Day 18 - Meet the Mutare 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 Mutare Service Centre are: Kuda and Priscilla. They serve three of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

• “Pray for God’s strengthening and God’s protection.”

• The Service Centre feel like there have been some very tough issues over the last few years.

• “We want to pray that God will give us courage and to protect the team.” (Priscilla, Local Leader, Zimbabwe)

Day 17 - Welcome to Zimbabwe (#40Days2024)

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. - Psalm 9:10

Zimbabwe is one of eight countries Hands at Work is serving in across Africa. Zimbabwe has a population of 18,513,580 people, with 40% of the population living in extreme poverty. Ranking 146 out of 187 on the Human Development Index, there are 75,000 children living with HIV/AIDS and 490,000 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 Zimbabwe:

• “Please pray for our education system in Zimbabwe. We are seeing more and more children dropping out of school. As a result, a lot of young people are now taking hard drugs. Please pray for economic stability that will enable our government to offer free education for all.

• Pray for peace and stability In Zimbabwe.” (Kupa, Regional Support Leader, Zimbabwe)

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

”For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.“ - Psalm72:12-14

When Xolani was asked, “If you could ask people to pray for one thing in your country, what would it be?” he shared, “Pray for our Primary Caregivers – they carry much pain and brokenness. Some have started drinking, which can put the lives of the children that we are caring for at risk. Pray for healing; many have been abandoned and have been left with young children to care for and they are struggling. The need is huge.

This year, as we go deeper into what it means to care for our Primary Caregivers, I will invite people to pray for us for wisdom. Pray for the Primary Caregivers as Relationship Groups take shape, as we spend time in their homes and bring Jesus. Pray for the word to set in and for them to find freedom. Pray for the Care Points to become a place of life for them where they can come and be served. Pray that they will get more involved and take full ownership of the work happening in their community and in the lives of their children. Pray that they will experience Jesus.” (Xolani, Zambian Regional Support Team Leader)

Day 16 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across Zambia (#40Days2024)

In many communities in Zambia 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.

• “Many of the Primary Caregivers are women, and though the husbands are around, they are not involved in caring for their children and many struggle with alcohol abuse. Some have even left the family to get remarried. With only one source of income, many Primary Caregivers struggle to put food on the table. They end up doing piecework instead of working in their fields because they are desperate to earn anything so that they can put food on the table. They are hardworking, but they are the poorest of the poor, doing work for other people. We can continue praying that they find peace even in the midst of storms, and when they feel alone, we pray that they would have peace.” (Sylvia, Local Leader, Zambia).

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 13 - Meet the Chisamba and Kabwe Service Centres (#40Days2024)

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? - Deuteronomy 10:12-13

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 Chisamba Service Centre are: Cecelia, Bukisan, Niza and Victor. They serve four of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

• “Pray for us to walk humbly with God because it’s not enough to simply follow the rules or do what we think is right, rather it requires us to put ourselves in positions where we are constantly asking God for guidance on how best to interact with others especially our children, Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in our communities.

• Ask God to give us strength and wisdom as we want to reach out to the Primary Caregivers to bring Jesus into their lives because they are the ones who spend more time with our children.” (Cecelia, Local Leader, Zambia)

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In the Kabwe Service Centre are: Belindah, Lewis, Monica, Ruth and Stephen. They serve six of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

• “We pray for unity and oneness as a Service Centre.

• We pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and direction as we support our communities.

• Pray for us as a team that we walk with integrity.

• Pray for our own families, that God should continue protecting them.” (Lewis, Local Leader, Zambia)