December 2012 prayer letter

THE NICODEMUS PROJECT, GUATEMALA CITY

DECEMBER 2012

As we close out November, this seemed to be a very appropriate prayer to start off the month of December.  It was taken from Compassion Net, a prayer publication of the IMB.  If you would like to sign up for the Compassion Net, go to www.imb.org and then look under the “Pray” section.  

Prayer for the month: "O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry. When I have work, help me to remember the jobless. When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all. When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer, and remembering, help me to destroy my complacency. Bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help. By word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. Amen." - Samuel F. Pugh

Thank you for your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering which allows the IMB missionaries to live and minister throughout the world!

Saturday, December 1: As mentioned at the end of last month’s prayer letter the Alabama team arrives today.  After a mid afternoon lunch at their hotel the team will go to Impacto Biblico to begin setting up for the VBS activities.  Pray that the activities would all come together as some activities have been planned by the US team members and other activities have been planned by the Guatemalans.  Pray for a unity among all the workers for the week.  Praise God for all that He is going to coordinate and do during the week.

Sunday, December 2: Please pray for Doug Johnson, a missionary in Guatemala with Kids Alive Orphanage.  Recently, he was shot five times during a robbery.  He has made great improvements in his recovery however the doctors have said that it will be a long recovery.  Pray for his wife, Sara, and their children.  At times like these it is a reminder of the healing power of prayer and the miracles which God can do.

Monday, December 3: Today at 9:30 am Eastern Time the children will begin arriving for a week of VBS activities at Impacto Biblico Church.  Pray that God would lead children and youth to the activities.  Pray that the translators would have clarity of mind and thought as they translate the English into Spanish.  Pray for a unity among all who are involved in the week’s activities.  

Tuesday, December 4: For the most part the university students have completed their exams and are finished for another semester.  Pray specifically for Roger and Gaby, two students who Carol communicates with regularly.  Pray that Gaby would be able to help with the team this week.  Pray for the spiritual growth of both Gaby and Roger.  Pray for a time of prayer walking which the team will do on the campus this week.

Wednesday, December 5: Pray for Manuel this week as he works yet also wants to be at the activities with the team.  Pray that he would be able to participate in a lot of the activities.  Pray for Siomara as she leads the VBS activities.  Pray that she and the team members would have the ideas, resources, and energy which they need for the week.  

Thursday, December 6: Thank you for praying Kaila and Josiah Macumber.  Their Geometry and Biology grades have improved.  Pray that they would finish well this semester.

Friday, December 7:  Today the team will be going to Antigua and then returning tomorrow to Alabama.  Pray that they would have safety in travels.  Pray for the relationships which have been formed with the nationals.  Pray for the seeds which have been planted during the week.

Saturday, December 8: Please continue to pray for the Monday night Bible Study group as they continue to study the Fruit of the Spirit.  There has been a good response and the ladies are working hard to be able to say the 10 verses all at once at the end of the study.  Please pray that if any of them have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior that they will come to understand what that means and make a commitment to follow Him.

Sunday, December 9: Happy Birthday Helen Hardeman!  Ephesians 2:10 says

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  May you have a day filled with God’s blessings!

Monday, December 10: Continue to pray for Noemi Macumber’s mom who is having dialysis.  A kidney transplant is not an option at her age, a young 75 years old.  Thus she will have to continue dialysis.  Continue to pray that her body would have a good reaction to the dialysis.

Tuesday, December 11: Pray for more pastors and others to recognize their need for theological education and to commit to dedicating themselves to it.  Richard Cook and the seminary leaders are expecting students from Honduras to start in the masters curriculum next year.  Pray for the partnerships that continue to form between seminaries in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama, and with Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth.

Wednesday, December 12: Pray for the finances of Manuel and Siomara.  They have had several unexpected expenses to come up recently. Pray that they would continue to put their trust in God to provide.  Praise God for the provisions He has provided for them.

Thursday, December 13: Victoria, Jennifer, Joel, Marlo, Allison, and Jonathan are all members of an ESL class which Noemi Macumber is teaching.  They are going through the book of Mark in their studies. Please pray specifically for the salvation of Victoria and her daughter Jennifer.

Friday, December 14:  Carol Wilkinson will be going on Stateside Assignment in April.  After the stateside time she will not be able to return to Guatemala per changes in the IMB organization.  Pray for her as she looks to finish well with the student ministry and pray for her as looks to see what God has for her next.   Pray that she would have wisdom in the decisions which she makes.

Saturday, December 15: Ellis and Judy Leagans thank you for your prayer support as they continue to work on plans for after IMB retirement in June 2013.  The death of Judy's mother in September has brought about more uncertainty on where to settle since caring for her is not now in the picture.  So pray that they will know where to settle and also for employment to supplement their retirement income.

Sunday, December 16:  Continue praying for Jeff Macumber as continues to learn his job.  Also pray for him as he works with the leadership of the Baptist Convention in transferring properties to the Convention.

Monday, December 17: As it has been mentioned before Jorge and Andrea are a great help to the missionaries and to Jeff and George who work with them in the mission office.  Pray for Jorge and Andrea and their families.  Praise God for them and their loyalty and honesty and their hard work.

Tuesday, December 18:  Pray for Manuel’s health.  He had surgery last month to have a growth removed from behind his ear.  He is recovering nicely from that.  Pray that he would continue to have a good recovery.

Wednesday, December 19: Pray for Sharon Cook and the Wednesday group.  They have grown spiritually if not in numbers.  Pray for Margarita, a member of the group.  Pray that she would heed Sharon’s request to turn the cellphone off during the study.  Pray for problems which she is having with her teenage daughter and their relationship.  

Thursday, December 20:  Ellis and Judy Leagans will be returning to Guatemala January 9-22 to coordinate an America's Urban Cluster meeting which is being held in Antigua.  Please pray for them as they continue preparations for various logistical and practical aspects of the meeting which is to be attended by 38 IMB personnel from 15 countries.

Friday, December 21: Pray for Walter, Delma, Walter Jr., Vivian, Inés, Efrén, Dina, Jonathan, Andrea, Mario, and Katy who are receiving discipleship classes from Jeff and Noemi Macumber. Pray that they would choose to obey the Scriptures as they encounter new lessons to apply to life every week.  Pray for the spiritual growth of each one of them.

Saturday, December 22: Guatemala City begins to shut down around this time for the Christmas holidays.   This coming week and Easter week are usually the two weeks during the year when the city clears out as people travel to other parts of Guatemala and throughout the world.  Pray that those who don’t know the true meaning of Christmas would come to know the true meaning of Jesus Christ and his birth, life and resurrection.  

Sunday, December 23:  Last month Carol Wilkinson had the opportunity to teach at a Women’s Baptist Conference.  One of the teachings was about sharing your testimony.  Pray that Carol and the ladies in attendance would have a desire to share with others and would be attuned to the divine appointments which God has for them.

Monday, December 24-Monday December 31: Luke 2:11 “For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” As we remember and celebrate the love of God this Christmas season may we share it with others.  Use this last week in December to pray in whatever way God leads you.  Pray for the Nicodemus team as they continue to make plans and have plans for the upcoming New Year.  Pray for each other and praise God that He knows each and every one who is reading the prayer letter.   

May you have a blessed Christmas week!  

Thank you for your commitment to pray for the Nicodemus Team!  

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