Rant about prayer

Where have all the pray ers gone? What kind of prayers are we now offering to God ? Is prayer for our benefit or for God's . Is it not just a way of communicating with our heavenly father ? Does He Listen? If our answer is Yes then why do we only talk to Him about certain things?
I have been involved in praying for a country called Tajikistan for a long while now. A friend of mine and his wife went out to church plant . They're back now in N.Ireland but just before they came back, we amalgamated a few prayer meetings for missionaries so we'd be more encouraged. We met about three times before it faded ....Why?. I keep telling myself that people are praying at home, in small groups etc. My problem is that I don't really beleive it (sorry if you have -please leave a comment to encourage me). Maybe things have moved on. Maybe we don't do the official 'lets meet together just to pray for one situation' anymore. I just get so discouraged that God's passion for the nations(other countries or people groups) is not reflected in His Church. Come to think of it what about His other passions ............for the poor , those whose faith has gone those who have no faith . The great and wonderful Erwin McManus (check out his podcasts at www.mosaic .com 'Prayer spiritual activism') speaks about us being the answer to our own prayers. He says don't pray if you don't want to be part of the answer. Thats a challenge.
So pray ....more....longer...louder...quieter....deeper......with more thought............with more spontaneity.... in the morning.......at night........in work................at home..............in bed................at church..........in the middle of the night.............in tounges..............with silence...........on your own............with your wife/son/daughter/mother/father/grandparent/friend...........enemy.........boss........work colleague..............stranger.......pastor..........with a child............whilst reading the scriptures..............singing..........playing an instrument................ and listen with your heart and head for He speaks and He says...............................................?