'Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards. He cares for them when times are hard even in famine, they will have enough.' Psalm 37v18 & 19 TLB

Friday 1 April

Pray for Brent Morgan and members of the TLM Transitional Steering Group as they meet in London to discuss and make key decisions relating to the work of the Mission.

Saturday 2 / Sunday 3 April

Pray that the people of Japan may find strength to endure the hardships now being experienced in the devastated towns and villages in Japan. Children keenly feel fear and insecurity following disasters like an earthquake and tsunami; pray that they will be comforted.

Monday 4 April

Praise God that in a city of nearly 400,000 people the death toll during the Christchurch earthquake was not greater and that many square kilometres of the city are still standing and largely unaffected. Praise God for the spirit of oneness and Christian love that Cantabrians have shown for each other. During times of disaster the most vulnerable are always worse off.  Pray for the well-being of children, the elderly, those with special needs and for the bereaved in Christchurch that they will be consoled; may their physical and emotional needs be met.

Tuesday 5 April

Due to unforeseen circumstances Papua New Guinea's Annual Country Review last month was postponed until April. Matt Halsey (LMNZ Programmes Manager) is now in Goroka, PNG, together with Rey Coloma (TLM Regional Facilitator), Helen Nixon (TLM Australia Programmes Manager), Miriam Pahun (Head of leprosy control in PNG) and TLM PNG staff and other stakeholders. Meetings will be held over the next four days. Pray for a successful review and for God's wisdom and direction for 2011 and beyond.

Wednesday 6 April

Praise the Lord that the New Zealand Government approved funding for LMNZ's Chittagong Sustainable Development Project. Pray that project staff in Chittagong will internalise the meaning of the project more deeply which in turn will lead to more commitment to their responsibility. Remember John Samaddar, Programme Director, as he oversees his team and the various avenues of the project.

Thursday 7 April

World Health Day In 2001-2002 ALM-IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) staff began a Leprosy Vaccine project which TLM contributes towards. This research has made steady progress and the top priority for 2011 is to have necessary further tests on the six most promising proteins which have shown protection already, in order to decide which ones most likely will be used in a future vaccine. It is hoped that the vaccine would provide effective, long-term protection. These tests are very time-consuming and will take at least a year before a final composition of the vaccine is decided and before the next research/testing phase can begin. Pray for ongoing success and for finances to continue this research.

Friday 8 April

In Bougainville there has been a Cholera outbreak. Pray for protection for Leprosy Mission and WHO (World Health Organisation) staff as they work together to provide medication and to educate the people on prevention. Bougainville's population is approximately 200,000. The people of Bougainville have suffered much hardship since the nine year war which ended in 1998. Pray that the Cholera outbreak will be contained quickly.

Saturday 9 / Sunday 10 April

From 9th until the 16^th plans are to be finalised in Papua New Guinea for their Country strategy and five year project document. Pray for cross-cultural relationships throughout the team; for empathy, a willingness to listen to and to value one another, and for humility - putting others ahead of ourselves - that the final strategy will meet the needs of people affected by leprosy in Papua New Guinea.

Monday 11 April

Pray  for  the  leaders  of  Christchurch  and New Zealand; may they make wise decisions, putting the people of Christchurch first, in the weeks and months ahead.

Tuesday 12 April

Last year in October a group of supporters, of all levels of fitness, joined our Running For Rights Team and ran in the Auckland Marathon for the Leprosy Mission New Zealand. This produced income as well as public awareness for people experiencing leprosy. Registration for this year's Marathon is now open; pray that many individuals will be encouraged to join this year's Running For Rights Team.

Wednesday 13 April

Today members of LMNZ's Resource Committee meet to discuss resources and finance issues of the Mission.  Praise God for the contribution each of them makes to the Leprosy Mission. Pray for wisdom and discernment in all their decision making.

Thursday 14 April

Pray for the HANDA Guangxi office in China as it initiates fundraising activities   that  will  be of interest to local entrepreneurs. This month in Guangzhou a photo exhibition and charity sale at the Sun Yat Sen University will take place showing photos taken by leprosy affected people and volunteers.  Pray these ventures, as well as raising funds for leprosy work, will educate the public and break down the stigma against leprosy.

Friday 15 April

Pray that the NZ Government Agency (SSDPF - State Sector Development Partnership Funds) will approve our further application for funds currently before them for TLM Bangladesh. If we are successful with this application this will allow us to utilize some of our funding for other worthy projects.

Saturday 16 / Sunday 17 April

Praise for main stream media coverage. Last month in the United Kingdom a feature article on 'India's Leprosy Heroes' was shown on TV Channel 4 featuring people who are leprosy-affected and Dr Premal Das, Superintendent at TLM's Naini Hospital, India. This can be viewed worldwide at www.channel4.com/programmes/unreportedworld/4oD

Monday 18 April

Praise God for answers to prayer request (4 Jan 2011). The Bougainville Healthy Communities Programme successfully recruited five new District Facilitators and an Operations Manager to cover project expansion in the Tinputz and Wakunai districts.  Prayer is still requested that BHCP will be able to successfully recruit one more trainer for immediate employment.

Tuesday 19 April

Praise God for LMNZ's new Chinese volunteers recruited and organised by volunteer staff member Mike Sheppard (Ethnic Communities Ambassador). Pray that their  orientation session will be informative and will enthuse and equip the volunteers so they are able to, in turn, raise awareness within the Chinese community of people and families experiencing leprosy.

Wednesday 20 April

Remember today the dedicated staff at the Muzaffarpur Hospital, Bihar, India. Pray that the hospital's community awareness programme will encourage many people with leprosy related disabilities to have corrective surgery.

Thursday 21 April

Pray that The Leprosy Mission Australia will be successful in finding a person to join their Board, who has a heart for the mission and to serve and who has the required financial qualification needed.  Remember Graham Peck (TLMA National Director) and his team throughout Australia.

Friday 22 April

Good Friday Thank God for Jesus' healing love. Pray for healing and hope for every person affected by the Christchurch earthquake. Pray for wisdom for pastors, ministers and priests in Christchurch and elsewhere as they minister to those requiring spiritual assistance; may all sense the comforting presence of God's Spirit.

Saturday 23 / Sunday 24 April

In cooperation with a local tourist agency, the HANDA Yunnan office, China, is organising impact tours to Yunnan Leprosy Villages. The aim of the tours is for the general public to be able to experience firsthand the living conditions and trials that leprosy-affected people and their families are experiencing and to witness their strong will and self reliance, prompting mutual love and care for marginalized people.

Monday 25 April

Easter Monday & Anzac Day A day to celebrate Christ's triumphant resurrection and to remember and honour those who gave their lives at Gallipoli, during World War I, as well as those who have died in other military operations. Unfortunately war has never left us and today's media vividly reports the terrible conflicts around the world. As we remember the past, pray for peace for the present.

Tuesday 26 April

Remember today staff and pupils at the Vocational Training Centre (VTC) at Faizabad, India. Pray for the ongoing efforts by staff to network with industry and the corporate sector to secure placements for the VTC graduates.  Remember Gabriel Pani, Principal, as he oversees staff and pupils.

Wednesday 27 April

Pray for Andrew Harding (LMNZ Programmes Manager) and Samir Mukha (TLM India Project Manager) currently reviewing the project Empowerment of Village Woman in Rural Uttar Pradesh, in the Barabanki, Allahabad, Sitapur and Rae Bareli Districts, India. This project aims to assist marginalised women to find a better quality of life and was previously supported under KOHA funding but is now funded entirely by supporters.

Thursday 28 April

Pray that the time spent in England will be a blessing for the Griffiths Family as Faye has a health check and the whole family receive dental treatment. Remember also the doctor at the Danja Community Hospital, Niger, who is covering for Mark while he is in England for three weeks.

Friday 29 April

Pray for Geraldine Slyfield as she continues to share her experience from the India Awareness Tour in 2010 with local church and community groups in the New Plymouth area.

Saturday 30 April

Remember everyone who has been affected by natural disasters throughout Australia this past summer. Pray they will all experience God's healing love as they endeavour to put their lives back together.