Day 22 - Tajikistan - What does the future have in store?

Zebo is 18-years-old and wants to enter university; she dreams of an easier life for her family in Tajikistan. She desires to be free of the worries of putting food on the table and of borrowing and bribing to get the education she desires. Like many other young people, she believes that if she can just learn English and find a good job with a foreign organization, she and her family will be well provided for. She has little hope in her country, unlike the past confidence in the government under the Soviet system. Zebo even questions her family's strong Islamic beliefs. She knows that it will be difficult to obtain what she desires out of life. Her parents have recently been pressuring her to marry rather than pursue an education and career. Life seems like a dead-end street. She asks herself, 'Where can I find hope?'


Zebo represents thousands of young people who walk in hopelessness over their future life in their home country of Tajikistan. Landlocked between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China, this country of seven million people is the poorest former Soviet republic. Over 80% of the population lives under the poverty line and the estimated average annual income is around $180 per person. Women and children make up the majority of the population since many men have gone to Russia for work. Some of them never return, nor do they send the promised financial support home.


In recent years, Islam has become a stronger influence on the people as some have studied in more conservative Muslim countries and brought back their strict teachings. Ninety percent of the people in Tajikistan are Muslims and only about one-tenth of a percent are believers in the Messiah. While Islam disillusions many, there are at the same time those who are genuinely seeking God.


Prayer Ideas:

• As young people think about their future, may they find their God-given purpose in Jesus, the Messiah. Pray fr more workers in the harvest among young people.
• The absence of fathers who work in Russia and elsewhere is making its impact on the foundations of Tajik society (Proverbs 1:8, 3:12, 4:1, Ephesians 6:4, Psalm 68:5, 27:10)
• Pray for strong disciples to be made and that they in turn might be prepared to lead others into the family of faith. Many are recent believers (1 John 2:12-14, Titus 2:1-14).

http://flowersgoneoff.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-21-muslims-in-moscow.html