| News update and subjects for prayer - February 2012 |
...whoever is kind to the needy honours God. Proverbs 14:31
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View Prayer Calendar in PDF format 
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| Feb 1/2 | |
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Please remember in prayer the UK Trustees as they meet on February 2nd, that they will have wisdom and discernment in the decisions they take and guidance they give to the compassion ministry Hands of Mercy. Please also pray for the Philippine Trustees as they meet regularly throughout the year.
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| Feb 3/4 | |
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Christmas parties
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Please give thanks to God that the Christmas parties went really well for the sponsored children and the malnourished children who receive supplementary food. The children enjoyed games and surprises and after a meal of spaghetti and chicken they all received a gift. The Hands of Mercy team with their husbands and children also enjoy their Christmas party. The Trustees are very grateful to all the people who kindly gave financially towards the children's and staff party expenses.
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| Feb 5/6 | |
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Visiting the doctor's surgery and receiving a prescription is something we all take for granted, but living in the squatter communities of Mandaluyong means that many people die because they cannot afford medication. The Prescription Medicine Programme has made a big impact in the lives of many families and through it many adults and children have been healed. Please pray that funds will continue to be available so that more families can be helped.
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| Feb 7/8 | |
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Please continue to pray for the complete healing of Sally Escoto who has finished her treatment for cancer, but continues to be seen regularly by her doctor at the hospital. Her next visit to hospital will be in March. Please remember in prayer two very young children - Kurt Solis, who needs a colostomy operation, but because he suffers with tuberculosis has had his operation postponed, and for Dan Harvey who having recovered from tuberculosis has recently had his cleft lip operation.
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Kurt Solis
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| Feb 9/10 | |
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Please pray for the Hands of Mercy staff in the BARANGKA area: Hilaga - Jenny Baron (team leader) Gina Lerios, Emma Ata and Medilyn Dela Cruz. Agudo - Tess Magtabog (team leader) Jane Alcantara and Inday Toribio. Malaya - Mryna Milan (team leader) Margie Peape, Nenita Raquel and Ara Torrefranca. Busilak - Anita Aquino (team leader) Pina Nato and Mila Espanola. Kayumanggi - Tess Inciso (team leader) Maria Gabon, Nanay Berta and Joey Escoto.
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| Feb 11/12 | |
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A huge difference can be made in the life of a poor child by sponsoring them for their education. Give thanks to God that through the Child Sponsorship Programme children living in poverty are partnered with a personal sponsor willing to invest in their education, health care, personal development and Christian Discipleship. There are many children, including Kerby and John Ace, who are both nine years old, John Erick seven years old, and Carla Shane ten years old who would love to be linked with a sponsor. Please pray that each child will have an identity in God and learn how special they are to Him. Please also pray that more people will come forward to help sponsor a child. (Please contact the UK office if you would like to sponsor a child for an education - Tel: 01582 416151)
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| Feb 13/14 | |
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Valentine's Day is celebrated widely in the Philippines with many cards and gifts being sold! Please remember in prayer the married ladies on the staff of Hands of Mercy that they will have good relationships with their husbands and that their love for each other will increase. Please pray for the husbands who have yet to make a spiritual commitment to God.
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| Feb 15/16 | |
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Please continue to pray for Joey Escoto as he is now Head of Maintenance for all the Hands of Mercy centres, oversees the work under the Home Improvement Programme, and is Pastor of the Plainview Mercy Community Church. Please pray for the ongoing construction of new homes in Block 37. The families are very grateful to Hands of Mercy for providing them a home - a shelter when the rain and typhoons come as well as giving protection from the heat of the sun.
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| Feb 17/18 | |
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Two new Mercy Community Churches have recently started, one in the St. Rosario community in Mandaluyong, and the other at Camp 8 in the city of Baguio in the north of the Philippines. Give thanks to God that the local people living in these two areas have asked for a church to begin as they wanted to come together to worship God on a Sunday and be strengthened through their fellowship together. Please pray for Sevalyn and Angie who are leading the services and worship at the Camp 8 church.
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Sevalyn and Angie being prayed over
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| Feb 19/20 | |
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Hands of Mercy helps over forty families have supplementary food, through the Family Support Programme. Each family has a sponsor and this personal contact is an enormous encouragement to those who live in poverty and who need to scavenge daily to provide for their families. Please pray that more sponsors will come forward to help the extremely needy families in the Mandaluyong communities who so often go hungry. The following families would really benefit from having a sponsor - Jonard and Alberta Racho, Nomer and Jo Ann Olaybal, Elvin and Rebecca Sacendoncillo and Evelyn and Wendy Lasao. Give thanks to God for the existing sponsors and please pray that more individuals will offer to help a family each month. (If you would like to sponsor a family, please contact the UK office on 01582 416151)
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FSP food preparation
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| Feb 21/22 | |
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Please continue to pray for the Disabled Therapy Programme which the Hands of Mercy staff began several years ago. It has now become a local Government project in Mandaluyong that has gained the Mayor's award as the most child friendly city. Mandaluyong is the only city that gives free services for very poor families who have children with special needs. Hands of Mercy continues to need financial support to run this programme, as the local government have only provided a building, not the running costs. Hands of Mercy staff also give home care therapy to several malnourished disabled teenagers who need regular meals including milk and fruit. Because of extreme poverty their parents are unable to buy nourishing food for them. (if you would like to help a disabled teenager, please contact the UK office on 01582 416151)
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| Feb 23/24 | |
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Please pray for the Hands of Mercy staff in the ADDITION HILLS, Welfareville area: Block 37 community: Tata Mabalod (Pastor) Beth Tocyapao (ministry co-ordinator) and Girlie Dedase. Block 38 community: Greg Lubiano (Pastor) Remy Lubiano (ministry co-ordinator) Terie Tapel, Analyn Eduardo and Helen Navallasca. Block 40 community: Liza Bernabe and Remy Lubiano.
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| Feb 25/26 | |
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Please remember in prayer those who pastor churches in Mandaluyong: Block 37 - Tata Mabalod. Sto Rosario - Rommela Mabalod. Block 38 - Greg Lubiano. Plainview - Joey Escoto. Please pray that God will give them sensitivity and wisdom as they exercise a pastoral and teaching ministry.
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| Feb 27/28 | |
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Last October the girls in the Mercy Community Church youth group had a special "night out" in the Sikap centre organized by their Leaders. Eighteen girls between the ages of 14 and 18 all beautifully dressed, enjoyed a fun evening, with one chosen as the beauty queen. One of the leaders shared from the Bible about inward beauty, and the importance of how we use our sexual desires. Please pray that God will give the leaders His wisdom and guidance as they organize the youth ministry at the church. June and Matt two of the Youth Leaders, feel that God is calling them to attend a YWAM Discipleship Training School during 2012. Please pray for them as they make arrangements to attend the training school and that funds will become available for them to do so.
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Girl's Night out
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| Feb 29 | |
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A major way that poverty can be eradicated is when bribery and corruption are dealt with. Corrupt practices benefit those who are rich and harm those who are poor and vulnerable. Please pray that the Philippine Government will use its position of power and act with integrity and honesty. Please pray for all those working in government departments whose actions directly affect poor communities. Whether their decisions relate to health, water, sanitation or other poverty issues, please pray that they have the courage to make choices that benefit those most in need.
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