Day 11
Laos
As inflation in Laos grows to almost 40 percent, the government introduced radical steps including allowing only banks to exchange money and banning the import of food products that are also locally made. One of the impacts of the skyrocketing inflation has been a significant increase of Laos workers finding employment in neighboring Thailand. The risks of human trafficking are significant. Pray protection over migrant workers. Pray also for the poor who are worst affected by the current economic situation. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (The Bible, 2 Corinthians 1:3).
Source: To tame inflation, Laos orders closure of all money changing shops, import limits (RFA)
Laos is one of the world’s few remaining communist states, enduring as a one-party socialist Marxist republic supported financially by China and Vietnam. Economic progress was being made with improved poverty, education, and health outcomes, but the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly set back the pace of this growth. At one point, persecution of Christian Believers was mandated by the federal government; however, their stance has changed over the last two decades. National legislation to protect churches has been introduced, but only for the one approved protestant denomination. Persecution of the Church is localized, often driven by society and local government officials who abuse their power and position. Despite persecution, the Christian community grows in number and boldness. 32 percent of the population are under the age of 15, so children’s and youth ministry is very important.
Day 11
Western Sahara
Western Sahara plays a key role in the US-Moroccan military relationship. The Moroccan Sahara issue has achieved a new success by not circumscribing in the US defence budget for next year any “restrictions” on strengthening the US-Moroccan military partnership, officially retaining it as one of the most important exercises of the “African Lion 2023” project in Morocco during the second half of next year. US President Joe Biden signed the National Defence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, following a constitutional amendment process in the US Congress with consensus reached between Republicans and Democrats in both houses of Congress. Thank God that the budget amounts to $770 billion, the largest defence spending ever approved in the world. Pray for a lasting solution to the major issues and for the Holy Spirit to convict people of their sins and restore them (The Bible, Matthew 12:18).
(Source:
https://atalayar.com/en/content/western-sahara-key-issue-us-moroccan-military-relationship
President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is Incumbent Brahim Ghali since 12 July 2016. Western Sahara is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. It has been a disputed territory since 1975. Morocco controls 80% of the land, while the remaining 20% is controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Presently, camps run by the Cuban-backed Polisario Front exist in southern Algeria, where thousands of indigenous Sahrawi people are sequestered and treated inhumanely. Public beatings are common and young children are taken from their families and sent to Cuba for re-education. It is a country in tremendous need of the Gospel. It is estimated that there are only about 10 Christian workers in the whole country, making it so about 80% of its population has never heard the Gospel. It is a closed country, so being a “missionary” there is not officially allowed. Christian workers must be creative in why they go and how they minister there. Its Christian prospect is considered bleak, and the nation of Western Sahara remains a disputed territory.
