JUST OBEY THE RULES

We are sick and tired of attending funerals of loved ones who died because of negligence of drivers. This was the message from Major General James Tjivikua of the Namibian Police at the official launch of the road safety campaign of the coming festival season . He said 94 people were killed in 560 road accidents during the 2012/13 - holiday season killed while 1,055 were injured . Many of these accidents could have been avoided if the drivers just obeyed rules!

Minister of Works and Transport , Mr . Erkki Nghimtina said in the past five years more than 2,000 people lost their lives in over 13,000 accidents and more than 21,000 were injured. Last year, the highest number of injured (3547) and deaths (561) was recorded . This year we have lost 540 people on our roads and the festive season has not even started yet! 

Please stand in prayer against the road deaths. Pray for:

• Responsible use of the road by drivers and pedestrians 
• Various awareness campaigns
• The staff and service of ambulances in several towns in Namibia
• All emergency units,  hospitals and staff.
• God's protection of road users 

Source of news and photo: The Republikein http://republikein.com.na/ongelukke/spoedvrate-sal-vervolg-word.214969

A SAD PICTURE

The picture above shows a sad situation. Although Namibia is classified as a middle-income country, the income gap between rich and poor is one of the most marked in the world. The government has made progress in addressing problems such as gender parity and access to basic education, yet this imbalance persists. Although a tiny proportion of the population enjoys wealth, overall poverty rates are high and the number of people living under the poverty line is growing:

Country    2002    2006    2007    2008    2009    2010    2011    2012
Namibia    50       34.9    34.9     34.9     34.9    55.8     55.8     55.8

A large part of the population lives in rural areas, and are concentrated in the northern regions. The rural poor are typically undereducated, with limited access to health care, adequate sanitation and electricity. Food shortages are a major problem during years of drought, and nutritional intake is consistently poor.

The Nambian reported that now some families are living on a meal a day in Kavango and are in dire need of basic food and clothing.

Rundu Rural East Constituency Councillor Michael Shikongo said some 85 families are “skating on thin ice” and do not know where their next meal would come from. He appealed to Good Samaritans, especially those with unused food and discarded clothes and bedding to donate them to his office for distribution to the needy people in his constituency.

Shikongo singled out 215 elderly people in the Rundu Rural East Constituency, who do not benefit from Government’s pension grants because they do not have the necessary documentation as some of them relocated from neighboring Angola many years ago, and are yet to acquire Namibian identity documents. These elderly people are in need of blankets, especially during this rainy season when mosquitoes, which cause malaria, are common. Some food and items were donated, but there is still a great need.

• Try to understand the needs of the poor and pray for them with compassion your heart. 
• Live and pray with the understanding that God is our only source. He provides for us so that we can provides with Him for those in need. Pray the Church that will understand and practice 2 Cor.9:6-9: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
• Pray that God will bless and use individuals, organizations and churches in Namibia to reach out to the physical and spiritual needs of the poor and needy.
• Learn more about prayer for the poor and needy.

Source: CIA World Factbook / also see http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=wa&v=69 /

CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP

 

The Graduation Ceremony and Banquet of the African Leadership Institute (ALI) last night was a celebration of about 250 students who have completed their Leadership Training Cycle. Above - a photo of Chrisna von Gericke (Director of Training) enjoying a special moment with one of the students Nelly Dumeni (center) who shared about the life changing impact of the training.

The African Leadership Institute (Namibia) was founded to train and equip government, business, education and church leaders to bring biblical transformation to Africa. Hundreds of leaders have been trained or are in the process of being trained. Most leaders in Namibia agree: Africa should take responsibility for our continent and that the equipping of leaders should be one of our highest priorities.

The large group of influential leaders, family and friends who attended this significant event were challenged to transform their communities and play a role in advancing the process of equipping and developing leaders to transform Africa. For more in formation about ALI contact Renata Solomons at 0812315831 or secretary@thenamibiandream.info

Praise God for -

• A growing impact of the African Leadership Institute in raising up leaders. 
• Each student who completed the training and who are committed to influencing their world. 

Pray for leadership in Namibia and Africa - trust God to:

• Teach leaders in government, business, education and church to trust in Him. Psalm 21:7 
• Protect them from the influence of the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
• Give our leaders discretion, foresight, and understanding in making decisions. 1 Chronicles 22:12
• Generously answer each leader's prayer for wisdom. James 1:5
• Give leaders everywhere a tender heart of compassion toward those they lead and serve. Colossians 3:12

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES OF YOUNG WOMEN

National Young Women Association- NYWA is an association of young women in Namibia formed under the National Youth Council, aiming at addressing the challenges that young women faces in everyday life.

The National Young Women 's Association is hosting a conference from 21 to 23 November at Ondangwa in the Oshana Region.

Me. Anna Hamalwa (Marketing and information officer) said one of the major problems  NYWA encounter in Namibia is that women accept their circumstances. NYWA want to teach them that it does not have to be so and that they can rise above their circumstances, said Hamalwa.

Presentations will be made by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, the Legal Aid Centre and the Ministry of Justice and more. There will also be time for group discussions  during the conference. Topics include women's rights , gender-based violence, the dumping of babies, teenage pregnancy and equal representation of women in party and government structures.

Please pray for the young women of Namibia.

Here is a sample prayer:

PRAYER FOR YOUNG WOMEN 

Father God, thank you for all the young women of Namibia. Give them dreams that are bigger than themselves - so they will have to trust You to make their dream come true. Give them a will and heart to be all You created them to be. Help them to work hard and be successful.

Enable them to be generous to those who are less fortunate. Give them hearts full of love and compassion.

Give them the strength to say "no" to activities that they would later be remorseful about - that they would do what is right for them and for the world around them. Help them to be kind to others.

Protect them from people who would harm them physically, emotionally and mentally.
Let them know that allowing You to direct their way is the smartest thing they can do. In Jesus wonderful and powerful name. Amen

 

Based on a prayer from: http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/reflecting/sample-prayers.htm