Brazil
The
2014 FIFA World Cup begins this week in 12 host cities across Brazil. Organizations
like YWAM (Youth with a Mission) Belo Horizonte have been working hard for
months to raise awareness about the potential for increased sexual
exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children during the World Cup. Groups that work with vulnerable children fear the
massive influx of people attending World Cup events will cause the already-occurring
commercial sexual exploitation of children to skyrocket. They are also
concerned there may be demonstrations and protests against the government that
have the potential to become violent. A large percentage of Brazilians are dissatisfied
with their government spending so much money on World Cup stadiums instead of health
care and education. http://tinyurl.com/kajuvqa
·
Please be in
prayer for the YWAM Belo Horizonte teams and all the people joining them for awareness-raising
and evangelical events during the World Cup. Pray God will protect them and
keep them safe as they serve throughout Brazil.
·
Thanks be to God so
many young people from different churches are enthusiastic about YWAM Belo
Horizonte’s work and that more and more continue to join in it. Pray for their
safety during these events.
·
Please continue
to pray for the safety and protection of children at risk of sexual abuse in
Brazil, and especially those in the 12 World Cup host cities. Pray the
campaigns to raise awareness about this sexual exploitation of children will
continue to spread throughout Brazil and create a community alert to the abuse
and willing to stop it.
·
Continue to pray
for law enforcement officials and government authorities as they work to prevent
the abuse of children. Pray the focus will be on the arrest of those who abuse
children, from the pimps to the customers.
China
One-year-old Albert was born
with a very severe gastrointestinal defect and abandoned when he was 3 months
old. He was transferred into the care of New Day Foster Home in August 2013. In
April 2014, he had a liver transplant but has not completely recovered. Albert’s
new liver isn’t functioning the way surgeons had hoped and he may need another
liver transplant. http://tinyurl.com/me63s72 http://tinyurl.com/nnf3ajl
·
Please pray for a
miracle of healing for Albert. Pray his new liver will function properly and he
won’t have to undergo another liver transplant.
·
Pray for Albert’s
physicians and hospital staff as they care for him. Give thanks to God for the
New Day Foster Home nanny that stays with Albert the entire time he is in the
hospital. Pray God will sustain Albert’s nanny for this important work and
ministry.
Uganda
Seven-year-old Baraka is
unable to walk due to a medical condition and must be carried everywhere he
goes. His family lives in an upstairs apartment without an elevator, so his
mother or father must carry him up and down. Several weeks ago, Baraka’s
teacher was carrying him downstairs when she fell. Baraka suffered several
broken bones in the fall.
·
Please pray
Baraka’s injuries will heal correctly and completely. Pray for the teacher who
was carrying Baraka. Pray for his parents and brother as they provide care for
him. Give God thanks for the blessing of a lightweight, portable stroller for
Baraka—the mission team from First Presbyterian Church, Midland, Texas is
bringing it with them when they travel to Uganda this month.
Uganda, United States
·
Please keep the
mission team from First Presbyterian Church, Midland held close in prayer as
they travel and serve in Uganda on a mission trip. Pray for the local leaders
in Uganda who have helped coordinate this trip and who will continue the
follow-up work after the team leaves. Pray for the children and people of Uganda
with whom the team will come into contact during their time there.
Faces of Children
- Please keep Margaret close in prayer as this Faces of Children prayer partner recovers from knee surgery. Pray for her complete healing and recovery.
- Give thanks to God for the life of Louise Lang, the mother-in-law of Faces of Children prayer partner Karen Lang. Pray for Louise’s family and friends as they grieve the loss of this faithful servant of Christ.
