Uganda 1. Beersheba needs: Pray for training for those working in areas of alcohol and drug abuse and for practical courses being offered to self help groups - for the catch-up and life skills programmes being offered through Musoto Primary School and for a new programme called Tackle Africa, using football as a medium to teach AIDS/HIV awareness. 2. Prayer needs at SDKF. For Pastor Dennis Ssettaala and those working with him to help young people develop IT and tailoring skills in a slum suburb of Kampala and for the agricultural training work being done up-country at Nakaseke to help local farmers improve their crop yields. 3. Pray for Rev Paul Kyalimpa and BMS worker Alex Vickers as they work together on a second phase of the farming project at Gulu in the north of the country.
Zimbabwe 4. Pray for fair and peaceful forthcoming elections that will lead to the election of a government that will rule with integrity and justice offering equal benefits to all. 5. Remember the gardening projects being run through co-operation with ACET (AIDS Care Education Training) and for Captain Willard Ndlovu of the Salvation Army as he oversees these projects. 6. Pray that God will continue to bless BMS workers Kevin and Gill Jones as they work alongside new and established partners, seeking to improve the way of life for thousands of impoverished people in and around Bulawayo.
Bangladesh 7. Give thanks to the Lord for the work of Oasis Bangladesh who run the Duaripara slum project. Pray that attempts to become a registered NGO with the Government of Bangladesh which would greatly facilitate their work will be successful. Pray too for the project team as they make plans for developing and expanding the work over the next three years. Of particular concern is the safety of the girls as they travel to attend school and educational catch-up classes. 8. Pray for the staff of SHED Board. OA has supported a number of SHED Board projects in the past. Now a new director, Mr Mahananda Bairagee has been appointed and a new proposal for clean water in rural villages is currently being considered. We ask for wisdom for those planning the project in Bangladesh and for the BMS/OA Development Committee as it makes decisions about the proposal.
Nepal 9. We give thanks for the life of Ringa Pachuau who until a few years ago led the CHEP section of OA's work in Nepal. Ringa retired from BMS in late 2008 and he and his family returned to Mizoram and served the Lord through the church there. Remember his wife Madiki and the family at this time. Pray too for Tlana Hnamler, another BMS worker from Mizoram, who until recently was managing the CHEST project. He is suffering with renal problems and as we write, is awaiting a kidney transplant. Please remember him and his wife Madini and family at this time.
Nicaragua 10. Give thanks for a successful resource visit by Russell and Gill Ashley-Smith to our partner AMOS in Nicaragua. Pray that the Health Promoters in the 27 small community clinics may continue to be well equipped in their task of caring for the anticipated 20,000 patients who will attend for treatment during the coming year. 11. Pray too for Gill in particular as she prepares the resources for OA's 2012 Annual Appeal which will focus on the provision of this health care and training activities being carried out by the staff of AMOS.
Brazil 12. Mike and Daveen Wilson have felt God guiding them to leave their work in Trapia later in 2012. Pray that those who carry on the work there may be encouraged and led by the Lord as they serve, and that Mike and Daveen will know God's leading as they look to the future.
Thailand 13. As we write serious flooding is affecting Bangkok and many other areas of Thailand. There will be knock-on effects on those who already struggle to make a living from the land in the north. Please pray for our partners in this situation.
Home 14. In late October John Mellor informed us of the sudden death of his wife Rena. John and Rena were BMS workers in Congo whose agricultural work was supported by OA for several years. Rena will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Please pray that the Lord's presence will continue to be strongly felt by John and the family in the months ahead.
Cut-backs 15. Many of OA's overseas partners are having to adjust their development programmes, having learnt that their grants from OA this year will be less than they had anticipated. Pray for them, as they make painful decisions, in some instances having to lay-off workers. May the neediest people in the communities they serve continue to be those that benefit. Pray that OA's income this year will in fact enable the Trustees to restore the level of many grants.
