Day 39 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across the Democratic Republic of Congo (#40Days2024)

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. - Philippians 1: 3 to 5

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are 128 Care Workers who have committed to caring for the most vulnerable children. In many communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and across Africa, the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers of the children they serve. A Primary Caregiver is the mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or other relatives of the children coming to the Care Point.

• Ask God to continue providing for the Care Workers who are struggling to provide for their own children.

• Ask God to give Sons and Daughters to these Care Workers, who have committed themselves for so many years to serve the community, so that when they get older, they can see the young generation continue supporting this work, even taking it to other communities where there is still more need.” (Angel, Local Leader, DRC).

• Pray for peace and acceptance in the Primary Caregivers’ hearts because many of them face rejection within their families and communities. Pray for them to know Christ and find healing from their wounds because many are bitter; they have a spirit of unforgiveness. They also mistreat their children as a way of showing their brokenness. Some smoke and drink alcohol, thinking they won’t mind about anything, but in reality, they are causing more stress to themselves and others.

• Pray for them to be released from the devil and be set free by Jesus Christ who can comfort them and bring peace, love and joy to their hearts.” (Angel, Local Leader, DRC)

“My name is Asie and I became a Care Worker in 2018. The reason I joined is because I felt challenged by the church mobilisation workshop. I like the teaching that I receive at the Care Point, which helps me know how to live with other people – in my own family and the people around me. I have a second family being among the Care Workers and I feel as though I am living among brothers and sisters who care for me and pray and encourage me anytime.”

Day 38 - Children across the Democratic Republic of Congo

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.- Psalm 68:5-6

Within the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are 1,265 children being loved and cared for. Today, we invite you to pray for children across the Democratic Republic of Congo:

• “Pray for peace in our communities in Katembe and Luhonga, and that our children can return to school.

• Pray for our youth to understand the voice of God and to follow the right way of Jesus. We need God’s protection from the enemy’s temptation.” (Bindu, Local Leader, DRC)

• Pray for our secondary school children who are struggling. “Pray that the Lord will protect them from going astray.” (Erick, Regional Support Team Leader, DRC)

Gilbert* is one of the 1,265 children across the Democratic Republic of Congo. He lives in the community of Kitabataba.

Gilbert* is 11 years old and is the middle child. He has an older sister (12) and a little brother (8). Seven years ago, Gilbert’s father died due to an unknown illness. Out of his mother’s grief and pain, she left her children in the care of her late husband's mother, Maman Phoebe*. She, herself, carried scars of having been widowed, and she didn’t know how she would provide for her three grandchildren. Maman Phoebe brought the children to the city of Likasi and a family member helped them find a home in Kitabataba where they could settle. But life continued to be difficult as Gilbert became sick with meningitis, which stunted his growth. But Maman Augustine, a faithful Care Worker, sees her responsibility not just to Gilbert, but to his family as a whole. She likes to visit Maman Phoebe and the children in their small home and encourage them with the hope of Christ.

Day 37 - Meet the Goma Service Centre (#40Days2024)

Across Africa, Hands at Work has local teams comprising of Christian men and women who have answered God’s calling on their lives to serve the most vulnerable. Each of these teams exists to encourage, challenge and support local volunteer Care Workers as they care for the most vulnerable children in the most broken and desperate communities across Africa. We call these teams Service Centres.

In the Goma Service Centre are: Bindu, Denise, Zawadi, Jehoshaphat and Bahati. They serve three of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

• Pray for the team to stand in the Word of God. “We need to be strong in the hope in God.” (Bindu, Local Leader, DRC)

• Pray for the health of the team, that they will remain strong. Pray for God’s protection when they are serving in the refugee camps.

Day 36 - Meet the Likasi Service Centre (#40Days2024)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:29-31

Across Africa, Hands at Work has local teams comprising of Christian men and women who have answered God’s calling on their lives to serve the most vulnerable. Each of these teams exists to encourage, challenge and support local volunteer Care Workers as they care for the most vulnerable children in the most broken and desperate communities across Africa. We call these teams Service Centres.

In the Likasi Service Centre are: Angel, Francis, Jimmy, Numbi, Sammy and Solange. They serve seven of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

• Ask God to provide the Service Centre team with strength, good health and courage to continue serving the communities with passion. “Pray they will display the love of Jesus among the people of God and be the hands and the feet of Jesus Christ to the Care Workers, Primary Caregivers and children.

• Pray for God’s wisdom to be given to the Service Centre team as they face many challenges due to the amount of need in the communities. They need God’s wisdom on how they should handle some of the issues like sickness, hunger, brokenness, oppression, abuse, and poverty.

• Pray for peace in all the country, especially in the eastern Province where there is war and children and Primary Caregivers are in need.” (Angel, Local Leader, DRC)

Day 35 - Welcome to the Democratic Republic of Congo (#40Days2024)

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of eight countries Hands at Work is serving in across Africa. The DRC has a population of 95,875,240 people, with 63% of the population living in extreme poverty. Ranking 179 out of 187 on the Human Development Index, there are 60,000 children living with HIV/AIDS and 470,000 children who have been orphaned because of this life-threatening illness. –Sources: UNAID, UNDP, World Poverty Clock

As we start the week, please join us in praying for the country of the Democratic Republic of Congo:

• “Thank God for the election, even though there was controversy, it ended relatively peacefully.

• In the Likasi region, pray for the health of the children, Care Workers and local team. Pray that the clinics would be diligent and do justice in caring for the children.

• In the Goma region, there is no sight of the war ending soon. There is lots of tension. Many of the children are not in school and are in refugee camps, leaving them exposed to unhealthy behaviours. Pray for the local team as they minister to the children in the refugee camps.” (Erick, Regional Support Team Leader, DRC)

As you pray, remember the International Offices in Australia, Canada, Germany and the US who serve with Hands at Work to care for the most vulnerable in Africa. Pray for each of the advocates and churches in these countries that partner with Hands at Work. Pray that they will remain steadfast in their calling to serve. Pray that they will be encouraged even in times of difficulty.

Day 7 - Access to Clean and Safe Water

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

Access to safe and clean drinking water is essential to many aspects of everyday life. But for people living in the poorest of the poor countries across Africa the water is often dirty and contaminated by animals or unsafe minerals, leading to water-borne illnesses like typhoid and cholera. Pray for clean water sources to become available, and that God will make a way for His people. Where people have no choice but to drink dirty water, pray for God’s divine protection on their lives. Pray for Hands at Work to develop good partnerships with those who are providing clean water.

In Toyota Community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Community Based Organisation has access to a water tap that is not far from the Life Centre building. The challenge in this area is that many people rely on this water source, but because the water only runs at certain times in the day, there is often a line of people waiting to collect their water. Despite these challenges, 14-year-old Mwete offers to help the Care Workers collect the water they need for the day. He is a positive example to many of the other children.

#40Days2022