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On Monday we began the first in a 4-part series on MCC Missions during the Covid 19 Pandemic. Looking at how mission’s efforts are being affected and how we can come alongside to pray for, encourage and support these programs. Today we will be focusing on the work being done through Genesis of Hope, our partner in India.

"I see from my balcony people are running for food distributed by the government of India in all areas for poor people. Morning and evening they have to stand in queue for hours for food. Small childrens also go with their parents. Please pray for them. I am praying for them also,” shares Sangeeta, a teacher at Shahabad Children's Center in India.

While there are certainly thousands of instances like this, from India and around the world, as the church we have a unique opportunity to come alongside in prayer and partnership to lessen the burden, to shine God’s love in hard places, and encourage those serving the most vulnerable in India.  

India began lockdowns due to COVID-19 on March 25 with only 1 person from a household being allowed to leave their home once a week to buy groceries. This has clearly resulted in a lack of resources and income for many families. An estimated 80% of the work force in India are day laborers living on $2 - $10 a day. Many of these are rickshaw drivers, roadside vendors, and housekeepers. Millions of these laborers are migrant workers from rural parts of India and neighboring countries. None of these people can work and most do not receive government aid. Being unable to pay rent, millions of these workers were forced to return to their rural homes. Many had to walk many miles as most public transit was shutdown.

This chain of events has left the most vulnerable in India on the edge of disaster. The government has only been able to provide for about 1/3 of those in need. Due to the lockdowns, Genesis of Hope, the organization we partner with, had to shut down their normal operations at the centers, but has been able to shift their resources to provide food and other necessities for those in their city affected by the loss of income. By God’s grace and their ingenuity, GOH has been able to distribute these goods daily! They are partnering with other NGO’s (non-government organizations) to get these goods where they are needed.

Here's how GOH, through their network of churches in India, GOH sponsors and partners, have served the marginalized communities (including refugees, orphanages, slum communities, and homeless shelters) in India.

ONE MONTH FOOD RATION – 3,200 FAMILIES

MID DAY MEALS SERVED – 7,650 INDIVIDUALS

CITIES OF IMPACT - DELHI, KANPUR, JAIPUR, KOLKATA & JHARKHAND

GOH is working through the local church by encouraging their network of church communities and child welfare sites to reach out to families with monthly food rations which will sustain them during the initial phase of this shock. They've also extended finances to partnering churches in other cities who are leading relief efforts through their communities and sharing the love of Jesus.

Over the next few months, the GOH community kitchen will be open for mid-day meals to the homeless and children connected to their networks with plans to feed 500 people every day for as long as the need remains. Alongside mid-day meals, partner churches, with support from GOH, are working to share dry food rations with those who are desperate during this time of need. Click here for GOH's most recent newsletter and a complete update on this outreach.

We recently received this note from the director of GOH:

“I believe Lord had a plan to bring you guys during summer of 2019!! We are so thankful for MCC and your friendship as we reflect of God’s sovereignty during this strange time.” 

Will you join us in praying for GOH? Please pray for:

• the safety of the teams serving on the ground.
• the finances required to continue the relief initiative.
• that God will give us comfort & peace during this dark time.

Click here to support Genesis of Hope and the Cooperative Outreach of India as they work to meet the basic needs of the poor in India. Contact Donna or Emily to request an invitation to follow GOH on Facebook and see their daily posts about how they are helping people around India!

We see it all over the news: the Covid-19 pandemic is causing people to fear for their health and that of their families. It’s causing uncertainty over jobs and the economy, frustration over a sense of helplessness, and anxiety over when this will all end. One can only imagine that these stresses are multiplied for the most vulnerable in our society, those living paycheck to paycheck or, even worse, those who are homeless. These challenges are multiplied yet again in countries that lack stable governments, solid economies and dependable infrastructure (e.g., medical, communication, transportation).

Our mission’s community is on the frontline of the battle; combating fear and frustration with the love of Christ.

What an opportunity to partner in this work as we join them in prayer and support! Throughout this week we are sharing news of how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting our missions’ efforts all over the world; starting today with missions efforts in Ethiopia.

Unlike most other countries, Ethiopia is not locked down but there are restrictions are in place. The government is trying to walk a fine line keeping the economy open while dealing with the coronavirus. The international airport at Addis Ababa is open and is the busiest airport in Africa. This is controversial because passengers can be bringing in new cases of the virus. As of April 28, 130 cases of COVID-19 were reported with 3 deaths. But the number of people who have been tested is low.

The country as a whole has public health challenges with periodic outbreaks of cholera and measles and poor access to good sanitation. Now with COVID-19, there is fear that the public health system will be stressed to the breaking point. After the new prime minister was appointed in August 2018, political prisoners were released and a peace treaty with Eritrea resolved a long border conflict. But recently it has been reported that there is regional, ethnic, and political strife in parts of Ethiopia that have killed thousands and displaced millions of people. Elections scheduled for August have already been postponed due to the virus outbreak.

Pastor Tesfaye, a church leader, missionary mentor, pastor, and our main contact in Ethiopia, recently shared an update with Pastor Frank about the situation there. He wrote that he has not been able to travel to the remote areas where the four missionary pastors we support are still doing their work. He said that the likelihood that the virus will take hold at a rapid pace and cause massive suffering is high and everyone is fearful of the virus and social gatherings have been restricted.

He recently shared this with Pastor Frank, "There were tribal conflicts and political crises in every regions of the country. The church itself cancelled the programme. Whenever situations allowed us we are ready to visit them. Everyone now forgets politics and is concerned for COVID".

Please join us in praying for Pastor Tesfaye:

• for the health of his wife, Tsigu; she has some recurring challenges
• for the opportunity to extend Bible training for leaders in other regions in Ethiopia
• for God's power and the gospel's work in the communities of the missionaries that he travels to encourage and mentor

In addition to praying for Pastor Tesfaye please join us in praying for Orano, who graduated from our Bible training with Training Leaders International, has mentored other pastors, and has become a TLI mentor in training:

• Prayer for Orano's family as his mother passed away last month. Praise God that she came to Christ as an adult, and loved Jesus. Orano said of her, "Her last Sunday she asked my sister to take her to church to worship God for the last time before she would pass away from this world. She liked to worship God and to be in the house of God."
• Please join us in praying for and giving thanks for him for his training of church leaders in Konso
• Pray for his wisdom in the middle of difficult political situations in the country; for safety, boldness, and gospel witness to all
• Praise and prayer for their daughter, born in December (they have several children)

We are blessed to support such committed and ingenious missionaries! Even in the face of hardship and personal danger they are finding ways to show God’s love and bring the healing words of the Gospel. We can play a role! Will you join us in praying for our missionaries—pray for their safety, that doors of opportunity will be opened and that challenges will be removed. Click here to learn more about out missions programs to Unreached Peoples.

Check back later this week for missions updates from India, Peru and Bolivia!

Do you ever feel like you’ve gotten stuck in a rut? Maybe with your job? Or maybe just with life in general?

Honestly, we’ve all felt that way before… but a new one that has been brought to my attention is ruts in relationship; specifically friendships.

Although, to be fair, it may not really qualify as a ‘rut’, per se, because you may not be feeling the blues over it. I don’t have a better word to describe it, but it happens to all of us I think.

I was asked to share what I would be taking away from all of this- this COVID-19, stay at home, isolate, etc. I was thinking about something that I specifically want to remember. Yes, it’s good to be reminded that relationship is important, that our jobs can command too much of our time when they take us away from family, etc., and etc. But. I really wanted to dig deeper for myself and decide what would I, Sarah Heckendorn, really be taking away from this?

When our state first started with the shutdown, not much had changed in my life. All working members in our household were considered “essential” so life was pretty normal for a while. The only thing that changed at work was not getting to go through the usual routine- the bible studies gathering, the quick wave to the ladies as they walked past my window, the usual phone calls asking questions about services and such. I missed that, but I still got to see the other office staff on a regular basis (as we kept our safe distance!). It wasn’t until just a bit ago when we cut our hours that things really changed. Suddenly, I was working from home most days of the week. When I was at the office, not everyone else was there (or perhaps only there for a quick bit). I definitely started to feel the effects of all of this on a new level.

To be completely honest, it hit pretty hard.  And even more so, considering there are some who have been doing this for months already. I felt a new pain and understanding in my heart from all of this, for everything that everyone is going through. All the angles and sides and it’s… it’s overwhelming isn’t it?

However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my few years on this earth, it’s that when something not so great is happening in the world or in your life, God is faithful to give reminders of His goodness and blessings. One such reminder came through a conversation with an unexpected individual.

It was a Tuesday a couple weeks ago. I was by myself at the office and someone needed to come grab a mask that our amazing SIS ladies had made. I got one for them and then ended up getting into a long conversation. Nothing incredibly serious… we talked some about the state of the world and such, but th

en we talked of other things. We stood outside (more than 6’ apart!) and just talked. It may not have been the most spectacular thing in the world, but I think we’ve all been learning through this that it doesn’t take the ‘spectacular’ to make something great or good.

After our half hour long conversation ended, I popped back into the office with a little more spring in my step. It had been really great getting to visit for a bit. To have a fun conversation about all sorts of things (particularly shooting competitions! Haha!), and just ‘be’ for a while. Life felt a little more normal in that moment. A little less chaotic. But the thing I realized the most was how cool it was to talk with someone I don’t normally get to.

This brought a thought to my mind… how many times have I simply been in a ‘friend rut’? Not that this is a bad place to be, by any means. I get so used to seeing my dear friends at church, though, that I forget to go and visit with someone new. Maybe someone I’ve been sitting behind in church for weeks on end and have only done a handshake with them. Or that person that you only see in passing in between services. Either way, how many little blessings have I perhaps missed out on by getting to know and meet the other amazing people in our congregation?

It’s such a blessing to get to gather and worship with all my fellow brothers and sister on a Sunday morning… and right now, it’s been tough to have to do it virtually. But if there’s one thing I’m really looking forward to when we all meet up again, it’s getting to actually talk to everyone there. To meet the folks that I’ve simply smiled at in passing. To make all the new friendships I possibly can- even if they don’t turn into lifelong ones. Because, let’s face it. It’s hard sometimes to make time for our old friends, let alone new ones…but that shouldn’t stop me from still trying. Just a fifteen minute conversation here and there to get to know other members of the body. I’m excited to actually implement this when we gather back together.

When if first met my cantankerous neighbor, (I will call him “M”), he told me that at 17, his mom said she’d done all she could and his relationship with God was up to him. He proudly shared that was the last he had anything to do with God. Since then I have learned how confrontational and outspoken he is. In spite of that, or because of it, God has laid it on my heart to pay attention to this neighbor. So when Pastor Frank challenged me to demonstrate God’s love to M and his wife, I went to my fall back strategy - cooking!

A few days into the Stay-at-Home order, I met M outside in my driveway and he said he couldn’t get through these times without fruitcake, something I bake for my neighbors around Christmas every year. Then another friend emailed about her Christmas time “pantry challenge” in April! After considering Pastor Frank's encouragement, M's comment about fruitcake, and my neighbor's pantry challenge it seemed God was calling me to something. So, I went to my pantry I discovered I had everything except one ingredient for fruitcake, which I was able to procure! I made 20 loaves; the bounty of God’s provision!

Shortly after I sent out the following text to my neighbors:
 
All Good Gifts Come from God! One of our neighbors said he couldn’t get through these times without my fruitcake so when my friend suggested a pantry challenge I decided to make my Christmas Fruitcake, and started baking! When you least expect it and really don’t deserve it, God provides good gifts! So if you are willing to accept fruitcake as Christmas in April, or as an early May Day gift, or just a plain gift from me to you to let you know I am praying for you, my neighbors, text me back and I will leave fruitcake for you on my rain barrel today!

While M's response to this message was discouraging, God had something else in mind and used his request for fruitcake for the good of another! My other neighbor, C and I had the following texting conversation:
 
C said, "Thank you, Kari I just finished with a rough day when I saw your message and want to thank you for the message and for the fruit cake offer. Sure, I’d love one. I’m a big fan too! Work is feeling very difficult and thankless right now. But your text reminded me about all the things to be grateful for right now, so the timing was perfect. And I’ll come get the fruitcake! Thank you!!"
 
God is so, so very GOOD! I wrote a blog article a couple of weeks ago about isolation. We have to be extra careful because we are high risk and I have been feeling sorry for myself. God gave me a view of what frustrations are happening for people who are working in thankless jobs and how I am not alone in my feelings AND how I have MUCH to be grateful for!! God always does more than I expect - my prayer is to learn to see/expect the greatness of God!
 
I am anxiously waiting to see what God has in mind for the other fruitcakes!

Kari

At a time like this, it is hard to see things in a normal way. It is hard to act normal, feel normal, establish a normal routine…

It is tempting at times to panic and complain about our circumstances. But in reality there are many blessings to be found and opportunities to take advantage of during this unprecedented time in our lives. Our family is taking our opportunity in the form of concentrating on family togetherness, learning to control our pace of life (instead of letting life control our pace for once!), and reaching out to our loved ones to tell them how much they are missed and how much they mean to us.

So often we find ourselves wishing and praying to God for certain things…. things like more family time, less pressure to work or get things done, for things to slow down, or an opportunity to intentionally reset ourselves. We have prayed for all these things in our family and have found this unique season to be a surprising blessing. It has brought us closer together, made us work through issues differently, made us reach out to loved ones that we miss, grown our relationships in our community, and has made us even more grateful for the things that we can still do- and are looking forward to doing again. All of this is happening in the midst of this hard time of uncertainty.

Now this is not because we have things all figured out or because we are home-bodies, but because this has also been a unique opportunity of reflection for us. This pandemic has given us the time to reflect not only on our lives but on our Lord and His character and His goodness even when things around us are fluctuating day by day. We look to His Word to know Him, be reminded of who He is, and find the comfort He offers through scripture regardless of our circumstances:

God is constant

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ~Hebrews 13:8

God is good

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ~James 1:17  

God is in control

For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. ~Colossians 1:16-17

We are His

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. ~1 John 3:2-3

We can be thankful

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1Thessalonians 5:18

We will benefit

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28

Our prayer is this: however this season of life finds you- flourishing or struggling, steady or wavering –that you will be reminded that it is just a season. And in this season we can express gratitude for so many things: generosity, creativity, sacrifice, resourcefulness, endurance, leadership… even the blessing of a new outlook on life once things regain normality. We pray that you likewise are finding that learning to be content with less is one of the keys to a happy life.

“We will not begin to live more fully until we have the courage to do and see and taste and experience much less than usual.”
—Thomas Merton, Trappist monk and religion scholar