Malawi
- Pray for the disabled children receiving treatment at the CURE International Hospital in Malawi and especially for 14-year-old Edward.
Afghanistan
- Please pray for the children who work up to 12 hours a day alongside their parents in brick-making factories. Over 2200 children are working in 38 brick-making factories in one district of eastern Afghanistan to help pay off family debts. Many families are trapped in cycles of unending debt because of very high interest rates by unscrupulous lenders. (IRIN, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs –http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=77662)
- Pray for the health and safety of these children as they work in this dangerous environment. A majority of the children working in these factories are under age 15. Many have sustained serious injuries like broken bones.
- Pray for their freedom. Pray that they may be able to attend school and break this cycle of poverty and slavery.
- Pray that they will know God’s comforting presence and the embracing love of Jesus Christ.
China
- Care for Children in Chengdu reports that their foster care team and the families and children placed through them are all OK as are all the 500 plus children in the Chengdu Social Welfare Institutions. Starting May 19 there has been a three day period of National mourning which began at 2:28 p.m. marking the very moment the massive quake struck in Wenchuan County, Sichuan. Across the country horns and sirens wailed in grief after a three minute silence. In Devang most of the roads to the affected areas are closed or controlled by the army. Care for Children has been permitted to visit the Deyang Social Welfare Institutions 63km north of Chengdu. On arrival, they discovered stories of bravery and courage. The 58 children, plus some elderly, have been evacuated into open land and are sleeping in relief tents. (2 cots with about 12 babies in each.)
- Pray for the Care for Children team as they send in counselors for those traumatised by the quake.
- Pray that Care for the Children can send in small hygiene kits and other emergency relief. This is high priority.
- The children also need toys. Pray for these and that, through play, healing can come.
- Give thanks that CFC have been given permission by the civil affairs to visit Mianyang Social Welfare Institutions 170 km north of Chengdu and pray that they are able to bring further relief and assistance. (The orphanage and school there were hit and devastated by the quake.)
