Pray for Paraguay on Sunday, April 3, 2016

Lectionary Selection: John 20:19-31

Prayers for Paraguay:
Thank you, God, for greeting us every day with the blessing of peace and hope that come with the risen savior.

We also give thanks for “Mision de Amistad” which is an arm of the Disciples of Christ Church in Paraguay, which founded the “Betty and Raymond Mills” Higher Technical Institute of Nursing career in 1966.

Today we ask that open doors and hope be with young Paraguayan nursing students, even when their economic situation limits them. The institute currently has 45 active students. Some students can not continue their studies because of low-income and lack of job stability. Many of them have suffered from the Paraguay River floods and have had to leave their homes and studios. We pray that we can develop a project of scholarships for these students who strive to achieve their goals so they can support themselves and their families. In the name of the Risen Christ we pray, Amen.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Paraguay:
The “Loaves and Fishes Dining Room” is the meeting place every Saturday in the Disciples of Christ Church in Luque, near the Asuncion airport. The church opens its dining room to welcome 50-70 children and adolescents to serve them with joy and excitement. It is a low-income community, with dusty unpaved or muddy roads, where the courtyard of the Church experiences the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. They arrive very abused and beaten by life at such a young age. The pastor’s wife Cecilia Baez, along with sisters of the Church receive them with joy, a smile and open arms where they feel loved, accepted, and experience the love of God. They enjoy a simple breakfast, school support, Bible school and conclude with a tasty lunch that is enjoyed in the majestic shade of the trees. For many, the meals they eat at the church are the only food consumed that day.

The Loaves and Fishes Dining Room strives to bring hope, joy, and a vision of something new, creative, and different. They are walking with Jesus’ blessing and multiplying loaves and fishes. There are many that have not, but that is no impediment to greet and celebrate with what they do have: faith in God’s provision and children to attend.

We thank God for allowing the miracle of the multiplication of the bread and fishes to happen every week in Paraguay.

God bless you.

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Amelia Casillas and Pedro Muniz)

Mission Partners in Paraguay:

More information on Paraguay: http://www.globalministries.org/paraguay

Global Ministries Missionary in Paraguay:
Amelia Casillas and Pedro Muniz serve with the Round Table for Mission Development of the Disciples of Christ Church in Argentina and the Disciples of Christ Church in Paraguay. Their appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Churches Wider Mission, and your special gifts.