Pray with Mexico, October 1, 2023

Lectionary Selection: Exodus 17:1-7

Prayers for Mexico

God of living water, we thank you today for the gift of this wondrous liquid. Wherever we live, whoever we are, no matter what our beliefs or backgrounds, we are all the same in needing water. We recognize, however, that fresh, clean water is not evenly distributed around our planet nor readily available for everyone. We pray for northern Mexico, where a prolonged drought has brought anguish and despair to city dwellers, farmers, and ranchers. We pray for central Mexico, where the massive population of Mexico City overwhelms the capacity of the system to provide safe drinking water to marginalized communities and to treat sewage before draining into creeks and gullies. We pray for the southern states of Mexico, which have the highest populations of original peoples (pueblos originarios) as well as the poorest communities in the nation. These native peoples, with their ancestral connections to the land and its water, struggle every day for access as hydroelectric plants, mining and agriculture companies, and factories acquire exclusive water rights. As we gather around the table at your invitation and sing this well-known gospel song along with our Mexican siblings in Christ, may we commit to caring for water, the precious liquid that cleanses us, quenches our thirst, and reminds us of the awesome power of our Creator.

(To the tune of: I have peace like a river, joy like a fountain, love like an ocean in my soul)

Yo tengo paz como un rio, paz como un rio,
paz como un rio en mi ser.
Yo tengo paz como un rio, paz como un rio,
paz como un rio en mi ser.

Yo tengo gozo como una fuente, gozo como una fuente,
gozo como una fuente en mi ser.
Yo tengo gozo como una fuente, gozo como una fuente,
gozo como una fuente en mi ser.

Yo tengo amor como el mar, amor como el mar,
amor como el mar en mi ser.
Yo tengo amor como el mar, amor como el mar,
amor como el mar en mi ser.

Yo tengo paz como un rio, gozo como una fuente,
amor como el mar en mi ser.
Yo tengo paz como un rio, gozo como una fuente,
amor como el mar en mi ser.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Mexico

Chiapas is a land of contrasts: This unique Mexican state has 30% of the fresh water in the country, but less than 50% of the population has access to safe drinking water. I experience the limited infrastructure for equitable distribution as well as the contamination of water firsthand in Cuxtitali, a barrio of San Cristóbal de las Casas, the city in the highlands of Chiapas where the Institute for Intercultural Studies and Research has its office along with facilities for groups to stay overnight. The water and sewage systems have not been replaced since the Spaniards first built the city and began to drain the fertile wetlands nestled in the cone of an extinct volcano. The ancient brick drainage pipes often crumble or clog, causing sewage to run freely down the street. The clean-water pipes are just as old and run next to the sewage, so needless to say, though the groundwater is clean when it goes into the pipes, it is often contaminated by the time it comes out of the faucet. Even though it can rain daily in San Cristóbal de las Casas, flooding the streets and washing sewage and garbage into the local streams, we might get water from the distribution system and fill the cisterns twice a month. We have gone up to three months with no running water and have had to pay for delivery in tank trucks. “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” says the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. I consider these challenges as an opportunity to develop a deep sense of stewardship concerning water. Here in Cuxtitali, we have learned to care for and appreciate this irreplaceable gift by washing our clothes only when they get really dirty, taking very quick showers, reusing water from showers and dishes for the plants or flushing the toilets, and checking our faucets to make sure they don’t drip, among other actions to prevent waste. Meanwhile, one of the largest bottling plants in the country, which belongs to a well-known, US-owned soft drink company, guzzles thousands of gallons of water on the other side of town, producing the sugary drink that people in Mexico love. They would rather drink bottled chemicals over water or any readily available fresh fruit juices. Meanwhile, this company knows that San Cristobal de las Casas has some of the purest and best-tasting water in the world. The Institute for Intercultural Studies and Research encourages participants in its programs to prefer “aguas de frutas” (homemade fresh fruit waters) while protecting forests and creating organic home gardens with water-saving principles and hardy native plant species for food and medicine. Life on our planet depends on water, and we humans need it fresh, clean and available. Water is a basic human right, and water conservation is a way that each of us can participate in Global Ministries’ vision: “That all of God’s people and creation share in God’s abundant life.”

Mission Partners in Mexico:

More about Mexico

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Global Ministries Mission Co-worker in Mexico:
Elena Huegel serves with the Intercultural Research and Studies Institute (INESIN-IESII) in Mexico. Her appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, and your special gifts.