As mentioned previously, the Association had an amazing and transformative 2018. We met with the Association Board to review its annual report to NCP for 2018 and 2019 plan of work. Composing these documents are a requirement per the signed covenant between the Association and NCP.
One sentence in their annual report to NCP that emphasized the increase in work read “Please note we can ordinarily fit our activities on one-page, but this year the number exceeds what can be stated with that limit.” (It was four pages long.) Some projects that they worked on in 2018 included: family gardens, stoves, VIP latrines, water filters, CEDEPCA training, health clinics, maintaining the health of livestock, formalizing the association, and prayer partnerships. They are truly working so hard and impacting many their communities. The women shared that “through working together, we are making God’s love visible.”
Today we traveled with Rosario and her family to her church. There were at least 400 people at this contemporary service. We were invited up to the stage where Connectional Presbyter Jessie MacMillan addressed the congregation. We all then sang a song… no pressure!
Rev. Edwin Estevez of Riverfront and Grace Methodist churches took to the pulpit to preach again. Rev. Estevez spoke about how we tend to fixate on things as a society. This obsession results in overconsumption and hoarding of things you simply don’t need. These could be physical things such as the newest iPhone or more abstract things such as greed, jealousy and the like.
All of this emotional and physical baggage weighs you down and it could very be difficult to find God hidden in all that stuff. In short, Rev. Estevez explained that God welcomes everyone to the table with him, because the focus is on the person not his or her possessions. We must humble ourselves to sit at the table as our possessions do not matter.
Following the service, the pastor and deacons gave us a gift to thank us for attending the service. They gave us paraments, or hanging cloths, to use across the NCP for communion and in the pulpit. The textiles are beautiful, so look forward to seeing them at your church in the near future!
It’s been so much fun following your journey w the Association & CEDEPCA. And totally exciting to see how the Assoc is working & accomplishing big things w the micro loans.
You all should b proud of these results. A partnership that you can truly see the grace of God at work.
Many Thanks, Jamie Hickey
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Looks as if God’s spirit is in, above and around all you are doing and seeing.
Thank you for taking this challenge.