This month, the local church Anna Ciociola in West Africa where she attends, and which is now her family, will celebrate twelve years of being open. Every year on this occasion there is a big evangelistic event, this year preceded by twelve days of fasting and prayers. Pray for the week of evangelism, there are different events: for children, for women, for everyone. May the Lord touch lives to be saved!
Whilst in church on Sunday, Anna, heard the sound of rain. Someone started to get up to put rags on the pulpit because the water was starting to penetrate. The roof of the hall is made of sheet metal. The preacher continued his message and the water kept running everywhere until it was completely flooded. Everyone was busy, the young people were scooping up the water and singing at the same time, all barefoot in the flowing water. Pray for the church, which currently does not have the money to repair the roof, and the rainy season has just begun.
Continue to pray for Anna’s local friend, that the Lord will heal her of her cancer. Last month she could not have chemo due to lack of funds. Thank God for moving the heart of a donor, and on the last day of June she had another therapy. Pray for complete provision and healing.
In the local culture it is really important not to call people by their name, but by the right title of respect. Anna is now called TATA which means AUNT. But she has also learnt by her mistakes, and she is also expected to call mature women by the right title.
Anna is grateful to God for the opportunity to disciple the young women and girls in the church, and to establish a deep relationship with each one of them. Pray for the spiritual growth of these women and girls, and for God to heal emotional wounds, renew and rebuild for His glory. Pray for wisdom, intelligence and discernment for Anna in all her dealings and counselling.
Pray for solid foundations and spiritual stability for those who come to salvation.
Birth and death are an ever-present reality. A neighbouring family recently celebrated the birth of their little one. But Anna also witnessed the first funeral since being in the local church in West Africa. Pray for both families. The lady that died leaves behind a husband and three-year-old daughter, who will grow up with her father’s sister.
Anna is grateful for the opportunity she had recently to go to Italy for ten days to be with her whole family, including her sister from the USA.