Burundi

We Give Praise For:

• God’s mercy and protection over our staff and their family members during August.
• The national election of deputies and senators which happened peacefully and securely.
• The tree nurseries throughout the watersheds we work in. We are witnessing increasing awareness of tree nurseries in our communities, demonstrating the commitment people have to restoring the environment
• Protection from bushfires, which used to be very dangerous and destructive for farms throughout the community.

We Pray For:

• Continued protection during September. May God’s grace continue to rest on our staff and their families.
• Activities that are taking place during September, as we end our first quarter.
• The members of the Burundi government which is facing challenges like economic issues and fuel shortages. We ask God to give them wisdom and guidance to protect our country from dangerous situations and restore hope to those who are desperate.
• The rainy season begins in September, as usual, so that crops can grow after the dry season. May God provide us with rain at the right time.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

We Give Praise For:

• God’s protection over the families of our staff and the communities where our work is implemented.
• A successful August, where our activities and our staff conducted regular field visits, despite ongoing conflict around these watersheds.
• Our spiritual renewal supervisor who was sick last month and is now recovering and returning to work.
• The Purpose Groups from Sange, Luberizi, and Luvubu who are continuing to make progress despite the obstacles they’ve faced this month.
• Our monthly staff meeting, where staff received mental health support and communication training in light of the ongoing conflict in our country.

We Pray For:

• The security situation in Uvira, where there were fights opposing the M23 and the government military this month. This situation has created a lot of tension in the city of Uvira.
• Safe travel for the monitoring and evaluation team as they travel from Uvira to Bukavu, where they will conduct data collection and monitoring.
• The establishment of tree nurseries in all watersheds where the seedlings were affected by early August rain. We thank God that there are no major issues affecting these tree nurseries.
• Successful board meetings which will be taking place next week in Bukavu.
• Lasting peace in South and North Kivu. We pray that the banks will reopen in those zones so that communities can benefit from bank services.

Dominican Republic

We Give Praise For:

• The summer Bible schools held throughout the Dominican Republic which provided a wonderful experience for children in the rural communities.
• The work that is continuing to be carried out in the Nizao 2 watershed.
• The successful formation of new Purpose Groups this quarter.

We Pray For:

• A member of the border team who suffered a motorcycle accident. We pray for God's restoration as he recovers.
• The farmers of the Nizao watershed and the new Purpose Groups. May they continue to be empowered and transform their farms, families, and communities.
• God's care for the staff as they travel along very difficult roads.

Ethiopia

We Give Praise For:

• Continued protection and safety for our dedicated staff working in high-risk environments.
• A successful launch of the Impact Evaluation, despite heavy rains and prevailing insecurity.
• The successful completion of this season's tree seedling plantation efforts.
• A fruitful and effective annual meeting between the board and the senior management team.

We Pray For:

• A smooth and successful completion of this quarter’s program activities.
• Continued progress and the timely completion of the ongoing Impact Evaluation.
• A swift and favorable resolution to ongoing legal matters, and lasting peace and security across Ethiopia, especially in the Amhara region.

Haiti

We Give Praise For:

• The rains that make planting possible and that are allowing farmers to begin their planting campaigns in three new watersheds.
• The team that remains steadfast and continues to bring hope to vulnerable communities, despite the gang activity that is present around the area.
• The successful formation of 12 new Purpose Groups in one of our newest watersheds.
• Communities in a new area we are exploring who are beginning to build a strong partnership with us. We are grateful that many people have expressed their willingness to actively participate in this program.

We Pray For:

• A community leader who lost his father. Tragically, four of his grandchildren died in an accident on their way to get supplies for his vigil. We pray that God will give this family courage and strength in this difficult time. 
• The members of our staff and community who have lost daughters, mothers, and cousins this month. We ask that God send comfort, strength, and courage to the families.
• Our team members who have been suffering from illnesses and injuries. We pray for their quick recovery and for good health.
• God to provide a school and a health center for a community where we work, so that families no longer have to travel long distances for education and medical care.
• Improved security so that farmers and staff can work safely. We pray for God’s continued protection in communities facing growing threats from armed gangs in their areas.
• Rain, so that partners can plant the seedlings available in the nurseries.

Malawi

We Give Praise For:

• The new partnerships that we have established in August.

We Pray For:

• Peace and stability, especially as we approach the tripartite elections on September 15th.
• The successful implementation of the activities we’ve planned for September. We pray for teamwork, especially as we prepare our partners to establish tree nurseries.

Mexico

We Give Praise For:

• The Purpose Groups that are in the process of graduating in the Yochib and Majosik watersheds in Chiapas.
• The progress we’ve made in forming new Purpose Groups so far this quarter.
• The birth of a baby to our colleague in Chiapas. We praise God that both the mother and baby are healthy.

We Pray For:

• Rain for agricultural crops and reforestation projects, which have been affected by the lack of rain in recent days. We pray that the hard work of rural families will yield good results.
• A community member and her children who are grieving the loss of her husband and their father. May God bring strength and comfort to their family and their community in the midst of their sadness.
• The formation of new Purpose Groups, so that we can reach people who want to work together toward this mission of transformation.
• The provision of more fertilizer, water, etc., to use for seedling production in nurseries.
• The health of the team to be strengthened. Some colleagues have experienced health issues that have required hospitalization and surgery. We pray that God will work in their bodies and that they will recover soon.

Tanzania

We Give Praise For:

• God’s continuous protection which sustains our staff, partners, and communities in all of their engagements.
• The wedding of our colleague. We celebrate this joyful milestone and wish the newlyweds a blessed and happy home.
• The activities we accomplished in August reflect the dedication and commitment of our staff and participants.
• Our participation in the Tanzania NGOs Conference, where discussions focused on the contributions NGOs make to national development.
• A successful celebration of National Farmers’ Day, where participant farmers and program staff actively participated in the exhibition.

We Pray For:

• God’s faithful protection over all staff, families, partners, and the communities we serve during September.
• Wisdom, guidance, and smooth implementation of the monitoring and evaluation data collection and its related reports.
• Successful completion of all of our planned activities. We pray that they will be accomplished effectively and with impact.
• Comfort, healing, and renewal for our colleague who experienced the loss of his newborn. May God restore peace and hope in his family.
• Peaceful and successful national elections in October, with God’s guidance over the ongoing campaigns and preparations.

Thailand

We Give Praise For:

• The passing of the Ethnic Groups Promotion and Protection Act. This law secures important protections for ethnic minorities in our country.
• Abundant rain in Thailand that is bringing moisture to the land during the planting season.
• The safe transportation of seedlings and a positive response from farmers who participated in the planting and caring for the trees.
• The improved health of our HR Officer’s mother. We pray that she will continue to heal and be strengthened.

We Pray For:

• The development of policies and proposals that urge the government to address the heavy metal and arsenic contamination in the Kok and Mekong Rivers.
• The effective implementation and enforcement of the Ethnic Groups Promotion, Protection, and Conservation Act which was officially announced on August 6. We pray that it will create real impacts and benefits to ethnic communities in Thailand.
• A smooth learning and dialogue process on agricultural land and community forest management among villages in various watersheds. We pray that this collaboration with the Kok River National Park Office goes smoothly.
• Effective collaboration among village leaders, extension officers, and government agencies, and for peace along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
• The preparation and budgeting for UHDF’s 30th Anniversary celebration in 2026.

United States

We Give Praise For:

• A productive board meeting and the rich conversation about our three-year strategy plan and the CEO transition. 
• Our staff and volunteers who are faithfully preparing for a successful Planting Hope Gala this October. 
• The life-changing impact among rural farming families as we seek to provide access to savings and loans, mutual encouragement, and practical skills to restore their land and break the generational poverty cycle.

We Pray For:

• A well-attended and successful gala event on October 11. May it be an evening of connection, learning, and growing support for our global mission. 
• Continued guidance in the search for our new CEO. We ask God to give the board wisdom and discernment as they review potential candidates.
• Allie on our development team as she departs for maternity leave this month. We pray for her health, the health of her baby girl, and a safe delivery, along with a joy-filled leave.
• We pray for the U.S. churches and leaders who will be part of the beta phase of our new “Tend” small group curriculum.