AUSSIE KIDS WORRIED ABOUT THE WAR

Once again our most sensitive
social survey has been taken.

The Australian community has once more been given the privilege of tuning into the joys and terrors that inhabit the hearts of Aussie Kids, as they share their hopes and fears with God in their Easter prayers. This year war and family stress are at the forefront of their thinking. This delightful prayer from Madaline typifies this years themes.

"Dear Jesus, thank you for keeping our country safe from war, and please keep doing, it if you have enough time. Seeing how many miracles you do, you may not have time to fit it in. In Jesus Name. Amen"
Other prayers of a more personal nature tug at the heart.-"I pray that I get a Dad, God". A 9 year old girl
"Dear God I want my family to love me". -A 7 year old prays
Others showed a remarkable sense of self reflection - "Dear father I know I'm an idiot sometimes, most of the time. Please help me through this." 11 year old boy
And self blame from this 12 year old - "Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far away from here, then my family can start again and my parents can stay together with out me causing problems. Amen. "
Another 7 year old - "I wish my Mum could find a house fast so she could come and get us."
Pets figure again this year in the prayers.
"Dear God please help me to train my budgie"
"Dear God, can you please get my Mum to say yes for the kitten. It's for free" - a 10 year old girl.
Others are still obviously struggling at school.-
"God help me improve on my work so I can make my teacher proud." Samantha aged 9 from the ACT prayed
"Dear God help my teacher not be angry at me" - 9 year old Boy
Some are just thankful "Dear God, thank you for the lovely time I have in my life and not making me feel left out." - Amity aged 9
The thousands of prayers that came in showed remarkable spiritual sensitivity for a generation that has grown up outside the influence of the church. There was a real dialogue with the deity.
-" Thank you for helping my family through the tough times. We may not say or show we love you but we really do." - a 10 year old girl.
And- "Dear Father in heaven, I love you heaps and pray all the time when things have gone bad. Thank you for keeping me safe." - a 10 year old girl
Remarkable spiritual maturity is shown by this 12 year old girl who prayed
- "Please help me to live the kind of life that pleases you in every way. When life is great help me to thank you, when life is difficult help me to trust you. Amen"
But by and large the main bulk of the prayers were about the war, and about family complications.
"No more war forever "- Erin-Kate aged 9. "Peace in the world" - Sam - 9 ½
Some young people up in Hervey Bay, Queensland felt the bombs were too close for comfort and prayed
"I don't want Hervey Bay to get bombed and Australia too" - a 9 year old boy.
"Please try to make sure that if Iraq bombs Australia, help the bomb not to land on Hervey Bay but in some desert where there are no inhabitants." - 11 year old girl.
A 10 year old girl from Canberra prayed - "I pray for my father who is over in Qatar working in the airforce and for Mum to stay safe while he's gone."
Brittany aged 9 has obviously also been watching the TV. Her prayer was that Iraq wouldn't bomb on us or any other country.
Kara aged 10 prayed - "Dear God, help Australians who went to Iraq not to die. Amen"
Louis aged 9 prayed - "Dear God, please make sure the war stops because then the Aussie sports teams can go to America."
"I wish this war should stop because people are getting killed. Please stop this Jesus"- a 9 year old girl.
A 11 year old girl - "please keep the soldiers safe over Easter for their families and for themselves. Please help John Howard make the right decisions."
This 11 year old girl is worried about terrorists attacks - "my prayer is that we won't have any terrorist attacks and that there will be no wars in Australia."
This 11 year old girl's prayer was -" I pray that I will stop worrying about Iraq and dying."
Closer to home in their prayers were the big concerns about what will happen in their domestic environment.
Prayers like these - "My prayer is for my family to get back together. Amen "- an 8 year old girl.
"I pray for my Mum and Dad to get back together again. Amen"- 7 year old girl.
"I hope my Mum and Dad will stop yelling"- a 7 year old girl.
"Dear God, please bless my Mum who lives somewhere else. Thank you for Nanny & Poppy who look after me "- a 7 year old boy.
"Please help my family not to fight . Help them to see that they are hurting each other by doing the same. So help them please. Amen" - an 11 year old girl.
This 10 year old girl blames herself for her family problems - "God please end the fighting at home and stop all the troubles I bring home every day to my parents."
Some of them are obviously doing it tough financially. "I pray that my family can buy more food so we can live. I wouldn't want to be rich, I would just want a little food for my family" - a 9 year old girl.
"Dear God, my family is not so good but I love my family anyway. Amen "- a 7 year old girl.
But it's delightful to hear the love they have for their family.
"Dear Lord, thank you for the best Mum in the whole world. Amen" - a 9 year old.
"Dear God, my family is special to me, my Dad works hard everyday so please make sure that he's okay"-
a 9 year old boy.
These and thousands of other children's prayers will be prayed at special Good Friday dusk till dawn prayer vigils throughout the nation. As you would imagine these prayers often produce muffled giggles and sometimes tears. They are part of the reclaim Easter celebrations that will climax on Easter Sunday afternoon with special festivals and marches of celebration in every capital city.
A feature of this years Easter Sunday celebrations will be the commissioning of hundreds of young Aussies from all over the nation as they take a pilgrimage to Uluru as Ambassadors for reconciliation.
These young people will be leading the march and figure significantly in the afternoon celebrations.

For faxed copies of some of the prayers or a larger sample Contact Steve Hamilton media liaison on 97894888

Well known broadcaster Mal Garvin and National Coordinator of the Awakening movement is available for interviews on this fascinating survey. 0412 904 589.

Or contact your state representative.
Victoria - Poul Bottern on 0402 338 715
Queensland - Wells O'Neil 0422 869 919
South Australia - Dean Polkinghorne - 0402 015 925
ACT - Ian I'Anson 0413 598 577
Tasmania - Matt Garvin 0413 598 625
WA - Andy Braun 0412 145 269