December First Saturday Prayer

 State of Washington Anti-trafficking Engagement Day

Training and Advocacy Day Monday, December 6, 2010

The South Puget Sound Chapter is participating in the State of Washington Anti-trafficking Engagement Day on January 13,2011.  In preparation for that day, there is a gathering in Olympia on Monday, December 6, 2010 of a delegation of representatives from 16 organizations who will be presenting the anti-trafficking legislative proposals and request to legislators and advocating for their support. 

Information: Washington Anti-Trafficking Engagement Day Legislative Proposals and Request
I. (Top Priority) A Victim-Centered Approach to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Police Investigation

We seek to provide an exemption to the current two-party consent privacy act for CSEC police investigation in WA State so as to further protect and prevent re-victimization of CSEC victims.

Reason for this exemption request:
When a police officer finds an alleged CSEC victim, the priority is to protect the victim. The second priority is to obtain incriminating evidence of the trafficker (her pimp), but there is only a window of about 30 minutes to accomplish this goal. The best incriminating evidence against the trafficker is to record the phone conversation or the text message between the victim and the trafficker after an alleged act of prostitution. Currently this recording is prohibited by the state’s privacy law under RCW 9.73.

Due to current limitations from the State, then, the police officer has to re-victimize the child by sending her back to the trafficker to obtain incriminating evidence, or risks letting the trafficker go to prey on another victim. Therefore, we propose an exemption similar to what the current law permits for drug trafficking under RCW 9.73.230 for CSEC investigation under RCW 9.68A.100-103.)

Benefits of this exemption
• Immediate protection to the victim.
• Provide incriminating evidence against the trafficker (sex trafficking does not have objective evidence to support a conviction like finding cocaine for drug trafficking charges, so recording a CSEC victim’s conversation with a trafficker provides evidence acceptable in a court of law.
• Provide justice to the victim.
• Prevent further victimization of other children.
• Enable implementation of a standardized victim-centered approach to CSEC investigation.
• Relief to victims because the recording minimizes the need for prosecutors to question victims multiple times even before trials.
• Increase in conviction of traffickers because recording provides hard evidence against traffickers.

Questions or potential objections to this exemption request:
• Does the exemption violate the Constitution?
No. Only 12 out of the 50 states have similar two-party consent recording requirements, and our State is one of them. In fact, federal law enforcement in our State can record such this type of evidence upon approval while a local police is completely prohibited to do so under our current law. (CA, CT, FL, IL, MD, MA, MI, MT, NV, NH, PA) http://www.rcfp.org/taping/states.html
• Is the exemption unprecedented?
No. Our Privacy Act under RCW 9.73 provides exemptions under four circumstances.
o For national security. RCW 9.73.050.
o Common carrier (telephone services) and emergency personnel exemptions. RCW 9.73.090-095.
o Drug trafficking investigation for the sole purpose of law enforcement’s safety, but it cannot be used as evidence in court. RCW 9.73.200-210.
o Drug trafficking investigation with the authorization of the jurisdiction’s chief law enforcement officer or the designee. Judicial review of the authorization is required, and the recording can be used in judicial proceedings. RCW 9.73.230.
• Will the exemption deprive us further of our liberty?
No. The exemption requires stringent review of an independent magistrate that is similar to the warrant issuing process. Besides, the benefits for trafficking victims far outweigh this concern.
• What if the victim claims to be underage or the police make a mistake that the victim is underage, but is actually over 18 when the police apply the exemption to do the recording?
o The Legislature will have to decide the standard to apply if a mistake occurs, but the standard should be similar to the reasonable belief standard used in RCW 9.68A.100-103. Police’s good faith mistake is usually not a bar to using the recording as evidence.

II. Utilizing the HT hotline poster further in WA State?
Pass a resolution that all govt agencies, especially school and public facilities are encouraged to post the Human Trafficking Hotline poster at places of employment and/or public notice boards. (The poster is a joint effort of various government entities and non-governmental organizations.)

III. Host a Work Committee with business representatives in the Labor and Commerce Committee to explore the beginning of a business coalition against trafficking here in our State.

Reason - Establishing common understanding of the benefits of a slave-free Washington State and to be a launch pad of further cooperation and agreements of a win-win strategy. For example, “fair trade” labeling is already used by Starbucks and some other companies. The meeting will discuss how implementing anti-trafficking measures in employment policies and to promote a ‘slave-free’ environment will be rewarded by consumers because of the growing awareness.

Potential groups to invite: restaurant association, massage business groups, hotel industry, farming, tavern business, Microsoft, Alaska airline, Nordstrom, etc.

IV. Add Human Trafficking into the definition of the Criminal Profiteering Act (RCW 9A.82.010)
When the human trafficking criminal statute was passed, the Legislature intended to grant human trafficking victims a private right of action to claim damage from traffickers even when the conviction is pending. (Bill Report of SB 1175 in 2003) This intent, however, was omitted in the session law of SB 1175 and is still not in the current RCW. The Legislature needs to add this back and permit retroactivity for human trafficking victims as it permits victims claim damage from traffickers. It should also be referenced in the Human Trafficking statute in RCW 9A.40.100.

Information: Legislators:
The delegation have meetings scheduled with five senators on Monday, December 6, 2010. Senator Adam Kline is extremely influential in regard to this proposed bill because he could be the bill's main opposition.  He's a former ACLU attorney and sits as the chair of the Judiciary Committee, this means if he kills the bill, it won't go any further. The other senators that the delegation will meet with include Kohl-Welles (D), Stevens (R), Hargroves (D) and Delvin (R).

Information: 16 Organizations Represented

• Western Washington Coalition Against Human Trafficking
• The Genesis Project
• UW Against Slavery
• University Presbyterian Church Human Trafficking Task Force
• Seattle Against Slavery
• Soroptomist Northwest
• Shared Hope International
• New Horizons Ministries
• Ballarmine Preparatory School
• Women of Vision South Puget Sound Chapter
• International Justice Mission
• Zonta of South Sound
• Zonta of Olympia
• Seattle Prayer Against Slavery Movement
• Not For Sale Campaign
• Washington Anti-Trafficking Engagement

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of Jesus and ask that you would be honored and glorified next Monday at the Capitol as this delegation arrives to advocate on behalf of the victims of human trafficking in our State.  We pray that as they meet with the legislators that You would give them wisdom, boldness and peace as they present these proposals.  Help them to speak clearly and articulate the essence of the proposals and requests in a way that the hearers would receive them.  Open doors that only You can open and close doors that You want closed surrounding these proposals and requests.  We cast down anything that sets itself up against You and your will in these proposals.

We pray that each of the senators would listen carefully to the plea of the delegates and that they would see the wisdom in making our State an unwelcome place for predators.  We ask specifically for Senator Adam Kline that You would open his eyes to the severity of the problem and make him amenable to this bill.  Thank You that he will not resist it, but rather that he will present it and encourage others to pass it.  Thank You that the other senators will receive these proposals and request with the willingness to present them as a bill.  Thank you that they will see that this is an opportunity to do right to those who have been so wronged.

Lord we pray for the victims of human trafficking in our State.  We ask that You would set them free.  That they would see a hotline poster and call the number given and that they would be rescued from the horrific inhumane circumstances that they are enslaved to never to return to them.  That these proposals and this request would become a bill and that the bill would be passed into law to protect them and rescue them.  Give them hope even now as we pray, Lord, in their darkness.  Bring them your Light, Jesus.  Soothe their souls with the healing balm of your love and mercy.  

We ask that your Holy Spirit would hover around all of the proceedings of the day and that your will and your way would be done.  In Jesus Name we pray. Amen

World Vision Hope Prayer Chain

 News-December 2010
The world that Jesus was born into could only be described as brutal. Life expectancies were low, the gap between the rich and the poor was massive, slavery was widespread, and human life had little value. Unfortunately, this is still the reality for millions of children around the world:

• 500 million to 1.5 billion children have been affected by violence.
• 15 million children have lost one or both parents due to AIDS.
• 4 million newborns die within the first month of life.
• More than a million children every year are trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation.
• One-third of infants in Sierra Leone don't receive routine immunizations.
• Almost 55 million children are underweight for their age in India.
• Approximately 1.1 million Mexican children under the age of 14 — the legal working age — are engaged in child labor.
• An estimated 1.5 million of Mozambique's 11 million children were orphans in 2008. (Source: World Vision and UNICEF'S "The State of the World's Children 2010.")

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior this month, let us remember Christ's deep love for children — and act as His hands and feet on their behalf.

Suggested prayer points
First week of December:
Pray for Aaron, 11, and his little sister, Marguerite, 9, who live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. They should be spending their days in school, learning history, math, and language. But since their father died two years ago, they must work beside their mother, Sylvie, digging gravel in a quarry to find rocks to sell. Sylvie also brings her 3-year-old daughter, Songa Songa, because there is no one at home to watch her. On a good day, the family earns the equivalent of about $2.20.

Ask God to open doors for Sylvie to obtain a microloan so that she can start a fish-selling business, which, if successful, would pay for the children's school fees. Pray that Aaron and Marguerite will one day achieve their dreams — Aaron to be a doctor, and Marguerite, a dressmaker.

Second week of December:
Pray for Mehak, 4, who lives in Pakistan. When floods surged toward her village in August, her father, Niaz, rushed the family to his mother-in-law's house — and then went back to try to save their belongings. Niaz hasn't been seen since. Mehak, living in a tent with her mother and siblings, doesn't understand where her father went or why she can't go home. She refused to eat and grew weaker by the day. "Mehak has lost her smile," says her mother. Then, World Vision opened a Child-Friendly Space in their camp. World Vision worker Afshan Mehtab managed to cheer up Mehak with a cartoon movie on his mobile phone, and now she enjoys painting, dramas, games, and playing with new friends.

Lift up Mehak and other children affected by the Pakistan floods who are mourning the loss of family members, and pray for their comfort and healing. Pray that children in other disaster zones around the world, like Haiti and Chile, would also receive the emotional support they need to recover.

Third week of December:
Pray for Rachida, 6, who is among the 7.8 million people in Niger, West Africa, to suffer from the food crisis. Rachida's family helplessly watched their food supply dwindle until they had nothing left to eat and nothing left to sell to buy food. Rachida was so hungry, she cried herself to sleep. She would flee from school and hide because she couldn't concentrate on her lessons. But recently, Rachida and her family received maize and beans from the World Food Programme and World Vision, and the girl is beginning to recover from malnutrition.

Ask God to continue to heal and strengthen Rachida, and pray for the end of drought and renewal of her family's farmland. Ask God to bless the efforts of the World Vision Niger staff members as they work to save millions of lives threatened by famine.

Fourth week of December:
Pray for 8-year-old Robert, a bright, happy second-grader living in Romania who has cerebral palsy. With the help of World Vision's program providing education access for children with disabilities, he is one of 35 children integrated into a regular public school. His teacher says, "It is not easy to be different from other children, but Robert compensates through his attitude and will. Because of his disability, he cannot write by himself, but he is very good at reading and adding numbers." Robert also participates in twice-weekly occupational therapy activities provided through World Vision's program, which have helped him overcome his shyness to become a sociable, active boy.

Praise God for Robert, who, like the Apostle Paul, has learned to be content, no matter what. Thank God for guiding you through the difficulties in your own life, and ask Him to give you faith, strength, and joy like Robert's.

CHILD PROTECTION COMPACT ACT

Your Prayers are needed Today!

From Beth Yeager, Women of Vision Headquarters
In the midst of our Thanksgiving, would you be willing to pray on behalf of the millions of children, women and men trapped in modern day slavery? Will you advocate for them?

We are at the 11th hour to bring the CPCA bill to a Senate vote. It is currently being held up by Senators Jim DeMint (SC)and Dr. Tom Coburn (OK) over issues of funding. They are respectively Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee. Until the recent election, there was no opposition.

The Congressional Budget Office report says the CPCA will only cost $1 million to implement in FY11 with more than enough funding to carry out the first year of the CPCA provisions and possibly enough to cover 3-5 years. It should be budget neutral.

World Vision volunteers and staff are working behind the scenes to relay the importance of passing this bill. Please pray that these senators, who are rightfully concerned about budget deficits, will not stand in the way of good work to end end modern day slavery.

Lord hear our prayers!

Child Protection Compact Act FAQ
Rebuttals to Arguments (Possible concerns of Sen. DeMint)
1. Is this bill duplicative of other laws like the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act?
*No. This bill is directly complementary to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008. The CPCA adds a crucial tool to U.S. policies against slavery and will allow the TIP office the flexibility to engage these countries in the manner deemed most effective by the TIP office.

2. Can't we just wait next year and include this bill in the next Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act that is set to be introduced in the next Congress?
*Passing the bill now is the easiest and best course of action. It is an easy win in the fight against slavery and the "fight" can be further strengthened by the TVPA reauthorization process next year.

3. Doesn't this bill cost too much?
*No. This is a very modest measure that has a high rate of return. The State Department Trafficking in Persons office (TIP) has been an excellent steward of its U.S. foreign assistance funds over the past seven years. However, the TIP office's modest resources are no match for the growth in child exploitation - a crime that brought in $32 billion for human traffickers last year.

About the CPCA Bill
Child Protection Compact Act (CPCA) Senate Bill (S3184)
This bill will provide targeted resources to countries that have shown the political will to combat human trafficking but lack the resources and capacity to enforce that will. The CPCA expresses a Sense of Congress that $30 million be appropriated over three years for the State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Office to support targeted investments in eligible "focus countries" that have demonstrated a commitment to tackle the problem but lack necessary resources and technical skill.

An important feature of the bill is the requirement that focus countries enter into a "Child Protection Compact" with the United States that sets quantifiable goals for protecting children and deterring crime. The US is considered the international leader in the fight against slavery and this legislation adds a crucial tool to US policies in that fight.

SPS Chapter Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before you in the Name of Jesus asking that you would move on the hearts of Senators Jim DeMint (SC)and Dr. Tom Coburn (OK) and that they would have compassion on the victims of human trafficking which would override their logic and concern for funding.  Give them a glimpse of the atrocities that surround this degrading practice somewhere in their day today.  Let them encounter first had evidence of the need for prevention of this crime against humanity.  Give them a visual imagine in their minds of their own children and grandchildren and what they would do to prevent this from happening to one of them.  Let this visual image be a way into their hearts that would turn them away from their current questioning to a definitive "Yes!" for the passage of this bill.  Let them have clear answers to any of their questions that would prove to them that this bill is necessary and imperative.  Thank you for opening the doors for the passage of the Child Protection Compact Act.

In Jesus Name we pray. Amen

Urgent Prayer for Leadership Member

Please pray for Jamie, our Partnership Chair, as her in-laws were both in a serious car accident on Friday evening and are both in intensive care at a local hospital. All that we know at this time is that her father-in-law was in surgery for a neck injury and may have had a seizure while driving which caused the multiple-car accident. Her mother-in-law has broken ribs and other injuries. Jamie emailed that as of today, this situation is a "story of miracles".

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father
We come before you in the Name of Jesus on behalf of Jamie and her family praising you for the miracles in this accident.  We praise You that You are the God if miracles and thank you for your mercy in the lives of these loved ones. We ask that You would continue to give the doctors and nursing staff wisdom as they care for them and that they would bring a gentle and caring touch and be Your Hands extending to them bathed in love.  Please take away fear and uncertainty and replace it with boldness and courage in knowing that You have not forgotten nor forsaken them.  May they feel Your presence even now and continue to know that You are with them.

We pray for their family members and ask that You would comfort them, give them wisdom and grant them peace during these stressful and overwhelming circumstances. May they too find comfort in You and may they trust You during these unsteady times. May the grandchildren especially not be worried or scared, but see You in the miracles around their grandparents.

Lord, we know that this comes as no surprise to You and that even before the accident that You had a plan for these injured for good and not for calamity that gives them a future and a  hope. We trust that this circumstance like all of life's circumstances, were sifted through Your Hands before they befell them.  We do not presume to understand how this situation is working for the good in the tapestry of these lives but we trust You. Be their all-in-all dear Lord and we will give You all of the praise and all of the glory for the miracles to come.

In Jesus Name we pray. Amen

Prayer for Leadership Gathering

Leadership Gathering

November 12-13, 2010

Leaders from the various Women of Vision national chapters will be arriving within the next few days to gather together. This will be a valuable meeting for both our established and emerging WOV leaders.  The leaders will be able to connect with each other, receive training, and become inspired.

Possible Prayer Points

• Pray that God would be glorified in all that is said and done at the gathering
• Pray that what happens in this 48 hour window will result in making a didfference in the lives of marginalized and poor women and children locally, nationally and globally.
• Pray for the National Team as they tend to last minute details for strength, stamina, and  encouragement
• Pray for all the details at the Clarion Hotel to be taken care of so that WOV guests have a blessed stay 
• Pray for safe travels for everyone without delays and that luggage arrives on time. 

First Saturday Prayer

             

World Vision Hope Prayer Chain

News — November 2010

In New Testament times, when people heard that Jesus was coming to town, they did everything they could to get their sick loved ones to Him. They knew He had compassion and the ability to heal. More than 2,000 years later, children and families living in poverty still suffer from diseases:

The estimated number of people living with AIDS and HIV is nearly 40 million, more than the entire population of Canada.

Around the world, 8.8 million children die each year before their fifth birthday. The majority of these deaths are from preventable conditions such as birth complications, pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and measles.

Worldwide, malaria kills more than 2,000 children every day.

Jesus' compassion is still with the sick and suffering. And as Christ's followers, we can pray for healing and fullness of life.

Suggested prayer points
This month, prepare for World AIDS Day (Dec. 1) by joining us in prayer about some of the most critical issues of global health—specifically HIV and AIDS, malaria, and maternal and child health.

Pray that we would see those who suffer the way God does-as His precious children. The number of those affected by HIV and AIDS is so big that it can be mind—numbing. But Scripture tells us that God knows every hair on the head of every one of those people. Thank God for His boundless love, and ask Him to give you a heart that prompts action for the sick.

Pray for angels of protection. The number of children orphaned by AIDS is soon expected to pass 20 million, according to the United Nations. Without their parents to protect them, these children are at extreme risk for malnutrition, exploitation, and physical and sexual abuse. Ask God to surround them with angels of protection and guide them to loving caregivers they can trust.

Praise God for medical researchers. Thank Him for their knowledge, their commitment of resources, and their tireless dedication to develop inexpensive antiretroviral therapies for those living with HIV. Ask God to guide and sustain the dedicated healthcare workers who get these life—saving drugs to people in remote villages.

Ask God to end the injustice of malaria. Malaria was eradicated in the United States 60 years ago, but it is still one of the leading causes of death for children under 5 in the developing world. It primarily affects the poorest people, who tend to live in malaria—prone areas and lack access to prevention and treatment tools. Ask God to ease their suffering as they battle the disease. Thank Him for the 77,000 World Vision—trained volunteer caregivers who assist with malaria interventions in 62 malaria—endemic countries.

Thank God for the miracle of birth. The psalmists tell us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by our loving God, who knows us even when we're in our mother's womb. Ask Him to give wisdom to the midwives and childbirth attendants in developing nations who bring babies into the world every day, usually without the medications and technology that save mothers' and infants' lives every day in the developed world.

Learn more:
Child health: Visit ChildHealthNow.org to learn more about World Vision's global efforts to end preventable child deaths. While there, add your name to the Child Health Now petition and tell President Obama that 24,000 preventable child deaths a day is unacceptable.

AIDS: Take a virtual journey into the lives of real people affected by the pandemic in Africa through the interactive site, World Vision Experience: AIDS. Or get involved in assembling Caregiver Kits, a hands—on way to show the unconditional love of Christ by providing a year's worth of materials to equip a volunteer AIDS caregiver.

Malaria: Watch a video, Africa's Deadliest Predator, about the heartbreaking experiences of children in Mozambique suffering from malaria. Learn more about malaria and find many ways to mobilize others to action through World Vision's ACT:S to End Malaria site.

                                                                         

Prayer for Team Mali

Lynn and Safi

Lynn, one of our South Puget Sound Leadership Team members, sent back some amazing pictures from the Mali trip. Here is a picture of her hand and the hand of her sponsored child, Safi. What a beautiful depiction of grace as Lynn holds this twelve year old African child's hand in hers, reaching across continents and cultures to bring the love of Jesus. 

Prayer: 

Remember to pray for Team Mali as they return back to Paris today. Ask the Lord for traveling mercies as they each make their way back to the U.S. on separate flights over the following days. Ask the Lord to use the experiences that this Team has had together as a testimony to what a difference one life can make in another life, not only because the Team has made a difference in the lives' of the villagers, but because the villagers have made a difference in the lives' of the Team members. Let the good news of God's love and grace be shared by both the Team and the villagers as a result of their lives intermingling.  

Prayer for Team Mali

Dancing Village People

Lynn, our South Puget Sound Chapter member of Team Mali, writes about the above picture: 
"Village people dancing along behind us after greeting us with a royal reception. About 500-600 in this village, where all the kids go to school and they have water."

 

Let's remember Team Mali today as they are into day five of their ten day trip.  Below are two of the requests that Lynn posted previously on our blog :

• Pray for the hearts of the women on this trip, that they will be broken but not crushed.
• Pray that this team can give and receive joy with the dear women, children, and staff in Mali with whom they come in contact, and, that sensitivity and understanding in this Muslim culture will occur.

 

 

 

 

Prayer for Team Mali

Team Mali

Pray for Team Mali today as they depart from Paris for Mali.  Pray for safety on ground travel. The team routes and debriefs in Paris, where terror threats have been high in recent weeks so the team will not use the underground transportation systems. Also, ground travel in Africa can be quite treacherous so pray for their drivers.

Pray for strength, stamina and unity for the team of ladies who have come from around the US to travel together to learn about World Vision water projects and transformational developments.

Remember this team over the next ten days.

Praise for Team Mongolia's Safe Return Home

Our very own Patty in Mongolia

                                                                                             

Praise for Answered Prayers
Thank you for praying for our Team Mongolia.  They have returned safely, except for Sandy who is still traveling.  God blessed them with an incredible journey that touched their hearts as they touched the hearts of others.

October 18, 2010
The camels started howling (or whatever camels do) yesterday when we climbed aboard, but they eventually cooperated and lumbered across the plain to give us another taste of the nomadic life. When I asked the Mongolian herder to make them stop so I could take a picture of Kay behind me (we rode in two's), he handed me the reigns to both our camels and offered to take the photo for me. Well, we've never been trusted to guide our own camels before! We don't speak their language. I threw Kay her own reigns not wanting to be responsible for both of us, and as I feared they took advantage of us and decided to make a bee line to home. We tried every Mongolian word we know (all two of them!) and tried our English as well, but to no avail. In the end we laughed and enjoyed the bumpy trotting journey, feeling free and out of control -- actually a good metaphor for a vision trip in general.

That was our morning in Mongolia yesterday. In the evening we joined Cornerstone Church for worship. It was an international church, and we enjoyed singing familiar hymns in our own language. Marilee was the guest speaker and she was amazing. She has her father's gift. Many people were very touched by her message, including myself. This morning she will speak again in World Vision's chapel time.

We've had an amazing week here in Mongolia. We give such thanks and appreciation to the very dear World Vision staff who have sacrificed time with their families to spend time with us.
This is our last day here and we are sad to say good-by to our Mongolian friends, but we are excited to see all of you again.

Thanks for your prayers. We have felt them.
Sandy

Find more pictures from the trip here within the next few days.

Prayer for Team Mali

 

 Team Mali

 One of our Chapter leaders, Lynn A., will depart today for a Vision Trip to Mali, Africa. Eight women will spend 10 days together - all of them Women of Vision chapter members - from around the country. This trip is being led by Angela Mason, Senior Advisor for Women of Vision.

The focus of the trip is to view water projects, and to visit villages in various stages of the transformational development process.

Highlights of the trip will include:
•Visits with sponsored children, one of whom is Lynn's child - 12 year old Safi
•Meeting with several groups of women, some of whom are shea butter or soap makers
•Visiting several water boreholes, with at least one doing live drilling
•Hearing / seeing the challenges of children with trachoma, malaria and parasites, including a visit to a school for blind children



Please Pray as follows:

•Safety in flight. Each member of the team travels independently to France, some leaving on October 19th, and others on October 20th. They fly from France to Mali on October 22nd, and back to Paris on October 29th - and each make their way back to the U.S. on separate flights over the following days.

•Safety on ground travel. The team routes and debriefs in Paris, where terror threats have been high in recent weeks. The team will not use the underground transportation systems. Also, ground travel in Africa can be quite treacherous so pray for their drivers.

•Pray for the hearts of the women on this trip, that they will be broken but not crushed.

•Pray that this team can give and receive joy with the dear women, children, and staff in Mali with whom they come in contact, and, that sensitivity and understanding in this Muslim culture will occur.

Prayer for Team Mongolia

Team Mongolia

October 16, 2010

Greetings from Mongolia,

Spending a night in a ger has connected us with the Mongolian people in a way nothing else can. The vast countryside, the big blue sky, the amazing stars, the warmth of a blazing fire inside a cozy ger -- all of this is exactly the same as it was for these nomadic people a thousand years ago. Some things have not changed. We return with a deeper understanding and compassion for the challenging life here.

Back in the city today, we were treated to a concert by The Children of the Blue Sky Choir. These 30 children are all part of World Vision's programs, and they have changed the way everyone here feels about the potential of "street kids". Their performance was enchanting. We smiled all the way through, with a few tears in our eyes -- happy tears for the lives moving forward after overcoming such incredible challenges.

A group of university students met with us later this afternoon and filled us with hope as they shared their hearts for helping the children of their country. They are a group started by World Vision to build leadership in young people of all ages.

Thanks for following our story!
Sandy

Sunday the 17th they will attend a church service; Monday the 18th spend time with WV Mongolia staff before they depart for home, stopping overnight in Korea enroute. Arrive back in Seattle Tuesday, October 19.

Prayer
Pray that the ladies will continue with stamina and good health and that things here at home are going well for each of their families.  Pray that as they travel that they will be a blessing to each other and to those that they meet and that God will use them mightily to spread His Good News.  Thank the Lord for this incredible trip for these women!  Ask Him to bless their travels as they return to Korea and then on to home.

Action Step
 Read emails at http://www.cwwov.org/projects/72-2007-mongolia-trip-report.html

Prayer for Team Mongolia

 Team Mongolia

October 14, 2010

Hi Friends,
Today felt like a week -- we saw and experienced so many wonders in this beautiful country. After making time after breakfast to start our day with devotions and prayer, we journeyed out of the city, past the poor ger neighborhoods, and into a new phenom here in UB -- single family housing development Mongolia style! Many people are choosing to move out of the city because of a growing air pollution problem. It was a lovely area with forested hillsides and new houses of assorted styles and sizes. We were just pointing out our window to say "Look at that beautiful home," when we turned into its drive and arrived at World Vision's Light House for children ages 2 to 6. The 4-story brick mansion was built by a Korean church and is run by World Vision. The "Rodem House" serves children who have been found in the city and have no family that can take care of them at this time. They were adorable. They greeted us with singing and dancing. We've never seen a more charming performance.

From there we traveled back to the city and toured the government detention center where men and women and children charged with breaking the law are held waiting for a court date. World Vision is working with the children there to assure their rights and situation as children are considered. As Debi mentioned yesterday, wherever WV is serving the children are showered with love and nurturing care. After touring the facility and meeting some of the boys, we had lunch there in the staff dining room with the director of the detention center and a time to ask him questions.

From there, we had the special opportunity to have lunch (again!) with the World Vision Mongolia country director, Vince Edwards and another new staff person Diana. Vince arrived here 8 weeks ago from his last placement in Bangladesh. We were impressed with his heart for kids and his new home. We are sure he is going to do a great job.

From there we visited a an informal education program. This was a program started by World Vision to help dropouts catch up in school. Now the government is carrying this work forward. World Vision is only involved in helping with providing some supplies and training. We applaud this as great progress as the government is growing and able to take on more and more of the development work themselves.

A few days ago we asked about a new WV project here addressing human trafficking. The WV staff responded to our interest by arranging a meeting for us with the Mongolian Police Agency who shared their program with us and told us stories of how they are using a new network to rescue girls and boys before they are trapped. We were very encouraged with their efforts.

And if that weren't enough of a day, we enjoyed a performance of traditional Mongolian dance, throat singing, music, and contortions -- all with beautiful costumes. And the WV staff, knowing we wanted to do a little shopping took us to the State Dept. Store. Back at the hotel at 7:30, exhausted, we have just finished dinner.

Whew! Quite a day.. If there was a theme for the day -- it would be transformation and trust. World Vision's work is transforming the landscape here, especially the lives of the children. At the same time World Vision is gaining the trust of the community and the government, which is opening doors to do more and more transformational work.

Every place we go, we tell those we meet that we are representing many women and friends back home who pray for and support their work. They ask us to extend their gratitude to you.

Good night from Mongolia,
Sandy

Prayer

Ask the Lord to strengthen the ladies after a wonderfully exhausting day! Praise Him that they are able to see first hand the incredible work of World Vision.  Remember to pray for the staff in Mongolia that God would bless them with wisdom, encouragement and joy.  Ask Him to continue to go before the ladies and keep them in His care.

Update and Prayer for Team Mongolia

Team Mongolia

Here is an email that we received from the team written on October 11, 2010.

Dear friends,

In this prosperous city of 11 million people we have had the unique opportunity to celebrate the dramatic transformation that has taken place during the past 60 years here since the end of the war and the beginning of World Vision. South Korea is indeed World Vision's most impressive success story. For 40 years they received support from World Vision and others to rebuild their country. During the past 20 years, they have grown to become one of the strongest donor countries in the WV family. However, their hearts are heavy for their friends and family in North Korea who still suffer in poverty, and they urge all of us to remember to pray for the children and families there and to use our advocacy efforts to bring change.

We met this morning with a group of women from many different churches in Seoul and the surrounding areas who were interested in learning more about Women of Vision. They were curious about who we are, what we do, and how we do it. It was a wonderful 2 hours of sharing. They ended by expressing their desire to continue the exchange. We met some fabulous women -- we know they will be amazing women of vision..

This afternoon was "the big celebration" of World Vision's 60 years. The program was a line-up of interesting reflections and enthusiastic congratulations -- looking back and looking forward. A highlight was an outstanding performance by the Korean Children's Choir. The hospitality we have received from the World Vision Korea staff has been remarkable. I feel like I'm an impostor -- taking the place of someone very important! We've met World Vision staff from Albania, Malaysia, India -- and many more countries. Each one has such an interesting story. This experience has been so much richer than I ever imagined.

We are packing this evening and will fly to Mongolia tomorrow evening. Our next update will come from the land of the Blue Sky!
Sandy

Today they arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. They will spend the next four days visiting various children centers where children in crisis are being cared for in various ways.

Prayer

Praise the Lord for His Hand being upon them and giving them safe travels, exhilarating experiences and opportunities to minister to others in His Name.

Pray for continued safety and that they will bring hope to these children in the various centers where they will visit.  Ask the Lord to to bless them with health and strength for the journey.  Pray that all is well in each of their homes as they are away.

Urgent Prayer for Cindy Breilh, WOV Director

This morning, Cindy Brielh's mother went home to be with the Lord. Her passing was unexpected. We ask that all join us in a few moments of prayer for our Cindy, our Director, our friend, our confidant, our leader, our sister, our fellow servant to the poor.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of Jesus. We praise You that this is the day that You have made and we rejoice in Your plan for today.  We thank You that today was the day that Cindy's mom was carried up into your bosom and that she is dancing in Your presence.  We praise You that nothing is a surprise to You and that her home going was part of Your perfect plan for her life.

We are shocked at the suddenness of of her leaving and can only imagine the grief that Cindy and her loved ones are experiencing.  Our comfort is in knowing that You are with them. We praise you that You are comforting Cindy and her family this very second.  That You have sent ministering angels to tend to their needs. 

We thank You that You never grow tired or weary and that Your understanding into these circumstances we cannot fathom.  We thank You that You are giving strength to Cindy in her weariness and increasing her power as she feels weak. We know that her hope is in You, Lord, and that because she hopes in You that You will renew her strength.  We praise You that she will soar on wings like eagles during these days and that she will run as she must during this time of grieving and not grow weary.  We praise You that she will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31).

Thank You for giving Cindy freedom to be herself during this time. Give her freedom in You to do what she needs to do and be who she needs to be to process these matters for as long as she must.

We praise You that You will turn her mourning into joy.  Only You, Jesus, can bring joy from mourning; we acknowledge that it is impossible with us.  Our prayer for Cindy is that she will find Your joy, and Your peace that passes all human understanding throughout these painful days. We praise You that You will bless her with sleep in the night and Your guiding Light in the day.

Be her ALL in ALL, Lord as she not only faces her mother's sudden death, but her brother's cancer diagnosis and her son's deployment to Afghanistan in two weeks. We ask that Your healing Hand would be upon her brother and that Your warring and ministering angels will surround her son with a hedge of protection as he goes to war.

These circumstances are beyond what we can bear were it not for Your promise that You will not give more then we can bear. We praise You for the grace that You are pouring down on Cindy and her family during these difficult days.  We are staggered by these circumstances even from afar, yet we trust You and know that Cindy trusts You and hopes in Your unfailing love.

We know not how to pray so we ask You, Jesus, to intercede on Cindy's behalf to the Father.

We cry out in the Name of Jesus. Amen

A Moment of Silence:
Please stop and spend one to five minutes in silence remembering Cindy and her family.

Prayers Answered

Team Mongolia

God has answered our prayers and given our Team Mongolia safe travels as well as blessings as they arrive.  Please remember our ladies today in prayer.  Below is our first email from Sandy, one of the ladies on the team.

Hello friends,

We arrived safely in Seoul and were graciously greeted by the local World Vision Korea staff, including the country director Sam Park. We've had two good nights sleep and are starting to feel "normal" again.

Each year Korea celebrates World Vision Family Days, an event to honor the thousands of Koreans who sponsor children around the world. Last night we were in the second row for a televised program from a large stadium featuring many famous performing stars, donating their time and talent to put on a wonderful show. There was old film footage shown with World Vision founder Bob Pierce in his early days here in Korea. It is very special for us to be here with Bob's daughter Marilee and her family and enjoy how touching this is for them. Marilee and her husband and daughter were invited on stage last night to greet the audience. She did a great job.

Today we're off to church and some sightseeing. The weather is unseasonably warm -- which is very nice except that these Mongolia-bound travelers packed for much colder weather. But we're not complaining :)

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I wish you could all be here with us.

Love,
Sandy

Prayer for Team Mongolia

Mongolia Team

Today our lovely Mongolia Team ladies are be in Seoul, Korea at the Seoul Garden Hotel. After breakfast the group will go shopping and then visit the Royal Palace to watch the changing of the guard. In the afternoon, they will join Marilee Pierce-Dunker, daughter of World Vision founder Bob Pierce, and watch the taping of a special TV program for World Vision Korea on their 60th Anniversary and WV Korea's award of the very prestigious Ho-Am award for their humanitarian work in many countries. Marilee will speak at these celebrations. They will also be spending time with WV Korea staff and meeting with a Christian Women's Group interested in starting a WOV chapter.

On Sunday the 10th in the morning, they will attend services at Kwang Lim Methodist Church, then travel to visit Prayer Mountain for special time of quiet time and individual prayer.

On Monday the 11th they will attend WV Korea Staff chapel and depart for Mongolia.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before you in the Name of Jesus, honored and blessed to be your children. We count it a privilege to lift up our sisters on the Women of Vision Mongolia Team as they travel as Your ambassadors to Korea and Mongolia. Lord, thank you that they have lovely accommodations at the Seoul Garden Hotel and that their shopping today was fun for them. Thank You for giving them the opportunity to be Light where ever they encounter darkness.

Bless them as they join Marilee for the taping of the TV program celebrating the 60th Anniversary of World Vision Korea!  Lord we ask that you would go before, behind and surround all of the activities of this event with Your Hand of protection and Your Spirit of Peace.  May Your Good News be proclaimed through this TV program.  May more of the lost be found and may others seek to minister to the poor and marginalized in Korea and the World as a result of seeing this program.  Anoint Marilee and give her wisdom, strength and stamina to be all that You want her to be for this time.

May these ladies on our team be a great encouragement to the World Vision Korea staff and may the staff be an encouragement to these women when they meet together.  Let them feel one in Your Spirit.  Lord, we are so excited to think that we may have a Women of Vision Chapter in Seoul, Korea!  Let it be so Lord!  Let it be the beginning of many global Chapters.

Bless our team at the Kwang Lim Methodist Church on Sunday and give them opportunities to tell of You and Your goodness here in America. May they be an encouragement to the congregation.  Bless our team as they are at the Prayer Mountain with a touch of You that will be life changing for them.

Let them feel your presence as they attend chapel with WV Korea on Monday.  We ask that the staff would pray over them and lay hands on them as they prepare for Mongolia.  May our team be blessed as they partake in their first day of collective devotionals focusing on Revelation 21:5  "And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold I make all things new”.

In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Prayer for Team Mongolia

Team Mongolia
The key verse for this trip is Revelation 21:5:
And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold I make all things new”.

Today is the day that our Mongolia Team leaves for their mission trip.  The Portland ladies arrive this morning at 10:15-10:30 at the Portland Airport.  They are hoping to have a few ladies come and pray for them.  Their flight (Horizon Air to SeaTac) departs at 11:30 am. they are asking for us to pray around 10:30 before they head to Security lines.

They join the Greater Seattle members of the team and depart tomorrow for Seoul, Korea October 8.

Prayer
Pray for the ladies at 10:30 as they prepare to depart today.  Pray that others will join them at the airport to send them off with prayer.  Pray for the team as they fly out of SeaTac that the Lord will go before them and place them in seats for their flights where they are ministered to and have the opportunity to minister.  Thank they Lord that they will travel without incident and that their luggage will arrive with them in Seoul.  Ask Him to bless these ladies as they are giving so much of themselves during these days.  Ask that their families will be blessed while they are gone and that things will go smoothly at each of their homes.  Thank God that He will indeed make all things new in His creative way that will bring honor and glory to His Name as a result of this trip. 

Seven Ways to Pray

 

Seven Ways to Pray
from A Quarterly Newsletter for Friends of World Vision


1. Bath Time = Clean Water » Nearly 1.1 billion people are without access to clean water —that’s more than the combined populations of North America and the European Union. Without access to clean drinking water, children are at a much higher risk for life-threatening diseases like diarrhea, intestinal worms, and cholera.

2. Off to Work = Child Labor » The U.S. national minimum wage is $5.85 per hour. Many children worldwide earn less than $1 a day, if they are even paid at all. About 176 million children work in ways that are likely to harm their health, safety, or moral development.

3. Lunch Time = Hungry Kids » McDonald’s serves 47 million people worldwide each day. Nearly three times that number of children go hungry, leaving them undernourished, vulnerable to disease, and prone to stunted growth.

4. News Break = Education » There are twice as many children worldwide without education—93 million—as there are Americans who have a four-year college degree. Without education, these children are might wind up in menial jobs, struggling to provide for themselves and their families.

5. Heading Home = Displaced Children » The number of displaced people in the world is decreasing, but there are still an estimated 9.25 million children who have been forced to leave their homes by violence or disaster. That’s 2.5 times more children than there are homeless people in the United States.

6. Take a Vitamin = Medical Access » Every year, nearly 15 times more children die of readily preventable diseases than Americans who are killed by heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Many children lack access to health care simply because they are poor.

7. Bed Time = Orphans » There are more than twice the number of orphans in the world than children under age 15 in the U.S. The orphan prevalence rate is increasing in Africa, largely due to the AIDS pandemic.

Prayer for Team Mongolia

Team Mongolia  

Back row: Nancy Johns, Columbia-Willamette Chapte (CW)r; Patty Dalrymple, Greater Seattle (GS) and South Puget Sound Chapters; Kay Ortman, CW Chapter; Sandy Grubb,CW Chapter;Front row: LuAnn Yocky, CW Chapter; April Ruth, GS Chapter, Debi Green, GS Chapter.

Women from several Women of Vision Chapters, including our Patty from South Puget Sound, will be traveling this month to Mongolia for ministry opportunities.  We will be lifting them up in prayer as they email their requests to us. 

Here is a brief itinerary:
 Leave Thursday, October 7, arrive in Seoul October 8. October 9 through October 11 will be attending celebrations for the 60th anniversary of World Vision and WV Korea's award of the very prestigious Ho-Am award for their humanitarian work in many countries. Marilee Pierce Dunker will be with the team and will speak at these celebrations.

Saturday the 9th they will be spending time with WV Korea staff and meeting with a Christian Women's Group interested in starting a WOV chapter. Sunday the 10th attending a church service.

Monday the 11th attend WV Korea Staff chapel and depart for Mongolia

Tuesday, October 12 they arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. They will spend the next four days visiting various children centers where children in crisis are being cared for in various ways.

Sunday the 17th they will attend a church service; Monday the 18th spend time with WV Mongolia staff before they depart for home, stopping overnight in Korea en route. Arrive back in Seattle Tuesday, October 19.

Prayer
Ask the Lord to prepare the way for these women during their preparation days and send an angelic army before them to open doors and lead the way.  Ask the Lord to do a mighty work through these women of God as they travel giving them opportunities to share the Good News on planes and in terminals, on streets and in homes in churches and on the byways. Ask God to use them as His hands extended to the poor and marginalized that they will meet. Ask God to give them supernatural immune systems, strength and stamina.  Praise Him for the good report that will come from these courageous women.  Ask God to bless them for the sacrifices that they make to take this trip and to keep them safe in all of their affairs.

Action Step
Read updates at http://www.cwwov.org/projects/72-2007-mongolia-trip-report.html

First Saturday Prayer

 First Saturday Prayer

8:00-9:00 AM  

Pray with us in one of three ways:
1.  At Karen's home (directions? email womenofvisionsouthpugetsound@gmail.com)
2.  Via phone (number? email womenofvisionsouthpugetsound@gmail.com)
3.  Where you are

 Please bathe in prayer the following items relating to our Chapter for the month of October:

 Calendar Items:

• 10/02/10 First Saturday Prayer 8:00-9:00 AM Karen’s Home or via phone or anyplace
• 10/02/10 Speaker Event Portland Chapter: Bill Hillar author of “Taken”
• 10/09/10 Second Saturday Local Project: Network Tacoma
• 10/11/10 Fall-HOTM 1 First lesson Federal Way-Karen’s Home 7:00-8:30PM
• 10/16/10 Leadership Meeting Greener Bean 8:00-12:00
• 10/18/10 Fall-HOTM 1 Second lesson Federal Way-Karen’s Home 7:00-8:30PM
• 10/23/10 Fourth Saturday Local Project: Network Tacoma
• 10/24/10 Re-Entry Partnership Meeting Venue and time to be determined (TBD)
• 10/25/10 Fall-HOTM 1 Third lesson Federal Way-Karen’s Home 7:00-8:30PM
• 10/27/10 Fall-HOTM 2 First Lesson Puyallup-Nazarene Church 7:00-8:30 PM

 Mission Trip: Mongolia

Women from sevral Women of Vision Chapters, including our Patty from South Puget Sound, will be traveling this month to Mongolia for ministry opportunities. We will be lifting them up in prayer as they email their requests to us. The women are: Nancy Johns, Columbia-Willamette Chapte (CW); Patty Dalrymple, Greater Seattle (GS) and South Puget Sound Chapters; Kay Ortman, CW Chapter; Sandy Grubb,CW Chapter;LuAnn Yocky, CW Chapter; April Ruth, GS Chapter,  and Debi Green, GS Chapter.  Check our prayer bloghttp://wovspsprayers.blogspot.com beginning on 10/3/10 for updates.

Repeat of Women of Vision Prayer Points from World Vision Day of Prayer October 1, 2010
Pray for the needs of your sponsored children and chapter projects…
: For awareness of needs within your child’s community.
: For intentionality in getting to know your sponsored children.
: For courage to be an advocate for justice, at every opportunity.
: For opportunities to partner together in chapter projects (or to start a new chapter project). Visit our Projects page to explore new opportunities

Praise God for…
: The opportunities that will be presented to you throughout the year that will bring change to your sponsored communities.

Pray for our elected leaders…
: For wisdom for our leaders as they begin to make decisions about budget priorities.
: That bold action will be taken to provide the necessary investment to fund interventions that alleviate suffering.
: That policies and laws would be put into place that would promote the cause of the oppressed, both locally and globally.
: For leaders to seek God’s will above their own

Praise God for…
: The truth that His love and power reign supreme above world leaders

Pray for the hungry…
: For the children who die from hunger every day.
: For wisdom for government leaders who are seeking effective means to address the food crisis.
: For greater efforts to urge Congress to expand programs that address hunger, child nutrition, and agricultural development, to eradicate child hunger worldwide.
: For God’s guidance in showing us how we can help others to break the cycle of hunger

Praise God for…
: The food aid, agricultural training, nutrition education, and food protection resources made possible by World Vision donors from around the world

Pray for those suffering from HIV and AIDS…
: For the more than 15 million children orphaned and made vulnerable as a result of HIV and AIDS and that those in need would receive adequate care and support.
: For the millions of people living with HIV and AIDS who have been designated eligible to receive anti-retroviral drugs, but have not yet due to insufficient funds and delays

Pray that barriers would be removed so that they might receive treatment.
: That mothers who are HIV positive will be able to access the drugs and other measures necessary to help them prevent transmission of the virus to their unborn child or infant
: For the more than 77,000 caregivers that care for those suffering from HIV and AIDS in AIDS endemic countries

Praise God for…
: The AIDS prevention and care programs that serve the afflicted that World Vision staff,volunteers, and partners operate in more than 60 countries

Pray for children in slavery and bondage…
: For those children who are taken advantage of and suffer greatly ─ that they would be comforted.
: For those who would exploit or enslave others. Pray for a spiritual breakthrough so that they might release their captives and work to prevent the captivity of others.
: For the advocates around the world who are standing against child slavery
: Pray for the success of the CPCA (Child Protection Compact Act), legislation currently in U.S. Congress. This is one way the U.S. can help foreign governments to end the illegal sale of children for sex and slave labor. Read more on our Advocacy page:
: For those who work to help prevent children from falling into slavery and protect and restore those who have survived the ordeal

Praise God for…
: The many policies put into place over the years to protect children from exploitation and bondage: The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, The PROTECT Act, The Child Soldier Prevention Act

Pray for those suffering from malaria…
: That recent efforts focused on ending preventable deaths from malaria by 2015 will be achieved.
: That families threatened by malaria will receive insecticide-treated bed nets and other interventions that they need to protect their families from this killer disease.
: That in this difficult economic period, individuals and governments will still be able to respond with the financial resources needed to protect children and help end malaria (more than $6 billion a year).
: That we might see malaria eradicated in our lifetime

Praise God for…
: The extensive distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to malaria infected regions around the world, made possibly by World Vision donors.

October 1 World Vision Day of Prayer

 World Vision Day of Prayer

"For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them."

— Matthew 18:20 NIV

 The World Vision Day of Prayer is an annual event held on October 1. This is World Vision's first day of the new fiscal year and World Vision offices worldwide will close their doors for the day and gather together to worship, offer thanksgiving and pray for the coming year.

Each year World Vision has a theme for the Day of Prayer. This year it is "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" from Isaiah 9:6. Though we normally see this passage at Christmas to celebrate Jesus' birth, we view it as an incarnational verse: God living with us, His people. He came as a child who grew in stature and wisdom. World Vision seeks to mirror the incarnational work of Christ in our commitment to children, so that every child has an opportunity to grow in stature and wisdom.

We invite you to join 40,000 staff worldwide, in 97 countries, as we praise God, thank Him for His many blessings and ask for His continued grace and guidance as we serve in Christ's name.

Watch this video

Suggested Prayer Items:
Women of Vision Day of Prayer and Action Prayer Points

Pray for the needs of your sponsored children and chapter projects…
: For awareness of needs within your child’s community.
: For intentionality in getting to know your sponsored children.
: For courage to be an advocate for justice, at every opportunity.
: For opportunities to partner together in chapter projects (or to start a new chapter
project). Visit our Projects page to explore new opportunities:

Praise God for…
: The opportunities that will be presented to you throughout the year that will bring change to your sponsored communities.

Pray for our elected leaders…
: For wisdom for our leaders as they begin to make decisions about budget priorities.
: That bold action will be taken to provide the necessary investment to fund interventions that alleviate suffering.
: That policies and laws would be put into place that would promote the cause of the oppressed, both locally and globally.
: For leaders to seek God’s will above their own.

Praise God for…
: The truth that His love and power reign supreme above world leaders.

Pray for the hungry…
: For the children who die from hunger every day.
: For wisdom for government leaders who are seeking effective means to address the food crisis.
: For greater efforts to urge Congress to expand programs that address hunger, child nutrition, and agricultural development, to eradicate child hunger worldwide.
: For God’s guidance in showing us how we can help others to break the cycle of hunger.

Praise God for…
: The food aid, agricultural training, nutrition education, and food protection resources made possible by World Vision donors from around the world.

Pray for those suffering from HIV and AIDS…
: For the more than 15 million children orphaned and made vulnerable as a result of HIV and AIDS and that those in need would receive adequate care and support.
: For the millions of people living with HIV and AIDS who have been designated eligible to receive anti-retroviral drugs, but have not yet due to insufficient funds and delays.

Pray that barriers would be removed so that they might receive treatment.
: That mothers who are HIV positive will be able to access the drugs and other measures necessary to help them prevent transmission of the virus to their unborn child or infant.
: For the more than 77,000 caregivers that care for those suffering from HIV and AIDS in AIDS endemic countries.

Praise God for…
: The AIDS prevention and care programs that serve the afflicted that World Vision staff,volunteers, and partners operate in more than 60 countries.

Pray for children in slavery and bondage…

: For those children who are taken advantage of and suffer greatly ─ that they would be comforted.
: For those who would exploit or enslave others. Pray for a spiritual breakthrough so that they might release their captives and work to prevent the captivity of others.
: For the advocates around the world who are standing against child slavery.
: Pray for the success of the CPCA (Child Protection Compact Act), legislation currently in U.S. Congress. This is one way the U.S. can help foreign governments to end the illegal sale of children for sex and slave labor. Read more on our Advocacy page:
: For those who work to help prevent children from falling into slavery and protect and restore those who have survived the ordeal.

Praise God for…
: The many policies put into place over the years to protect children from exploitation and bondage: The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, The PROTECT Act, The Child Soldier Prevention Act.

Pray for those suffering from malaria…
: That recent efforts focused on ending preventable deaths from malaria by 2015 will be achieved.
: That families threatened by malaria will receive insecticide-treated bed nets and other interventions that they need to protect their families from this killer disease.
: That in this difficult economic period, individuals and governments will still be able to respond with the financial resources needed to protect children and help end malaria (more than $6 billion a year).
: That we might see malaria eradicated in our lifetime.

Praise God for…
: The extensive distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to malaria infected regions around the world, made possibly by World Vision donors.

OPTIONAL: As we focus our attention on justice issues around the world, it is important to remember that Jesus is the light of the world. As Christ’s followers, we reflect His light in a world where the darkness of poverty and injustice abound. Lighting candles is a great way to symbolize light dispelling darkness. As we begin this time of prayer, considering lighting candles in solidarity with Jesus’ call to reflect His light in our communities as we respond to
injustice.