Zimbabwe
As last year began, regional liaisons Ted and Sue Wright
wrote the following reflection.
Zimbabwe continued its eight-year economic slide. Eviction
of white commercial farmers led to production cuts and loss
of foreign investment. Faced with inflation, a brain drain,
and global isolation, the president has responded with a “Look
East” policy and cracked down on political opposition.
The PC(USA) has relationships with two sister entities. One,
Synod of Harare, CCAP, is descended from the main church in
Malawi. The other is the Presbytery of Zimbabwe of the Uniting
Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Both struggle to sustain
operation and expand social outreach. Zimbabwe has one of the
world’s highest HIV infection rates. The deaths of parents
have resulted in more orphans, street kids, and child-headed
households. Presbyterians and others respond by endowing projects,
notably the Lovemore Home and Home of Hope. To learn more, visit
www.theoutreachfoundation.org.
Prayer
Comfort, your people, O God, and cry to Zimbabwe that her warfare
is over. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray for intervention.
We pray for hope and that we might help. Amen.
Mauritius
The PC(USA) partner, the Presbyterian Church of Mauritius,
has about one thousand members in one English-speaking and four
French-speaking parishes. Presbyterian, Anglican, and Roman
Catholic churches cooperate in a theological education-by-extension
program, Biblical Theological Training.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for your faithful servants in Mauritius.
We ask that you give them strength and wisdom in carrying out
your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
