Saturday, June 29
The Presbytery of Transylvania
Kentucky
Children in Villa Madero, Mexico, can now drink clean water from one of the Presbytery of Transylvania’s 15 water systems in Yucatan communities. [photo credit] Joanie Lukins
These three little boys look happy and healthy, don’t they? Well, if you had seen them a few years ago, you would not have thought so! These children live in the little village of Villa Madero, Mexico. As in many parts of the country, the drinking water is unsafe, and children, because of their undeveloped immune systems, are especially vulnerable to the diseases carried by contaminated water. As a consequence they often have chronic diarrhea, and, even if they have enough food to eat, their bodies are not able to absorb the food’s nutrition—a condition called malabsorptive hunger. These children miss many, many days of school and are often lethargic and withdrawn. Bad news!
But here is the good news! Several years ago, a Presbytery of Transylvania mission team partnered with the Presbyterian church in the village to install a clean water system and to provide health and hygiene education to mothers and their children. Now, after several years of drinking clean water, these children are alert, healthy, and able to go to school regularly, to run and play, and to realize their God-given potential. Every year, when the mission team returns to the village, the children are bigger and stronger and healthier, thanks to the clean water that allows their bodies to absorb and use nutrients.
The Presbytery of Transylvania serves 8,716 members of 92 congregations.
Let us join in prayer for:
Presbytery Staff
Rev. Dr. Richard T. Smith, general presbyter
Robyn Justus, business manager/bookkeeper
Sharel Templeton, administrative assistant
James Rucker Sr., stated clerk
Catesby Woodford, treasurer
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Janice Kim, PPC
Jin Kim, PMA
Lydia Kim, PMA
Let us pray
Gracious God, we hear your call to love our neighbors, and we know that you intend for us to care for both their physical and their spiritual needs. Help us to respond to this hungry, thirsty world with love that pours from the river of living water that you have placed in the hearts of those who believe. In the name of Jesus Christ, who is living water for our bodies and our souls. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 56; 149
First Reading 1 Samuel 9:15-10:1
Second Reading Acts 7:30-43
Gospel Reading Luke 22:39-51
Evening Psalms 118; 111
