Encouraging news from Zambia

Thank you for praying for our overseas partners, as they help their communities protect themselves against COVID-19. We thought you might appreciate an update from Wukwashi in Zambia.

Last week, we heard from Joyce, Wukwashi's co-Director. Overall, the news is encouraging. Joyce tells us she has had a bad back but, otherwise, she and Henry and their children are all well. All the Wukwashi volunteers are well too, as are the children and families Wukwashi serves. Apparently there have been very few cases of COVID-19. As BBC News reports: 'Zambia currently has a total of 1,382 positive coronavirus cases out of 45,248 tests conducted. A total of 1,142 people have recovered while 11 have died from the virus.' 

A word of caution, however: it's important to note that the actual total death toll from COVID-19 is likely to be higher than the number of confirmed deaths. This is due to limited testing for the virus and problems in the attribution of the cause of death; it's possible that many more people have died from COVID-19 but simply had their deaths attributed to other conditions.

Joyce tells us that things are very much returning to normal in Zambia. However, bars remain closed, as do the majority of schools, except for the classes who are due to take exams. The churches are now open but everyone has to wear a mask. There are also acute food shortages, caused by a combination of poor harvests and COVID-19 disrupting supply lines.

Here are a few specific points to pray for.

Give thanks

• Wukwashi has received a donation of 50 bags of mealie meal from a church, which they will distribute to families in their network, to help address the current food shortages. The mayor has donated 200 face masks and hand sanitiser, too.  
• Wukwashi is running a week-long Transform Disability workshop for 30 volunteers from Kitwe. The team hope that some of the volunteers will then be able to deliver the training themselves, to pass on what they have learned.

Please pray

• For Joyce, Henry and the volunteers; that all of them will remain healthy. 
• For complete healing of Joyce's back.
• For the safety of the volunteers as they continue to visit the children in their homes (adhering to social distancing).
• That the Holy Spirit will give the volunteers courage as they go out on visits. Many are understandably fearful, as COVID-19 is still an issue.
• For the Transform Disability workshop, which started on Monday 29 June. Pray that the training will go well and that God will raise up volunteers to themselves become trainers. 

Again, thank you so much for standing with us in prayer. If you want to keep praying for BCT and our partners in an informed way, there are a few options to help you do that.

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