Pray for Guatemala on Sunday, August 12, 2012

Pray for Guatemala on Sunday, August 12, 2012

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Prayers for Guatemala: John 6:35, 41-51

And Jesus said to them “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst… I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Oh Holy Spirit and creator, you who nurture our hearts and our lives, we pray to you and we pray for the ministry in Guatemala so that we may continue to find a critical presence, so that our presence as your disciples may continue to be critical. 

We give thanks to you Lord and ask for your continued prayers for Guatemala at this time of critical need.  We ask that you continue to bless our family so that our way of life can be a testimony of your love and compassion, so that the women and men who still don’t know of your love may come to know of your love in their hearts, because you are among us through our compassion, our service, our search for justice and your everlasting love. 

We pray to you Lord, that there will be no hunger, thirst, or need.  Granted, we will witness many who are hungry and thirsty, but perhaps not of food or water but of Christ and thus we want to be a reflection of God’s love which quenches and fulfills and which gives life even where there is death.

Our strength is You and within You.  Our wounds have been cleansed and healed because of your sacrificed body and blood.   It is this strength that accompanies us when our brothers and sisters pray for our family and our ministry.  And it is this strength that we take with us and share in our service to you through the lives of women, children, men, elders, widows, orphans, of those whose lives have been violated.  But especially as we serve those who have been torn by their own sins and their own skepticism, in places where love is lacking, where there isn’t enough justice, where there is no life, right there where Jesus seems to not be present.  Amen.

Mission Moment from Guatemala:

During my itineration to some rather parochial places in Illinois, not only did I encounter small churches, but isolated ones as well.  Isolated from bigger cities I have known like Chicago, and isolated from the world that missionaries like me bring to them. However, it was this contrast that enabled me to share with even greater enthusiasm about the ministry in Guatemala. This enthusiasm grew not only because of the “attractiveness” of the stories I shared, but more importantly because of the encouragement and love I received by the many brothers and sisters in Christ. They had invited my family to their church and they heard the stories and testimonials I shared from Guatemala with such open hearts and minds.  This sharing and receiving of such great love and compassion for my service made me feel a great sense of accompaniment and familiarity.  In the end, I came to believe that no matter how parochial and “isolated” places may seem, we share in discipleship. This discipleship was represented in how we came together to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. This was clearly a testimony of the relevance and importance of mission and of the bridges that we must continue to build between our brother and sisters in the world.  (Prayer and Mission Moment by Gloria Vicente-Kanu)

Video Mission Moments on Guatemala:

Global Ministries International Partners in Guatemala:

More info on Guatemala: http://globalministries.org/lac/countries/guatemala/

Global Ministries Missionary in Guatemala:

Gloria Vicente-Kanu served with Guatemalan Culture Action (ACG) as support staff on organizational and institutional development from 2007-2011.  She is currently on home assignment in the United States.