40 Days of Prayer - Day 11

Day 11 – The Local Church

‘And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ – Colossians 3:15-17

Hands at Work envisions the local church in Africa effectively caring for the orphaned, the widowed and the dying. In the communities across Africa where Hands at Work serves, ask God to speak truth to the local churches about the biblical mandate to care for the most vulnerable. Pray for Hands at Work as we challenge the local church to respond to the need within their community. Pray for the church to be filled with an abundance of love, grace and compassion that overflows to the vulnerable in their community. Pray for an increase in the number of local churches that catch the vision and step up and take responsibility to serve the broken and the destitute.

Today, we invite you to watch a video of Gugu, a member of the local Hands at Work team in Hazyview, South Africa sharing about the local churches involvement in the Care Point in Sommerset, where 14 year old Safta lives. Today, remember that this church represents many churches across Africa supporting the children and the Care Workers.

40 Days of Prayer - Second Sunday

Second Sunday – On Sundays we pause to anticipate the coming of Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

‘Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”’ – Luke 18:31-33

40 Days of Prayer - Day 10

Day 10 – Traditional Healing and Stigma

‘Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke?’ – Isaiah 58:6

Due to cultural practices, traditional beliefs, and the stigma around HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera, typhoid and other diseases, many children are discouraged from visiting clinics and receiving medical care. Ask God to give comfort and a sense of belonging to individuals who have been rejected and stigmatised because of their disease. Pray that these bonds will be broken and that children will receive the life-saving care that is desperately needed.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 9

Day 9 - Climate Change

‘The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.’ – Psalm 34:7-9

Over the years, changes in climate have caused natural disasters such as drought, cyclones and hurricanes to become more frequent. The most vulnerable are always severely impacted, as they have no extra layers of protection. Sadly, these changes in the climate have directly impacted the most vulnerable children and their families’ ability to survive. Pray for Hands at Work leadership to have wisdom and discernment in knowing how to address these challenges and support families when crises happen. Ask God to protect the most vulnerable children, that they will come to know God’s love and comfort in times of uncertainty.

A result of these recent climate changes, was Cyclone Idai that hit South Eastern Africa in mid-March 2019. What initially looked like a bad storm, turned into disaster for tens of thousands of people, affecting Malawi, first with floods, then Mozambique and Zimbabwe. After the Cyclone, many homes were affected, particularly in Malawi and Mozambique. As Hands at Work, we committed to responding to the families who have been most affected. Due to heavy rain fall, many houses in Malawi were destroyed during Cyclone Idai, and families were left living in desperate situations.

11-year-old Martha* and her grandmother Emily* where one of these families. Emily’s house collapsed during the night of Cyclone Idai. In the morning, they were surrounded by the gravel, where their house had once stood. Devastatingly, they didn’t retrieve anything from their house; suddenly putting Martha in an even more vulnerable position. Martha and Emily temporarily moved in with Martha’s mother, however this wasn’t a safe place for them to live. Martha’s mother lives nearby, although Martha doesn’t see her often. Her mother stays with her two younger brothers and makes a living by brewing and selling alcohol. Seeing the situation, her grandmother made the decision to bring Martha to live with her, as her mother’s home was a unsafe environment for a young girl.

Understanding the increased vulnerability and urgency of the situation, the community of Mngwere came together to rebuild a house for Emily and Martha. Using bamboo sticks, poles and grass, they created a temporary structure for Emily and Martha to live. The local Hands at Work team in Dedza was able to further support the family by providing plastic to secure the roof and protect them from the weather. Seeing the community come together in this family’s time of need was such an encouragement to the local Hands at Work in team in Dedza.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 8

Day 8 – Child-headed Households

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'" – Revelations 21:4

Many of our vulnerable children carry the responsibility to provide and care for their siblings when their parents pass away or leave to find work. Pray that as each child grows up, they will come to know God as their Heavenly Father, who deeply loves and cares for them. Ask God to give their Care Workers, the local church and each Hands at Work volunteer wisdom, grace and compassion, making it personal as they support the children and families in their midst.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 7

Day 7 – Access to Clean and Safe Water

‘But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ – John 4:14

In many countries like Zambia, there has been drought for several years. When access to safe and clean drinking water is limited, it has the potential to impact health and prohibit effective provision for families. Ask God to send rain and provide clean water sources across Africa. Please pray for the health of those who feel they have no choice but to drink dirty, unsafe water for survival.