Tearfund started working in Bangladesh in response to a cyclone in 1973 that caused widespread devastation. Our focus now is on targeting the effects of climate change and supporting vulnerable individuals in hard-to-reach poverty-stricken areas. This week, pray for our teams and partners working in a country that is regularly hit by disasters and emergencies.
Sunday 6 August
Living in a flood-prone area means low-income farmers in Nageshwari, a district in the north of Bangladesh, are at risk of being pushed further into poverty. Tearfund’s partner LAMB trained 80 farmers to grow crops resistant to floods. One farmer was delighted that this had ‘helped us increase our income’. Give thanks and ask for more opportunities for training.
Monday 7 August
LAMB also helped Farjana, whose family were suffering because of poor nutrition. She attended a workshop about how to create a rooftop garden. She was inspired. ‘I want to convert the entire roof to a fruit garden which will become a great source of nutrition to help our body fight diseases,’ she says. Pray that Farjana’s garden will remain fruitful.
Tuesday 8 August
‘I have to work very hard to provide food for my daughters,’ says Bajeka from Cox’s Bazar on Bangladesh’s south coast. ‘I want my daughters to be educated.’ She was given a cash grant from Tearfund’s partner and bought goats to earn extra income. Pray that this will successfully provide enough for her daughters’ education.
Wednesday 9 August
Sumi, her husband and children used to live in constant fear of their home and possessions being destroyed by flood water. Their tiny tin house was built on a mud plinth and regularly flooded. ‘We would become totally stuck inside the house,’ says Sumi. Tearfund’s partner World Concern Bangladesh (WCB) built them a higher concrete plinth to evade the floodwaters. Join Sumi in giving thanks: ‘Thank you, almighty God! I pray that this project can continue to reach more marginalised people here, so we can live by the love of God.’
Thursday 10 August
To help communities prepare and respond to disasters, Tearfund and our local partner COAST supported a government cyclone preparedness programme to run a mock drill. ‘The event was a great success,’ shares Sanjeev Bhanja, Tearfund’s Country Director for Bangladesh. ‘Training like this saves lives.’ Pray that those who took part will share their knowledge widely.
Friday 11 August
Nearly a million Rohingya refugees live in Bangladesh, fleeing violence from their homes in Myanmar. Hasina had endured a difficult life in the refugee camps and wanted to learn a skill. She was delighted to take part in tailoring training from WCB. Praise God that Hasina says she has ‘learnt a lot and I now realise the importance of education’.
Saturday 12 August
Lord God, we lift Farjana, Bajeka, Sumi and Hasina up to you, and many more in Bangladesh who you are blessing with new skills, knowledge and inspiration. We pray for small churches across the country, that they will become agents for bigger change across the nation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
