[ePrayer – President Election in Zimbabwe under Dispute]
Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980, was sworn in as president today on 22 August, extending his 33-year rule of the country after winning the 31 July election. Although Southern African leaders endorsed the re-election of Mugabe, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network said that before Election Day the voter registration process was systematically biased against urban voters, disenfranchising up to a million people out of 6.4 million registered voters (15%). Western nations also questioned the credibility of this election.
Mugabe will continue his ‘indigenisation’ policy, redistributing wealth by forcing foreign-owned firms to sell at least 51% to black Zimbabwe. Trust that US and EU will not loosen the sanctions against Mugabe’s government. [REUTERS(1), REUTERS(2)]
Pray for the development of Zimbabwe:
Pray for peace, justice and good governance in Zimbabwe;
Pray that the ‘new’ government will concern for the needs of Zimbabwean people.
[ePrayer – Pray for women vulnerable to acid attacks]
Five months back, a scorched 26-year-old woman named Ruqqaiya Perween was brought to the Civil Hospital’s Burns Centre. Scarred for life with burns on 22% of her face and upper body, the mother of four said her husband flung acid on her while she was asleep with her children – and some even fell on them. ‘Since my marriage 12 years ago, I’ve never had a day’s peace. Beating me up was a regular pastime of his,’ she said. It was always because her husband needed the money that she earned as domestic helper.
Despite stiffer sentences for offenders, ranging from 14 years to life imprisonment and a fine of one million rupees (US 10,000 dollars), since the Acid Crime Prevention Act was modified in 2011, campaigners say the number of women doused in acid has increased 89% in 2012. In addition, 70% of acid crime victims are women, and in 60% of cases the attacks occur during family disputes. In the last couple of years, especially after a Pakistani film named ‘Saving Face’ won an Oscar award in 2012, there has been increased conversation around this form of violence – which may actually have given some men the idea. [IPS]
Pray for women vulnerable to acid attacks:
Pray for God’s healing to Ruqqaiya Perween and other victims of acid attacks;
Pray for God’s protection to those women and children who are vulnerable to acid attacks and domestic violence;
Pray that God will transform the evil hearts of human to stop any kind of violence.
[ePrayer – Pray for the disaster relief and preparedness work in India]
Early monsoon rains caused massive flooding and landslides in northern India’s Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh states in June 2013, affecting tens of thousands of people. CEDAR’s partner EFICOR reached the affected areas immediately to conduct assessment and provide emergency relief. All the relief materials have now reached the warehouses and are being transported by smaller vehicles to reach the affected villages. Up to 1 August, EFICOR has covered 1,622 families. Pray that the whole relief operations will be completed by the end of August.
Our partner EFICOR is now looking at the possibility of implementing a long-term community based programme on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) which includes building the capacity of the community on preparedness and mitigation.
Pray for the disaster relief and preparedness work in India:
Pray for smooth completion of the relief operation and the safety of frontline workers;
Pray for God’s guidance and provision on EFICOR’s long-term DRR programme in flood-affected areas in Uttarakhand State. Pray that those targeted villages and communities will have better disaster preparedness.
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
[ePrayer – Pray for the preparation of Barefoot Walk]
CEDAR’s annual Barefoot Walk will be held on 2 November at Ma On Shan. The theme of this thirteenth year CEDAR Barefoot Walkathon is ‘Walk out of Poverty for the Children’, aiming to support our ‘Join Hands Join Hearts’ Children Ministry Scheme to bring better living and life transformation opportunity to impoverished children, families and communities living in Asia and Africa. This year, besides individual and group participants, parents are welcome to join the Walk with their child(ren) as a ‘family’ group. Registration will be started next week.
Pray for the preparation of Barefoot Walk:
Pray for the whole design and preparation of the event, including experiential games;
Pray for God’s provision of enough volunteers to be group leaders, in facilitating games and in maintaining public order;
Pray for our promotion activities and a good response; and pray that the participants will understand the hardships of impoverished children through barefoot walk and the experiential games.
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
October 18 & 19, 2013Venue: The Vine Centre, 29 Burrows St., Wan Chai, Hong Kong
‘Unsung Heroes’ is a two-day event designed to promote and encourage the women of Hong Kong to play an active role and stand with those who are suffering for their faith in Asia today.
Come and hear the incredible stories of two women who have risked everything to follow Jesus.
Meet the speakers and attend workshops to learn and understand the plight of our persecuted Christians and support them.
Friday 18 October: The family night.
Although this is women’s conference, this evening is one for families. Join us with your loved ones for an inspiring evening of worship and praise, performances by well known artistes, and moving and powerful stories of courage and hope from our main speakers.
Saturday 19 October. The women’s conference
This day is exclusively for women. We will have two sisters from the region inspiring us with powerfully moving stories of faith and struggle, opening our eyes and hearts to their suffering and victories.
Conference Pass: HK$ 150 for both days (registration required)
Friday night only: HK$100
This conference pass grants you entry to the whole event including the Friday evening opening concert and to the final closing session on Saturday afternoon.
URL: http://www.csw.org.hk/?page_id=1801
To register, visit: http://www.unsungheroeshk.wix.com/unsungheroes
The distribution process of relief material has been hampered because of the road block caused by heavy rain and landslide. Give thanks that the CEDAR’s China programme team and local church were able to successfully deliver all materials sponsored by HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee to the quake affected families. Besides, members of Dazhou church went to the affected area and provided medical service.
1. Relief material distribution
CEDAR received a grant from HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for the second phase of relief distribution, and worked with local churches & Christian groups in Sichuan to deliver cooking oil, plastic sheets, metal food tanks and sanitary items for women, benefiting 2 administrative villages in Tianquan County and 3 administrative villages in Lushan County, altogether 2,772 households. The households greatly appreciate these materials, particularly the plastic sheets and metal food tanks. As rain still occurs frequently, they can wrap their properties with plastic sheets for protection and store their food in the food tanks.
Once rain had stopped and the road had reopened, the team was busy to load the materials into the trucks.
The truck arrived at midnight, and the staff team and volunteers were then busy to unload the plastic sheets despite heavy rain.
The staff was stock-checking the metal food tanks.
Villagers volunteered themselves to help in the distribution process.
Villagers collected the women sanitary packs.
Cooking oil fits exactly their needs.
Villagers were happy to receive the plastic sheets. They could wrap their properties and food so they don’t get wet.
Also, they like the metal food tank, as food can be stored in it and kept fresh.
Villagers had to walk over hills to carry the heavy packs of relief materials back home. They helped each other on the way.
The staff team also went to the affected villages to visit the families.
During the conversation with the villagers, the staff team learned their needs and also calmed down their worries.
Pray that the affected community can walk from the dire situation and embrace hope soon
2. Medical service
Medical service was organized in two townships in Lushan County, by Dazhou church, Sichuan. Many villagers in the affected areas exhibited dizziness, weakness, chronic illness and other sicknesses after the quake. The medical volunteer team provided consultation and certain medicines.
Through the service, we can identify the physical and psychological needs of the community after the quake and then provide counseling and post- trauma services, hoping this can assist them to start a new life.
Please keep praying for the new round of rehabilitation work that through our service we can continue to care for the quake victims.
Relief Donation
Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
Contact Method
Tel>23819627 Fax>23922777 Email>sharing@cedarfund.org Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong
