Saturday, September 29, 2012

Refugees

Day 6

Definition: A refugee is a person who flees his/her home to escape invasion, oppression, or persecution.  They genuinely risk serious human rights abuses.

75-80% of the world's refugees are women and children.

Women and children refugees are vulnerable to violence and exploitation by military and immigration personnel, bandit groups, male refugees and rival ethnic groups.

A portion of the book..."The girl told Hawa that if she and her children wanted safety inside Chad, she would need asylum.  That's why Hawa agreed to visit the girl's uncle who helped people like Hawa: women who couldn't read or write.  Asylum is why Hawa agreed to his price, only because she needed his help to complete the form. 

If Hawa had learned to read and write, she would have printed, in neat, clean letters of her own:

Name:  Hawa Fentale
Sex:  Female
Age:  24
Country of Origin:  Sudan
Family Members:  Husband (deceased)
                              2 children (female aged 3, male ages 8 months)

But Hawa cannot write.  She can only look at the government form that weighs heavily in her hand and wonder what other question remain.  Hawa waits through the night unaware that there is a child growing in her womb, a child that does not belong to her dead husband.  Between pangs of hunger and cries from her children, Hawa imagines what life will hold when her family is given asylum in Chad, and how as a stranger and a widow she will find a home.  In the morning, she will bring the white government form to the girl's uncle again and pay his price so she can answer another question."  (30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless)

As I read this book, I am overwhelmed with gratefulness that I was born into this nation.  A nation that values women and nation that seeks to protect those who are defenceless.  While in so many other places women and children are shamelessly exploited for others personal gain.

 Father God we know you are compassionate and we ask you pour out your compassion on these people who are displaced and seeking to find asylum.  Father raise up compassionate aid workers to help those in need and we pray your judgement would fall on those who seek to exploit the helpless.  Oh Lord have mercy upon these peole that they might know you and the freedom that comes from being a child of God.  I pray protection over them. Amen.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Pakistan

Day 4

Pakistan has over 81 million women who suffer some of the worst cases of gender-based injustice.  Female literacy is 23%; school enrollment is 16%; maternal mortality  rate is as high as 340 per 100,000 live births.

99% of the babies which are thrown into gutters, trash bins and on sidewalks in Karach are girls.  They are considered a burden on society.

Daily up to three women die from "stove deaths;" one out of three of these were pregnant.  This usually occurs after a history of marital abuse for not giving birth to a son, disobedience , or allegations of adultery.

The more I read this book, "30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless" the more grate full I am that I was born here in the United States where women are valued.  I can't imagine the oppression and violence these women endure and it is deemed acceptable, even normal behavior. 

A portion of the book:  Zafran Bibi was marries 13 years ago to Naimat Khan.  Three years into the marriage he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years.  She had to live with her in-laws, harassed occasionally by her husband's brother, Jamal.  When she complained about his advances her mother-in-law blamed her.  A few days later Jamal raped Zafran.  Her in-laws discovered she was pregnant and accused her of adultery with another man called Akmal.  This got Jamal off scot free, and Akmal was thrown into jail.

Zafran still went to the police with her father-in-law to file a report.  She stated that she was raped while cutting grass a short distance from her house.  But even her lawyer portrayed her in court as a women of low character involved willingly in a sexual relationship.  She got death by stoning for her ungodly behavior while the rapist was released.

Lord, I pray you would set these women free.  I pray for the missionaries living in this area, the ones who are trying to bring your light into such a dark and evil place.  I pray they would have the strength to preach your words.  I pray that many would receive Jesus as their savior and know true freedom.  I pray that this distorted code of honor would come to an end.  I pray you would open the eyes of the world, to raise up an out cry against these practices and oppression.  Oh Lord, I pray our heart would break for the things that break your heart, that we wouldn't stay wrapped up in our own little world but that we would reach out and help others in need. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Abortion

Day 5

Definition- It is the medical termination of a pregnancy at any point before the full delivery of the baby.

Approximately 46 million abortions take place each year worldwide--almost 2 every 3 seconds.

The average is 1 abortion per woman worldwide.

Careless abortions account for 80,000 maternal deaths globally per year.

This one really breaks my heart.  As a mother who has dealt with infertility.  I can't say I really fully understand abortion.  I do know that, it is a complicated multi-faceted problem, that creates death and destruction for both the mother and child and it's devastation has far greater reaches than I can imagine.

I believe abortion has it's root in the Satan, the father of all lies, he lies to women telling them they can't have their child for a multitude of reasons and gradually the women begin to believe the lies or they are pressured by someone else until they give in and have their babies aborted.  The aftermath is crushing, they realize what they have done, maybe they don't admit, it not even to themselves, but the pain and hurt is there as a constant reminder, and only God can heal the gaping wound.  My heart breaks for these women so many of them believing the lies of Satan and then the guilt and shame that must come.  I feel so inadequate to even type one word about this subject.  All I can do is weep and pray for these women and children.

God delights in forming babies in their mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Domestic Violence

Day Three

Definition-domestic violence occurs between spouses or intimate partners, when one partner in the relationship tries to control the other person.  The perpetrator uses fear and intimidation and often physical or sexual violence. 

60% of battered women are abused while they are pregnant. 

Every 9 seconds in the United States, a women is assaulted and beaten.

A portion of the book:  "She's you neighbor.  No matter what language you speak or where you live -- a house in Peru, an apartment in Toronto or a hut in a North African village.  You talk to her throughout the week, send your kids outside to play with her kids, you share the same street."  (30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless)

It's astounding that domestic violence is so rampant in our society and around the world.  I pray that these women would have the courage and support to come out of these abusive relationships.  Ps. 83:2 Says, we are to "defend the cause of the weak."  I pray that our eyes and ears would be open and to the cries of these women that we would be there to support and pray for them.  That we wouldn't miss any opportunities to help.  Oh Father that you would send them the help they need and that they would have the courage to accept your help.

Monday, September 24, 2012

AIDS

Day 2

Definition Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a serious , fatal disease of the immune system contracted through blood transfusions, sexual contact or contaminated needles. There is no known cure for it.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since 1981 more than four Jewish holocausts or 22 Rwandan genocides. 

Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.
 This book was published in 2005 so these numbers are even higher now.

Did you know that today in America HIV is considered more manageable than juvenile diabetes?  We have come a long way in the war on HIV.  Today people living with HIV can have a long and full life with the proper medications, diet, and care.  I don't want to over simplify because it can't be a cake walk to live with HIV, but it is a drastically different story for those who contract HIV in Africa or other countries where money is scare and medical care is hard to come by.  In those countries HIV is a death sentence.  Unfaithful husbands give it to mothers who give it to the unborn and nursing children who will all die without our intervention.  It creates a society of the very old and the very young.  Can you imagine whole villages where grandparents are caring for their childrens' ,children.  There are few young adults who are not sick or dieing, so there are very few workers to bring in the crops, carry the water, or tend the livestock.  This disease to wiping out an entire generation in some places and in others in has become a manageable chronic disease.  We have the resources to change these statics, but we must care about these people the way that we care for ourselves.

A small portion of the book:  "She didn't know that her husband was infected with a virus called HIV when she married him.  She didn't know that he knew he was sick.  At the time, she was 16 and he was 31.  She didn't know he believed that sleeping with a virgin would cure his disease." (30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless, forwarded by Loren Cunningham)

Pray for those infected with HIV all over the world.  They face challenges in all areas of their lives that we can't even imagine.  Pray that others would educate themselves concerning this disease to help fight the stigma and misconceptions.  Pray that God would raise up doctors and missionaries to help fight this virus in the most remote villages.  Pray that people would be educated so that young virgin girls would not be needlessly infected.  Let you heart be broken for their needless suffering.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

30 Days of Prayer

So I've been praying and fasting for 12 days now and I feel like God wants me to blog about it. I don't really want too. I'd rather keep it private, but I know God has greater plans, so I'll share with you what I've been doing.
Our Bible study group is doing a book called "Tune In" by Jen Hatmaker. In this book she challenges us to fast as a way to hear God more clearly, she described fasting as a way to make room for God.  I'm fasting one meal a day and I do feel a closeness that I haven't felt before.  Before I had aways viewed fasting as more of a sacrifice that had to be so difficult you couldn't pull it off, no matter how hard you tried. Anyway to say my view of fasting was off track is an understatement.  I feel like I have a better understanding of it now, but I know I still have much to learn.
As I felt God prompting me to pray I knew I would be praying for our children to come home, for them to be safe, for their paper work to be in order, that they would be released. But God has laid several other things on my heart, one is a book called "30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless".  I've had this book forever, it's been buried in a pile of books on the back of the toilet, not kidding that's where I found it.  I think I'll back track to day one and give you a short summary of what I've been praying for each day.  I hope to give voice to those who have no voice and that as you become aware of the needs that it would cause you to pray and to even reach out in some way to those in need.
Each day it gives a a topic, then it's definition, along with statics, a personal impact story and then a verse from the Bible to pray and a way to act.

Day One
Child Prostitution
This one makes me want to throw up, my stomach turns over and my eyes begin to pour out tears and I know our Father in heaven weeps and groans for these children.  I really don't enjoy knowing all these facts and I'd rather hide my head in the sand and pretend this never happens, but I can't because I have children out there alone and defenceless and I know God is calling me out of my apathy. 
Definition
It is the sexual exploitation of a child for renumeration in cash or kind, usually but not always organized by an intermediary (parent, family member, procurer or teacher).
So in other words these children, mostly girls, are exploited by those who are supposed to love and protect them.  In Thailand, 10-12 year old girls service men in the sex industry.  They typically have sex with men 10-15 times daily, and sometimes as many as 20-30. 
Story
Her family needed food and if they sold her into the sex trade they'd have one less mouth to feed and more money to feed the younger children.  Did her parents know where she was headed?  Some do and some don't, parents are promised that there children will be well cared for, educated, and released after a time.  All of it lies.  Can you imagine being so desperate to feed and clothe your family you would consider selling your oldest daughter?  Hoping against hope that she wasn't going to be forced into the sex industry , but you feel you have no choice and because girls have little or no value in your culture, you go ahead even though you know deep within your spirit you are selling your daughter into the pit of hell.  It happens everyday day all over the world.  It happens right here in America and still we turn a blind eye.
I have no idea how to solve this massive problem, but I do know I must pray.  I must turn from my apathy and tell others of this problem.  We must join forces with organizations that are fighting these problems on the front lines.  We must give them our time, energy, money, and prayers.  These children deserve for us to fight for them.
If you would like to order this book it is, 30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless, foreword by Loren Cunningham