Somali Prayer Guide: - Prayer for the Nations.

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Female Genital Mutilation ( FGM ) Psalm 82: 3-4 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice that started in Africa approximately 2000 years ago. Many Somalis mistakenly view FGM as a religious obligation. FGM is the term used for removal of all or just part of the external parts of the female genitalia. The most common form of FGM practiced in Somalia is Type III (commonly referred to as infibulations and in Somalia, the “Pharaohnic circumcision”). It is the removal of part or all of the external genitalia (clitoris, labia minora and labia majora) and stitching or narrowing of the vaginal opening, leaving a very small opening about the size of a matchstick, to allow for the flow of urine and menstrual blood. The less radical or Type I (commonly referred to as clitoridectomy and in Somalia sometimes called “sunna”) is practiced mainly in the coastal towns of Mogadishu, Brava, Merca and Kismayu. Most of the girls are between four and eleven. This procedure is often done without the care of medically trained people and the use of anesthesia is rare. The instruments used by the mid-wife can be thorns, broken glass, a tin lid, razor blades, knives, scissors or any other sharp object. These items usually are not sterilized before or after usage. Once the genital area for removal is gone, the child is stitched up and her legs are bound for up to 40 days. This procedure can cause various side effects on the girls, which can include death. Some of the results of this procedure are serious infections, HIV, abscesses and small benign tumors, hemorrhages, shock, clitoral cysts. The long-term effects may also include kidney stones, sterility, sexual dysfunction, depression, various urinary tract infections and various gynecological and obstetric problems. In order to have sexual intercourse the women have to be opened up in some fashion and in some cases cutting is necessary. After childbirth some women are re-infibulated (to make them tight) for their husbands. 2 Chronicles 20:17a You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. Jonah 2:2 In my distress I called to the Lord and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. Jeremiah 31:9 They will come with weeping, they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am their father. Please take a minute to reflect on this horrifying procedure that little girls are subject to and then ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Father’s heart to you concerning this terrible mutilation. From this revelation, pray (or cry) for the girls who are experiencing this horror. - - - Pray that Somali ladies will unanimously unite against FGM, and mobilize religious and other leaders through education, to stop this horrible process of mutilation on women Pray for the girl children who have been, and will be traumatized by this evil procedure Pray that the Lord will show his mercy and his compassion to these girls and ladies who suffer from FGM 7
Somali Men Prov 12:3 A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. Traditionally, Somali men were the providers of their families’ basic needs. However, when the civil war erupted more than 20,000 men lost their lives and thousands were maimed or exiled. Over 300,000 people were displaced externally and internally many of them were men who have permanently settled elsewhere and married other wives. As a result, many widows and orphans were left behind and women were forced to become breadwinners in their homes. There is another significant reason however, that forced women to become the breadwinners in their homes. Most men in Somalia consume Khat, which is an addictive plant leaf and flower bud, which contains a substance that stops users from being productive. Somalia’s civil war also led to rampant unemployment in Somaliland, which has one of the world’s poorest economies. Polygamy has also contributed to the increasing number of female breadwinners in Somaliland. Islamic tradition, which the Somalis follow, allows men to marry up to four wives provided they are able to support them. However, Somaliland’s men are so poor that they can barely afford to support one wife; but when a man marries several women, his wives are forced to take up an economic activity to sustain their families. It is very easy for men to divorce their wives as women rarely receive a fair hearing in a judicial system whose laws favour men. Husbands are able to divorce their wives, leaving many women in the position of the single provider for the household. It seems that the war has devastated the family structure and destroyed the Somali men. Our Heavenly Father’s intention is for the family structure to remain intact, and I believe God the Father is longing for these hurt and sick men to come to HIM. He wants to heal and restore them to be men after His own heart because His compassion never fails. Prov 11:19 The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death. Ask our Heavenly Father to fill you with His compassion for the broken men of Somalia. Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ - - - Pray that Jesus would supernaturally reveal himself to these men like he did to Saul, so that they can be restored to being responsible God-fearing men Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict and soften the “hard” hearts of these men so that they can be broken and render their hearts to their Creator and Heavenly Father Pray that these men will be changed into men after God’s own heart. Nothing is impossible for HIM 8
Page 1 and 2: Somali Prayer Guide: Please use thi
Page 3 and 4: History Psalm 34:13-14 Keep your to
Page 5 and 6: Somaliland Job 11:18 You will be se
Page 7: Somali Women Psalm 18:6 In my distr
Page 11 and 12: Children Psalm 72:4 He will defend
Page 13 and 14: Child Soldiers Psalm 72:4 He will d
Page 15 and 16: Djibouti Isaiah 44:3 For I will pou
Page 17 and 18: Mental Health Lamentations 3:32 Tho
Page 19 and 20: Landmines Psalm 34:18 The LORD is c
Page 21 and 22: Nomads Isaiah 49:10 They will neith
Page 23 and 24: Mogadishu Ps 127:1 Unless the Lord
Page 25 and 26: Radio Gospel 2 Timothy 2:8-9 Rememb
Page 27 and 28: Dreams and Visions Genesis 40:8 “
Page 29 and 30: Martyrs Psalm 116:15 Precious in th
Page 31: Workers Matthew 9:37-38 Then Jesus

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