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!

Day 7 - Meet the Lagos 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 Lagos Service Centre are: Esther, Matthew and Vivian. They serve three of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

“Thank you, God, for the team. Everyone gives ideas. We know our strengths and weaknesses. There is a team effort. Pray that we continue to put God first. Ask God to help the team communicate well and continue developing good relationships with the communities that they serve. Pray that we will have wisdom in dealing with challenges. Pray that we will remain united.” (Vivian, Local Leader, Nigeria)

Day 6 - Meet the Ibadan 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 Ibadan Service Centre are: Taiwo, Tosin and Toyin. They serve three of the most vulnerable communities across Africa.

• “Pray for unity and that we will grow in love for one another. Pray that we won’t be overcome by sickness and that they will remain strong.” (Toyin, Local Leader, Nigeria)

• Pray for their safety and protection in the midst of difficult and challenging situations.

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