Prayer Fuel

My name is Nei Tao, and I’m a mother of two. We belong to the Cao Miao people, specifically the “Forty Miao,” and for generations our family has lived in a remote mountain village in southeastern Guizhou. We grow rice, and at home we also brew rice wine to sell.
This year, for the “Sixth Month, Sixth Day” festival, we planned to host a big feast at home. We invited relatives from our own clan, along with some Dong and Yao friends, to celebrate together. Since it was the rainy season, I worried that heavy rain might keep us from setting up tables outdoors.
One guest, who often visits our village and even stays with us, noticed my concern. Smiling, he said, “Don’t worry about the rain. When it’s time for the feast tomorrow, the sun will surely come out. Let’s ask Heaven to help.” I thought to myself, maybe it will really be as he says. More than once, whenever we faced difficulties, he had comforted us like this.
The next morning, the weather was clear, but about an hour before the feast, a sudden downpour started. He came to us again and said firmly, “Don’t worry, and don’t rush to set the tables indoors. By lunchtime the rain will stop, and the sun will shine.”
Sure enough, just as he said, at noon the rain stopped and the sun came out. Our guests could enjoy the meal without having to walk home in the rain.
I can’t help but wonder why, whenever we face challenges, he always tells us to trust that Heaven will arrange everything. In our village, we follow many taboos passed down for generations. We believe that as long as we don’t violate them, misfortune won’t come, though we can’t fully explain why. Yet I find myself trusting his words. Whenever something happens in our family, we share it with him and seek his advice—maybe just to hear him say, “Let’s ask Heaven to help.”
Every day I do farm work, feed the pigs, and tend the rice wine. Day after day, year after year—it’s exhausting. Sometimes I long for change. I wonder, could he ask Heaven to help me too?”

Unreached People Group: Cao Miao

Progress of the Gospel

“So that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.”
Psalm 65:8

Pray that God would raise up more people like “him” who can see the needs—both physical and spiritual—of the tens of thousands of Cao Miao people. May they be willing to pay the cost to enter into the lives of the Cao Miao, to know them, to love them, and to bless those who leave home to work in Guangdong, Zhejiang, or struggle to make a living in the county towns. 

Pray that God would give “him,” who has already entered the Cao Miao villages, enough patience and wisdom to adjust his approach as needed. May he boldly share and live out the values of the Christian faith among the Cao Miao. We believe that since God has placed him among the Cao Miao, He will surely provide the resources needed.      

Pray that God would open “a door of effective ministry” for “him,” enabling trust to grow between him and more Cao Miao families. Through these trusted relationships, may connections gradually extend to two other unreached people groups nearby.