I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the pit.
Lamentations 3:55

When gunfire erupts between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and Burmese Army battalions, villagers hide in covering pits (holes dug into the ground ) to protect themselves from crossfire. When the Burmese Army reaches a village, the soldiers will use the people they haul out of the pits. An Alpha Relief partner reports that in June,

“the Burma Army forced the (Myine Tha Ya) villagers to carry loads and serve as human shields and minesweepers on their six-mile patrol to Meh Ta Li Village. Amongst the group of villagers forced to carry loads were a 9-year-old boy and a pregnant woman.”

Please Pray:

• That the Burmese Army stops abusing the Karen women and children
• Psalm 103:4 (God) redeems their lives from the pit and crowns them with love and compassion
• That the Burmese Army turns away from Karen villages and as a result, the soldiers are kept safe from landmines

“I will bless (Zion) with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.”
Psalm 132:15-16

Above a gigantic lake in Burma stands a village, with huts built on stilts and the only transportation available is by canoe. An Alpha Relief orphanage is housed in one of these dwellings and, in order to become self sustaining, the children are breeding fish as both a food source and an income stream. This month’s excessive rains are jeopardizing the fish farm. Our partner explains:

“Down on the lake we are building up the banks around the fish farm to try to save the fish, as the water is still rising.”

Please Pray:

• That the rains stop and the fish farm water does not overflow its banks
• For a great harvesting of fish so that the needs of the orphanage are met
• That Jesus clothes each of these children in salvation, that they will grow in their faith and despite their hardships, they will sing for joy

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free”
Luke 4:18

In early 2010 we met Philip, a boy who lost his eyesight due to lack of medical care while living in the jungles of Burma. Generous Alpha Relief partners arranged for a cornea transplant later that year.
Philip lives in the Alpha Camp on the Thailand/Burma border, and though he has regained much of his sight, he faces multiple challenges. Recently his caretakers wrote,

“The new cornea is swelling and the doctor doesn’t know yet if this is a sign of early rejection or if it will heal on its own. The Dr. punctured the blister and said that within a week it should be healed. So, bottom line we need to pray that the swelling goes away completely and doesn’t come back.”

Please Pray:

• That when Philip sees the doctor this week, the swelling is gone and there is no indication of the cornea’s rejection
• For Philip to remain encouraged throughout his healing process
• For Philip’s caretakers and doctors

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.
Nahum 1:7

Thank you for lifting up the Alpha Relief operative whose delivery inside North Korea was successful last week. She returned with a prayer request.

Two of her contacts inside North Korea, a sister (20) and brother (13), disappeared in mid September. She writes, “they could have run away to get free, maybe to (China), or as what happens a lot is that children suddenly disappear. They could have been taken secretly away to a labor camp of no return, prison, kidnapped and sold to human traffickers, or even have died.”

Please Pray:

• A prayer of thanksgiving, since we know that no matter what their circumstances, God is with this brother and sister
• For God to comfort those in the distribution network, as they care deeply for these young people
• That if these siblings are alive, they are kept safe and their faith is upheld

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25

Travel into North Korea is so dangerous that we risk overlooking how perilous it is for North Koreans to travel in China.

One Alpha Relief partner writes:

“Last month two of Korean brothers who are involved in our kind of work were poisoned at A city and B city in China near the border by North Korean intel. One died and the other is still in hospital. Please pray for our work in China since we travel there often.”

Please pray:

• For the recovery and safety of our hospitalized brother
• That the faith of both families remains strong and that their lives are shielded from North Korean authorities
• For the strength and protection of an Alpha Relief operative making an important delivery inside North Korea this week
• That North Korean Intelligence officers cannot forget those they have persecuted, and, as a result, seek to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior

Please share your prayers as comments below.