Prayer for 10K VisionFund Cambodia Fundraiser

Brenda's 10K for Cambodia

Brenda, a Co-Chair of our Chapter, is participating in a 10K run this morning to raise funds for our VisionFund Cambodia Project. Ask that God would bless her as she courageously runs this race with strong knees as she runs the hills of Tacoma, stamina to finish the race and blessings as she gives of herself in this way to be a blessing to others.  Pray that donors would respond and make needed gifts to help the poor children and women who have been marginalized in Cambodia.

For more information click this link, Donate to Cambodia.

Prayer for 10K VisionFund Cambodia Fundraiser

Brenda's 10K for Cambodia

Brenda, a Co-Chair of our Chapter, has been preparing for a 10K run to raise funds for our VisionFund Cambodia Project.  Read what Brenda has to say from her heart about Cambodia and about her run.

" Our group of women (Women of Vision) share the same desire (as World Vision) - to make the world a better place for women and children, especially those trapped in human trafficking and modern day slavery. I am particularly passionate about this issue since adopting Hope. As I watch her participate in TaeKwonDo, play her violin or work hard on a school project, I’m reminded how fortunate she is to be living in a safe place. If she had not been adopted, she would be living on the streets of China by age 13 and subject to sex trafficking and slavery. I just can’t imagine. . . .

Our Women of Vision team has committed to educating friends about the issues of human trafficking and child labor. We have also committed to combating this horrific activity in Cambodia, where the pressures of poverty coupled with the commercial sex trade pose serious threats to children. Here is an example of what is happening in Cambodia:

Parents struggling for a way out of poverty and desperate to feed their family send their 8-year-old daughter to work as a domestic servant—or so they thought. Tricked by an unscrupulous acquaintance, the money they received was actually the down payment on the sale of their little girl into the sex trade. After a period of brutal and systematic coercion into sexual slavery, maybe she is rescued and taken to a secure center for girls with similar stories. But maybe she never gets rescued.

As a parent, I’m sure you can’t imagine the pain these families must face. Our team wants to make a difference in the lives of these mothers and children through a proactive approach: World Vision’s microenterprise development, called VisionFund Cambodia. VisionFund Cambodia helps the entrepreneurial poor get a start in business by providing small loans.

 I’ve committed to raising money for microfinance loans to Cambodian women by participating in the 10k You Go Girl run coming up this Sunday morning. . .pray for my knees as I run the hills of Tacoma! Only my passion to help with this project would make me get up at 7:00 in the morning to run 6 miles."

In response to Brenda's courage to run this race, please consider making a donation by clicking this link, Donate to Cambodia. This will allow you to donate on our Women of Vision Donation page.

Prayer:
Ask God to give Brenda wisdom on what foods to eat today that would strengthen her body, bless her with a good night's sleep, and encourage her as the finish to her preparations draws near to let her passion for Cambodia cause her to press on to the end.  Ask God to bring contributors to this cause to raise funds for the need in Cambodia.

Pray for Pakistan

World Vision says emergency in Pakistan will “get worse before it gets better”

 Information:
Sukkur, Pakistan, September 1, 2010 — More than one month after the flooding in Pakistan began, World Vision says the emergency in Pakistan will get worse before it gets better. Up to half of the affected population still hasn’t been reached. Unsanitary conditions and a lack of clean water are causing outbreaks of diarrhea and concerns about cholera. Children, wearing the same muddy clothes for days, are developing skin diseases like scabies, and many families are unable to begin the grieving process and bury their dead because there is no dry land on which to bury them.

Food and water: Many markets have been destroyed and food is generally not available. Some 3.2 million hectares of agricultural land have been flooded. Food scarcity is expected in coming days and months. The need is greater than available resources. The main water sources in the area are dug wells, hand pumps and a few tube wells. However, wells have become contaminated and the water is no longer safe to drink. People can live on small amounts of food, but they can’t survive without potable water.


Shelter: Many displaced families are without shelter. Others have found temporary shelter with friends and relatives, but overcrowding is making water, food and sanitation even scarcer. Many schools (private and public) are now serving as temporary shelters.

Health and sanitation: Some clinics in the area have been washed away, and medical staff and medicine are scarce. Children and families are suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, malaria and acute respiratory infections. There is risk of cholera outbreaks and spread of other waterborne diseases. Even before the flooding, families generally did not have proper toilets in their homes. Since the flooding, human waste has been mixed with drinking water. In addition, water is sitting stagnant in many places, increasing the risk of disease.

Infrastructure: The road networks in the area need to be rebuilt. Many isolated communities are depending on items ferried in by helicopter to survive. Power is out in some areas.

Livelihoods: Most people are farmers, earning a living from crops and livestock. Now, 3.2 million hectares of crops have been damaged. Irrigation systems are also damaged or need vast clean-up work.

World Vision has provided food, emergency items and health care to more than 30,000 people in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Province (KPK) since the start of the floods. In addition, the aid agency plans to start a nearly $2.2 million project in Punjab through funding from the United States' Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, providing emergency relief, healthcare, and clean water to 104,000 people in the Murzaffargah and Rajanpur Districts.

Pray:
Pray that the Lord will use the disaster in Pakistan to turn the peoples' hearts to Him. Praise Him for the faithful and incredible work of World Vision in this area. Ask God to provide for and encourage the affected families and protect the World Vision staff from discouragement, disease and danger. Ask for unity amongst the relief organizations and that their efforts will bring about relief from the incredible suffering and despair of the children and others impacted by this catastrophic event.


Action Step:
To donate to World Vision's relief efforts in Pakistan, please visit www.worldvision.org or call 1-888-56-CHILD (1-888-562-4453).

Prayer for Relay Walk for Appalachia

Prayer for Relay Walk for Appalachia

Lynn has been walking and resting now as part of her relay team from Portland to the Coast since 4:30 AM before many of us were even up!  She has until tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM when the team should be arriving at Seaside, Oregon. 

Remember to pray for her this evening, night, and morning as well as after the race for stamina, strength and safety. 

Also pray that donations will keep coming in for the Appalachia Project as a result of her participation in the relay.

Let's join with Lynn in prayer as she states below:

1. Leg 18 - classified "Hard" - 4.15 miles, all a gradual uphill: I will pray for Morgantown, WV

2. Leg 26 - classified "Hard" - 5.77 miles, with a 2-mile uphill at the end: I will pray for Philippi, WV
3. Leg 34 - classified "Moderate" - 4.13 miles - yes - a short leg with gently rolling hills! I will pray for our staff conducting massive work being facilitated out of World Vision's global distribution center in Pittsburgh, PA.

Thank you for your prayers for this wonderful endeavor.  Get the full story here.  Go Lynn!

Prayer For Relay Walk for Appalachia

Lynn's Prayer Walk Relay

Appalachia Project

Please remember to pray for Lynn as she is preparing for her relay walk in the Portland to Coast Relay.  Pray that she will be strong and courageous as she participates in this strenuous relay in faith believing that God will use her to raise funds and pray for our Appalachia Project. 

Pray that God will move on peoples' hearts and give them a compassion for this poverty stricken area of our country where children and women live marginalized lives and that many will respond to the opportunity to give generously to make a difference.

Remember to pray specifically for the 4:30 a.m. start time tomorrow, Friday, August 27, 2010 that the team will be ready and that they will all able to all participate as planned.  Pray that Lynn and her team will be healthy and injury free. 

Pray for Lynn that she will maintain stamina as she walks in legs 18, 26 and 34.  Pray that the Lord will take her fears away about" the middle of the night, middle of nowhere" leg .

Ask God to bless Lynn for going for it for the kingdom of God! 

Update 4 Baby Sage

Big Sister Maya and Baby Sage

Prayer of Praise!
Holly writes, "Precious baby Sage is...HOME!! We are thrilled!! We not only celebrate our answered prayer that Sage is healthy, but we celebrate each of you who helped us through this past week. Whether you were right by our side at the hospital, calling/texting/fbing, praying for her from near or far, you mattered. We are so grateful for your support - you all got us through this!

Three things got me through this week - faith, family and friends. I could not have done it without these. 

This song helped get me through the week, so I will sign off with this:

          I cast all my cares upon You,
          I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet.
          And anytime that I don't know what to do,
          I will cast all my cares upon You."

Update 3 Baby Sage

Big Sister Maya and Baby Sage

Prayer Highlights:
Our Leadership Team member, Holly's three week old baby Sage remains in the hospital after one week with a serious infection.  On Friday they did an aspiration to Sage's chest to drain it and Holly reports that she looks much better. They are waiting for the swelling to go down more before they can switch to oral antibiotics. They are also waiting for the culture from the aspiration to determine the nature of the infection.

Please continue to pray for Sage's full recovery, strength and comfort for Holly and her husband, Drew and peace for Maya who tries to understand. 

Praise:
We praise the Lord for the many prayers that have been said on behalf of this family during this difficult time.  We praise him for loving grandparents who have been able to come from another state to stay and help.  We thank the Lord that there has been gradual inmprovement and we thank Him in advance for the release from the hospital which hopefully will be very soon.