AIM Australia Director, Len Lesleighter, with his wife Robbyn, are praising the Lord for the new addition to their staff, as Rev. Allan Johnston recently joined them as Personnel Coordinator for Australia.  Pray for Allan and Len as they work together to mobilize people in the Asian Pacific region to participate in missions.  Pray as Allan learns the details of his new role.  Pray that through “Reachout” conferences and other avenues, many young people will be encouraged to serve as missionaries. 

African cities are growing at a tremendous rate as people move from the rural areas to find work.  Large shanty towns and slums have developed, and the issues of poor housing, overcrowding, poverty, unsanitary conditions, disease, and crime are compounded.  Many children live on the streets.  Pray for new missionaries called to live and witness in the difficult urban areas of Africa.  Pray for the church to effectively minister to the needs of those in the cities.  Pray that Christians living in the African slums will be a witness to the gospel of Christ.

Steve and Karrie Graham and their children have been working with an organization called “Hopes Promise” in Arandis, Namibia, since the beginning of 2008.  Their primary area of focus is placing vulnerable children with foster families.  They are praising the Lord for recent opportunities to reach out to children at Scripture Union camps and a holiday Bible club.  Please pray for their health and stress levels.  They have been facing bouts with minor illnesses.  They also ask prayer for Talitha Kumi, the primary school sponsored by Hopes Promise, for favor when it comes to issues with the authorities, and the need to expand.  Pray for the Grahams to learn Afrikaans and be able to use it effectively. Pray as they continue to develop relationships in the community.

Lilian Hurter is praising the Lord that things have been more peaceful in Mayotte following riots earlier this year.  Continue to pray that social tensions will be addressed appropriately by the authorities.   She is thankful for an outreach that a team from the church made to a neighboring island to train some women there in children’s ministry.  Pray for Lilian and her national colleague, Pascal, as they reach out to those in the villages around Mamoudzou.  Pray for progress in translation projects and for wisdom for AIM leadership as they make decisions about the work in Mayotte. 

Pray for Bekah Larson as she learns the difficult Sesotho language and experiences her first winter in Mokhotlong, Lesotho.  She has learned about the culture in “hands on” ways as she helped thatch her hut, carried a friend’s baby on her back, and baked her own bread.  She is also attending 5th grade at the local elementary school to learn Sesotho.  She is visiting AIDS patients in the local hospital and is thankful for opportunities that are opening up for her.  Lesotho has the third highest rate of AIDS in the world and the needs are great.  Pray for Bekah and the rest of the AIM Lesotho team to be able to address these needs in godly and compassionate ways.  Pray for Bekah’s need for a reliable vehicle. 

R and L are praising the Lord for the cohesive team that they have been serving with in AIM’s Northern Region.  They are thankful to see progress in their Arabic, and ask for prayer as they study classical Arabic this year.  Pray for R as he seeks to get involved with community development through a local association and L as she is hoping to start a craft club to teach practical skills to local women who need a source of income.  They have been building relationships through such diverse activities as ultimate Frisbee and Arabic music lessons.  Pray for strength and stamina in their ministry.

Lorien Knapp went to Africa as a water engineer, but is finding herself drawn into ministry with street children.  She is now involved in the ministry at the Tanzania Children’s Rescue Center in Mwanza, Tanzania.  She is praising God for the way He is leading and directing her path and for new friends she has made.  She asks prayer for language learning and that she would be a light in the darkness.  Pray for Lorien as she teaches 5th grade English and stays at the center in the evening to help tutor the boys who are struggling with math and science.  She spends time counseling and encouraging these guys and listening to their heartbreaking stories.  Pray that Lorien would have wisdom and discernment as she disciples these young boys.