(VIN-took) - As the academic school year closes on December 1, the youth in Windhoek begin to travel out of the city for the holidays. All too often, this is a time of a lack of supervision for many of the children that, in turn, leads to their harm. Would you please pray that God will protect these children from all harm--physically, spiritually, and emotionally--during their six-week-long break?

As three missionaries were riding a bus, one of them struck up a conversation with a stranger named Kiu. When Kiu found out that the missionary worked at a local church, his eyes lit up. "No way!" he said, "I just became a Christian three months ago, and I've been trying to find a church!" Kiu had been a Buddhist his whole life. But after his brother had passed away earlier that year, his mother reconsidered her hope and become a Christian. Later, Kiu became a Christian too. He had no idea what to do with his new faith, where to find community, or where to find biblical discipleship. The next Sunday after meeting the missionaries, Kui joyfully attended Sogang Tree Church. Kiu believes it was God who arranged the bus meeting. Please pray for him as he grows in his new relationship with Christ. Ask God to ordain "bus meetings" for many more like him.

There is a group of approximately 4,000 people in the Swat Valley of northeastern Pakistan who speak Ushojo as their primary language. The Ushojo language might be at risk of extinction since it is spoken by such a small group of people who intermarry, live, and work among multiple other language groups. The Ushojo are an unengaged, unreached people group; they currently claim Islam as their religion. Pray for any current witness among the Ushojo to boldly proclaim the gospel. Pray that believers will be able to faithfully take the good news of Christ to the Ushojo. Very little is known about the Ushojo-speaking people, but God knows each and every heart. Pray that the Ushojo may soon worship Christ as Lord, to the praise of His glory!

This is not the first time that Sarrah has made the decision to follow Jesus. He made this decision a few years ago while speaking with a believer, but he was just like the Parable of the Sower. When Sarrah heard the Word of God, like rocky ground, he immediately received it with joy, but because he didn't have roots, he forgot about it. But God had a different plan for him. Sarrah had not been a devout Muslim since then. He told a believer that he didn't like the teachings of Islam and that he was deeply hurt by an incident several months ago in the city of Jaranwala where Christians were badly treated. The believer asked him to think deeply if persecuting people in the name of religion could really be God's will. Sarrah said that there's no way that God would want His people to act that way and that he wanted to learn about Jesus again. He decided to pray for his salvation and confessed that only Jesus is the one true God. Pray for Sarrah to put down deep roots and for this small seed of faith to grow and bear much fruit!

Fatima Zorah has lived in Europe for many years now. Originally from North Africa, her understanding of God came mainly from Islam, as she considered herself to be a Muslim. Recently, however, she's been contemplating whether God will let her into paradise. She's had a very difficult life and struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. After chatting with a believer about God's goodness and the hope that awaits in heaven for those who follow Jesus, she is convinced that God is actively listening and working in her life. She was given an audio player and has access to the Bible in her heart language of Arabic. Thank the Lord for the openness of Fatima Zorah to listen to and receive the Bible! Praise God for His active pursuit and working in her life! With the many opportunities she has had to hear the truth, pray that her ears will be receptively open and her heart ready to believe and accept the salvation and redemption of Jesus. Pray that the Word she listens to will not return void but will accomplish its purpose in her life (Isaiah 55:11), leading her to surrender all to follow Jesus.