Pray for Ecuador on Sunday, July 31, 2016
Lectionary Selection: Luke 12:13-21
Prayers for Ecuador:
O Lord, it is sunny today and the sky beholds your love for your creation. Yet your people of Ecuador have recently suffered from devastating earthquakes and erupting volcanoes. Have we been too greedy? Have we stored too much in our coffers? Surely we are not deserving of this cruelty.
We pray you will teach us to love and to be patient, to share and to receive with grace. And we give thanks to the many individuals, government entities, and organizations including FEDICE and Global Ministries, that have contributed to making our lives, maybe not filled with belongings, but rich with your love again. Help us not to demonstrate greed, but to be abundant in our love toward you and all of your creation and people.
Mission Stewardship Moment from Ecuador:
She came all the way by several buses to share with the group how it was when the volcano blew. That meant a bus from Romerillos to the south of Quito. Then another bus to the north of Quito. And finally, a bus from Quito to Otavalo. Her visit was a surprise for the mission group from Oregon, the group that had sent money to help. They were eating lunch when she arrived, but she shared her story before she ate.
What was it like when the ash covered everything? The people from Oregon knew. Most had experienced their own volcano spewing ash over everything three decades ago. But they were not farmers. They did not own cows and sheep and pigs and chickens that were their livelihood.
The ash covered everything. Cows died because of the toxicity of the ash covering the grass they ate. Sheep and pigs and chickens did too. The people finally found a place to move the animals pretty far away, but at least the animals were safe. The broccoli and lettuce were ruined, but the onions underground were safe.
And now, the ash is giving renewed life to the vegetation and the animals have come home. The woman thanked again the people from Oregon and FEDICE for helping in their time of need. The woman demonstrated abundant love as did the people from Oregon. God is in our midst.
(Prayer and Mission Moment by Marilyn Cooper)
Mission Partners in Ecuador:
Evangelical United Methodist Church of Ecuador
Fundacion Ecumenica Para el Desarrollo Integral Capacitacion-Education (FEDICE)
More information on Ecuador:
http://www.globalministries.org/ecuador
Global Ministries Missionary in Ecuador:
Marilyn Cooper serves with the Fundacion Ecumenica Para el Desarrollo Integral Capacitacion-Education (FEDICE). Her appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, and your special gifts.