Uganda

On the 25th December as we celebrate Christmas and see out the year, give thanks for God’s provision for our work. Please pray for: - God’s blessing on our faithful donors & supporters, giving thanks for their generosity - wisdom and encouragement for our international partners, many facing economic and political challenges. - wisdom, inspiration and encouragement for our staff, trustees, shops teams and volunteers, giving thanks for all they do for vulnerable children.

In the week before Christmas, praise God for Jesus! We remember children who experience - as He did - inadequate housing and poverty. Please pray for children like: • *Henry, living in a tumbledown shack on a patch of land liable to flooding in Kampala, with his mum, both of whom are HIV+, • twins *Percy and *Polly, living in a tiny shack in Kibera, Kenya, with their grandmother who makes and sells an illicit brew • displaced children in Myanmar and South Sudan • the children of Dehiwela beach slum in Sri Lanka.

Please ask God to restore strength and dignity to the young girls being cared for by Wakisa Ministries in Uganda. Many have been sexually abused. Pray also for successful funding to equip the new maternity centre at Wakisa Ministries.

Give thanks that young mothers at Wakisa Ministries in Uganda are enjoying their computer classes. Those new to the centre are doing the introductory module and the others are mastering their typing skills. Give thanks to God as well that in Wakisa Ministries’ Bible classes, the young mothers have been exploring the concept of forgiveness, learning about the power of letting go of resentment and embracing healing.

Pray for Wakisa Ministries in Uganda as they look to recruit gynaecologists and paediatricians to volunteer at their new health centre. Praise God for Marion, a midwife at Wakisa Ministries, who is looking to do further studies in midwifery this year. Pray that she can study well and balance her work with the requirements of her course.

Thank God that the young mothers supported by Wakisa Ministries receive individual counselling sessions. Pray that, with the help of Wakisa, they gain the skills they need to process what they have been through. Pray that God provides the finances needed by Wakisa Ministries to furnish their newly-constructed health centre with medical equipment.

Give thanks to God that young mothers supported by Wakisa Ministries are enjoying arts and crafts classes. They have made doormats, baby blankets and bags. Thank God that the young mothers have also been learning about urban gardening. They have recently planted tomatoes and spinach to use in their cooking classes.

Please pray for Wakisa Ministries as they deal with steeply rising operational costs, in particular the girls’ hospital bills. Pray for God’s provision.

Give thanks that Wakisa Ministries has found a new Director, Paula, so that Vivian can step back from some of her day-to-day duties and take on more of an ambassadorial role. Praise God for Fatuma and Nabadda from Wakisa’s sponsorship programme, who were both recently accepted into university to study Bachelor degrees in Business.

Termites have been a particular problem, eating tree roots and hindering the spread of agroforestry pilot projects in Gulu in 2021 and 2022. Pray for a sustainable solution to improve the survival rate of young trees this year.

Join LIA in prayer for our programme country, Uganda. We praise God for improvement and stability in the national Education system post pandemic. Pray that supplies and finance for school fees would be provided for those children with greatest need. Thankful that Uganda is relatively peaceful, although extreme economic hardship is encouraging and increasing tensions and criminal behaviour. Pray for creative ideas, vision as they seek to use their resources well, work hard, and invest in their futures. Pray that God will guard our programmes for sustainability and lasting change among those in need, for the sake of his Kingdom.

Pray for Africa following Al Massira’s recent face to face gathering in Sierra Leone where 15 African nations were present. The Gospel is being shared through the AM resources in several languages. Two fruitful trainings have just taken place in Tanzania, and others in Uganda, Mozambique and another coming up in Kenya early in 2023. Pray for Holy Spirit power, courage, and wisdom for the Persecuted Church, particularly in Nigeria. May the faithful team there and across Africa know the presence, power, and peace of the King as He loves and leads them forward to advance His Kingdom across Africa!