Need Prayers

It's that time of the year when families get together and celebrate the joy of being one under one roof.
However, there are many, many millions more who are alone, desperately lonely. Nobody to turn to, nothing to look forward to, and practically no hope in sight. These are the loneliest people in the world.
They have no songs in their hearts and their souls seem so far away. A prayer goes out to these lost souls. They too are people who once had a home. They too had parents.
Life has not been joyful for them for many long years. They wander from street to street, city to city, alley to alley, merely existing. Our prayers go to these people. Believe it or not, they are part of this world, and consequently part of us.
We are one family and if we can feel for others, we will in the end feel much joy in our hearts.
We pray that these folks who have somehow lost their way along the journey of life will find happiness in the most unexpected places. This Christmas the lonely, faceless masses are in our prayers.

Now and again, I come across news reports about the thousands of children, particularly youths, who go missing. Frantic parents and guardians try to find them for months, sometimes years but to no avail.
It is heart-breaking to lose a child, not knowing whether he or she is alive or dead. The pain does not go away. The memory is always intact and somehow hope lives on in the loved ones' hearts.
We shall pray for these parents and for those young ones. May they one day meet again under very happy circumstances.

Comedian and actor Richard Pryor died today at the age of 65. For years he kept millions doubling up in stitches. He was a very funny man. And in that spirit of joviality and laughter we shall remember him.
For many years, Richard suffered from multiple sclerosis and effects from a triple by-pass and a heart attack. He has been released from all the physical pains that had been with him for a long time.
With death, he found peace at last. His wife said he died with a smile on his face.
We pray for Richard Pryor who brought laughter to whomever he met and wherever he performed.

One hundred and three passengers died in a plane crash in Nigeria yesterday. There were only seven survivors.
A large number of the fatalities were children. We pray for the souls of the departed.

SO far, about 20 million people across the globe have died from AIDS. In the African continent, there are an estimated number of 28 million AIDS victims.
AIDS has left behind 14 million orphans. AIDS continues to claim lives by the hundreds of thousands. It is spreading like wildfire in Africa, Asia and generally in the developing world.
The pain and suffering ensuing from this dreadful disease is exacting a terrible toll on those people who have AIDS victims in their families.
We shall pray for these people and especially for those who are suffering from AIDS right now.

Malawi, a nation of about 11 million, is currently suffering from a terrible case of famine. Millions are now down on their knees with hunger. They need the world's attention and care.
Our prayers are with them in their hour of desperation and hunger.

Remembering the 110 people who died tragically in a plane crash in Teheran, Iran yesterday. Among the 110 were 47 journalists. We pray for them and their loved ones who were left behind to mourn their losses.