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.

When Royie (Regional Support Team Leader, Malawi) was asked, “If you could ask people to pray for one thing in Malawi, what would it be?” he shared, “The past two or three years, we have experienced lots of cyclones. We are praying for good, safe and stable rain with no harm to people, but adequate rain that can produce bumper yields.”

Day 34 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across Malawi (#40Days2024)

In many communities in Malawi 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.

• We dream of the Primary Caregivers being involved and taking on this responsibility for caring for our children. “Stand with us in prayer for this. There are some who don’t understand who we are and what we do, so we are casting the vision. Pray that they will understand the vision and be hands-on in caring for the children.” (Gideon, Regional Support Team Leader, Zambia)

Day 33 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across Malawi

In Malawi, there are 134 Care Workers who have committed to caring for the most vulnerable children.

• Pray for all the Care Workers in the communities. They’re all vulnerable and have their own children to care for but they have committed to caring for other children in their communities.

• Please let us pray for God’s wisdom on how best they can care for and support their families well. Pray also for God’s intervention in their situations.

• Please let us pray for the Care Workers that they will continue serving the most vulnerable children with the same zeal that they had at first, in showing love and care to these children. And when they meet together, may they find encouragement and restoration in their lives.” (Ritha, Regional Support Team Leader, Zambia)

“My name is Leticia, and I am married with five children. I am from Mcheneke, and I have been a Care Worker since 2009. When I saw the vulnerable in our community, my heart wanted to help them and I wanted to be part of the work. Being a Care Worker changed my heart and now I love everyone which was something I learned from being a Care Worker.”

Day 32 - Children across Malawi (#40Days2024)

Within Malawi, there are 1083 children being loved and cared for. Today, we invite you to pray for children across Malawi:

• Most of our girls drop out of school to enter early marriage. “Pray that they realise the importance of school so that one day they may break the cycle of illiteracy in their families.

• Many of our children come from homes that do not know God but struggle with alcohol and practice traditional beliefs. We pray that they believe the Jesus we know.” (Ivy, Local Leader, Malawi)

• Many of the young boys are taken to traditional “initiation” schools. These can be damaging and leave them struggling to adjust back to life with their families. Please pray for them, that God will make a way.

Wilson* is one of the 1083 children across Malawi. He lives in the community of Mchenga.

Many years ago, 12-year-old Wilson’s* father left him, his mother and two siblings to get remarried. Sadly, he is no longer involved in their lives. Without the support of his father, the burden of providing for the family has fallen to Wilson’s mother, who struggles with the weight of this huge responsibility.

Katunga is a local Care Worker from the Mchenga CBO who stays in the same area of the community as Wilson and his family. Seeing the family struggle to find food and the other basic necessities, he knew that he couldn’t sit back and do nothing. Sharing the situation with the other Care Workers, Wilson and his siblings were invited to the Care Point to be physically, emotionally, and spiritually cared for. The love and care that the Care Workers pour out to the children extends to their mother as well. Katunga, regularly visits the family in their home and is a source of love and encouragement to Wilson and his mother.

Day 31 - Meet the Lobi 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 Lobi Service Centre are: Tanaziyo and Harold. They serve five of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

• “Ask God to give us strength because without Him, we can do nothing.” (Tanaziyo, Local Leader, Malawi)

• In Malawi, the cost of food is expensive, and many people find it difficult to purchase the basic necessities. “Pray for wisdom from God and that He will make a way.” (Tanaziyo, Local Leader, Malawi)