feb 26: This weekend in Guatemala is an InterMissions conference. This is a time when the missionaries can join together in the beautiful setting of Lake Atilian for a time of fellowship, Bible study, encouragement and rest. Pray for safety in their travels and that they would have a time of refreshment spiritually, physically and mentally.

Saturday Feb 27: Giving accurate directions is something which all Guatemalans are not good at. They believe that it is better to give you any kind of directions instead of saying I don’t know. It’s an interesting cultural concept which you have to keep in mind as you are learning the culture. Today praise God for His word because we know that He is faithful in His word and we don’t have to worry about the Bible giving us inaccurate directions. We know that we can trust the directions in God’s word.

Sunday Feb 28: Take time to reflect today on the month. Do you like what you did? Do you want to do something different? Ask God what He thought about the month. Take the time today to reflect on what you might want to change for the upcoming month. Thank God that “He is the way, the truth and the life”.

Our heart’s desire is to see the Nicodemus people come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and to see them gathered together to worship and grow in faith, fellowship, and service. If you would like to contact us, our email is helen.hardeman@macregion.org. Visit our weblog at http://spaces.msn.com/nicodemusproject to “meet” out team.

(Please feel free to make copies of this prayer letter to distribute to your church, prayer group, missions organization, Sunday school class, etc. We depend on your prayers.)