'He who is gracious to the poor, lends to the Lord'   Proverbs 19v17

Monday 1 August

Welcome to Tracey Adamson who joined the Auckland Office Marketing team last month as our new Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Give thanks for Tracey's creative expertise and pray that she will be blessed as she works on the September InTouch magazine. 

Tuesday 2 August

This month Lisa McLaren (LMNZ's Marketing Manager) will be taking maternity leave. Pray for God's favour on all involved in today's LMNZ's Marketing Planning Day as fundraising strategies to further communicate the needs of people with leprosy are developed. Pray also for God's blessings for Lisa and Marcus as they begin their family.

Wednesday 3 August

During Lisa McLaren's maternity leave, Board Member Bruce Waldin will provide interim cover in a consultancy capacity. Praise God for the extensive experience in marketing and fund raising that Bruce will bring to Leprosy Mission NZ and pray that together the team will be really open to the Lord's leading.

Thursday 4 August

A cholera epidemic is spreading through Bougainville. Pray for protection from cholera for Bougainville Healthy Communities Project staff as they travel through the villages educating villagers on prevention and treatment.

Friday 5 August

Today our fabulous volunteers will be in the office once again helping with a mailout to our existing SEED partners keeping them up-to-date with our new Families 4 Families programme. Praise God for our volunteers and for our valued monthly supporters.

Saturday 6 / Sunday 7 August

To procure more local resources for Eye Clinics being held in leprosy villages in Guangdong, China, HANDA together with Guangzhou Lion's Club have organised for 10 local entrepreneurs to this month follow the eye team to the leprosy villages in Zhanjiang. Eye surgery is performed in the villages by the eye team in a mobile surgery van. Pray that this venture to raise local funds will be successful. Praise God for the team of doctors who perform the surgeries.

Monday 8 August

Due to a recent decree from the Government of Sudan that all Southerners currently employed in the North no longer have employment status, pray for the safety of staff and for Dr Yousif Deng (TLM's Country Leader who was based in the North) as they resettle in the new Republic of South Sudan.  Pray also for openings for TLM to work in Southern Sudan where there is a definite leprosy need.

Tuesday 9 August

Today is International Day of the World's Indigenous People. Worldwide, indigenous people are often pressured to assimilate into the dominant society. Pray for the realisation that all people are valued by God and are unique. Pray for strengthening and oneness of TLM's global partnership. Recently 35 Implementing and Supporting Countries signed a new TLM Global Fellowship Charter committing its Members to certain principles including accountability, financial integrity, transparency and recognising the equal value of all Members.   As Members of the Global Fellowship we commit to journeying together with our goal remaining: 'to eradicate the causes and consequences of leprosy'.

Wednesday 10 August

Today Brent Morgan (Executive Director), Gillian Whitley (Donor Development Manager) and Board Members Anne Ratliff and Odele Habets are attending a not-for-profit workshop relating to 'stepping through transition'. Pray that this will be a profitable workshop.

Thursday 11 August

Pray for grace to cope with the challenges of living and working in Danja, Niger, for the team at the Community Hospital. Especially remember Dr Mark & Faye Griffiths and family. Give thanks for God's protection of all the workers and pray that the Lord will grant them zeal to be committed to prayer and to be an example of Christ to patients that visit the hospital.

Friday 12 August

International Youth Day is to recognize crucial contributions by young people worldwide in enhancing peace and development. Praise God for the interest shown by NZ youth for this year's Leprosy Mission Youth Advocacy Scholarship which is being promoted though our website and by Gillian Whitley (Donor Development Manager) through direct communication with various churches, schools and universities. This scholarship is to enable young adults with a passion for mission to witness our work in Nepal, learn about the causes and consequences of leprosy and raise awareness and funding for Leprosy Mission projects.

Saturday 13 / Sunday 14 August

After seven years working in Ghorahi, Dr Julie Lincoln has moved to a new role and location in Pokhara, Nepal. Julie is still working with leprosy patients but will also be working closely with local church based organizations which are involved with health/development work. Every month for 6-9 days over the next twelve months Julie will travel back to Ghorahi (a 12-14 hour bus ride) to continue supporting the work she was doing there. Pray for suitable safe accommodation in Ghorahi for Julie's monthly visits and for safety in travel.

Monday 15 August

Pray for wisdom for Natalie Smith, TLM Country Leader for Timor Leste as she oversees projects and manages staff. The World Health Organization estimates that 8-10% of the population of 830,000 of Timor Leste have disabilities. Pray also for new project leaders Antonio with the Community Based Rehabilitation Project and Franciso with the Capacity Building Project as they work towards their goal of improving the quality of life of people affected by leprosy.

Tuesday 16 August

The National Department of Health in Bougainville is providing Communication Skills Training for Bougainville Healthy Communities Project staff.  Pray the training will be effective, relevant and will give staff the skills needed to communicate well when visiting remote villages.

Wednesday 17 August

Today Matt Halsey (LMNZ's Programmes Manager) and (BHCP) Bougainville Healthy Communities Project staff will be meeting with staff from ABG (Autonomous Bougainville Government) Division of Health to review the last six months progress. Pray for excellent working relationships with the government department. Pray also for continuing good health for Ruby Mirinka, Programmes Manager, for BHCP.

Thursday 18 August

Over the winter months continue to pray for the physical and spiritual well-being of earthquake victims in Christchurch. Pray also for a oneness for all the local bodies that are working to rebuild and re-create Christchurch.

Friday 19 August

Praise God for the appointment of Mrs Wubitu Abere Woldesemayat as new TLM Country Leader for Ethiopia. Mrs Woldesemayat has a wealth of experience in participatory leadership and extensive experience working with Non Government Agencies and Government Agencies. Pray that God will guide and strengthen working relationships between TLM and local government officials.

Saturday 20 / Sunday 21 August

Japan has experienced over 500 after-shocks, some as powerful as 7.1 magnitude, since the earthquake / tsunami in March. With typhoon season now hitting Japan, pray for the well-being of those trying to rebuild their lives after the earthquake. Remember the elderly, children and those with special needs; may their physical and emotional needs be met.

Monday 22 August

Remember today the new Republic of South Sudan. South Sudan is a region that has been marginalised and forgotten for decades. God has blessed the south with resources; pray that these resources will not be exploited, but will be used for the benefit and development of South Sudan.

Tuesday 23 August

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. It is estimated 27 million people are still in slavery. In Kathmandu, Nepal, approx 5,000 young girls are trafficked and sold every year. Pray for their freedom.  Remember also those in bondage who society erects barriers against because they have leprosy. Pray that attitudes and behaviour will dramatically change allowing previously excluded people to be able to make valued contributions within their communities and to their families.

Wednesday 24 August

Praise God that HANDA has organised for a mobile workshop to visit leprosy villages in Guangxi, China, so that on site prosthesis are able to be produced and fitted for leprosy-affected individuals who require them. Pray for the people receiving the limbs and for the staff managing the mobile workshop who travel long distances over rough terrain.

Thursday 25 August

Pray for full recovery without any long term negative effects for Bienvenue, TLM Congo's Kinshasa based driver, who recently was involved in a car accident. Pray that God will protect all staff as they travel to remote areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Friday 26 August

As the New Zealand Government works with the aid and development budget, pray for wisdom and good stewardship for those who oversee it. Praise God our application for SDF in Bangladesh was successful. This will allow our Chittagong Sustainable Development Project to complete its final two years and our Chittagong Hill Tracts Project to run for a further five years.

Saturday 27 / Sunday 28 August

Praise God for   the TLM Vocational Training Centres in India that enable young adults from leprosy backgrounds to learn trades and skills for life. Pray for the principals, instructors, placement officers and other staff who make this programme effective. Pray that students will adjust well in their new situation and will excel in their studies.

Monday 29 August

Remember Dr Mark & Jo Macdonald and family who recently left the Philippines to live in the U.K.  Pray for Mark as he adjusts to his new job in a specialist AIDS treatment unit in London and for the whole family as they acclimatize to living in the U.K. Pray for Isabella, Cameron and Harrison as they adjust to their new schools.

Tuesday 30 August

Pray that the trade fair being organised by HANDA staff, China, to sell and promote honey made by people affected by leprosy will be successful providing funds for the villagers enabling them to improve their living standards.

Wednesday 31 August

Today the Programmes Committee will be meeting. Praise God for the contribution that each committee member gives to the work of the Leprosy Mission. Pray that the Lord will clearly show where there are needs to be met and how to best address them.