July 2008

Praise the Lord because the Ministry of Childhood and Adolescence has finally released the funds so that FEISA can continue with the indigenous nursery project in Yatnata. The result of the delayed release of the money is that two months-worth of work has to be done in one month. Please pray for wisdom for Sam Parsons as she co-ordinates the final phase of this project, and for the two training visits to the community in July; on the 4^th - 5^th and the 18^th - 19^th.

Give thanks for a very encouraging meeting in June in the indigenous community of El Estribo, where eight schools signed an agreement to participate in the pre-school training project with FEISA. This project will start with the first training visits in August and the teachers are all very excited because they have not received any training or resources from the Ministry of Education or any other organization.

FEISA has produced a set of resources for teaching the creation story to children in the indigenous Enxet language. The pictures and flashcards are done so that they are relevant to the children’s context (palm trees and rheas rather than apple trees and blackbirds) and the teacher’s instructions are in Enxet. These are the first printed Bible materials for children in this language. In June, The Bible Society held a week-long workshop in Argentina on how to communicate the Bible effectively in oral cultures. Esteban from FEISA went, along with two Enxet speakers, and showed the participants the materials FEISA has produced. There was a huge amount of interest in them and The Bible Society has expressed an interest in publishing the resources. Please pray for the discussions between FEISA and the Bible Society as they look at this possibility; particularly that they would be willing to both finance and organize the publication. The photograph shows Enxet speakers Anibal and Silverio looking through the materials.

FEISA’s winter holidays run from the 5^th to the 20^th July. Please pray for all staff and students to have the rest they need, ready for the next semester. The first years and third years will have teaching practice placements as soon as the holiday is over, so please pray for all their preparations and for them to bring God’s light and love into the classrooms where they will be teaching.

Our Head, Estela (right) has had a number of recent bouts of illness. She is currently suffering from bronchitis and influenza so please pray for her to get the rest she needs and recover completely over the break. Pray also for peace and wisdom as she carries the responsibility for FEISA and for a clear sense of God’s purpose in her life and work.