6. Andorra

Andorra is that tiny little country located between Spain and France! I was thrilled after discovering this.

It’s so tiny, its population is less than 90,000. It’s the sixth smallest nation in Europe and amazingly, has the second highest human life expectancy in the world- 82 years.

Andorra thrives from its tourism and the communication advancements its made to avoid isolation. Only 2% of its land is suitable for agriculture and it has almost 100% employment within the country.

The official language of Andorra is the Romance language, Catalan. Spanish, French, and Portuguese are also commonly spoken because of its proximity to countries of these languages. There is free education for children, one university in the country, and healthcare to all employed people.

According to the Joshua Project, only 10% of the population is not Christian. That 10% includes 1.1% of Muslims, 0.5% of Hindus, 8.1% of people without a religion, and 0.1% of Buddhists. Its persecution rank is so low it’s not even rated.

I was taken aback at how Andorra’s conditions sound 1000 times better than the United States’.

I didn’t even know what to pray for.

The first thing I could think of was the spread of the Gospel and the advancement of their country. As well-off as they are, there is still room for growth and expansion. As for the Gospel, I pray that the 10% non-Christians will come to see Jesus as their Savior. I pray that the believers in Andorra represent Christ well and show others what love really is. It’s as simple as that really.

Because Andorra may not have any major issues, some people might assume praying for Andorra has no point. What do you pray for the country that seems to have everything? This is where a lot of us go wrong.

“Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We are told to pray continuously. That verse doesn’t say “pray when there’s a problem” or “pray when you absolutely need Me.” It says pray continuously.

God knows what’s on our hearts and minds, but He wants to hear from us too. He wants to converse with us, have our innermost thoughts trusted with Him.

Andorra may not need much help, but I will pray for them because I know the power of prayer. Talking to God is an awesome thing and someone should never feel like there are things not worthy of being said. Even tiny Andorra is created and loved by God and how much joy must He feel when we care for it as He does?

Story of Family

“One day God says to the angels, ‘I have an idea. I am going to create the family.’ An angel asks, ‘What is it?’

‘I am very excited about this idea,’ God says. ‘Of course, I am excited about all my ideas. One of the great things about being God is you just never have a bad idea- but this one is special. Family is going to be the way I connect people in love. It will work like this. Adult people will sign up to take care of a tiny little stranger.’

‘Are they going to get paid?’ the angel asks.

‘No, that little stranger is actually going to cost them a lot of money. Not only that, but the stranger won’t even be able to talk at first. It will just cry and scream, and you will have to guess why. It will make you lose sleep. It will make messes all the time that you have to clean up. It will be utterly vulnerable. You have to watch that kid twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Then when it’s two, that little stranger will be able to say words like NO and MINE, and it will throw tantrums. And then I am thinking about inventing puberty. I am not too sure about that one yet, but if I do, they will get these strange things called hormones that will go crazy. Odd things will happen to their bodies. They will get pimples, their voices will crack, and their limbic systems will melt down. Then they will grow up, and just when they are mature and beautiful and interesting and able to contribute, they will move away. That’s the idea. What do you think?’

The angels shuffle around and look at their feet. Who’s going to tell him? they think. Lord, who would sign up for that? Why would they do it?

Here is where God really gets excited. ‘They won’t even know why. They will just look at that little body, those little hands and feet, and they will think that this tiny little stranger is beautiful, even though he looks like every other baby and all babies look like Winston Churchill. Then one day that little stranger will smile at them, and they will think they have won the lottery. That little stranger will say DADA and MAMA, but it will say DADA first because daddies are just so self-sacrificial and noble and… how I love them. But moms are good too. So it will say DADA and MAMA, and then those little arms and hands will open up and reach out and wrap around that neck, and it is going to feel to that grown up that for the first time now they understand why arms and hands were created.

What it’s really about is just grace.

Children, the new generation, will learn that they are prized and belong before they have ever done a single thing to earn it. The old generation will learn that when they give, they will receive. When they give the most, they receive the most.

And then one day I will tell them, Human race, I am your Father. You are my daughter; you are my son.

They will get it and they will be undone.’ “

The Me I Want to Be- John Ortberg

 

5. American Samoa

The American Samoa, located in a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, is slightly larger than Washington D.C. That’s pretty tiny. With a population of only about 65,600, I’m not surprised. Because I knew absolutely nothing about this tiny country, I did a lot of research and came to find out that they’re 98.3% Christian. That is a lot of Christians on one island. I suppose persecution is not as much of an issue as it is in places like Afghanistan or North Korea. Their life expectancy is about 74 years, their death rate is low, and 97% of the population is literate. It seems that the Samoans have it all together, right?

One area the American Samoans do struggle with is natural disasters. This is actually the first country on my list of countries to pray for that is mainly negatively affected by the natural environment.

To be more specific, September 2009 was a traumatic month for the Samoans. On September 29, 2009, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck off of the American Samoa’s coast, generating a tsunami that was reported to have killed at least 150 people on the island, injuring hundreds more, and leaving over 1500 people homeless.

Typhoons are common in the area from December to March. That means that this can and probably will happen again.

What can we do to help? Prayer is a powerful weapon.

Lord, I pray for protection and recovery of the people in American Samoa. There are still families and people struggling with the loss of their loved ones due to last year’s catastrophe and other natural disasters that have occurred. I pray that you’ll comfort them, be their strength and their rescue. Please continue to help these people make progress in rebuilding their country. I pray that the large Christian population is setting an example to the few unbelievers on the island. Lord, please use them to show others who You are and what You have done for us all. Thank you for what you are doing in American Samoa. Amen.

Image from September typhoon in the American Samoa.

4. Algeria

I didn’t know too much about Algeria at first other than it’s located in North Africa.

I founds some information, however, that better explained what’s going on there.

Since 2002, the nutritional status of young children has been needing improvement. Corporal punishment is still practiced in the schools and children are not finishing their education because of violence and learning disabilities, among other factors. In 2005, over 50,000 teens dropped out of school. More than a quarter of children are laborers and many kids in rural areas work for their families, another reason for the lack of education.

It is estimated that 1 out of every 20 children abuses, tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.

That hit me hard.

About 30% of Algeria’s population is under fifteen years old, and it is evident that these children and teens need help.

After learning all of this, I just really feel like the children especially need to be prayed for. When kids are raised in violent or unhealthy areas, innocence can be lost so quickly. I pray that these children will find a positive influence in their life, one that will bring them to Christ.

Besides these issues, medicine and housing are other problems Algeria faces. It actually has one of the highest per housing unit occupancy rates for housing in the world. One reason for this is the high amount of refugees and migrants seeking asylum in Algeria. It is estimated there are about 95,700.

Fortunately, women have greater status in Algeria than in other countries in Africa. Besides dominating the medical field, 70% of Algeria’s lawyers and 60% of Algeria’s judges are women. Household income is affected more by women than the men.

On the topic of religion, Algeria is predominately Muslim. Because of Islam’s expansion, Christianity has been declining in Algeria for over a millennium. There are about 150,000 Christians in Algeria, though various sources report there are roughly one million Christians in areas with underground churches. According to the Joshua Project, which provides information on the status of Christianity in each country, it is number 25 on the rank of persecuted nations. Over 80% of the population is unreached with the news of the Gospel. The most scariest news of all: only 0.4% of the population is Christian.

Surrounded by people of the Islam faith, the Christians there must face persecution and fear. As supporters of our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is also essential that we pray for their strength and courage. The spread of the church in this nation is made possible by these Christians willing to fight for their faith and show others what love is really all about. That is truly daring.

Lord, you love all your children. I pray for the protection and strength of these children and young people in Algeria. Whatever they are facing, I pray they run to You and find faith in You. The people in Algeria need a Savior and I thank you for the people living there who are trying to show others who You are. I pray for the expansion of Your church and the safety of the believers worshiping You. Thank You, Lord, for all that You are. Amen.

You Are Captivating

Here’s a word all girls are familiar with: Acceptance.

Every female struggles with it.

Am I pretty enough? Do these people like me? What should I wear today? Will they make fun of me?

Or worse: Who does she think she is? Why can’t he just be normal? Why should I bother getting to know this person?

Whether it’s trouble with accepting ourselves or trouble with accepting others, we are all guilty.

Today someone raised a question: Why do you want to be accepted?

For a long time, I literally did not have an answer.

We spend so much time putting on makeup, trying to impress people, working to achieve something of worth, hoping to getting someone’s attention, and asking ourselves if we’re even good enough.

It’s obvious that we all want to be liked and accepted.

But why?

Why does it even matter? Who cares if your hair looks like a mess? What’s the point in trying to gain as much approval from your peers as you can? Who are we trying to impress anyway?

WHY?!

Because we are like Eve. Every woman is.

“Like Eve after she tasted the forbidden fruit, we women hide. We hide behind our makeup. We hide behind our humor. We hide with angry silences and punishing withdrawals. We hide our true selves and offer only what we believe is wanted, what is safe… We will not risk rejection or looking like a fool. We have spoken in the past and been met with blank stares and mocking guffaws… To hide means to remain safe, to hurt less. At least that is what we think. And so by hiding, we take matters into our own hands. We don’t return to God with our broken and desperate hearts.” Captivating- John and Stasi Eldredge.

When we fail to accept ourselves, we are drifting farther and farther away from where God wants us to be. He wants us to run to Him, He wants us to put our insecurities behind us, and He wants us to find truth.

And the truth is that we were each created to be simply captivating.

“A woman in her glory, a woman of beauty, is a woman who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy enough. She knows in her quiet center where God dwells that he finds her beautiful, has deemed her worthy, and in him, she is enough. In fact, the only thing getting in the way of our being fully captivating and enjoyed is our striving. “He will quiet you with his love” (Zeph. 3:17). A woman of true beauty is a woman who in the depths of her soul is at rest, trusting God because she has come to know him to be worthy of her trust. She exudes a sense of calm, a sense of rest, and invites those around her to rest as well. She speaks comfort; she knows that we live in a world at war, that we have a vicious enemy, and our journey is through a broken world. But she also knows that because of God all is well, that all will be well. A woman of true beauty offers others the grace to be and the room to become.“

Once we break through those layers of hurt and fear, we find a capable version of self, a beautiful one. Once we see the true meaning of beauty and we learn to accept ourselves, we also learn to accept others. We are all so much alike.

Ladies, we all seek to be loved, we all want to be seen as lovely, and we all struggle with looking at ourselves in the mirror, some more than others. Once we realize how similar we really are, how can we not love and help each other? How can we not accept each other? You are meant to be captivating, and so is she. We all are.

Though we may not fully know why we want to be accepted, the desire is there. Instead of allowing it to control our actions and determine how we live our lives, we need to let it all go and realize what we can be, not what we aren’t.

3. Albania

My third country is Albania. I’ll be honest, I thought of Islam right off the bat. Considering I don’t know much about geography, I had mistaken Albania for a Middle Eastern country. Actually, it’s located in South Eastern Europe. And it’s not just about Islam.

After plenty of research, I came across the following information.

According to the CIA World Factbook, 70% of the Albanian population is Muslim, 20% is Eastern Orthodox, and 10% is Roman Catholic. However, the Albanian government reports that Albania is only 38% Muslim, 16% Eastern Orthodox, 17% Catholic, and 25% atheist/nonreligious.

The history of Albania is pretty interesting.

When Albania first arrived on the scene of historical records in the late-11th century, they were fully Christianized. In the 15th century, however, the period of Ottoman Turkish rule brought Islam to the area, overtaking Christianity until 1912.

After World War II, the Communist regime that took control of Albania entirely banned religion. In fact, it was declared the first official atheist state in the world. Fortunately, since the regime’s step down in 1992, religious freedom in Albania returned. The Muslim population is concentrated throughout the entire country, but the Orthodox Christians are mainly found in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north.

Recent statistics have stated there are approximately 1119 churches in Albania and 638 mosques.

Foreign Catholics, Evangelicals, and Mormons who have come to Albania for missionary purposes since 1991 mainly come from the United States. The Muslims come from Arab countries and Turkey. In 2002, it was reported there were 31 Christian Societies representing more than 45 organizations. It was also reported there were about 17 different Islamic Societies and Groups. Americans, English, Italians, Arabs, and Greeks make up the largest foreign missionary groups in Albania.

After learning all of this about Albania, I realized my assumptions were far from correct. Not only is Albania not a purely Muslim country, it is also half Christian if not more!

Besides the religion, I was surprised at the population demographics. As of 2008, Albania has a population of 3,170,048. The life expectancy is about 77 years, making it the 51st country in the worldwide rank. Their life expectancy is higher than many countries part of the European Union, like Hungary and the Czech Republic.

The part that really amazed me was the age structure. About 23% of the population is 0-14 years old. About 67% of the population is 15-64 years old. Only 9.8% of the population is 65 or older. The median age is 29.9 years. This is even lower than the United States’ median age of 36.8 years.

These numbers stood out to me because I believe the younger generation is beginning to step up to the plate. Like in “Hosanna” by Hillsong United, “I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith.” In a technologically advanced society revolving around pop culture and successful industry, I know we are constantly bombarded with things that go against what Jesus stands for. To some, we are becoming even more selfish and self-consumed as years pass.

I think otherwise. When I look around me, I see a group of kids, young adults, and hardworking citizens striving for something greater than this world. They might not know it yet, they might not quite grasp the concept of living for an all-mighty God, but I do know that this generation is searching.

Here on this earth, we’ve all witnessed acts of our sinful nature, seen the violence and hatred of mankind. I think that seeing these things does one of two things for each person. It either shuts down their hope for this world, hardens their heart with anger and confusion, and stops them from having faith in God. Or it serves as a catalyst, sparking hope within their souls for something that could be, allowing them to trust in God, and giving them appreciation and longing for the rare beauty in this world. People who choose choice B are on the road to true happiness that is only found when we trust and abide in our Savior.

What I’m saying may sound naive of me, but I believe wholeheartedly in the redemption of mankind. Because I have chosen B, I no longer see the world as others do. I have hope.

What I’m praying for Albania is that the Christians and missionaries serve as catalysts to others, showing them who we are called to be and providing them with hope for the future. I don’t see their young population as a disadvantage. I consider it an opportunity. This generation has great potential and I know God has a plan for us.

“It is our turn to step up and take responsibility for who the church is going to be for a new generation. It is our turn to rediscover the beautiful, dangerous, compelling idea that a group of people, surrendered to God and to each other, really can change the world.” Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

“I Am Second”

We can’t judge.

This testimony touches my heart.

Why Do You Believe?

While my friends and I read through Revelation from God’s Word today, we reached Revelation 19:11, a vision given to John of a rider on a white horse.

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptor.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

The rider on the white horse is Jesus.

Over a dozen connections between that one chapter in Revelations and the prophecies from the Old Testament can be made.

Out of all the books in the Bible, I want to emphasize the connection between Isaiah and Revelation, two books written about eight centuries apart (if I did my math right) by completely different people that both tell of the same Messiah.

Revelation 19: 11 “With justice he judges and makes war.”

Isaiah 11:4 “But with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.”

Revelation 19:15 “Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.”

Isaiah 11: 4 “He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth.”

Revelation 19:13 “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood… He treads the winepress of his fury of the wrath of God Almighty.”

Isaiah 63:3 “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.”

Though I only focused on Revelation 19, prophecy from the Old Testament connects with the New Testament in more ways than I count or even find.

Predictions of Jesus’ birth came true. Predictions of Jesus’ life came true. Predictions of Jesus’ death came true. Most importantly, predictions of Jesus’ victory over death came true.

With all of this being said, I want to answer one question that is on many minds: Why do you believe in Jesus Christ? And by believing in Jesus Christ, I don’t just mean believing he lived and died a human life. Why do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the King of Kings, and the Messiah? Besides just looking at the Bible which states that he is those things, what causes you to have faith that he died for our sins and rose again? Why do you believe this is true?

From various sources, I have found answers from people asked the same question.

“I most definitely believe in Him because I know Him on a personal level. He guides me, watches over me, protects me, and answers my prayers. I can also feel His love in my heart.”

“Because there was no other way to the Father. Every other so-called ‘way’ required works. Jesus had a finished work and it is available just for the asking. How could I reject so great a salvation?”

“I believe in Jesus Christ because of what He is to me, personally. Religion will not become a power in any man’s life as long as we think of it as something impersonal. The reason for much of the present-day infidelity and lack of faith on the part of professing Christians, the reason for broken homes, frustrated hopes, selfishness and immorality, is because Christ to most people is a myth, a mystery, a figure of the past and not a living, guiding, empowering, saving Redeemer. We don’t worship merely a historic figure who lived on the earth 1,961 years ago-certainly not a dead and done for Savior, but one who is as alive as ever, for He ever liveth, He is the same yesterday, today and forever!”

When I’m asked that question, I immediately think back to a year ago. I was not following the Lord then, I was not living for Christ, and I was just really lost. One night when I had reached the lowest point in my life, though young as I was, I found myself praying for the first time in years.

My life was transformed from that day on. It’s not that I woke up one day with a sudden belief that Jesus is real. I had actually woken up one day with a suddenly changed heart, and that was enough for me. I couldn’t deny that Jesus was real after what had happened to my life. Could you?

Why do you believe in Jesus Christ?

2. Akrotiri

The second country of my year-long prayer for all nations is Akrotiri.

I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever heard of Akrotiri. Who knew it existed?

I was kind of hesitant to pray for a country I knew absolutely nothing about, but I figured that this was a chance to learn something new. If you’re as clueless as I was, this can be a learning experience for you too.

With that being said, here is some background information on Akrotiri.

Akrotiri is located in the Eastern Mediterranean, on a peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus. It’s listed as a country, but has been owned by the United Kingdom since the 1960 Treaty of Establishment. The United Kingdom claimed Akrotiri as one of their military bases because of its strategic location. It’s about .07 times the size of Washington, DC. That’s pretty tiny.

Akrotiri is usually paired with Dhekelia when discussed, another territory owned by the United Kingdom. In the map below, you can see the two territories as the shaded grey areas along the coast. Approximately 15,700 live on Akrotiri and Dhekelia. About 7,000 of those people are Cyprians, about 3,000 are personnel from the United Kingdom, and about 5,000 are dependents. Economically, Akrotiri isn’t really flourishing. The services and economic activity that Akrotiri provides is limited to the United Kingdom military and families, and all foods/manufactured goods is imported.

For many years, there has been conflict in Cyprus between the natives and Britain. The Cypriot president elected in 2008, Dimitris Christofias, has called the presence of the British a “colonial bloodstain”, pledging to remove all military forces from the island.

News of possible British withdrawal from the island appeared in January 2010.

While researching, I was unable to find many demographics and statistics concerning Akrotiri. Because of the lack of information, I think it’d be best to take a look at Cyprus as a whole.

The life expectancy on Cyprus is 79 years as of 2005. The death rate is 6.4 deaths for every 1,000 population. Less than 1% of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS. Over 70% of the population is Greek Orthodox. About 20% is Sunni Muslim. The rest of the population is either Eastern Orthodox or of some other religion.

By the look of these demographics, I’d say Cyprus is in pretty good shape.

What then should we pray for? The same things we pray for our friends and family, our neighbors, and our coworkers. On that little island, there are people who do not know Christ. There are people burdened and suffering.

There is conflict between the Turks and Greeks, conflict between the locals and British, and conflict among religions.

Pray that God will speak to the people of Cyprus and they’ll come to know and live for Him. Pray for the unification of Cyprus which has been divided since 1974. Pray for the release of the hostility and resentment within the island and between its people. Pray for Cyprus’ leaders, including President Dimitris Christofias.

We may not fully know what is going on in Cyprus, especially in little Akrotiri, but we do know that God has a plan for everyone on this earth. Cyprus is no exception.

I encourage you to do some more research on Akrotiri if you would like to learn more about its specific needs or its current situation.

1. Afghanistan

Before praying for Afghanistan, I did some research on its history and current situation.

I found a bit of statistics and information that somewhat startled me.

The life expectancy in Afghanistan as of 2008 is 44 years old.

That means many of your  family members, your parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles would be dead or close to dying. That means your older friends, the adults you look up, your mentors and teachers, would be nearing death if not dead already, as well.

The United States’ life expectancy is 79 years old. We don’t know how lucky we have it.

“Infant, under-five, and maternal mortality rates in Afghanistan are among the world’s highest. Twenty five per cent of children die before reaching their fifth birthday. Fifty women die each day from pregnancy-related complications. More than half of all children are stunted.

Because immunization coverage is still very low, preventable diseases kill thousands of children annually. Malaria (which afflicts approximately 2 million people per year), measles, and respiratory infections are the leading causes of childhood death.

The great majority of Afghanistan’s population lacks access to safe water or sanitation. Diarrhoeal diseases and tuberculosis are chronic threats to public health.

Two million children of primary school age do not attend classes. Literacy rates are low. The gender gap in education is narrowing, but girls still lag far behind boys in school enrollment.

Land mines and unexploded ordnance pose a serious risk to children’s safety.”

Concerning Christianity, Afghanistan is rated 6 out of 50 in the Christian persecution rank, with one being the highest.

The percent of population unreached is 99.9%. There are approximately 70 Christians in Afghanistan out of the population of 28 million.

Reread those numbers. Yes, SEVENTY Christians surrounded by about 28 MILLION Muslims and non-Christians.

The persecution some of us face cannot even begin to be compared to what believers over there must face if their faith is discovered.

With mention of Afghanistan, I cannot ignore the troops stationed over there. My uncle will be going to Afghanistan sometime soon for the second time. I know my prayers and many others’ will be with him.

After all of this being said, I hope you will pray for Afghanistan with me. If you’re not exactly sure what to pray for or how to pray, just think of what is most important to God.

He wants to see His kingdom expand, He wants His children to come to Him. Pray that the lost and suffering people in Afghanistan will find the Lord’s love and be saved.

Thank Him for what He’s doing in Afghanistan. We don’t know His plan at the moment, but we can trust that He cares for His people very much. Every crisis resolved, every person rescued, every life saved, is all part of His plan. Don’t doubt in your heart what you are praying. God is bigger than you think He is.

Lord, I thank you for Afghanistan and the people living in it. I know that many lives are lost each day from starvation, violence, government corruption, and sickness, but You are mightier than all these things. Those that come to You overcome death, Lord, and I pray that more will come to see what You have done for us all. I pray that the people in Afghanistan will be comforted with the news of a Savior. Thank you for the foundations and people willing to sacrifice their time and money for Afghanistan. Thank you for the aid that is helping its current situation. As each day passes, I know that You remain the same and You are continuously working in this country. Thank you for helping me better understand what goes on in Afghanistan so that I can better pray for the people living in it. Amen.