Life in a North African City

Sitting on a plane, as it began to descend, I saw what looked like a giant crossword—buildings stretched out and scattered for miles. The grey landscape, surrounded by dirty sand and cement block buildings, characterises this relatively young city. With more than 700,000 inhabitants it has become a crossroads for several different ethnic groups that have nomadic roots. Five times a day these people are called to prayer and we can only marvel at how impressive their places of worship are. Every day you can see Arabic-speaking women with their colourful veils, sitting together to sew the tents that are so emblematic of this country, even though concrete is now the preferred construction material. The city seems to never stop growing. It is even now growing upwards, which is a new development and was not seen until recently.
 

Life is hard and unemployment is high for the nomads who have moved to the capital. Butros moved to the city and lived by begging from wealthier friends until a friend reminded him that his responsibility was to his family. He went from door to door seeking work until, finally, he found work in a factory that produced battery acid. After that he worked as a night watchman and by day he helped us learn the language. Today he owns a motorcycle rickshaw and works by transporting goods in the market. Due to his perseverance and hard work he is now able to take care of his family. But many other men and women experience much worse circumstances that him.
 

PRAY THAT:
• The believers would be strengthened and affirmed, and that they would have the vision to reach their people with the good news.
• The Spirit of God would give compassion for the poor and for those who lack work due to the actions of those in positions of power.
• There would be a deep hunger to know the one true God.
 
Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;
the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies