Prayer Points – May 29
Prayer Points – May 29
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, UMN invites all people of prayer to set aside time daily to ask for God’s help in our work in Nepal. The time suggested for UMN staff is 3.00 pm. For our friends around the world, we ask that you join us either at the equivalent time in your country of 3 pm Nepal time, or whenever you are able. Many have found setting a daily alarm on their phone a useful reminder. 
Thank you for your fellowship in prayer.
Joel Hafvenstein 
“This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit or righteousness.”
(Philippians 1v9-11) 
We encourage everyone who is praying for UMN not only to raise our requests but to listen to God on UMN’s behalf. Please take time to read this Bible verse slowly to yourself. Pause and ask God to speak through His Word. Then read it slowly again. Settle and calm your mind before you pray.
Major Matters for Prayer
  • Yesterday the Budget was presented to Parliament with an emphasis on strengthening the health system and stimulating employment to help the country recover from the impact of COVID-19. The health sector budget was increased by 32%. Small businesses have been given huge tax breaks, in some cases up to 75%. There is the intention to create 700,000 new jobs. Please pray for national leaders in this time when the pandemic is taking hold (now over 1000 infections in Nepal), and the economic impact is both damaging future development, and causing real suffering here and now.
     
  • Across Nepal, authorities have been requiring hospitals like UMN’s to use their scarce isolation beds to look after any patients seriously suspected of coronavirus, even for people with mild symptoms.  As the caseload grows, this is on the verge of becoming overwhelming.  Please pray that district authorities will agree that mildly symptomatic cases should be sent home to self-quarantine, freeing up more hospital beds for patients (COVID-19 and otherwise) who are in need of urgent inpatient care.
     
  • In general, please pray that Nepal’s district authorities make wise decisions with regard to quarantine and isolation spaces.  Some district officials have been looking to rapidly expand the number of isolation beds without sufficient regard to the negative impacts this could have—for example, spreading the virus more rapidly if infection control in the isolation facility is not well managed, or taking medical staff away from life-saving general care to tend to mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients.  Great wisdom is needed, and a willingness to listen.
     
  • Staff care and support. The Leadership Team are working to develop improved staff care in this time of change, uncertainty and stress. Staff are working alone at home amidst all the pressures of family. All meetings are being held on-line. Expectations and insecurity are pressing. Difficult decisions must be made quickly. A small team of individuals are to be asked to make themselves available to anyone who needs to talk in confidence. If necessary further advice and counselling can be offered. Please pray that all our staff will be well supported in these times.
     
  • Pray for the churches across the country. Many of them are offering help to the local governments through providing spaces for quarantine, donating money to the covid19 funding set up by the local governments and distributing lifesaving materials including food items. Churches and faith-based organizations are setting up centers for counseling and other help to people affected by the virus. Please pray for wisdom for the leaders to make right decisions in mobilizing church resources in serving the needy.
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