Day 4 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across Mozambique

In Mozambique, there are 88 Care Workers who have committed to caring for the most vulnerable children. In many communities in Mozambique 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 that live with the children coming to the Care Point.

Today, we invite you to spend time praying for the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers:

• Pray for the Care Workers to serve wholeheartedly and continue to grow in their understanding of the Biblical mandate to serve. Pray that they will be united in their calling.

• Many of the Primary Caregivers are wounded by the loss of their children and grandchildren. “They hoped their children would look after them in their old age, but now they find themselves looking after their children and grandchildren. Pray for the Primary Caregivers in their grief and pain; that they would experience healing and restoration through the love of Christ.” (Audrey, Regional Support Team Leader, Mozambique)

Day 3 - Children across Mozambique (#40Days2024)

Within Mozambique, there are 600 children being loved and cared for. Today, we invite you to pray for children across Mozambique:

• “Across Africa, it is common for young girls to be given in marriage as early as 12 years old. Pray against this cultural practice and that people will speak up and advocate for the children.” (Sandra, Local Leader, Mozambique)

• “Within the communities, there is a lack of positive and Godly female role models.” (Audrey, Regional Support Team Leader, Mozambique). Pray for the children to have positive role models they can look up to.

• “Often when children are sick, the hospital isn’t the first place they go.” (Audrey, Regional Support Team Leader, Mozambique). Pray for protection over the children and that God will keep them strong and healthy.

Clara is one of the 600 children being cared for in Mozambique. In 2022, while the Care Workers were looking for more children to welcome to the Care Point, they met Clara* and her siblings. They truly were in a tough spot; a widow with three young children, no home of their own and trying to find a sense of belonging in a new community where they were complete strangers. Building trust took time, finding odd jobs was difficult, and Clara’s mother struggled to fulfill her role in caring for herself and her children.

Thankfully, Joyce, a local Care Worker, bonded with this family. Being a single mother herself, she felt their brokenness and embraced them wholeheartedly. Through the Care Workers’ love and being welcomed daily to the Care Point, Clara’s family began to see hope again. The children have returned to school, they are being fed a hot, nutritious meal daily, and healing is being found simply by knowing that they are not alone. At first, Clara was very reserved and only came to the Care Point to eat, but through the Care Workers love and dedication, she now stays and plays with the other children. – Matsinho B Community, Mozambique

#40Days2024

Day 2 - Meet the Chimoio 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 Chimoio Service Centre are: Elsa, Maria, Philippe, Sandra and Sozinho. They serve five of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

“Pray that we will have unity and be brave in the midst of fear. There are many challenges in the communities. Pray that we will remain strong as we fight for the children.” (Sandra, Local Leader, Mozambique)

Many youth camps and workshops are happening in the next few months. Pray for God’s hand to move and for people’s lives to be transformed.

Day 1 - Welcome to Mozambique (#40Days2024)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. - 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

Mozambique is one of eight countries Hands at Work is serving in across Africa. Mozambique has a population of 33,956,560 people, with 67% of the population living in extreme poverty. Ranking 185 out of 187 on the Human Development Index, there are 150,000 children living with HIV/AIDS and 1,300,000 children who have been orphaned because of this life-threatening illness. –Sources: UNAID, UNDP, World Poverty Clock

As we start 40 Days of Prayer, we invite you to join us in praying for the country of Mozambique:

• In the midst of changes in the country and a season of transition for the Hands team in Mozambique, pray for peace and comfort.

• Over the years, the cost of food and basic necessities in Mozambique has risen significantly. Pray that God will make a way and sustain His people.

• “Pray for the rains to continue and that there would be a good harvest across Mozambique.” (Audrey, Regional Support Team Leader, Mozambique)

• Ask God to pour out His spirit and pray that people would understand more of the gospel.

As you pray, remember the International Offices in Australia, Canada, Germany, the US and the UK 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.

#40Days2024

Day 6 - Childhood Marriage

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” - Deuteronomy 31:8

In the poorest of the poor communities, it is not uncommon for girls as young as 12 years old to be given in marriage. In some situations, this occurs when families are financially desperate and in others it’s because of a cultural expectation that girls should get married young. Pray for our African leaders to be courageous in running towards the problem and speaking on behalf of our girls. Pray that they will be bold in sharing the gospel. Pray for each young girl who has been and still is a victim to childhood marriage. Pray that they will experience the love of Christ and the freedom that only He can bring.

Rebecca is pictured back left

Across Africa, there are men and women committed to speaking into the cultural practice and dangers of girls marrying at a young age. Kupa Kwashe, Hands at Work Leader from Zimbabwe, shares a story of Rebecca*, a girl in Mozambique and how the Care Workers and the local Hands at Work team in Chimoio, Mozambique, fought to ensure that she didn’t enter into childhood marriage.

“Rebecca grew up living in Matsinho Community with her grandmother and three siblings. She was one of our children coming to the Care Point. As Rebecca got older, the Care Workers started hearing that she was entering into unhealthy lifestyles and were concerned for her wellbeing. They heard that she had entered into an early marriage with another young man from the community. Understanding the dangers of early marriage, the Care Workers and the Chimoio team went to talk with Rebecca and her grandmother. Speaking out of love and concern, they shared how Rebecca was too young to be married and needed to go back to school. Rebecca understood the message and what was being shared. She went back to school and even started coming back to the Care Point. We are grateful because she took our advice and waited until she was 18 to get married.”

#40Days2022

An Urgent Call to Prayer - Cyclone Chalane

An Urgent Call to Prayer

As Cyclone Chalane touches down in Mozambique and is predicted to head towards Zimbabwe please join us in prayer for safety and protection over our communities.

Pray for wisdom and guidance for our local leaders and they assess the ongoing conditions and potential destruction due to high winds and rising flood waters.

As more details unfold over the coming days we will continue to keep you updated.

Thank you for standing with us in prayer.