"I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46v4

Wednesday 1 June

Pray that supporters will generously support our Bread of Life Appeal. Monies raised from this appeal will finance up to five community grain mills in areas around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Bread making has helped many leprosy-affected families escape poverty and the stigma of leprosy.

Thursday 2 June

Last month we bid farewell to Leprosy Mission NZ staff members, Liz Phillips, Marketing & Communications, and Subashini Rao, Supporter Services.  Liz has taken an exciting senior position with another charity while Subashini is moving with her family to Perth. Pray that both Liz and Subashini will be blessed in their new situations.

Friday 3 June

Recently a political conflict broke out in Khagrachari, one of the Chittagong Hill Tracts districts in Bangladesh, which resulted in three quarters of CHT project staff having to lie low for a couple of days. Even though the situation is now under control please pray for peace in the area and for the health and safety of all staff. Remember John Samaddar, Project Manager.

Saturday 4 / Sunday 5 June

Pray for Matt Halsey (LMNZ Programmes Manager) as he reviews and develops work plans for Chittagong Sustainable Development Project in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pray for productive meetings with outcomes that will benefit leprosy-affected people in Bangladesh.

Monday 6 June

Recently Ranjit Mookerji, formerly Deputy Director TLM India for Community Based Projects, unexpectedly passed away during an operation. Pray for comfort and peace for Ranjit's wife and for their two teenage daughters who are still studying.

Tuesday 7 June

Returning from International meetings in Thailand Brent Morgan (LMNZ's Executive Director) will join Matt Halsey (LMNZ's Programmes Manager) to liaise with Bangladesh National staff. Pray for productive outcomes for the leprosy work in Bangladesh and for travelling mercies for Brent and Matt as they travel to remote projects in the Chittagong Hill Tracts area. Pray also that clearance from the Bangladesh Government will be secured for Brent and Matt to allow them access to the various leprosy projects in Chittagong.

Wednesday 8 June

Today we welcome Heather Warne to the Auckland Office as our new Supporter Services Representative. This year Heather has been one of our regular volunteers. Praise God for the skills that Heather brings to the Marketing and Fundraising team. Pray she will quickly become familiar with all aspects of the work and will be blessed as she works together with the marketing and fundraising team.

Thursday 9 June

Praise God for the volunteers from the NZ Chinese community, Baibing, Lillian and Samson, for their involvement with Leprosy Mission New Zealand and outreach into their communities to raise awareness for leprosy-affected people. Praise also for Mike Sheppard LMNZ's Ethnic Ambassador who volunteers in the Auckland Office twice a week.

Friday 10 June

Pray that the NGO (Non-Government Organisations) Forum between mainland China and Taiwan in Taipei will succeed in its objectives. Remember Dr Michael Chen, HANDA Director as he attends this forum.

Saturday 11 / Sunday 12 June

Remember Brent Morgan (Executive Director) and Matt Halsey (Programmes Manager) as they begin their long and exhaustive return journey to Auckland.

Monday 13 June

In Myanmar TLMI projects operate in 13 geographical locations. Pray for Country Leader Dr Zaw Moe Aung, as he leads his team, partners and leprosy-affected persons on their Annual Country Learning.  Many families affected by disabilities are still struggling to get re-established after Cyclone Nargis in 2008; pray that the efforts of TLM project staff will succeed in letting people with disabilities also be included in the redevelopment of their communities.

Tuesday 14 June

Pray for a successful exhibition tour as HANDA representatives visit four local universities in Guangdong, China, with photos and information about leprosy. This tour is to portray to students the realities of leprosy and the challenges leprosy-affected people face due to stigma, as well as the various activities that HANDA are involved with in China.

Wednesday 15 June

As winter approaches, pray that homes in Christchurch that are still not weather proof after the earthquake will be completed. Pray for a oneness for all the local bodies that are working to rebuild and re-create Christchurch. Pray that Cantabrians in need will continue to receive the help they require spiritually and physically.

Thursday 16 June

Our application for Sustainable Development Funding for Chittagong Hill Tracts is presently under consideration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade; pray that our funding application will be approved enabling communities to be educated about the causes and consequences of leprosy as well as ensuring that leprosy-affected families have access to vital health services.

Friday 17 June

Remember today Martin Malkaney (LMNZ's Finance Manager) as he sits one of his exams which go towards his Chartered Accountant qualification. Pray that he will feel refreshed and have clarity of mind during the exam.

Saturday 18 / Sunday 19 June

Pray for the wisdom of political leaders around the world as they face tighter finances. Pray that they would not neglect the poor and disabled but that people and nations would recognise their own responsibility to serve their neighbour.

Monday 20 June

From 19^th until the 25^th June Volunteer Awareness Week in N.Z. will be celebrated to encourage more people, across all generations to volunteer. The theme is 'Volunteering - every minute counts'. Praise God for the Leprosy Mission volunteers worldwide both in contributing and field countries. Pray that a new generation of volunteers will arise. Colossians 3v23 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.'

Tuesday 21 June

Today as a fund raising activity, HANDA has organised a 'lychee tree auction' in Guangzhou, China, where people are encouraged to bid on approximately 30 trees which are situated in the Huadu Leprosy Village. The successful bids will entitle the bidder to own the tree for the period of the lychee season. Pray that this fund raising activity raises awareness for people experiencing leprosy as well as providing funds for the villagers.

Wednesday 22 June

Pray for the outreach of Gillian Whitley, Donor Development Manager, as she talks to church groups providing updates about current projects. May her meeting today with the Beach Haven Birkdale Anglican Women's Fellowship be well received.

Thursday 23 June

Pray for earthquake victims worldwide as countries and cities endeavour to rebuild and respond; Japan, Myanmar, Spain, Christchurch. Pray that through these natural disasters people will come to know the Lord in their lives. "And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24 v 6 to 8

Friday 24 June

Praise God for companies who allow and encourage their staff members to volunteer for charities during work hours. Praise also for all our regular volunteers i.e. Board and Committee members, stamp donors and cutters, moneybox collectors, as well as those who regularly volunteer their administration skills in the Auckland Office.

Saturday 25 / Sunday 26 June

TLM's Muzaffarpur Hospital in Bihar, India, has become one of the state-wide referral centres for reconstructive surgery. Pray that the hospital's community awareness programme will encourage many people with disabilities to have corrective surgery. Also pray that staff are successful in their endeavours to convey to the many illiterate leprosy- affected persons the importance of taking care of their insensitive hands and feet.  

Monday 27 June

On behalf of the Government of Papua New Guinea and the World Health Organisation, Andrew Harding (LMNZ Programmes Manager) will be reviewing the leprosy situation in PNG. Pray for wisdom for Andrew when dealing with cultural differences in sensitive issues and that officials will be open to receive and acknowledge the findings.

Tuesday 28 June

Remember today Harsha, Programmes Manager, in the Vizianagaram and Vishakhapatnam Districts, Andhra Pradesh, India, as together with her team they encourage communities to achieve self-sustainment and self-reliance. Pray that God will strengthen these communities so that they will be empowered to address their own issues.

Wednesday 29 June

Pray that the work on the drains and the foundations of homes in the Kikonkomene Leprosy Village in NW Zambia will be completed without a hitch and within budget. Poorly constructed drains have resulted in heavy storm water undercutting the foundations of village houses. Steps to houses are now up to 50cm off the ground, causing the more severely disabled residents much difficulty getting up the steps. Pray also for Dr David Friend, SIM (Serving In Missions) Medical Missionary as he attends the needs of the residents in the leprosy village as well as working at the Mukinge Hospital.

Thursday 30 June

Pray that God will open the hearts of the leaders of Bougainville to embrace and support the work of Bougainville Healthy Communities Projects. Remember Ruby Mirinka  (Project Manager) as she liaises with leaders in Bougainville.