Pray for Ecuador on Sunday, February 12, 2017

Lectionary Selection: Matthew 5:21-37

Prayers for Ecuador:

Loving God,

As we go about our normal days we often forget to go above and beyond what is required of us. We remember the laws but we forget what it means to truly live for and by your name. We tithe and make offerings to our churches but we forget to volunteer or support another person in need. God, please help us to know what it means to go above and beyond, to love you and follow the laws of the land but also to put everything we’ve got into truly living in your image.

As we pray for and with our partners in Ecuador this week, we ask that you guide our thoughts and our prayers to envelope not only our partners, but all the people of the country, from the Amazonian rain forest to the Andean highlands to the coastal lowlands and the Galapagos Islands where we see the beauty of God’s awesome creation. We ask that you help each of us to take those extra steps to truly serve you in everything we do.

In your loving name we pray,
Amen

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Mission Stewardship Moment from Ecuador:

In January 2016, a flood hit the small coastal town of Sua in Ecuador. This flood made an impact—it destroyed first floors of homes, leaving waist-high water lines on the walls, ruining furniture and personal belongings, and destroying the small shops that line the streets of the town. Then, in April 2016, as the people of Sua were scarcely beginning to recover, a devastating 7.8 earthquake struck. During the earthquake, entire towns were destroyed and because most of the work on the coast revolves around tourism, many people were left without work as no one wanted to visit the coast for many months afterwards.

After hearing about the flood and earthquake a group of people from the Oregon and Idaho Region of the Disciples of Christ contacted FEDICE to see about starting a new project on the coast. FEDICE found a pastor and his wife in Sua who were willing to help facilitate the new project. FEDICE came and started a credit and savings union. They loaned money to families who wanted to restart their businesses, who wanted to raise chickens and sell the eggs, who wanted to fix their destroyed taxis and small food stands. FEDICE set up an organization, taught them how to govern themselves, loaned them money with an interest rate much lower than that of the bank, and taught them how to save money so that they could loan money amongst themselves in times of need.

Thanks to the partnership with Global Ministries, FEDICE receives donations that allows them to continue to loan money to groups of people who are struggling, allows them to go to rural communities and teach about healthy living, raising animals as a source of income, and saving money, and, most importantly, allows FEDICE to teach by example about supporting our neighbors and valuing the good of all over the good of a few.

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Cara McKinney)

Mission Partners in Ecuador:

More information on Ecuador: http://www.globalministries.org/ecuador

Global Ministries Missionary in Ecuador:
Cara McKinney serves as a Global Mission Intern with the Ecumenical Foundation for Integral Development Training and Education (FEDICE). Her appointment is supported by Week of Compassion, Our Church’s Wider Mission, Disciples Mission Fund and your special gifts.

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