Children of minority faiths are often barred from school, in attempts by local authorities to enforce religious conformity, and even though this is illegal state governments rarely take action. Local leaders have also violently expelled many minority faith families from their communities, and the children of these families are then unable to enrol in a new school. On 30 April, Children\u2019s Day in Mexico, we made a noise that the Mexican authorities couldn\u2019t ignore. We brought Alma, one of the affected children, to the capital to tell her story to government officials and foreign embassies. She was even able to take part in a special Children\u2019s Day breakfast hosted by the president! Meanwhile, youth groups and churches around the world held \u2018solidarity parties\u2019, writing letters to their local Mexican embassies to press for action on this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sunday 22 September<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018They discriminated against us, they swore at us, but I never thought they were going to destroy our houses.\u2019 In December 2017 Alma\u2019s family was thrown out of their village in Jalisco State, because of their faith. She\u2019s always wanted to be a nurse, but her education has been interrupted by this traumatic experience. Pray that she\u2019ll be able to resume school soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monday 23 September<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018To be a doctor, I need to return to school…\u2019 Kevin, from Chiapas State, has a story similar to Alma\u2019s. \u2018Seeing them destroying our houses, I felt very sad.\u2019 Pray for Kevin\u2019s mental and emotional healing as he and his family try to rebuild their lives following this trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tuesday 24 September<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018If you don\u2019t take part in the Day of the Dead celebrations, I\u2019ll give you a bad grade on your test.\u2019 Oscar, from Hidalgo State, is just one of countless children who have heard similar words from teachers pressuring Christian children to take part in religious activities against their will. Ask God to move the hearts of the teachers towards tolerance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wednesday 25 September<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018That has been my biggest desire, to be able to study, to go ahead and do something in life.\u2019 Delfino was just 12 when his family was expelled from the community of Yashtinin in Chiapas State, along with 27 other families whose homes and property were all destroyed. Pray that the community leaders will have a change of heart and allow the Yashtinin families to return home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thursday 26 September<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I want to study to be able to teach other children.\u2019 Florinda is Delfino\u2019s sister, and she was 11 when their family was thrown out of Yashtinin. The paperwork she needed to enrol in a new school was left behind, and they could not return to get it because of threats of violence. Pray that she would be able to make up for the education she\u2019s missed out on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Friday 27 September<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!\u2019<\/i> Psalm 56:9 NLT. Pray this verse over Mexico\u2019s children today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday 28 September<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lord of all, your Son said that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to people who are childlike. Today we commit to you all the children named above, and ask you to grant them healing, freedom and the chance to resume their education. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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