PRAYER LIFELINE - Send a Cow

WHO IS SEND A COW?Send a Cow helps African farmers growenough food to feed their families, selltheir produce and develop small businessesthat last.We do this by providing training, livestock,seeds and ongoing support; and by helpingfamilies make the most of the land andresources they already have.As a result, families are happier and healthier,children are educated, homes are improved.✄SEND A COW WORKS IN7 COUNTRIES IN AFRICALENT – DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTCould you do something different this Lentand change a family’s future forever?By raising £40 over 40 days you couldprovide a farmer starter kit that givesa family everything they need to getgrowing. With expert training in naturalfarming techniques such as Bag Gardensand Keyhole Gardens, tools to prepare theground and seeds to sow, farmers will bewell on their way to creating bountifulharvests every year.PRAYER LIFELINESPRING 2011In turn, these families then pass on younglivestock, seeds or training to others.And so on. And so on.This ‘pass on’ principle not only buildsstronger communities, it allows us to helpeven more people to develop skills,confidence and self respect.The ‘can do will do’ attitude of Send a Cow isborn out of our farming roots and ourChristian faith.The key purpose of Lent is to focus onrepenting from our sins and consecratingourselves to God, not on trying to earnGod's favor or increase His love for us.God does not expect us to punishourselves in any way but in thankinghim for his goodness and mercy, manypeople use this time to remember theneeds of others and the suffering theymay be experiencing. Pray with us thatmany people will respond to our specialLent challenge.Working hand in hand with African farmersfor over 20 years, we prove that farming inAfrica works.SEND A COW’S VERSE:Isaiah 58:6-7What it means to worship the lord…Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injusticeand untie the cords of the yoke,to set the oppressed freeand break every yoke?Is it not to share your food with the hungryand to provide the poor wanderer withshelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him,and not to turn away from your ownflesh and blood?ANSWERED PRAYERS FROM THEOCTOBER EDITIONThe successful training weekend for newambassadors in September.The ambassador study tour to Kenya and allthe new friends that were made.The successful Christmas campaign. Both theappeal and gift catalogue brought in newsupporters and much needed income.Send a Cow legacies and all the awarenessraised through Remember a Charity week.TRAINING FOR FREEDOMTraining for Freedom has been introducedto enable churches and other groupsto support Send a Cow on a regular(monthly) basis. When a group startsworking with Send a Cow our localtrainers lead them on their journey out ofpoverty. They guide the way by helpingfamilies make the best use of theirresources and by teaching them new skills.They are the lifeline of everything we do; making surethat everybody has the best possible chance to changetheir lives forever. The monthly gift (minimum of £25)will be used to help fund our vitally importanttraining programmes with a special focus onsupporting local trainers.To find out more please contact David Turner on01225 874222 or david.turner@sendacow.org.ukVisit our website, or give us a call if you would like to contact us.We’d love to hear from you…Send a Cow, The Old Estate Yard, Newton St Loe, Bath, BA2 9BRTelephone: 01225 874 222 Fax: 01225 872 008e-mail: info@sendacow.org.ukwww.sendacow.org.ukRegistered Charity Number 299717Enabling poor rural families in Africa to attain food andlivelihood security by developing strong communitygroups and sustainable agricultural systems whichintegrate crops and livestock.

SUNDAYIN AFRICAJohn 14:14You may ask anything in myname, and I will do it.Lesotho. Give thanks that wehave been successful with the EUfunding proposal and the newwork starts in January. Pray forthe staff as they started thiswork which has demandingreporting standards. Give thanksfor the amazing response to lastyear’s Lesotho appeal which hasensured that all the new projectscan now begin.Uganda. Give thanks for JohnOthieno's work in raising fundswithin Uganda, especially as hehanded over this role to EstherSsempebwa in the New Year.Pray that the Send a Cow team canwork well together and approachfunders and the government withour proposals.Ethiopia. Give thanks for the newwork starting in Ethiopia, funded byIFAD. Pray that good relationships aremaintained. Pray for the projects inthe Southern Highlands includingChenca, Borada & Bonki. Pray toothat God may continue to bless thefarmers, land and livestock as theycontinue to make rapid progress.Also remember in prayer the newerproject Alliance of Knowledge andAction for Sustainable LivelihoodsManagement (AKAM) and forTamene Hailegiorgis who leadsthat project.Pray for the family of David Hall,tragically killed in December. Pray forhis wife Brigitte and children Leila,Alex (both at university) and Louis insenior school who now begin to livewith just the memories of a lovinghusband and father.Lord, today we marvel at yourmighty works. We rememberour friends and colleaguesworking in Africa. We rejoicewith those who are rejoicingand with weep those who areweeping. May your will be done.MONDAYPEOPLEPhilemon 1 : 4I always thank my God as Iremember you in my prayers.We pray for all the overseas extensionstaff working in the field, often withlimited resources and difficult travellingconditions. That they will be able toinspire local groups to take on thetraining which in many cases will attimes be difficult to understand and willeventually mean putting hard work intopractice. We pray for the following staffwho represent all extension staff in theircountry: Titus Sagala – Western Kenya;Mesfin Abebe – Ethiopia;Molefi Hlalele – Lesotho;Cosmas Ntare – Rwanda;Hellen Kongai – Uganda;Joyce Phiri – Zambia;Humphrey Taboh – Cameroon.We have identified two fundraisinginterns, Jakob Braun for Ethiopia andKimberly Gilmour for Rwanda who haverecently started their new roles. Praythat they settle in quickly with theirwork and new surroundings.Pray for Mike Perreau as he fulfils hisrole as Chairman and networks withmany other NGOs and fundingorganisations that could supportSend a Cow in the future.Pray for John Cleverley – EducationManager, Sophie Wynn and Jane Talbotas they prepare for this year’s Grow itGlobal (GIG) project. Pray that it goeswell and that the Ugandan farmers gettheir visas. Pray that many schools willtake part in building African Gardensand many children benefit from theshared learning experience.Also the farmers in the UK who arehosting GIG, that they too will benefitfrom the experience. Pray for issuessuch as good weather, health andsafety especially with so manychildren involved.Lord, in serving others we serve you.Today we pray for your serving heartin all that we do. May all our effortsglorify you and may we know yourstrength in times of weakness.TUESDAYLIVING THE GOSPELDeuteronomy 15:11There will always be poor people inthe land. Therefore I command youto be open handed towards the poorand needy.Give thanks for the way we haveseen Gods power at work throughoutthe life of Send a Cow, especially intimes of real challenge which couldhave caused people in the UK and inAfrica to despair and give up.We thank God for the way he hasprovided through our faithful donors,which has resulted in thousands offamilies experiencing freedom fromhunger, despair and poverty.For “Passing on the Gift” which hasbeen such a blessing both to thosepassing on their gifts as well as to allwho have received them.We pray that there may be many liveschanged not just because of the gifts oftraining and livestock. Our prayer is thatthe love of the Lord Jesus Christ and hisgreat gift of salvation will be experiencedthroughout the organisation.Pray for the appeals to be sent outfrom Send a Cow during 2011, that thewords will reflect the need in Africa andthe joy that is to be found in giving tothe Lord’s work.Especially pray for the Lent Challenge,that it will have the right words whichwill encourage individuals and groupsto support our work through prayer andfinancial gifts.Pray for the trustees and staff that theChristian ethos that has always been atthe centre of the organisation willremain and that under God’s guidanceSend a Cow will never be ashamed ofour Christian heritage but seek toglorify God in all which we say and do.Lord, the greatest gift you have givenmankind is the gift of salvation. Wepray that as the hungry are fed, thesick healed and wrongs are righted.May our ministry always be Christcentered so that we continually sharethe good news of the gospel of ourLord Jesus Christ.WEDNESDAYGROUPSPsalm 146:7He upholds the cause of theoppressed and gives food tothe hungry.Today we pray for a number of groupswhich serve as representatives of themany spread throughout the countrieswhere Send a Cow is working.Kenya – Lureko Support Grouprepresenting families who have beennegatively impacted by HIV/AIDS andare living positively with HIV/AIDS.Uganda – Raki Orphans. Child headedhouseholds coming to terms with lifewithout parents and other familymembers.Lesotho – Roahang Makena Group.This is a group where there is greatpoverty due to a mixture ofunemployment and death due toHIV/AIDS.Rwanda – Tuwimakaze women’sgroup. Remind us to pray for themany war widows and genocidegroups and all those facing hardshipdue to war and injustice.Uganda – Buseta Disabled Associationremind us of the many disabled peoplewho along with their families are beinggiven the chance to improve theirhealth and general wellbeing both athome and within the local community.Ethiopia requests special prayer forthe issue of equal rights for women.We thank God for changes that havetaken place in some projects, but thereare still many areas where this holdsback many families from fullybenefiting from our work.Pray for the 400 groups that arewaiting for Send a Cow to have thefunds available to start their trainingand provide the appropriate gifts.Lord, as the weary and heavy ladencome to you for rest, as the hungryask to be fed, Lord have mercy. Wepray for the practical work Send aCow is doing, that it will prosperand that many more families willexperience freedom from povertyand injustice.THURSDAYHEAD OFFICEProverbs 8:11…for wisdom is more preciousthan rubies, and nothing you candesire can compare with her.Pray for the staff at Newton St Loe:Martin Geake (CEO) that he mightknow God’s peace in all aspects ofhis work.Katie Talbot, the finance team, andMartin Long and the overseasprogramme team. That they will beguided in the plans and decisionsthey have to make. Peg Bavin andthe grants team, that they will begiven wisdom and the right skills toapply for grants and major funding.David Smith and Vickie Wood asthey lead the fundraisingdepartment. Loraine Finnigan,members of the communicationsteam and John Cleverley ourEducation and Web Manager.That they have success in attractingmuch press and media coverage.Give thanks for the help given byour office volunteers who come inweek by week all doing valuablework. Pray also for the volunteerswho give up their time, often attheir own expense, to serve asspeakers and help with fundraising.We pray that more people willvolunteer in the same wayespecially in areas such as Scotland,the North East and North West ofEngland. Pray for Carolyn Aitken asshe leads our team of volunteers.Pray for “Training for Freedom”, thenew regular giving initiative forchurches being trialled during thesefirst few months of 2011 led byDavid Turner. Pray that the rightcontacts will be made leading toregular support from many churches.Lord, inspire all those who areworking for Send a Cow.Help them to face all thechallenges of each new dayand prosper all that is donein your name.FRIDAY - DIRECTIONFOR THE FUTUREPsalm 18:30As for God his way is perfect;the word of the Lord is flawless.He is a shield for all who takerefuge in him.Give thanks for the good response tothe Christmas appeal and the many giftspurchased from the Christmas catalogue.Pray that many people who receivedtheir gifts will themselves now bedrawn to supporting Send a Cow.Give thanks for the way the work hasdeveloped in Rwanda over the yearsand the role Send a Cow has played inthe reconciliation programme that hasand is still taking place.Pray for Froduald Munyankiko (CountryDirector) and his dedicated teamespecially as they work in partnershipwith the Rwandan government.Pray that they will be given wisdomand guidance when things don’talways go to plan.Give thanks for some success that ouroverseas staff have experienced within-country fundraising. Pray that theoverseas staff will learn the skillsneeded to attract more of this fundingand be led to the right contacts so thatthis source of income will increase.Pray for Chloe Morland who has beenappointed to further develop ourrelationship with present and futuremajor donors. Give thanks for all theways in which Send a Cow continuesto fulfill its commission and for themany lives in Africa that have beendramatically changed.Pray for guidance for Send a Cow’s future:especially regarding its role in advocacy,possible alliances with other governmentand non government organisations(NGO’s) and for wisdom in all aspects ofSend a Cow’s fundraising methods.Lord, we pray for your protectiontoday for all those travelling to sharethe work of Send a Cow in the UK andAfrica. Also for those preparing andthose considering funding proposals.Help staff compiling reports anddealing with the press and media.SATURDAY - MAKING A DIFFERENCEPsalm 92:4For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I singfor joy at the works of your hands.Give praise:For the results being achieved from Sustainable OrganicAgriculture training. Thousands of hectares are now fedand cared for resulting in fruit and vegetables; enough tofeed the family and provide a surplus which is shared andsold to provide an important income. For the livestockpolicies which are resulting in better cared for and moreproductive animals.For the improvement in livestock breeding. This has resultedin more animals becoming available to give out throughpassing on the gift.Pray for:Peer Farmers who give their time and share the knowledgethey have acquired. The local committees, especially asthey are responsible for the selection process of familiesgoing forward for training and to receive the appropriategifts. More anti-retroviral drugs to become more easily andfreely available. For reconciliation where family membershave been ostracised because of their health status(HIV/AIDS) often through no fault of their own.Increased income during this year. Continue to pray againstthe recession that God will be glorified through the givingof all who will continue to support Send a Cow. We prayfor the new donors be they individuals, groups, churches,trusts or companies.Pray for all those giving a Send a Cow talk given today orduring the coming week that there will be a positiveresponse from all who hear.Lord, at the end of this week we thank you forhearing our prayers. We trust you to answer each oneaccording to your will. Continue to be our light andinspiration and make us good and faithful servants.✄IMPORTANT DATES TO PRAY ABOUTFebruary 6 – 14thInternational Country Directors’ meetings,Newton St Loe, Bath.February 15 – 18thRotary meetings and conference throughout thenorth of England.Volunteers, regional meetings.MarchResponse to the Lent Challenge.Volunteer regional meetings throughout the UK.May 3 – 27thGrow it Global,West Midlands and the South West.May 10 – 13thChristian Resourses Exhibition, Epsom.May 10 – 13thNational launch of “Training for Freedom”.May 14 – 15thVolunteer Workshop Weekend, Gloucester.