Click on this link to download and print the Prayer Calendar – September 2018
September 1/2
When we use the toilet or turn on a tap today, thank God that our water and sanitation is clean, safe and a few short steps away. In the squatter communities of Mandaluyong sanitation facilities are inadequate, which creates a real health risk for the people. Although the Philippines is surrounded by water and experiences at least 20 typhoons in a year, it is still far from achieving water security. (according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Please pray that the local authorities will empower the people to develop and improve their own water and sanitation system.
September 3/4
At the moment Manila has been experiencing a lot of rain with much flooding which affects many families living in the squatter communities. Please pray that God will protect the people from the effects of typhoons, thunderstorms and serious flooding, and help them to cope in their poverty when water enters their home. It is also very difficult for the HOM staff to prepare the food and feed the malnourished children when there is flooding and heavy rain. Please pray for them.
September 5/6
Hands of Mercy currently works in Mandaluyong City and in The City of Baguio/La Trinidad. Mandaluyong is one of fourteen cities within Metro Manila and has a population of approximately 328,000. It is home to many urban poor communities and informal settlements. Hands of Mercy currently has teams working in ten urban poor communities: Florante, Sto.Rosario, San Miguel, Agudo, Busilak, Malaya, Silangan, Block 37 Welfareville, Block 38 Welfareville and Block 40 Welfareville. Please pray for the Hands of Mercy staff who work in these communities – that they may identify the needs of the families and respond with the appropriate action.
September 7/8
Poverty means not being able to pay your rent or to have electricity or water brought to your shanty home, or even having a toilet to use. It means waking up every day facing insecurity, uncertainty and worry about money. The stress can lead to many problems – some turn to drugs and drink. Please pray that the Philippine Government will govern with integrity and give justice to the many families in the communities who have desperate needs.
September 9/10
Please continue to pray for the Florante Street situation. In the Philippines things often move slowly – please pray that the legal side of the selling of the land and the rebuilding of homes, will soon be sorted out and that the thirty families will have peace about where they will be living. We would also value your prayers about new office and church accommodation, as the Hands of Mercy staff have been told they must leave the Barangka premises as the owner wants to sell the property.
September 11/12
Give thanks to God for the many meals served to underweight and malnourished children through Hands of Mercy. Please pray that through the regular feedings the health of the children will improve. Please continue to pray that people will give financially through the Supplementary Feeding Programme to help buy the food for the children.
September 13/14
In partnership with licensed therapists and therapy volunteers, children with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy and autism, are identified and enrolled for free centre-based or home care therapy. This programme is an important service to the community, as poor families who have children with disabilities cannot afford to send their children to a private institution. Please pray for Remy, Bing, Wilma, Analyn, Tess M, Ara and Inday who act as volunteer therapists, working four days a week at the Lingap Kalinga Centre amongst children with disabilities.
September 15/16
Please pray that through the assistance of the Surgical Treatment Programme, children and adults with physical needs will be given the necessary help and resources to undergo corrective surgery. Many children need cleft lip and palate surgery.
September 17/18
Please continue to pray for two of the Hands of Mercy staff members who are suffering with cancer – Tess M. and Myrna are still having treatment. Ara has been diagnosed with macular degeneration, Jane has a heart defect and is taking medication. Many of the staff have health problems. Please pray for God’s healing touch on their lives and that they may know God’s peace day by day. Give thanks that the result of Sally’s recent biopsy was good.
September 19/20
ICHTHUS is the Hands of Mercy water purification business producing clean drinking water. The water refilling station is in Mandaluyong City and has two filtration systems producing both alkaline and purified water. Water is placed and sold in refillable containers of varying sizes. ICHTHUS welcomes walk-in customers and offers a home/business delivery service. Please continue to pray for the business that it will attract more customers and that the staff involved will be given strength and wisdom as they develop the business. Please pray for Greg, Arnold, Joey, Sally and Anita.
September 21/22
Give thanks to God for the Philippine trustees and their faithfulness to the Hands of Mercy compassion ministry in Mandalyong. Please pray for Sally, Malou, Mila, Beth, Joey, Bing, Myrna, Remy and Anita. Please pray for them as they think about ways they can help the compassion ministry through raising finance in the Philippines.
September 23/24
At this harvest time, we wrestle with the apparent contradiction of God’s abundant provision and the fact that many children die of hunger and malnutrition in the world (UN Food and Agriculture Org). The Supplementary Feeding Programme is such a blessing to many hungry children in Mandaluyong. Please pray that more people will come forward to help financially with the money budgeted as so many children rely on the three meals provided each week (not each day!) by Hands of Mercy. Give thanks to God for the many meals served to underweight and malnourished children and pray that through the regular feedings the health of the children will improve.
September 25/26
Please remember in prayer all the sponsored children and give thanks to God for all the sponsors who have faithfully supported their child/children with their education, health care and personal development. Many children cannot attend school because of poverty. Although schools in the public education system are affordable, the school uniform, transportation costs, money for food, school supplies etc., make it too expensive for those living in poverty. (Research by “Compassion” found former sponsored children were 13% more likely to finish primary school, 41.6% more likely to finish secondary school and 82.6% more likely to finish university. They were 17.6% more likely to have a salaried job and 75% more likely to be community leaders. Compassion.org – taken from CARE prayer diary). Please pray for more people to come forward to help a child. (For details, please contact the UK office on 01582 416151 or email: info@handsofmercyph.org
September 27/28
Please remember in prayer the four Pastors of the Mercy Community Churches in Mandaluyong – Joey Escoto at the Barangka Church, Greg Lubiano at Block 38 church, Analyn Eduardo at the St. Rosario church and Beth Tocyapao at Block 37 Church. Please also pray for the people who lead and share God’s Word at the Mercy Community Church in Baguio City – for Sevalyn and Godofredo. Please also pray for Sevalyn as she co-ordinates the Baguio Child Sponsorship Programme.
September 29/30
Please give thanks and praise to God for His great faithfulness to the compassion ministry of Hands of Mercy in the Philippines and pray that we all might have a joyful expectation of all that He plans to bring about in the future.
Find out about our compassion programmes and how you can help. Visit: Hands of Mercy Compassion Programmes
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