Peace Building work continues

Dearest friends and family:

We have continued to dream about and work towards more peace building work here in Ecuador. The reality of waves of violence continues to settle little by little, but steadily, on our work, relationships and the congregations here, and it is something that we aren’t accustomed to obviously. But, this is what Jesus has called us to do, to be peacemakers, and what a better place to do that right here and now where we are. We have heard more and more stories, that get closer and closer to home, of people receiving the “vacuna” or extortion threat. Some strange person will show up at a business, or maybe a mysterious phone call, demanding money in exchange for “protection” and if you don’t pay or cooperate they have a list of all of your relatives and friends at the ready, to remind you that this is serious. We ask for prayers for different folks here in Ecuador, we obviously for reasons of their protection will not share any more information, but as the stories and testimonies get closer and closer the prayers seem all that more pertinent.

We would also like to ask for prayers for our continued work with the Ecuadorian Mennonite churches. We have started organizing a second Peace Building gathering here in Ecuador and we are super excited that there is a lot of interest from the different church conferences here. Please be in prayer for the organizing team and the different church leaders as they prepare to travel to Quito for the follow up event on March 21, 22 and 23. We hope that this can be a time to share together, to worship and be in prayer together. Also a time of discernment and reflection and to hear how the Holy Spirit is moving amidst the communities and even amidst the violence, and how the churches can be united in responding to violence and darkness with light.

Blessings