Lent 2003

Dear Friends,

Followers of Jesus around the world are preparing themselves for Easter during the forty day season we call “Lent.” Ruth recently wrote this reflection to share with you:

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
Psalm 24:3 (NRSV).

I think of King David’s psalm every week. Unlike the United States where we “pay for the view,” in Lima, Peru, many of the poor live up on the sand hills that ring the city—the very highest houses have no running water, sewage, or electricity.

One hill in particular is a blessing to me. Perched on its side are the homes of 40,000 people, and among those people is a group of five women who call themselves “Grupo Mana.” I’ve come to know Patricia, Julia, Emilia, Glendi, and Bertha through their efforts to support their families with their sewing. They participate in the “Fair Trade Bridge” that links economically disadvantaged artisans of the Joining Hands Against Poverty Network of Peru with the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery in southeast Missouri. Last year the women’s income rose 350 percent as a result of their participation in this effort of the Presbyterian Hunger Program.

Many of the world spend hours getting water, washing clothes, sweeping, cooking without a microwave, doing all those things that we race through so that we can do something important or enjoyable. These women look at daily chores with a different attitude—as something they do well each day for their families. These women have an unwavering faith that God knows their fears and their hopes and will help them as they endure the difficult and celebrate the unexpected every day.

So why is my soul refreshed each time I climb the hill? The witness of their lives is “manna” to me. It refreshes my soul and encourages my own walk with God. I rejoice that God invites us to ascend the hill and stand in God’s holy place while we learn the daily-ness of discipleship.

Prayer

O holy God, help us to endure the difficult and celebrate the unexpected with unwavering faith so that our daily lives (no matter how routine they may seem to us) point others to you. Amen.

News that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been forced to reduce mission funding by at least $4 million in 2004 is a deep concern to us, as we know it is to you. Several of our supporting churches have expressed interest in responding to the General Assembly’s challenge of increasing mission support for us and other mission workers. Here are two ways:

• The Church’s General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to mount a five-year, $40 million effort to send more missionaries overseas and plant more Presbyterian congregations in the United States We would challenge your congregation to give generously to this critical initiative. More information is available at http://www.pcusa.org/missioninitiative.
• We encourage you to prayerfully consider increasing your financial support of Presbyterian mission work by this year through the “Extra Commitment Opportunity” (ECO) program. A listing of ECO accounts is available through PC(USA) Web page: www.pcusa.org/missionfunding/sections/support/asmeco/eco.htm.

Now is clearly a “foolish” time to consider contributing to the dreams of the poor. After all, there’s a war going, the stock market recently has tested the faith of even the toughest investors, and perhaps never since the Cold War has our nation’s future been more uncertain. Perhaps it is precisely the time to support those who are spreading the Good News of God’s Reign of Peace and Justice and Enough-for-Everyone. Our family is making a gift this month. Will you join us?

With you in Christ,

Ruth & Hunter Farrell

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page 263