EMPOWER RURAL WOMEN – END HUNGER AND POVERTY

Recognizing the critical role and contribution of rural women, the theme of United Nation International Women's Day 2012 is Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty.

Key contributors to global economies, rural women play a critical role in both developed and developing nations — they enhance agricultural and rural development, improve food security and can help reduce poverty levels in their communities. In some parts of the world, women represent 70 percent of the agricultural workforce, comprising 43 percent of agricultural workers worldwide.

Estimates reveal that if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20–30 percent, lifting 100-150 million out of hunger.

Healthcare, education, gender inequality and limited access to credit, however, have posed a number of challenges for rural women. Further, the global food and economic crisis and climate change have aggravated the situation. It is estimated that 60 percent of chronically hungry people are women and girls. Yet, the Food and Agriculture Organization estimates reveal that productivity gains from ensuring equal access to fertilizers, seeds and tools for women could reduce the number of hungry people by between 100 million and 150 million.

Source: http://www.un.org/en/africarenewal/special-edition-women/index.html

You can also download the Africa Renewal Special Edition on Women Issues http://www.un.org/en/africarenewal/special-edition-women/Africa-Renewal-Womens-Issue-2012-en.pdf

Some of the headings of articles in that edition makes great topics for prayer:

• African women’s long walk to freedom - some gains, but an uphill climb still looms
• African women are ready to lead - but social beliefs and attitudes hinder their quest
• Investing in the health of Africa’s mothers - lacking care, too many women do not survive childbirth
• In Africa, AIDS often has a woman’s face - knowledge, power and resources needed to combat the scourge
• Does financing benefit African women? - new initiatives to track the gender impact of development funds
• Women struggle to secure land rights - hard fight for access and decision-making power
  

Cover the women of the world with you prayers. Read about them and use the information to intercede for them. Trust the Lord for a breakthrough as you pray.

When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Luke 13:12

ERADICATE POVERTY IN KHOMAS REGION

The Khomas Regional Council (photo) wants to address the problem of poverty in the region during 2012.

The Govenor, Samuel Nuuyoma, said the level of poverty and unemployment remain relatively high in the Khomas Region and is a source of concern for the leadership. "It is our responsibility as leaders and planners to create investment opportunities and safety nets to reduce poverty in the region."

Pray for Governer Nuuyoma and his team as they give guidance in the Khomas Region and -

• participate actively with leaders of industry to create new investment and employment opportunities.
• continue to implement the education and training sector improvement program (Etsip).
• call on teachers and parents to work together to ensure excellent results at the end of the year exams.
• call on the police to fight criminal activities in the region to fight and the establish neighborhood watches.
  

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread. Proverbs 30:8

Source and photo: http://www.republikein.com.na/politiek-en-nasionale/khomas-wil-armoede-uitwis.142146.php

PRAYER FOR THE POOR

It is winter in Namibia.
Let us remember the poor, the cold and the hungry:

Dear Lord,

We lift up to you the poor and the marginalized. We know that these are your cherished ones, that you are a God whose heart cries out for justice, that you are a God who longs to feed the hungry. We ask simply, Lord, that you give us your heart.

Fill us Lord with your compassion, give us your eyes to see, give us boldness and selflessness and wisdom, so that we too might cry out for justice and feed the hungry, so that your light might shine throughout the earth.

Lord, we especially lift up the children among us who are poor and marginalized, finding themselves in circumstances they did not choose and helpless to change. We lift up AIDS orphans, children of war, children suffering abuse and neglect, children smitten with malnutrition and disease, lacking education, housing or the most basic of life’s necessities. Might they somehow come to know the love of their Creator, who knows each hair on their head and collects their tears.

Lord, you know every wretched tale. Every overwhelming statistic, you know personally, one by one. Thank you that one day you will make all things right through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Until that day, let us be tireless in doing what is good and what is right unto the least of these, knowing the Father’s love for them.

Amen

Source: http://ruach.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/prayer-for-the-poor-and-the-marginalized/

WATER FOR THE POOR

The Namibian reports government moves closer to subsidizing water for the poor. Although thousands of water points have been set up in rural areas, many households can not afford to pay for the water.

According to statistics Namibia have more than 84 000 households regarded as poor with the highest number of poor households is in the Kavango and Ohangwena regions. Subsidizing the water could cost the taxpayer up to N$28,7 million a year. Successful implementation requires a complicated and costly system.

Let us not forget the poor in our prayers. Pray for the authorities for wisdom to take up their responsibility to also look after the poor. Pray for those who have, to share with those who are in need. Each time you open your tap, do it with a grateful heart and a prayer that we, who can fill our cups, will also share a cup of water with those who are thirsty.

I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. Mark 9:41

Photo: Avis Dam just outside Windhoek
News source: http://www.namibian.com.na

Care for Others

We have just completed a study on the purpose of living by Selwyn Hughes. The purpose for living is "To love God and to care for others."

He concluded the study by saying "caring is carrying" and shared the following story:

A girl was seen carrying her little brother home after he had fallen and grazed his knee. The little boy was almost as big as her, and as she seemed to be labouring under the burden of his weight, a neighbour said: "Put him down, my dear. He is to heavy for you to carry". The little girl answered assertively: "He is not to heavy - he is my brother!"

Dear Lord, thank you for challenging me. Let me use every day of my life in fulfilling the greatest purpose You have given me - loving You, and caring for others. In Jesus' Name. Amen

A Step into History

Last week I stepped into history as I visited three towns in the south of Namibia where I attended school many years ago. First stop was Karasburg. In the Nama language, the word 'Kharas' means 'a plain covered in stones'. I spend two nights on a sheep farm, the main industry of the region.

Karasburg is also an important truck stop for transport vehicles streaming into Namibia on the B3 from Upington on the South African border. The area has an extreme climate most times of the year with temperatures rising to 48 degrees celsius in the rainy season and dropping to 2 degrees in the dry winter season. Low rainfall is seen in this region, but the rains usually come in early January and leave as late as early April.

The purpose of my visit was to assist churches with Global Day of Prayer 2009. I also shared with them about a DVD Workshop on "Growing a High Impact Church". Financially times are tough in the south. Many believers are also living in spiritual drought as smaller churches struggle to survive or can't afford a full time spiritual leader. There are also few job opportunities in Karasburg and other towns in the south. Many living near the highway turn to prostitution as a means to earn money. Lets not forget the poor and needy in these towns.

Prayer for the Poor

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: http://tomdavis.typepad.com

Struggling in Bethanie

Bethanie (like Bethany in the Bible) is a small town in southern Namibia, and is ranked as one of the oldest settlements in the country. It lies on the road between Keetmanshoop and Lüderitz. As missionaries started travelling north from South Africa (the Cape Colony) in the early 1800s, they established mission stations on their way. The London Missionary Society founded the town, but, because of a shortage of missionaries and presumably because of the cooperation between the London and Rhenish Missionary Society at the time, they instead sent a German. Reverend Heinrich Schmelen built his Schmelenhaus in 1814, now considered the oldest building in Namibia, and currently a National Monument and memorabilia museum.

I found the following photo and info about the Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa in partnership with Schmelen Lutheran Church in Bethanie who helps feed 78 children at the Hostel run by Schmelen Lutheran Church. Children live at the hostel while attending school in Bethanie. Some of the children are orphans. Other children's families live too far away to transport the children to school everyday. Source http://www.whereissteve.com/zion/zionproj.html also see Karas Regional Council - http://www.karasrc.com/ for more information about the region.

In a debate about a report published by the National Planning Commission (Nov 2008) regarding the people of the South of Namibia it was pointed out that there is a lack of job creation, leading to unemployment. Prime Minister Nahas Angula said "We must understand the social history of the Namas. The challenge we have is to restore the dignity of the Nama people." He further stated that the people of the South need to be provided with means of production, whether it is land or animals. Deputy Prime Minister Libertine Amathila also spoke on the issue. "The poor people are the ones taking their pensions and spending it at shebeens," she said. Amathila singled out shebeens (bars) as one of the major problems. "We can talk and make statements, but it won't help. We are dealing with a difficult situation." she added. Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200811100951.html

Please pray for the many who are in the grip of poverty in Bethanie and the south. Pray for wisdom and creative ways to address the problem of job creation and the abuse of liquor. Pray that the Church will anchor the Nama people in the Word of God and help them to trust in Christ to restore their dignity.

Word about the Poor

Consider the position of the poor in our communities. Now, lets open our hearts to the Lord as He speaks to us from His Word about the poor: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Luke 4:18,19
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha which, when translated, is Dorcas, who was always doing good and helping the poor. Acts 9:36 Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Acts 10:4

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2Corithians 8:9. Jesus said: The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. Matthew 26:11. I believe one way to know if you have the Lord with you, is to consider what you do about the poor. As you pray for the poor today, ask the Lord what He wants you to do, so that His love can reach the poor and needy this Christmas.

You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14

Report about the Poor

A Namibian government report (28 November 2008) has revealed that three times as many people as previously thought are living in severe poverty.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) found that nearly a third of Namibia's 1.8 million people lived on US$1 a day or less, but noted a sharp rise in households classified as "severely poor", or living on less than N$185 (US$19) per month. The shift has been attributed to a change in research methodology now considered best practice in southern Africa - the "Cost of Basic Needs" - which reset poverty lines along the minimum expenditure required for each household to have a base caloric intake and access to basic non-food needs such as clothing and shelter.

The report also revealed that many existing social grants, such as pensions, were being used to feed more recipients than intended. In households headed by people over the age of 65 years, pensions were the main source of income in 50 percent of households.
(Read report at http://allafrica.com/stories/200811280737.html)