Pakistan (Presbyterian Education Board – www.peb.edu.pk)
- Give thanks to God that 15-year-old Rita, the oldest of six children from a family that works in a brick kiln, was able to escape this work and an arranged marriage. Rita’s father felt that having three daughters was too high a burden for his family and planned to marry her off to a drug addict.
- Thanks be to God that Rita was admitted to a Presbyterian Education (PEB) boarding school and removed from that harmful situation. Rita has recently completed the vocational training course at the school and is now able to earn enough money to support her family. Please keep her in prayer as she works to help her family.
- Pray for Rita’s two sisters and three brothers—that they also might be able to have an education and help break this cycle of poverty.
North Korea
- Pray for the children of North Korea who are affected by the severe food shortage in this isolated country.
- Give thanks to God that the World Food Programme (WFP) has been allowed to expand its food distribution operation from reaching 1.2 million people to reaching more than 5 million people. However, WFP estimates that 6 million North Koreans need food aid. The government of North Korea has allowed WFP to place more international aid workers on the ground for this expansion.
- Also give thanks to God for the arrival of a U.S. shipment of wheat that will help with this food shortage. The U.S. is providing 500,000 tons of food to North Korea in a sign of improving cooperation. www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SEO9366.htm
Ivory Coast (Reuters AlertNet, IRIN news)
- Pray for children who are abducted and sold to organ traffickers who harvest body parts for sale to medical facilities and soothsayers. During election times, traditional myths, like human sacrifices and other rituals using children’s organs, are used to improve politicians’ chances of winning the election.
- Pray for children who are trafficked into prostitution, illegal adoption rings or to work on plantations.
- Pray for an increased awareness of trafficking and child abductions. Between 60 to 90 cases of child disappearances are registered every month. Pray that governments, organizations, parents and families will work to end this devastating and hideous practice. www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/b064f5fe27582f8834867f5001cebab5.htm
