Prayer Warriors

 As a new week started at Doulos, I was struck by a sudden thought- while it's great that the 3rd graders are praying for different nations, should it stop there? No! The amazing thing about prayer is that everyone can participate. We may not be able to physically journey to a foreign country to lend a helping hand, but in our prayers, we are helping in one of the most powerful ways possible- in the Spirit. So with this in mind, I am asking you to join with my 3rd graders each week and lift up the countries that are chosen. Together, I really believe a difference can be made!

This week, my students have selected to pray for Niger in West Africa. I contacted a YWAM Centre in Abalak and asked them if they had any specific prayer needs. Here is what they said:

1. Niger is a Muslim country. Please pray for hearts to be open to receive the Lord.
2. Right now there is an extreme food shortage due to drought which may very well become a famine in the coming months.  
3. Due to the drought and food shortages, many nomads (primarily the Taureg and Wodaabe tribes) have lost their livestock, which is their livelihood. 
4. All around Niger, countries are at war or there is civil unrest. Many war refugees are fleeing to Niger, which is putting even more of a strain on the country.
5. Above all, pray that the believers there can make a significant difference in the lives of a very hurting country.

 Each week, I will post the list of prayer requests so that you can join with us in prayer. Let's make a difference!

No Such Thing as Coincidence

Nothing is a coincidence; the Lord really has everything under control. This was proven to me this past week. Every week, my 3rd graders go to the map and decide on a country that they want to pray for the following week. Last week, the children decided to pray for Russia, a country that had never really come up in conversation. I was pleasantly surprised, so with a smile on my face, I emailed the home office of YWAM Russia, asking if they had any prayer requests. The following day I received an email from a woman named Katya saying that the big need at the moment was the presidential elections. The amazing thing for me was that the day we were to start praying for Russia was the first day of the new president's term! I laughed, realizing that the Lord had laid Russia on the hearts of my 8 year-olds! 

Then this last Friday, I asked the children what country they wanted to pray for next. After a very short time at the map, they unanimously chose Canada. I told them that I had several friends in different parts of Canada and I would ask them if they had any prayer requests for the country. 30 minutes later, a group of 5 volunteers show up at the school asking to help for the day. You guessed it, they were from Toronto, Canada! I was shocked! When I told the kids where they were from, they had these huge grins on their faces and said, "We're praying for Canada!". For me, it was another confirmation that the Lord really wants to work through the lives of these 14 students. 

I love when the Lord speaks. When it comes through children, I sit up and listen a little more.

The 3rd Graders with the team from Canada and our director, Emilio.