Once again greetings from snowy Ontario, where I’m partnering alongside Jacob and Karen Ginter, founders of Guelph Prays, an interdenominational prayer initiative to unify Christians seeking a transforming impact on greater Guelph. I continue to observe, learn, participate in prayer initiatives and aid associated ministries.
“Re-View,” COVID, and Two Days of United Prayer
Re-View, the missionary debrief I attended in February, was fabulous. Plus, it was convenient having it at a conference center just down the road here in Guelph. Despite different ages, marital status and ministries, our joys and sorrows were similar. I learned that I really didn’t have the vocabulary to express some things I’ve gone through. But listening to their stories has provided new words to articulate my own experience more precisely. We were given resources to help us in our transitions. Downtimes with participants were refreshing. Also, since several of the facilitators live in the area, there is a chance to continue interacting with them from time to time.
A day after the conference ended, I tested positive for COVID, after managing to avoid the disease for almost three years. Karen’s mom, with whom I’m living, also got the infection, but thankfully both of us survived without complications. At the time it seemed like a wasted ten days, but now I’m grateful for some lessons learned.
Last week, the Ginters invited a group of pastors and lay-people to participate in two days of all-day prayer. More attended than expected; as a result, more such events are planned.
Prayer Points for March in Guelph and Spain
- I’ll be on my own from March 11–28 as Karen and Jacob will be taking a long-planned trip. Pray for their blessing and safety. Pray too for me as I continue to get to know folks and work on a few projects.
- Continue to pray for our Thursday evening times with the Syrian refugee children, and that hosts John and Martha will be able to minister to the kids’ parents as well as other refugees in their apartment block.
- Pray for encouragement for one prayer gathering, a small inter-generational group, most of whom are in ministry, that includes John and Martha, the Ginters, and me. The focus is simply to encourage one another. Last weekend it seemed fitting for us, who are committed to seeing community transformation in Guelph, to view “The Jesus Revolution,” about the 1970s movement of God among American youth.
- Continue to pray for my former students and their families. Also, for Betania Church, where I used to minister in Sevilla, that they will know the next steps in planting a new work in my former town of Castilleja.
Thank you for continuing to support me—in prayer, in finances or both—in my new ministry here in Canada . . . and for remembering to pray for Spain.
Mary Woodward
Giving: www.actioninternational.org/missionary/Mary-Woodward or ACTION US, PO BOX 398, Mountlake Terrace WA 98043 marked for Mary Woodward; Address: c/o Jake &Karen Ginter, 40-35 Rhonda Road, Guelph ON Canada N1H 6H1; Canada cell: 1 519 362 5663; What’s Ap: +1 (206) 638 7226.