A weaver in India prepares his thread.
(Photo courtesy Wikipedia)
Guatemala (MNN) — In weaving, two distinct threads or yarns are interlaced to create one fabric, or cloth. A similar process is underway in Chichicastenago, Guatemala.
The Lord is working behind the scenes through Family Christian Stores and Pray America to form a beautiful example of faith in action.
“This whole thing sort of ‘unfolded’ without anybody having any definite plans to start,” says Ron Morin, founder and president of Pray America.
And yet, the Lord was weaving His masterpiece.
Stepping forth in faith
Following a “mini-drought” in Chichicastenago about a year ago, Morin realized the impoverished Kiche Mayan people were in deep trouble.
(Photo courtesy of Pray America via Facebook)
“They’re not going to have food, they’re not going to have seed, and we’re going to have a disaster coming up,” he summarizes.
“The Lord put it on my heart to get prepared for a really difficult time. I didn’t have any money to do anything, but I did have some ground.”
Morin asked his Guatemalan staff to start making “block” — building components composed of dirt, pine needles, and water.
“We ended up making about 2,000 of those, still not having any idea what they were going to be used for,” says Morin. Eventually, the team decided to put the blocks together and build a “bodega” (warehouse).
Still uncertain of this project’s purpose, Morin says one thought remained clear: “The whole crux of this is to get ready; get ready for whatever is going to come down.”
Putting faith into action
Meanwhile, at the Family Christian headquarters in Michigan, Steve Biondo says their staff was searching for more ways to help Pray America.
“We wanted to find a way to have deeper impact with the Kiche Mayans,” Biondo clarifies.
(Photo courtesy of
Family Christian/Nik DeGraf)
The team decided to set a new year-end fundraising goal of $175,000 for Pray America.
“If we can raise that money, we [could] feed 1,200 children every month for an entire year, [and] we can provide for their spiritual education [through] twice-a-week Bible studies,” recalls Biondo.
Afterward, Biondo learned of Pray America’s newest developments, which seemed to fit perfectly alongside Family Christian’s goals.
“We can put away enough food stores in the bodega God called Ron to build for 2,100 families, and feed them as well,” says Biondo.
Through the existing feeding programs and the new bodega ministry, “We actually end up feeding over 10,000 people for a year,” he adds.
So what?
Dick from Shepard of the Bay
sharing the gospel with Manuela and her family.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Pray America via Facebook)
Just as strings are woven together to create a beautiful fabric, Family Christian and Pray America are meeting physical needs for a singular purpose: sharing Christ with the Kiche Mayans.
Twice weekly, Pray America’s three feeding programs provide a nutritious meal of meat, fruits, and beans, along with Bible education programs for Kiche children and widows.
The bodega and financial support will help Pray America expand this program, caring for the physical and spiritual needs of hundreds in need.
Tomorrow, we’ll share how YOU fit in.
