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 28 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across South Africa and Eswatini (#40Days2024)

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. - Psalm 143:10-11

In many communities in South Africa, Eswatini and across Africa, the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers of the children that they are serving. A Primary Caregiver is the mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or other relatives of the children coming to the Care Point.

• “One of the biggest things in South Africa for the Primary Caregivers is not having identity documents and the kids also don’t have documents. In South Africa, if you don’t have documents, you don’t have access to a lot of service delivery. You can’t get a house, you can’t get food, you can’t get a government grant. My prayer is that even though they don’t have documents, God can provide something for them to live.” (Audrey, Regional Support Team Leader, South Africa)

• “Pray for the Primary Caregivers in our community to be involved at the Care Point and able to understand the vision of Hands at work and know the Jesus we know.” (Mnelisi, Local Leader, Eswatini)

Gogo Rebecca* is a Primary Caregiver in Sommerset Community in South Africa. She cares for her three grandsons. Many families in South Africa have come from other countries, such as Mozambique, meaning that they don’t have identification documents. This limits their ability to access government services and to receive schooling. To support her family Rebecca farms, but life is still a struggle.

Audrey (Regional Support Team Leader, South Africa) shares: “She doesn’t just sit and fold hands and say, 'I'm vulnerable’. She has a farm she ploughs. Some years she didn't even have seeds to plant, so we managed to provide her seeds as Hands at Work so she can plant. But, again, the good thing with her is that after planting, after some years, she stops us to say, “don't ever give me seeds because the seeds that I'm harvesting I eat, grind some to have a mealie meal, and some I'm keeping for planting other years”. When she has challenges with the children, she goes to the Care Point. The prayer request that I have for Gogo Rebecca is to pray for God to keep her for these three grandchildren. She's very old, but she tries to work very hard. Pray that the grandchildren can help provide for the grandmother”.

Day 21 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, there are 107 Care Workers who have committed to caring for the most vulnerable children.

• Pray for unity and trust among the Care Workers.

• “Pray for our Care Workers to understand the word of God because they are being robbed of the word from some of their traditional churches.” (Terry, Regional Support Team, Zimbabwe)

• “Please pray that the Care Workers do not get weary of doing well, knowing that their reward is indeed from the Lord. Pray that even in uncertainties, they continue to stand firm in their calling to serve the children.

• Please pray for God’s provision for our Care Workers. Pray for their income-generating projects and any source of income they may be getting, that they never run dry and they continue experiencing God’s supernatural provision.

• Please pray for our Care Workers families (marriages and their children), for stability and support from them.” (Kupa, Regional Support Team Leader, Zimbabwe)

Barbra is a Care Worker in Chinyausunzi Community in Zimbabwe. She shares, “My name is Barbra. I am married with four children. I have been a Care Worker for 12 years. I volunteered to be a Care Worker after the vision was shared at my church. I have a passion for children, especially orphans because I grew up as an orphan as well. I love being amongst the children.”

Day 20 - Children across Zimbabwe (#40Days2024)

Within Zimbabwe, there are 1075 children being loved and cared for. Today, we invite you to pray for children across Zimbabwe:

• “Please pray for our children who have finished grade 7 and will no longer attend secondary school. Please pray that God will open doors for them for vocational education or that they be able to continue with their school education.” (Kupa, Local Leader, Zimbabwe)

Gift* is one of the 1075 children across Zimbabwe. He lives in the community of Sakubva.

In 2023, Care Worker Maria found 13-year-old Gift* and his three siblings alone, in desperate need of food, and caring for their ill grandfather. Their mother, Precious*, had been gone for two weeks looking for odd jobs in the community, desperate to provide for her family. Occasionally, they will receive handouts from the local church that Precious is involved with, but the challenge of paying for the basic necessities remains. Immediately, Gift and his siblings were invited to the Life Centre. Since then, Gift is slowly starting to open up and play with the other children as he learns to trust that he will not be abandoned by the Care Workers.

Day 14 - Children across Zambia (#40Days2024)

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. - Psalm 127:1-2

Within Zambia, there are 2,955 children being loved and cared for. Today, we invite you to pray for children across Zambia:

• Pray for protection from illnesses like cholera, malaria and typhoid. Pray that they will get the treatment needed.

• “Pray for children who are born to parents who have a disability like epilepsy or blindness. Also, we can pray for children whose parents suffer from severe learning disabilities and poor mental health. We can pray that God will protect them and will raise many people like the Care Workers who can help and take those children into their homes like our own children.

• We know that if God doesn’t build, we are building in vain. We know that God is the one who can protect and care for these children. Unless God does it, if we are just doing it, we are just doing it in vain.” (Michael, Regional Support Team Leader, Zambia)

Semba* is one of the 2955 children across Zambia. He lives in the community of Amlew.

Four-year-old Semba and her family face great challenges every day. Semba’s mother suffers from epilepsy. Her father works hard to find and sell firewood, but this is a very meagre income. Much of his income goes towards medication and care for his wife, leaving them without enough. The Care Workers at the Life Centre have hearts to care for children like Semba; and her family is a testament to their efforts! Care Worker Rosemary has drawn this family into the Life Centre, ensuring Semba and her baby brother are bathed, fed every day, and get to enjoy the Under 5’s program. Semba’s mother loves coming to the Life Centre too, and even joins the Relationship Group with the Care Workers. This family knows what it is to be loved wholeheartedly.

Day 8 - Children across Nigeria (#40Days2024)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:11-13

Within Nigeria, there are 515 children being loved and cared for. Today, we invite you to pray for children across Nigeria:

• Living in Nigeria, especially in the area of Lagos, can be unsafe. With many people living in such close quarters, it can be quite hazardous. Pray for the physical protection of the children and that they will be safe from accidents. Also, pray for protection from illnesses like chickenpox and measles.

• Pray that the children will hear their teachers and hear the gospel well. “Pray that they would be used as instruments of God. Pray for God’s mercies and protection over them.” (Toyin, Local Leader, Nigeria).

Favour* is one of the 515 children across Nigeria. He lives in the community of Eagles Wings.

Ten-year-old Favour’s* family spiralled into poverty after his father was in an accident at work, leaving him unable to work any further. Favour’s mother, Idowu*, started her own business selling food, but her work wasn’t sustainable. With all their savings spent on hospital bills and with little to no income, they could not afford their rent, and moved into a wooden structure in Ilaje.

It did not take long for Favour and his family to be noticed. Mrs. Joseph compassionately visited them and offered Favour and his brother a place at the Care Point and at the school. Idowu was supported by the Care Workers to restart her business selling fresh-cooked meals. She was drawn to what she saw in the Care Workers and the Care Point and decided to become a Care Worker herself at the nearby Temitope CBO, where her young daughter and grandson attend!