Our hearts are heavy at the images of destruction and the stories of death that people have to tell everywhere we go at the moment. Yet the generous flood of aid and donations keeps hope alive. We mourn with those who mourn. We also know that "God is with us" - words spoken by 4 year old Matias, while trapped under the rubble.
The Ecuadorian Christians are sharing this message of hope, while they distribute food and water. When Jesus was asked if people suffered disasters because of their sin, (Luke 13), he replied that those who suffered were no worse sinners than anyone else, but that all needed to repent. The Christians here are telling those they help that they were spared because the God of love is calling them. He does not want them to perish.
In our church this Sunday there was a woman who became a Christian following the earthquake, and who has now asked for baptism. I am sure there are many others who have done the same.
For many, the natural reaction to witnessing an early death is the desire to make every second count, to seize the day. "Life is short," we say. This is true and admirable, but it is also true that eternity is long.Living each day as if it were my last makes me focus on myself and my own desires. Contemplating the reality of eternity lifts my sights to things above and to eternal values. It calls me to live each day for the God of love, to love and serve others. It pushes me to invest in my relationship with God and my relationships with my family and frends. It is these relationships that are eternal.
On Sunday the preacher exhorted us to see the blessing that comes through suffering. He said, "suffering causes us to listen to God and means that we see Him at work." When all is well, it is so easy to take everything for granted and to forget our dependence on God. Times of suffering can draw us much closer to Him.
One day these disasters will be no more. Sometimes we wish that time would come faster. But God wants more of us to come into His family first, and so He waits still.
May that hope of eternity keep us serving, praying and loving, no matter what befalls us.
Project Ecuador
Giving Hope and a Future
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Monday, 18 April 2016
Earthquake Experiences
When Gabi, her husband and her family set off for a weekend at the beach, they had no idea what lay in store. Lesly, her 12 year old daughter, and Matias, her 4 year old son, were very excited about the trip, as they had never been away for more than a day trip before. The school holidays were drawing to a close, and they were keen to have a little holiday before classes started again.
They arrived at the beach on Saturday morning, found a hotel, and set off for the sea. They loved swimming and playing in the sand. As dusk approached, they headed to their hotel room to get showered. They were all naked when the earthquake hit. In an instant the roof collapsed on top of the four of them. Gabi managed to throw herself on top of her son, but she could not hear anything. She screamed for Matias or Lesly to answer her, but she could hear no reply. Finally she heard a whisper from her four year old, "Don´t scream Mummy, God is with us." Then she heard Lesly calling out that she was under a pile of blocks. She was so thankful to know they were both alive.
Gabi´s mother, sisters and cousins managed to get out of the hotel. They came to find their relatives and struggled to pull them out from the rubble by hand. Gabi was the last to be pulled out into the open. They were hysterical, but not seriously injured. They made their way up on to a hill, along with many other people, to wait out the night. They said it was pitch black and none of them slept. It was the longest night of their lives. Across the hill they could see a family setting up a makeshift wake for a relative.
They said they saw just one fireman in the town, trying to help the more seriously injured. Many were crying for help, and everyone was just searching for the members of their families. There were also thieves already looting, stealing from the abandoned stalls by the seafront.
At daybreak, they set off to try to find a way home. They tried many different roads away from the coast, only to find they were impassable. Everywhere they went, they saw houses fallen to the ground, and people sleeping outside under mosquito nets. Eventually, 20 hours later (a journey that usually takes 4 hours), they reached home. There were long queues in the petrol stations and they ate nothing all day. They arrived at 1am.
They are pale and bruised, but remarkably unscathed. So many others were not so fortunate. Aid is reaching the main towns, but not yet the smaller villages. Police and military are having to escort aid trucks, as thieves have attacked some en route.
Project Ecuador will buy food, water, repellent etc. to send to the victims with any donations we receive for the earthquake victims, and take them to the offical collection points.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1002812
Please pray for those who are taking part in the rescue effort, and for those who have been left without loved ones and homes.
They arrived at the beach on Saturday morning, found a hotel, and set off for the sea. They loved swimming and playing in the sand. As dusk approached, they headed to their hotel room to get showered. They were all naked when the earthquake hit. In an instant the roof collapsed on top of the four of them. Gabi managed to throw herself on top of her son, but she could not hear anything. She screamed for Matias or Lesly to answer her, but she could hear no reply. Finally she heard a whisper from her four year old, "Don´t scream Mummy, God is with us." Then she heard Lesly calling out that she was under a pile of blocks. She was so thankful to know they were both alive.
Gabi´s mother, sisters and cousins managed to get out of the hotel. They came to find their relatives and struggled to pull them out from the rubble by hand. Gabi was the last to be pulled out into the open. They were hysterical, but not seriously injured. They made their way up on to a hill, along with many other people, to wait out the night. They said it was pitch black and none of them slept. It was the longest night of their lives. Across the hill they could see a family setting up a makeshift wake for a relative.
They said they saw just one fireman in the town, trying to help the more seriously injured. Many were crying for help, and everyone was just searching for the members of their families. There were also thieves already looting, stealing from the abandoned stalls by the seafront.
At daybreak, they set off to try to find a way home. They tried many different roads away from the coast, only to find they were impassable. Everywhere they went, they saw houses fallen to the ground, and people sleeping outside under mosquito nets. Eventually, 20 hours later (a journey that usually takes 4 hours), they reached home. There were long queues in the petrol stations and they ate nothing all day. They arrived at 1am.
They are pale and bruised, but remarkably unscathed. So many others were not so fortunate. Aid is reaching the main towns, but not yet the smaller villages. Police and military are having to escort aid trucks, as thieves have attacked some en route.
Project Ecuador will buy food, water, repellent etc. to send to the victims with any donations we receive for the earthquake victims, and take them to the offical collection points.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1002812
Please pray for those who are taking part in the rescue effort, and for those who have been left without loved ones and homes.
Saturday, 16 April 2016
Girls
The Girls´ Brigade started in 1893 in Dublin, Ireland. Since then, it has grown to have groups in over 60 countries of the world. The aim of the Girls´ Brigade is to "help girls become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and through self-control, reverence and a sense of responsiblity find true enrichment of life."
I am running a club for girls with the same aim here in rural Ecuador. Most of the 50 girls who come go to a church, be it the Catholic, or an evangelical congregation. The club gives them the chance to learn from the Bible together, to discuss their beliefs and ask their questions. One of the common errors in their thinking is that they believe they can earn their way to heaven through good works. We try to help them understand that salvation is the free gift of God, through Jesus.
The girls love playing games, working in teams and making crafts together. The club gives them the space to form new friendships and deepen existing ones. Often it is these friendships which lead to the opportunity to offer counsel and advice in their daily problems.
In a community where teenage pregnancy is rife, where girls are often not respected, and poverty abounds, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to speak frankly with the girls about self control, self respect and responsibility in the context of sexuality. Alongside giving practical support in the form of sponsorship so that they can attend school, the girls also need much guidance, encouragement and building up as they make decisions.
They also learn responsibility through activities such as the business badge the teenagers have just completed. I gave each small group $10, and they had the challenge of cooking and selling to make a profit. All the groups returned me my investment and made a profit. We celebrated by using the money for a trip to the cinema (something most of them had never done before). More importantly, the girls have realised they can take responsibility for their own lives. They can do something about their poverty. Many are continuing to make and sell things for themselves, alongside their ambitions to study and make something of themselves.
Only time will tell what the future holds for these girls. I personally owe a great debt to those who taught me as a girl in the Girls´ Brigade. Their example and encouragement played a large part in forming my faith and self confidence. I hope the new generation will similarly benefit from this and other similar initiatives.
I am running a club for girls with the same aim here in rural Ecuador. Most of the 50 girls who come go to a church, be it the Catholic, or an evangelical congregation. The club gives them the chance to learn from the Bible together, to discuss their beliefs and ask their questions. One of the common errors in their thinking is that they believe they can earn their way to heaven through good works. We try to help them understand that salvation is the free gift of God, through Jesus.
The girls love playing games, working in teams and making crafts together. The club gives them the space to form new friendships and deepen existing ones. Often it is these friendships which lead to the opportunity to offer counsel and advice in their daily problems.
In a community where teenage pregnancy is rife, where girls are often not respected, and poverty abounds, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to speak frankly with the girls about self control, self respect and responsibility in the context of sexuality. Alongside giving practical support in the form of sponsorship so that they can attend school, the girls also need much guidance, encouragement and building up as they make decisions.
They also learn responsibility through activities such as the business badge the teenagers have just completed. I gave each small group $10, and they had the challenge of cooking and selling to make a profit. All the groups returned me my investment and made a profit. We celebrated by using the money for a trip to the cinema (something most of them had never done before). More importantly, the girls have realised they can take responsibility for their own lives. They can do something about their poverty. Many are continuing to make and sell things for themselves, alongside their ambitions to study and make something of themselves.
Only time will tell what the future holds for these girls. I personally owe a great debt to those who taught me as a girl in the Girls´ Brigade. Their example and encouragement played a large part in forming my faith and self confidence. I hope the new generation will similarly benefit from this and other similar initiatives.
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