    The following request was sent by our friend from Bethlehem, Arlette
    Flefel

    40 Days Of Prayer for Bethlehem

    1st, September- 10th, October

    Dear Friends,

    We are a group of intercessors who started praying for Bethlehem during
    the Intifada. Bethlehem was the first city to be reoccupied by the
    Israeli forces in September as it was preparing itself for the
    celebration of Christmas 2000 that was planned to last for one year.
    During that invasion we felt that we were in real danger. The tanks were
    stationed on the high hills, and their cannons targeted many houses in
    our neighborhood. Obviously everybody was in a state of panic. This is
    when we learned to pray on our knees and more often totally prostrated
    on the floor (to avoid the bullets that were flying in all directions).
    Some of you, who read the e-mail that we sent asking for prayers, could
    sense the panic we were experiencing, and could understand the urgency
    of praying and interceding for this Land. We are grateful to all those
    who responded and joined us in prayer. Today we are calling on you to
    join us for 40 days of prayer for the Holy Land in General and for the
    Bethlehem area in particular.

    The idea of praying for Bethlehem for forty days was birthed is the
    heart of two ladies, my friend Karin Boydgian, and myself. One afternoon
    we planned with her husband to visit some families in Bethlehem. Our
    intention was to listen to their problems and to extend to them some
    material and moral support. It was a long, heavy afternoon. By the time
    we reached the last house we could not go up the stairs (Karen has a hip
    problem and I have a knee problem, and by now we had gone up and down
    many stairs). We were also exhausted and overwhelmed by what we heard,
    so much that we asked Tony, Karen’s husband, to visit with the last
    family alone while Karen and I waited for him in the car. The famous
    Star Street in the old town of Bethlehem, which was twinkling with
    beautiful electrical stars during the 2000 celebrations, was dark, and
    piles of garbage overflowed from the garbage bins (The garbage
    collectors had gone on strike because the municipality was not able to
    pay them for the last few months). We had to close the car windows and
    wait. It was unbearably hot. We were tired, exhausted and speechless.
    What struck us in the face was the magnitude of the need. No group of
    well meaning persons, no organization, not even a government could undo
    the damage that was inflicted on the people and the city for four long
    years. We looked up and said, “Lord where are you? Only you can help!”
    At this point it dawned on us that we should commit ourselves for a long
    period of prayer.

    We realized that so far we had focused for the last four years, and
    rightly so, on asking God for protection. He did indeed protect us; each
    one of us can testify to the goodness of our God. As we continue our
    prayers of praise and thanksgiving for the way Our Lord has held us in
    the palm of His hands and as we continue to acknowledge how he has
    protected us, cared for us, and provided for our needs, we now ask Him
    to undo the damage, to restore and to heal.

    We call on you to join us, as we humble ourselves, fast (for those who
    are able to) and pray that God will look from heaven and have mercy on
    this land. Before we intercede for others let us first:

    Pray that the Holy Spirit will be with us throughout the forty days,
    that He will guide and direct our prayers. Pray for our eyes to be on
    the coming of his kingdom and the prevalence of his righteousness. Pray
    that He gives us His wisdom and His compassion, so that when we pray
    according to our father’s heart, we have the assurance that He hears and
    answers our prayers. We know that He has good plans for us. He has good
    plans for the town and the people of Bethlehem.

    Pray for protection for all those whose who have committed themselves to
    praying with us inside and outside the country. We are all aware that we
    can be under spiritual attack. Let us commit ourselves daily to a prayer
    of protection for one another. Pray that many people will know about our
    prayer and will be lead to join us.

    Now let us pray for:

    Urgent needs

    The infrastructure of Bethlehem has been virtually destroyed; the rate
    of unemployment is 70%. The Wall that snakes around the town and the
    surrounding villages, and at certain parts inside the towns and villages
    is a virtual nightmare. Land has been confiscated. Olive trees have been
    uprooted reducing land on which people depended for their livelihood
    into a desert. The wall chokes the towns and limits the mobility of the
    people. It prevents them from performing basic tasks and fulfilling
    basic needs; such as going to school, or work or even seeking medical
    help. To say that the wall merely inflicts hardship on the people is a
    gross understatement. There is a sense of helplessness and hopelessness
    that is generating a lot of anger. There is fear and uncertainty of what
    the future holds.

    Pray that God will lift the cloud of depression. Pray that the people in
    their distress will look up to Him as their only provider.

    Pray for the restoration of the economy, especially tourism on which the
    town almost totally depends.

    Pray that God will give ideas to business people and entrepreneurs for
    projects that do not rely totally on tourism. Pray that He will give
    them the resources and the ability to carry out these projects.

    Pray for a good season of rain and for abundance that the trees will
    produce enough to meet the need.

    Pray for the Wall to tumble down and to be dismantled peacefully.

    Dear friends, we will keep you informed, and will continue to share with
    you the needs that the Lord is leading us to pray for. We will also be
    glad to hear from you at: aflefel@p-ol.com

    Blessings,

    Arlette Flefel

    On behalf of the intercessors in Bethlehem

    Please share this email with all those who can join us in prayer.