In South Sudan, school is CLOSED. Why? It’s too hot! People expect classes to be canceled for about two weeks.

Summer may be hot where you live. But most places don’t get this hot. Temperatures in South Sudan are expected to hit 113 degrees Fahrenheit this week.

South Sudan often gets heat waves in summertime. But temperatures rarely rise above about 104 degrees—and extreme heat almost never arrives so early in the year.

Officials saw the mega-hot weather in the forecast. They sent out a warning to parents: Keep all children indoors. Any school that stays open will lose its registration to operate.

The heat causes power outages. People can’t use air conditioners or fans. On Monday, BBC reporters spotted kids in school uniforms walking home. They went to school—but were turned away.

God made South Sudan a beautiful place. It has savannas, swamplands, and rainforests. Many Christians live there. South Sudan is the youngest country in the world. It became a nation only in 2011 when it broke away from Sudan, where most people are Muslim and Arab.

But living in South Sudan is not easy. People there endure poverty, fighting, flooding, and drought. Refugees flee there from wars in neighboring Sudan.

Pray for the well-being of the people of South Sudan, especially during this hot spell.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. — Psalm 4:1