Country Updates

One of LIA’s first projects in Sudan back in the early 2000s was to support women affected by female genital mutilation (FGM) who had sustained injuries during child delivery. Today, we are praising God for how he is working to reverse almost four decades of government-enforced Islamic law. With a new leader vowing to lead Sudan to democracy, the country recently decriminalized apostasy and banned FGM. We are so grateful for the open doors this will lead to in days ahead and the change it will bring for the people of Sudan.

One of LIA’s first projects in Sudan back in the early 2000s was to support women affected by female genital mutilation (FGM) who had sustained injuries during child delivery. Today, we are praising God for how he is working to reverse almost four decades of government-enforced Islamic law. With a new leader vowing to lead Sudan to democracy, the country recently decriminalized apostasy and banned FGM. We are so grateful for the open doors this will lead to in days ahead and the change it will bring for the people of Sudan.

In this season of pandemic, masks have become a regular part of our vocabulary, a needed precaution, and an everyday sight. Yet for the 63-year-old widow, Kajuru Sikola in the DR Congo, a few months ago she didn’t even know what a mask was, let alone how to wear one. As an elderly woman, she was confined to her home and unable to get information about COVID-19. For three weeks, she couldn’t go out because of lockdown regulations and her daughters and sons who live in an area with a large number of confirmed cases couldn’t come to her. When our LIA task force came to her home for a visit, they gave her a mask and explained why and how to use it. She thanked the team and God, saying, “We are always used as God’s hand to rescue and look after people rejected by those in power.” Now, she’s protected, able to go out when necessary, wearing her new mask.

Part of what LIA does to serve impoverished communities is training and supporting people as they start income-generating activities. During this season, when many vulnerable families are looking for ways to make money, our investment in empowering people economically helps them provide for their needs and bring value to the areas they live in. These women have begun baking, becoming successful breadwinners in their homes while literally feeding bread to those around them.