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Prayers For Things That Fly Or Flush -- Or Not

Mission of Mercy — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:13:52 +0000

Shacks with a hole in the ground. A simple bucket to be dumped. A plastic bag to be tied and thrown over the fence for someone else to deal with.

Today we pray for an unlikely subject, perhaps one you haven’t prayed for before: toilets.

In the developing world, sanitation methods come in all shapes and sizes. And yes, sometimes that means human waste flies through the air in a plastic bag.

If it wasn’t already obvious, how people deal with their waste directly affects their health.

In some areas, the latrines available at the Mission of Mercy project are the only toilets in the entire community. In others, several hundred people will share one or two latrines or pit toilets. And in others, there are no toilet facilities at all. (You can get a better idea of what is available here.)

No matter the sanitation method, hygiene is difficult yet so necessary. And often, once a child learns that where they go to the bathroom affects their drinking water and health, they take those lessons home.

Still there are many issues that affect the bathroom situations for our children.

Let’s pray over these today:

That the children and their families can understand that how they dispose of waste can affect their health and the health of those around them
That alternative sanitation methods will become available
That support for those methods, including clearing out the latrine pits to keep them from overflowing, is also addressed
That toilet facilities are kept far away from water sources
That children and adults can understand how simple hygiene like hand washing can make all the difference

Lord, you see all of these issues. Nothing is too gross for you. Please help us understand that our faithfulness in small things can make big changes in the life of a child. May our prayers be worthy of their great need. Please continue to move others into place to meet this most basic need.

Prayers For Water: Latin America

Mission of Mercy — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:59:47 +0000

In our Latin American countries, most families rely on borehole wells and community taps. Perhaps your sponsored child has mentioned their water source.

Many children spend a large portion of their day hauling water from the community tap in buckets and containers for the family to use throughout the day.

Still, many communities Mission of Mercy serves have no drilled, secure water sources. Instead, streams and creeks that run through the slums or community are their only water source. (Click here to watch a moving video exploring the environment many Mission of Mercy children call home.)

And as we found in our Asian countries, those creeks are also the community’s toilet and trash dump. One of our program goals is to teach children how to dispose of trash and waste in ways that do not affect the water supply. In the meantime, we provide safe water sources and the means to address infections and illnesses associated with the poor water quality.

Today’s Prayer:
Lord, please help the children and families to see that what they cast off as trash may affect them later. Protect their water sources and their health, Father. If you can part a sea, you can purify streams from which our children drink.

Other areas needing prayer:

For safety of children and adults alike who may travel long distances hauling water
That they can keep their storage containers clean to ensure better health
That other members of the community can respect the needs of others and protect the water sources

Prayers For Water: Africa

Mission of Mercy — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:52:32 +0000

In Asia, Coleridge’s line from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, “water, water, every where, nor any drop to drink” is most certainly true.

In Africa, it is the opposite: water is incredibly scarce, especially in recent years when an extended drought has taken its toll on several countries in eastern Africa.

Several programs in Kenya rely on rainwater collection for their water source, a method that’s only grown more difficult in the dry seasons.

Other communities rely on nearby rivers or streams, which also creates a scarcity issue.

In other countries, a deep borehole is drilled and a pump installed to create a more stable source of water. These are difficult to come by in many of the African communities we serve because they are so rural. It is difficult to get a truck out to drill a well, and then there is added cost to maintain the pump.

We work hard to ensure our programs have the water they need for the children. In areas where water quality is questionable, such as a muddy river source, we ensure the projects treat the water with a chlorine-based product. In times of great need, we will find sources of bottled water for the children.

Today’s prayer:
Lord, you understand what it means to have so little and how many of the families in Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe rely on water sources that might not always come through. Thank you for providing in creative ways, and please help Mission of Mercy find new stable sources of water for these communities. We believe you to be the source of Living Water. Please flow through us to these people.

Other areas needing prayer:

Continued and strengthened partnerships with organizations who exist to meet the water needs of impoverished communities
The ability to provide clean water at the project level is one thing – please pray we can provide resources so families have access to filters at home, as well

Prayers For Water: Asia

Mission of Mercy — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:39:15 +0000

In most of the countries we serve, there is no clean water. That is due in part to a lack of sanitation. In Cambodia, 71% of the people do not have access to adequate sanitation. Nepal and India are not far behind, with 69% of their population living at risk.

Recognizing that nutrition and clean water are the foundations of good health, Mission of Mercy has continued to improve resources at the project level.

In Cambodia, water is everywhere but very little of it is drinkable. We prefer to partner with organizations that are familiar with the water challenges in country and create filters in a sustainable manner in the country itself. The filters at one of our projects are made from porous ceramic pots treated with colloidal silver, materials all available in country.

Where the water is extremely unclean (where the sanitation method is just to dump it in the lake or river), we’ve tried to ensure that the projects and the children’s families have filters. Although the water in the filter looks murky, it is totally safe to drink and much improved from drinking straight from the river or lake! These filters remove 98-99% of bacterium in the water.

In areas where living on the water is a way of life (in Cambodia and Bangladesh in particular), changing sanitation methods takes time, but filters can address water quality immediately. In Bangladesh, many of the government-dug wells are too shallow and contain high levels of arsenic. Those pumps are marked with red paint, and new, deeper wells with safe water are painted green.

One of the biggest challenges is educating families about their water supply. Children have access to safe water at the project, but they spend just as much if not more time at home, where water quality is a concern.

Today’s prayer:
Lord, you know the needs of these communities, of the dangers lurking in the most necessary aspect of life on this earth: water. We pray Lord that you can move people into place to fix wells and improve filters. Thank you for Mission of Mercy’s partners which tirelessly seek to improve the water quality around Asia. May they continue to equip the parents and children to address their own needs in a sustainable way.

Other areas needing prayer:
+ In India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, tube wells with hand pumps are expensive to dig and maintain. Please pray that the governments and outside organizations can teach community members to fix the pumps as needed., enabling communities to maintain their water supplies and their health.

Prayers For Water: Middle East

Mission of Mercy — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:00:39 +0000

Today is Independence Day for Jordan, a day when they celebrate 66 years of sovereignty from British rule.

Countries like Jordan and Lebanon, where Mission of Mercy has projects, are considered “medium-developed” and thus don’t top the list of most malnourished or disease ridden countries.

Even with a higher level of development, we shouldn’t assume children in these countries don’t have the same health challenges as others.

Some of our programs in Jordan and Lebanon are in extremely rural areas, where respiratory ailments and asthma (thanks in part to prolific dust storms) are quite common. Many children in the Middle East suffer from conditions like rickets (a softening of the bones due to a vitamin D deficiency, which affects absorption of calcium) and anemia due to iron-deficiency, both of which are often caused by poor diet.

We also have programs in urban areas, where apartment living is common; although they may be nicer than living in a thatch hut, these apartments are not luxurious. They teem with refugee families who live in cramped quarters with inadequate sanitation. Their “running” water is siphoned off of water mains pumped into the refugee areas (as the image above demonstrates), but that water is often untreated and quite salty.

All of these factors leave children in our programs in a weakened state of health, but because of your sponsorship, the schools we run in Jordan and Lebanon have the means to feed the children healthy meals to address their nutritional and hydration needs.

Today’s Prayer:
Lord, you are no stranger to the desert and the challenges there. When you guided your people, not even their sandals wore out. Thank you for the way you are providing for children in such a volatile area. May they and their parents see your goodness and provision today.

Other areas needing prayer:
Political stability continues to threaten the region, especially with the continued violence in Jordan and Lebanon’s neighbor, Syria. As so many families we serve are already in tenuous situations as refugees where resources are limited, increased political and financial pressure and an additional influx of refugees makes life more difficult.

Prayers For The Preventable

Mission of Mercy — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:16:39 +0000

It’s hard to believe that something as simple as hygiene could be the difference between life and death, but it was all too clear in Haiti. Our Vice President for International Child Ministries, Jack Eans, wrote upon returning from a cholera prevention training trip that many die due to ignorance alone because cholera is both preventable and treatable.

Within the first week of the outbreak In Haiti, we equipped the project staff with prevention methods and materials. They learned how to purify water with bleach, how to wash your hands properly, and how to recognize unsafe water sources or the poor sanitation that led to the frightening spread of cholera.

Dr. Beyda and other staff traveled to Haiti to ensure both prevention and treatment methods were taught correctly. Then the staff set out in teams of two to visit homes and assess the children for telltale signs of sickness.

The projects and the staff became a resource in the community. That is our goal at Mission of Mercy – to bring life and hope where there is little. Cholera was still present, but the result was not what it could have been.

Once cholera is present in a country, it is almost impossible to eliminate it. Haiti, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Kenya have all had outbreaks recently. Thankfully, with the training and resources available at Mission of Mercy child development centers, cholera no longer has the reach it once had.

Today’s prayer:
Lord, there is so much about this world that we don’t understand. You see those who are struck down by preventable diseases, and you know what can make all the difference in their lives. Help us to see past the problem to the part we can play in the solution.

Other areas needing prayer:

That the staff be ever vigilant for signs of cholera, and that families continue to use preventative measures
That Mission of Mercy can continue to work toward more permanent clean water sources (all projects have water filters, but we are working toward drilling more secure wells)
That we can implement what was so successful in Haiti to other countries at risk of cholera

For a powerful example of the difference proper training can make, read Edmond's story here.

Prayers For Soap And Songs

Mission of Mercy — Wed, 23 May 2012 02:00:00 +0000

A child’s health is often affected by elements outside their control: they have little input on how their parents spend money or what types of food they receive at home.

Because those elements are outside of the Mission of Mercy program’s control as well, we focus on ways children can engage their own health outside the project walls instead.

From an early age, children in our programs learn basic hygiene practices such as hand washing, finding a clean water source, and how to go to the bathroom in a way that keeps their immediate environment clean.

How do you teach children about germs they can't see? On a recent mission trip, the team found a creative way to demonstrate how germs spread to help reinforce the importance of hand washing. One woman poured glitter into her hand and pretended to sneeze. Then she grabbed the arm and hand of another trip participant, who then shook the hand of a child.

Soon, glitter was everywhere – an easy and effective way to remind children why it is important to wash their hands multiple times a day. The children were taught to wash their hands while singing a song to make sure they soap up thoroughly.

Today’s prayer:
Lord, thank you for the creativity you have instilled in us to help teach others. Please continue to inspire the staff to teach simple tasks that will improve a child’s health. Thank you for the means to provide soap and clean water at the projects and sometimes even the child’s home. Lord, we pray these lessons spread even faster than the germs that affect so many.

Other areas needing prayer:

That the lessons can counter act common misconceptions or cultural myths, like the idea that the water is fine because everyone uses it or soap is unnecessary
That other topics, like teeth brushing, find favor so children’s health will be affected for years to come
That entire families adopt better hygiene practices

Prayers For Supplementing Diets And Incomes

Mission of Mercy — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:00:40 +0000

Another way Mission of Mercy hopes to build a solid foundation of health is by encouraging and equipping staff to create alternate sources of nutrition or income.

One fantastic example is a garden at one of our projects in Kenya.

Although the Maasai people in this region are primarily herdsmen, they were eager to learn how to grow fruits and vegetables to feed the children in the projects.

They soon learned they had several components for a successful garden: abundant sunshine, a somewhat consistent water source, an eager labor force, and copious amounts of fertilizer thanks to their herds of goats and cows.

With assistance from our Kenya country directors and a consultant from the University of Nairobi, the women of Emarti began their garden. They amended the soil and secured materials for a greenhouse with the help of a donor.

Last October, the Women’s Circle of Caring trip was able to plant the first seedlings of spinach, tomatoes, and chives – simple crops for first-time gardeners:
Just two months later, it was evident that the seedlings had found good soil – the spinach leaves were enormous, and the first harvest allowed the women to feed the children and sell extras for a profit!
The garden is already well into its second harvest; the goal is for the community to gain experience with new types of fruits and vegetables so the women can create their own garden plots as their confidence grows.

The success of the garden reminds of us the promise in Isaiah 58:11, that when we meet the needs of others and free them from oppression, we will be "like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." What a joy to see the fruit of ministry in such a tangible way.

Today’s prayer:
Lord, we thank you that you are a creator God who enjoys surprising us all with new growth where things once looked barren and dry. Thank you for delivering beyond what this community could ask or imagine. Please help other staff to duplicate their success at our projects all over the world so all of our children can benefit from more nutritious food.

Other areas needing prayer:

Pray for perseverance and success for the other sustainable gardening or income-generating programs at Mission of Mercy schools and projects
Pray for creativity and commitment as the staff find new ways to supplement what the children already receive thanks to sponsorship
Pray that these new projects allow the staff, parents, and children to gain skills and knowledge to help them for the rest of their lives

Prayers To Make A Way

Mission of Mercy — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:57:28 +0000

When levels of malnutrition reach dangerous levels, Mission of Mercy has the means to respond thanks to generous donations to our Children’s Crisis Fund.

One of the more pressing crises Mission of Mercy has had to address is the famine in eastern Africa. Many of the areas we serve in Kenya are rural, and families largely depended on their cattle and livestock. As the rains failed and grazing became more difficult, the livestock struggled; their ill-health meant less money at market. The dwindling herds -- essentially the savings account for a family in Kenya -- meant less money and food. As the drought stretches on for several years, the health and future of the children diminishes.

To meet the immediate needs of the projects who serve these beleaguered communities, Mission of Mercy has partnered with several organizations who have the resources and know-how to meet this specific need.

Right now, one container of protein-enriched rice meals from Stop Hunger Now has traveled from the port in Mombasa, Kenya, to distribution areas around our Turkana projects thanks to the logistical and delivery support of DHL. The container also contains Edesia's Supplementary Plumpy, a highly enriched peanut butter paste which will allow Mission of Mercy to address acute moderate malnutrition in even the youngest children.

Another container is still on its way from Atlanta to Mombasa. This is the 5th container to make the journey to help us meet the immediate needs of our children.

Today’s prayer:
Lord, thank you for the way you connect organizations to address the specific needs of the children we serve. In this cooperation, we see the body of Christ. Lord, please make a way through Customs to allow this food to reach the children quickly. Protect the drivers as they travel thousands of miles to take these precious loads to the projects.

Other areas needing prayer:

Continued funds in the CCF to send such supplies
The knowledge and connections our staff need to work out the logistics of delivery to such rural areas
That all of the supplies will make it into the hands (and bellies) of those who need it most without bribes or tariffs being paid from the supplies itself

Prayers For Nutrition

Mission of Mercy — Sun, 20 May 2012 01:00:35 +0000

What are some of the most common illnesses and ailments that children in our programs face? We will address certain diseases individually so you can know how to best pray against them, but first let us focus on one issue that contributes to almost every other sickness: undernutrition.

Several of our countries have frighteningly high rates of undernourishment (when the food intake is insufficient to meet a child’s minimum energy requirement).

In Kenya and Zimbabwe, one third of children are undernourished. In Mozambique and Ethiopia, around 40% of children do not receive the nourishment they need – and in Haiti, a shocking 57% of children deal with this insufficiency every day.

Some studies estimate that one-third of all child deaths under the age of 5 can be attributed to undernutrition. This is why nutrition is one of the first areas Medical Mercy addresses in the assessment of a project area: what percentage of children are underweight or stunted, and what is needed to supplement what they are already receiving?

Often times, children might not receive enough protein, and the answer is as simple as a hard-boiled egg added to their meal or as a snack. This is an area a Health Care Worker will monitor: given the initial levels of undernourishment, are the children’s health and weight improving? What can this program do to keep the children healthier? When nutrition levels rise, incidents of disease drop.

Today’s prayer:
Lord, thank you for what you are enabling us to do for children. Your word says that you honor those who see the needs of others and respond (Isaiah 58:10-11). Please make a way for the children in Mission of Mercy programs to have access to improved nutrition. If it’s as simple as adding an egg, please create the connections needed to secure those resources.

Other areas needing prayer:

Pray the HCWs see the children who need to be seen and can evaluate the needs of a community effectively
Pray that parents’ trust and commitment to the Mission of Mercy program grows as they see their child’s health improve with access to the project
Pray for creativity and ingenuity to help address the chronic needs of the communities we serve