Weekly Prayer Update
Friday, April 26, 2024
Crisis Continues in Haiti
In Haiti, the capitol city of Port-au-Prince is almost completely cut off by blockades as gang violence intensifies. Between air, sea, and land blockades, life-saving aid isn’t able to reach the most vulnerable people. Food insecurity is rampant across the country, and close to two-thirds of Haiti’s children need aid. Kidnappings and gender-based and sexual violence have risen to “extreme levels”, according to UNICEF. Since March 8, approximately 100,000 Haitians have fled Port-au-Prince for other regions, joining hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people. On Monday, operations at Haiti’s main fuel import terminal were suspended under threats from gangs. Schools, businesses, and gas stations are closed, preventing children from receiving an education and leaving adults without employment. Fuel on the black market sells for $9 a gallon, roughly three times the official price. Banks have prohibited customers from withdrawing more than $100 per day, and checks that used to take three days to clear now take a month or more. There is no end in sight to the unrest. A new humanitarian “air bridge” from Panama was established last week, so far bringing in five flights to deliver medicine, water, shelter equipment, and other essential supplies. Nazarene churches in Haiti continue to care for displaced people during this crisis.
Lord, you are the one who sees each person who is impacted by the daily stress and trauma in Haiti. Bring your peace to the hearts of all who are set on doing harm. Deliver those who are sick, hungry, and afraid. Strengthen local churches as they care for people in need around them. We pray for an end to violence in Haiti. Lord, hear our prayers.
Conservation Agriculture Project in Rwanda
In Rwanda, 32 percent of children struggle with malnutrition. Irregular rainfall, drought, floods, pests, diseases, together with limited land for agriculture, all affect the food security situation in Rwanda. A church-led agriculture project is helping families combat malnutrition at home by growing fruits and vegetables. The provided agricultural instruction, tools, fertilizer, and nutrition education go a long way in helping small-holder farmers increase their crops. With the extra produce, families can sell what they don’t need and increase their income to pay for other necessities. Combined, the aspects of the project lead to greater self-sufficiency, improved economic outlook, and improved health. Leaders of the project focused recruitment especially on female-headed households in order to empower women who traditionally lack access to vocational training. A total of 114 female-led households were reached through the project.
We pray for the farmers in Rwanda who are finding hope through agricultural assistance and support. For the children of these families, heal them from any malnutrition so they can grow up healthy. Bring rains when needed to the land where these farms are located, and bless the efforts of all who participate and lead in the project. Lord, hear our prayers.
Food Security Projects
Without adequate nutrition, children's minds and bodies fail to develop properly. When adults are hungry, they struggle to fully engage in productive work or generate sufficient income. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partners with local churches to cultivate long-term agricultural projects and nutrition education that help improve people’s health and provide a source of income for individuals and families.
We pray for those who are hungry. May people find long-term solutions to hunger through church-led food security projects that affirm their inherent dignity and worth. Lord, hear our prayers.