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 40 - Easter Sunday

He Is Risen!

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

– Revelations 22:20

When Jesus arose from the dead, He showed us that there is no wound too deep, no scar too unbearable, that He cannot heal. As we await His triumphant and glorious return, challenge yourself to give your heart completely to God. Ask our Father to show you what it means to fight for justice and act in faith on behalf of the most vulnerable like Mwete. In times where it seems hopeless, remember that Jesus is able, as He continues to ‘bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners’.

#40Days2022

Holy Saturday

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5

Imagine living in a world without hope – without Jesus. Holy Saturday allows us to empathise with those who have no hope. On this day, where Jesus’ disciples were caught between the hopelessness of Good Friday, and the hope that came on Easter Sunday, let us choose to enter into compassion – to suffer with our brothers and sisters – who today feel that sense of despair and confusion.

#40Days2022

Day 39 – Good Friday

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. – John 19:28-30

Today, we invite you to read John 19: 28 – 30. Jesus’ death was the most scandalous event in history, as the world tried to stop Jesus from proclaiming the good news, setting the captives free, bringing sight to the blind, and giving liberty to the oppressed. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice and for showing us the ultimate example of what it means to sacrificially give of ourselves for the sake of the Kingdom. Pray for Mwete and other vulnerable children, Care Workers, Primary Caregivers across Africa, churches and Hands at Work volunteers, to truly understand the weight of His sacrifice.