Global PrayerGram, March 1999

March 1999 The little girl was a 2-year-old bundle of beauty and joy to her parents, Mark and Cara Phillips, International Service Corp workers in Kenya, and to the Kenyans she lived among. All missionaries marvel at the way their children are able to find en¬ trance and acceptance in the hearts and the homes of the people. Laurynn was no exception. Her life was one of contagious happi¬ ness until one day she got sick. When she didn't improve, trips to the doctor and then extensive testing brought a dreaded diagnosis: Laurynn had leukemia. The Phillipses have completed their assignment in Kenya and returned to the States where Laurynn continues in chemotherapy. She is responding well. But one particularly bad day in Kenya, when Laurynn had been very sick from her treatments, she asked Cara that question which at times all of us as parents consider, but rarely are able to answer. "Mama, why I sick? Why I sick?" There was no easy answer. Several days later when Laurynn was feeling some better, she asked her mother another question. "Mama, I feel better. Who's praying?" This one is easier to answer. You are. Randy Sprinkle, Director International Prayer Strategy Office WEST AFRICA. Missionaries Steve and Anne Seaberry, co¬ ordinators for new work in several countries in western and central Africa, ask you to pray that God will prepare the hearts of the Babinga pygmies to hear the good news. Pray that someone will answer the call to share Jesus with them. KAWA OF CHINA AND MYANMAR. TheKawaare known as the headhunters of Yunnan China and Myanmar. They live in the higher elevations and are not only one of the most resis¬ tant minorities to the gospel, but the most feared by others living nearby. Pray that as workers begin to make contact with the Kawa, God will raise up "men of peace" (Luke 10:6) and that these people will come to know Jesus Christ. 2 ST. LUCIA (eastern Caribbean Sea). Please pray for two recently married couples; both husbands want to reach out to their respective communities with the gospel. Missionaries are leading a Bible study in one community, Deicer, but there is no Bap¬ tist work in the other, Canaries. Pray for these men to have strong marriages as a witness and a continued commitment to evangelism. ROMANIA (eastern Europe). Please continue praying as Baptist representative Peggy Carnes and her colleagues work to open a crisis pregnancy center in Timisoara. Sometime this month, they hope to buy a house to use for this ministry; it is located in the very square where the Revolution began in 1989. 3 VIETNAM (southeast Asia). Please pray for an indige¬ nous church-planting movement to begin in this country, espe¬ cially among the university-aged students. Pray that the students will have the courage to seek and follow Christ. MAM OF GUATEMALA. Gary and Lily Stone ask you to pray for the Mam people living in La Candon, a village in western Guatemala. Give thanks to God for the openings that these mission¬ aries have to teach His Word through a monthly "storying" (chrono¬ logical Bible telling) group. The village leaders are suspicious of evangelicals. Please pray that they will be won to Jesus. Ask the Lord to raise up leaders for the Bible study, and pray that a church will eventually be planted in this remote village. 4 CROATIA (eastern Europe). Baptist representative Nela Williams, who serves in Zagreb, is giving thanks to God for the Experiencing God study group for women that she recently began leading in her home. She writes: "It has been well received and blessed. Please pray for the women to grow in the Lord and know Him intimately through this study." COLOMBIA (northwestern South America). Missionaries Jim and Kay Harless report that the cell group (home- based congregation) in the Santuario neighborhood of Barranquilla has about 30 new believers. God has changed lives and has met material as well as spiritual needs. Pray that the Colombian Baptists involved will be adequate for discipling and pastoring such a large group of new Christians. THAILAND (southeast Asia). Many Baptist Student Center (BSC) students sensed firsthand the love of God at the BSC camp in November. Many shared that they were very im¬ pressed with the lives of the Christians there. Thank the Father for the two women who accepted Christ and the many more who expressed a serious interest. Please pray that the seeds that were planted will continue to be watered and that the Holy Spirit will draw many students to God. Pray for a church-planting movement among the university students in Bangkok. SUKUMA OF TANZANIA. Pray that a veterinarian will answer God's call to serve as a missionary among the Sukuma people, who are the largest herdsman group in Eastern Africa. MOLDOVA (eastern Europe). Please pray for Baptist representatives Dave and Sheri Rowser, who serve in Chisinau. Ask God to bless as Dave studies the Bible with a new believer and to grant wisdom to Sheri as she prepares and teaches programs in the neighborhood school on moral behavior. She also has a Bible study each week with a young woman. The Rowsers will begin a "Bible