|
|
Hope United Methodist Church3474 Rothsville Road,
Ephrata PA. 17522
|
|
|
|
Coordinator of
Dear Friends in Christ, Many years ago there was a TV program called “You are There”. Please come with me on an imaginary journey to Peru in South America, a land of great diversity-from the dizzying altitude of Cuzco to coastal deserts. As we enter the town of Piura we see mesquite trees and crumbling adobe structures and chat casually in Spanish. As we walk along the dusty road we hear drums and trombones coming closer to us and see that a group of boys wearing white shits and blue slacks are leading a procession. Compartir recursos- “Passing on the Gift” is written on a hand-lettered banner decorating a pavilion made of branches. When we inquired about the celebration we learn that a ceremony is about to take place—one that is very near and dear to the hearts of these folks. As the festivities begin a barefoot teenage girl in a black and yellow ruffled blouse and a boy in boots and hat—waving a white handkerchief, dance the marinera. Next comes singing and a pageant about responsible behavior by school children. The crowd is enormous. Many people come to witness the event they had only heard about: compartir recursos!
Through
Heifer International Project
20 families who had received sheep or goats are going to share the
offspring of these animals with 20 other families. These neighbors now
would be PARTNERS in the project and
amazingly
have the prosperity of having something to give away in the future.
Peoples lives will be changed. There will be milk to drink, manure for a
garden and eventually meat to eat and sell. The tear flowing express the
depth of human transformation that lay behind the simple act of a tether
rope changing hands. So a child’s malnutrition can be abated—a cow, not
just a cup of milk! Hope is restored and the seeds of community spirit
planted and nourished. God is good!
|
