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Email: mcanally@asheninka.net

Ashéninka Team Prayer Guide

May 12 and 19, 2010

 Faith tested by fire is the real thing. 1 Peter 1:6-7  states that “if  necessary, you have been distressed by various trails, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 How awesome God’s grace is as it guides us while we are walking in accordance to His precious word, even though we may be going through distresses that stretch us. It is to develop a new character that God is working in us. It sure is painful to go through it but at the end it yields fruit that is beautiful, that is if we don’t quit or give up in the middle of the battle. It shows that our faith is the real thing and not a watered-down version of it. It is tested by the fire of trails. It is steady and imperishable and unable to be destroyed by any destructive thing here on earth. When our faith is strong and real, then God will receive the praise, the glory, and the honor that He deserves as our life reflects His character in us. 

 Oh yes, there are many times that it would be just so easy to quit and throw in the towel because it is too hard; working with people who don’t seem to understand or get it. It always reminds me that my love and commitment to God must come first before anything else. We have made a commitment to see it through with or without trials. It reminds me of Jesus, when he had the chance to call the host of angels to come and rescue Him from all those pains and sufferings, but He didn’t do it because of His great love and commitment to mankind to restore them to a right relationship with God the Father. That is why He didn’t give up. Suffering and pain are part of life here on earth; we must learn how to deal with it.

That is why it is so important to have your well filled up with the precious word of God, so that in difficult times, you can draw it out to help you. With that, we pray that you will not run away from difficult situations in your life but face them because “greater is He that is in you”. With His help you can conquer any mountain, cross any rushing water, and deal with any unpleasant people that you encounter because your faith in Him is real and not watered-down.

 Thank you for praying for those who are going through such doubt in their mind, not able to see what is in front of their nose because doubts have blinded their eyes. Let us all pray fervently that our faith will increase to the mature stature at which it should be, and with strong intense groaning within the deepest part of our heart call out to God.

 E.M.Bounds: “The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil everywhere. Prayer purifies the air; it destroys the contagion of evil.  Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. It is a voice which goes into God’s ear, and it lives as long as God’s ear is open to holy pleas, as long as God’s heart is alive to holy things.”

 So let us all lift up holy hands and a clean heart and pray to our heavenly Father, who loves to hear His children call upon Him with a humble and contrite heart. So let’s bring all of our praises and petitions before Him as obedient children, who love to be in the presence of the Most High God. Knowing that He is longing and waiting for us to approach Him with an attitude of humility and that only through the blood of Jesus we are able to come before Him clean.

 Prayer Focus:

1.        Tres Islas: They are starting to construct the place of worship along the bank of the river. From a distance down the river you can see it peak out from those green and lush trees that surround it. It is not finished yet but just a shell standing with yarina leaves and rounded top. Please pray for them as they are coming together to get this building up, that it will spark some hearts and say that these people are very serious about their faith in God and they are not ashamed of Him. Even some of the unbelievers are helping out. Pray that the whole village will be blessed by its presence here and the presence of the living God among them. Pray for Pablo and His wife Ayde as they are leading this church; pray for wisdom to make the best decisions guided by the Holy Spirit regarding everything that needs to be done. Pray for the words spoken by them that they will be pleasing to the ear of the Lord, who is looking and listening to answer their pleas to Him. Pray that the people in this village will be able to see with their own eyes the difference in the lives of His chosen children as they are presenting the Light that is within them. Pray that believers will turn aside from temptations and from illegal activities that promise an easy profit. Pray for strong and good communication between one another and that no dissension arises from this whatsoever. Through all in all, pray that God will receive praise and honor. Amen. Please pray these verses for them in Ephesians 5: 15-17:  “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

2.       Jaime (HI-may): He is a pastor in a village called Amambay, I saw him on my way back home to Pucallpa. I talked to him for a little while but was just shocked to see how skinny he really looks. He said everything is okay and he continues with the work there. I wish that I had more time to talk with him but pray that things will be all right within the church family and the people in the village. Pray for protection against doubt that sometimes arises in his mind, so that his mind will be clear and healthy. Then his body will show it also. Pray for this young man, named Walter (see baptism photo right) as he is helping Jaime in the church to be strong and courageous in speech and deeds. Pray that he will be an encouragement to Jaime and many others in this village who are desperately in need of the healing of the Lord. Pray this verse for them, 2 Timothy 1:7  “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and love and discipline.” Pray that God’s power will be ever so evident in their daily lives as they talk and walk among those around them. That God’s love in their heart will push them to reach out to those around them who are living in sin without hope. Pray that their faith will be real during all the trying times in their lives.

3.    Rio Negro:  Quilmer is going out again to the village called “Pueblo Libre” to help strengthen the brethren there in their walk with the Lord.  Please pray this verse for him in 1 Timothy 4:12 that “no one look down on his youthfulness but rather in speech, conduct, love , faith, purity, showing himself an example of those who believe.”

Quilmer is an exceptional youth, he has grown beyond his years in wisdom and understanding of what he knows is the will of God for his life.

Pray that his speech will be go straight to the heart of the hearer and encourage the fainthearted.

Pray for his conduct that no one will ever accuse him of doing anything wrong; that he will be above reproach

and pray his love for the brothers will be intense and real from the heart as he is demonstrating the authentic love of God.

Pray also that his faith will be very firm in Jesus Christ the Rock, that nothing will move him from his place.

Pray that his purity will be so evident to all those girls who are looking and observing and throwing themselves at him, that he is not interested but his mind and heart will be focused on Jesus and Jesus alone.

Pray that Quilmer finds the brethren there keeping their hands to the plow, doing what God wants and what they promised they would do to further the gospel and Christ’s church. Pray for Quilmer to know how to guide them spiritually, especially where he perceives that Christians are not keeping their commitment to Christ.

4. Day of Prayer and Fasting

What is the Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelization? Every year on Pentecost Sunday, Southern Baptists have devoted a day to pray for a people group that has not heard the Good News of God's love and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Why Pentecost? Because the power of the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel into the world enveloped the church on that day (Acts 2:1-13).

What's the date? May 23, 2010, but some churches may choose to fast and pray on another day.

What's the focus? Celebrating what God has done through the prayers of his people

Why have a Day of Prayer and Fasting? The goal of the Day of Prayer and Fasting has been to see the kingdom of God come to the people group being prayed for. The power of united prayer is immeasurable. In Matthew 18:19 Jesus says, "... If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven" (NIV). Imagine how the united prayers of thousands capture God's attention!

Why fast? Fasting is an example of sacrificial fervency. It allows Christians to deny themselves in order to give themselves over to wholehearted prayer.

What can I do? Like most Christians, you may not know thousands of people with whom you can join in prayer and fasting - but you do know your church and your family. Why not lead your church in praying? And encourage families - and lead your own family - to devote the day to prayer and fasting.

What resources are available for leading my church in the Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelization?   Videos and a downloadable poster are available at imb.org. spanish materials at  hispanos.imb.org

 5.    McAnally family: We are going through some mixed emotional changes and challenges during this time of our lives. Our son Jacob is graduating from high school next month and after that he is heading to South Carolina to work before heading to study at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri. We have some friends who have found him a job with a Christian man cutting grass this summer in South Carolina. Our heart is tearing apart just thinking how short the time we have with him now is. As I am writing this, tears are running down my face knowing I will have to deal with this in a couple of weeks. He is turning 18 years old next week.

Pray that I will not be a vegetable and that I will be able to control my emotions and feelings of loss, but in actuality it is not a loss but a gain. I gain a grown son, who is going out to prepare himself for the life that God has for him. God will use this kid to shake the world to attention. Please pray for our family as we are struggling with this matter to let go and let him fly on his own; to make his own decisions about what it is pleasing to the Lord or to himself. We have taught and trained him in the Lord in the best way we know how. So now it is time for him to fly on his own. At home we also have Berta, 13, who continues to need our guidance as she adjusts to life with us and in the modern world. Pray for her as she also continues to sort out what she really wants from life. All of this takes wisdom and dependence on the Lord. Please pray this verse for us in 1Peter 1:13

 “Therefore, prepare our mind for action, keep sober in spirit, fix our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 Happy Late Mother’s Day to all mothers who are reading this email. We pray that God will make you shine in your family and to those around you. You are so special and unique in your special way. You deserve this special day not just once a year but every day of the year because you have done so much for others and at times having to leave your needs unmet by serving and doing for others. Your reward is great in heaven and waiting for you.

Happy belated Mothers’ Day!!

Ashéninka Prayer Guide Update for Wednesday April 21, 2010

 This will be an abbreviated update since the McAnally family is scattered to the four winds this week. Sorry no pictures with me on the road. Dena remains in the Apurucayali/Chinchihuani River areas while I (Marty) am writing from the city of Lima some 400 miles away where I am attending a leadership meeting at the America’s Affinity offices. I want to thank you for praying over the prayer requests on the Prayer Guide over the last two weeks. This meeting was one of those items. We are in the second day of the meeting and it is going wonderfully well with sweet fellowship among team leaders and affinity leaders (the “affinity” includes all of the Americas). Continue to pray this week as we are trained and in some cases reassured concerning new policies, strategies, and procedures in the IMB.

 Dena in the Ashéninka communities.  Pease continue to pray for Dena and Berta as they travel on the rivers and work with Ashéninka leaders in those remote areas. Pray for safety, health, and fruitfulness. Pray that Berta is able to keep up with some of her school work as well. Please pray also that she is able to secure some needed documents for Berta. Document work can be slow and frustrating; for His children God has this in control.

 Wood-cutting.  Please continue to pray for the wood-cutting project at Yarina Isla as Ashéninka leaders and volunteers come together to cut boards for the expansion of the training facility there. They will be cutting between the 26^th and 30^th of this month. Cutting lumber from tree trunks with chainsaws is difficult and dangerous work. Pray for safety for all.

 Marty at Amazon Consultation.  Please pray for me as I travel to Florida at the end of the month to participate in the ALTECO Amazon Consultation meeting. This is a meeting of persons representing ministries in the Amazon Basin and persons interested in such ministry. I will be leading a focus group on uncontacted tribal peoples and the importance of getting the gospel to them. Please pray that the discussions are provocative and the results fruitful.

 A ministry may be a very thoughtful ministry without prayer; the preacher may secure fame and popularity without prayer; the whole machinery of the preacher's life and work may be run without the oil of prayer or with scarcely enough to grease one cog; but no ministry can be a spiritual one, securing holiness in the preacher and in his people, without prayer being made an evident and controlling force.  (E.M. Bounds)

⁵ The LORD is gracious and righteous;
       our God is full of compassion.

 ⁶ The LORD protects the simple hearted;
       when I was in great need, he saved me.

 ⁷ Be at rest once more, O my soul,
       for the LORD has been good to you.

 ⁸ For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
       my eyes from tears,
       my feet from stumbling,

 ⁹ that I may walk before the LORD
       in the land of the living.    Psalm 116:5-9

April 7 and 14, 2010

To God belong wisdom and power;
       counsel and understanding are his.  Job 12:13

This past week I was in Lima in a meeting of “team strategy leaders”(TSLs); IMB missionaries who are in charge of ministry teams among people groups in Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. There were about ten men meeting with our “cluster strategy leader”(CSL), sharing our lives, our woes, of course our ministry strategies, and at times some venting over changes in the IMB. Every one of these men faces the challenge of finding God’s plan for reaching the respective people group to which he’s been assigned. Some of them labor far from the big city, up in the dizzying heights of the Andes Mountains, or, like us, along the twisting waterways of the central rainforests. All of them have families. All of them have feelings and personal needs. I observed that all of them are passionate about their calling.

I heard men share their efforts and their frustrations and their frequent confusion with some changes in procedures and policies in the organization. Some shared how they are being uprooted and having to move to another part of the field to take on a new group with a new strategy; changes they did not anticipate when they dug in where they are now. My heart went out to those who have had to deal with some hardships I haven’t had to deal with or who were left alone in a high distant country to sort out their call and their pathways with no one nearby to help or give encouragement.

Like I said, these are men passionate about their people groups and passionate about the Lord. They are men whose call is real and clear; they are men who will serve wherever God plants them. They are men who, though they don’t understand all the changes being implemented in the IMB, do understand what it means to submit to authority and accept it as God’s blessing in their lives. Not one of them doubts the sincerity of leadership at higher levels and their trust level is high. While they may not always see around the next turn of the river, they are sure that their leaders have a firm grip on the helm, guided by scripture and prayer. While a few tears were shed, the joy within remains, and the smiles of confidence in our Lord and the fruit HE is bearing shone upon their faces.

I’m glad I serve with such men. I’m glad they are supported and helped and blessed by their loving families. I rejoice that while I may not see those guys but once in a blue moon, I know they are there, living the same calling that I am living. May God pour His gracious strength and wisdom into their lives and fill their nets to overflowing. (Marty)

E.M. Bounds wrote: If Christians knew how to pray so as to have answers to their prayers, evident, immediate, and demonstrative answers from God, faith would be more widely diffused, would become more general, would be more profound, and would be a much more mighty force in the world.

Prayer Focus

Dena in Her Travels.   Today as I write this, it is a rainy muddy day and Dena and Berta have just left over the road in an overloaded bouncy pickup truck to return to the Apurucayali River. As you read this they should be set up at our Yarina Isla base for several days of ministry before traveling by boat to the Chinchihuani River. The church at Alto San Luis will be celebrating its 5^th anniversary this month and Dena will take part in the celebration. To get there will take at least a two day trip up a swift and challenging river with indigenous helpers. After a week or so in Alto San Luis they will return to Yarina Isla to do some teaching and help the group organize for the cutting of wood for the expansion of the training facilities there. Please pray for safety throughout their travels. Pray for Dena as she also continues home schooling of Berta each day. Pray for effective ministry and for stamina throughout these efforts. Pray for the church at Alto San Luis and for its pastor Juan and his wife Adela. Pray for the men and women who will come together April 25 for the wood cutting and for all fellowship and ministry that accompanies this indigenous-led effort.

Leadership Meeting in Lima.  I (Marty) will return to Lima April 18 for another week of leadership meetings. This time the subject is the change under which the IMB structure is going. Team leaders from several countries as well as the IMB regional leaders will meet for better understanding of new procedures and policies. Pray for a spirit of understanding and for sweet fellowship and safe travel for all traveling to and from Lima from several countries. Pray for Jacob’s well being during this time as he remains in Pucallpa.

Jacob’s College Enrollment.  About the 26^th or 27^th Jacob will be enrolling (by phone) in his first college courses. Pray for his dialog with counselors from Southwest Baptist University in Missouri where he will be attending. Jacob will graduate on June 4 and plans to depart Peru on June 11 to work this summer in Rock Hill, South Carolina, before heading to Missouri to begin his college career.

Michael and Crystal Gayheart and Family. Our newest team members the Gayheart family continue their language studies in Costa Rica. They have submitted prayer requests which I paste below just as they were written. We expect them to join us in Peru in mid-August.

Crystal: That she would be able to effectively communicate with nationals as she continues to learn more and more verb tenses. Also, that she would develop a good ear for Spanish.

Michael: Pray for David from the halfway house that I go to each week. In left the house prematurely in December and fell back into drugs. He returned to the house two weeks ago and wants to get his life straight with God and stay long enough to not relapse. He told me this past Monday that the police drops papers off with his mother charging him with a crime he says he did not commit. Please be in prayer that David’s legal issue will get worked out and that his walk with the Lord will continue to strengthen.

Kids: They don’t feel as if they are picking up Spanish as fast as they would like to. Pray that we can continue to find ways to help them with their learning (Spanish-only times, national friends, etc.).

Pray also for us in Peru as we look for adequate housing for the Gayhearts. They will be based here in Pucallpa for their time of apprenticeship before eventually relocating to the city of Atalaya to begin their work among the Ucayali Ashéninkas.

Wood-cutting at Yarina Isla.  There are no sawmills available in the jungle and no Lowe’s or Home Depot. Wood has to be taken out of the jungle where it is stored in the form of massive trees. These have to be felled, cut into sections, and then tediously cut into boards by chainsaw. It’s not easy work. The church and outreach group leaders of the Pichis, Apurucayali, and Chinchihuani rivers will come together in late April to do this very thing for the purpose of building a 15 meter dining/meeting structure alongside the existing training center building at Yarina Isla. These structures are simply large palm-thatched roofs set upon poles and beams with open sides. The work is hard and the wood is heavy, having to be carried out of the jungle and boated to the construction site. Pray for those who are cutting the wood for it is often dangerous work. The facility will be used to expand the center at which leaders and church members come together to fellowship and learn. This project is the result of a growing excitement among the churches for the things of the Lord and a growing commitment to preparing each other to carry the gospel to the Ashéninka communities. The next Ashéninka-led training event is planned for August while the actual construction of this new structure is set for mid-June.

Mudslides and Blockades. At this time there are ongoing problems along the central highway that runs across Peru from Lima, over and along the heights of the Andes to Pucallpa. Recent rains have caused tragic mudslides which have in some places washed out the paved highway. In other places the highway has been completely buried. Just yesterday mudslides brought tragedy to two Quechua communities as the mud took out numerous homes and churches killing many including the pastor of one church and the family of the associate pastor of another church. Pray for these families and those of others killed or injured by these mudslides. Pray for the highways to be cleared and restored so that trucks carrying essential goods may pass. Pucallpa  where we live is currently not receiving any goods or vegetables from outside. Pucallpa depends on foods grown in other parts of the country so the markets are depleting and prices are soaring. Moreover, there have been protests among coca growers who have blockaded the same highway preventing the passage of trucks. It’s a very bad situation that affects hundreds of thousands of people, including us. Pray that God’s purposes be completed in individual lives, but that He might bring swift solutions.

Please pray for each of these requests over the next two weeks. God is faithful and knows His purposes and plans in each of these matters. Pray that above all things His name be glorified and that many come to understand that He is sovereign and that people cannot find happiness or fulfillment in themselves or their pursuits while ignoring Him. Pray also for government leaders to see the huge need to improve the conditions of life of many Peruvians and to provide a more solid infrastructure so that needed goods can flow freely to all parts of the country.

Your prayers make a great difference. May God do great wonders among the Ashéninka people of Peru, through your prayers and our going. To God be the glory!!