Day 23 - Welcome to Eswatini (#40Days2024)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonions 5:16-18

Eswatini is one of eight countries Hands at Work is serving in across Africa. Eswatini has a population of 1,489,160 people, with 30% of the population living in extreme poverty. Ranking 144 out of 187 on the Human Development Index, there are 7,300 children living with HIV/AIDS and 57,000 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 Eswatini:

• “Pray for our government and our King to have one mind so that we can have peace in the county.” (Ntombifuthi, Local Leader, Eswatini)

• “We can pray also for the domestic violence that is happening in Eswatini. I think the people there are so used to it, whether it’s sexual assault, domestic violence, emotional abuse, so they are okay with it. They don’t see a problem. Pray for the Service Centre team as we are trying to teach that it is not right and you cannot solve it because it is a crime. The police should be involved so that the children can be safe. We can pray that things will not be swept under the carpet but will be in the open. Pray for the women to be able to speak up for things like that and say it is not okay to live in an abusive marriage or relationship.

• This year, we have a lot of children who are dropping out of school because they are failing their grades. Please pray for that and also for the Regional Support Teams and Service Centres in Eswatini, as we find ways to support these children because there are lots of things that they can get themselves into, like marijuana and prostitution. Pray that we can help find ways to support them during this season.” (Pinky, Regional Support Team Leader, South Africa)

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 Eswatini and South 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.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- Galatians 6:9

When Kupa (Regional Support Team Leader, Zimbabwe) was asked ‘if you could ask people to pray for one thing in your country what would it be’, she shared “My one prayer request is that we pray for rain and a good harvest. Things are tough, economically, and it’s getting harder and harder for the Primary Caregivers or even the average person to survive. The rainfall hasn’t been that great and last year’s harvest wasn’t great. So we just pray that we have more rain and are able to have a good harvest. Without that, things are going to be really tough.”

Day 22 - Care Workers and Primary Caregivers across Zimbabwe (#40Days2024)

In many communities in Zimbabwe 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.

• “Pray for more and more Primary Caregivers to come to know the Lord so that they better care for the children. A lot of them carry very heavy burdens and have many wounds from injustices that have happened to them or, in some cases, are still happening. Please pray that God brings healing.

• Pray for open doors for income-generating activities for the Primary Caregivers so they have enough to support their families and themselves. We pray for open doors.” (Kupa, Regional Support Team Leader, Zimbabwe)

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 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)