Guatemala

From the 1st to the 5th October we are praying for our work with girls, marking the International Day of the Girl (11th October). Pray for: - encouragement and positive change for 350+ girls attending new Girls Clubs at four primary schools in Rukungiri, Uganda - our partners in Malawi and Guatemala and their work mentoring girls - protection and opportunities for extremely vulnerable Dalit girls at our projects in India - skills training for Ugandan girls - a bright future for sponsored girls at our projects worldwide.

We are praying for our partners SKD in Guatemala, and the marginalised street-connected children they support. Please pray for: - Protection for the children’s health due to recent outbreaks of Hepatitis and Covid - Climate issues preventing the children going to school such as extreme heat or flooding - The children who are at risk in chaotic homes, for protection from abuse and exploitation - More mentors to support and engage with the children

For the last three years, a church in Guatemala has generously let Potter’s House use its building as a base for one of their community centres, but it will shortly become unavailable. Pray that they would quickly find another space to host their community programmes. Thank God as well for the work and expertise of Dr Isabel, a dentist at Potter’s House’s Medical Centre. From October 2023 to July 2024, she served 214 patients! Praise God that she has blessed so many.

As CMS mission partners Azaria and David Pocasangre journey with young people in Guatemala, pray for young people’s hearts to be open to Jesus. Pray also for the families of these children as Azaria and David look to support them. Pray too for David as he starts leading music workshops with children and young people.

Potter’s House in Guatemala would like us to pray for families who lost their homes and belongings in a recent fire. Please pray that, with support, they can rebuild their houses quickly & safely. Also, ask God to provide Potter’s House with funds to buy hats, water bottles, electrolytes, sun cream and calamine lotion to help the children they serve to cope in the recent extreme heatwave.

Give thanks to God that new children have been enrolled into the Potter’s House education programme in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Pray the support they receive will help them to succeed in school. Pray as well for God’s protection over children supported by Potter’s House in Guatemala City - there has been a wave of violence in some communities near the rubbish dumps.

Potter’s House would like us to praise God that communities they support are becoming increasingly open to receiving psychological care. People are using the tools they’ve been taught to move forwards. Pray also that Potter’s House would be able to find a larger facility for their community centre in the Western Highlands. They would love to have the capacity to serve even more Treasures.

Potter’s House would like us to pray for God to lead them to the right people to bring onto their microenterprise programme. Pray those who need it most would get the opportunity to advance their small business. Praise God for the way that Margarita has improved in her health and studies since being supported through the Potter’s House nutrition programme. She is on track to become a preschool teacher!

Praise God that last month, Potter’s House were able to reopen their dental clinic serving a community where they recognised a significant need. Pray this service is a blessing to those who will benefit the most. Pray also for the 25 secondary school students supported by the Potter’s House Education Programme who will be graduating in 2024. Ask God to sustain them and give them wisdom through their final year.

Pray for Potter's House, for positive and strong relationships with community leaders to work together for the common good of the community. Pray for Potter's House, asking for protection and guidance for their dedicated volunteers as they travel and use every project as an opportunity to share the message of Jesus. Pray also for the ‘Treasures’, parents, and the communities of Potter's House, seeking healing from various diseases. In particular, pray for Yefrey, a young man who is suffering both physically and mentally. Ask God to bring him healing and hope.

Pray for guidance and wisdom of the facilitators at Potter's House in Guatemala, who give love and care on a daily basis to 'Treasures' that do not usually receive it in their homes. In particular pray for those who are experiencing feelings of loneliness and abandonment, for peace in their hearts and minds. Pray also for opportunities for dental and health clinics in the Western Highlands Community Centre in Guatemala. Some of the 'Treasures' have severe dental problems, as well as diabetes, cancer, respiratory and stomach problems for Treasures and their parents.

Due to its proximity to Central American countries such as Mexico and Guatemala, Belize is known as a transit point for illegal drug trafficking. Numerous incidents of drug discovery in schools in the south of the country involving students have been recorded. Many university students have expressed feelings of hopelessness and being stuck due to government corruption and nepotism. The pandemic saw the IS/ IVCF (IFES movement in Belize) ministry contract, but new shoots are emerging. Pray for students, staff and volunteers seeking to share Christ’s hope in schools, colleges and universities.