For this month's CONNECTION:
- Meet Yamaru. Travel to Peru through an interactive video
- Reflect on Yamaru’s story through prayer and discussion on your own, with your family, or church community
Meet Yamaru, a young girl who lives in Puerto Requena, Peru, a small community deep in the Amazonian jungle. Yamaru has big dreams – dreams that should never be stolen from her because of dirty water. This is her story.
Click the video to begin. Using your cursor, drag your screen to see where Yamura collects water, goes to school, and spends her days. For a better experience, enable your sound and enter full screen.
REFLECTION
Read the scripture passage, pray, and reflect on the story on your own or with a group.
PRAYER
READ: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30, NIV
PRAY: Thank you for simple gifts, like clean water. Help me to be appreciative of my rights and recognize that what I consider to be a “normal” privilege is not the case for everyone in the world. Allow me to see the ways in which I can ease the burdens of people still struggling without their basic needs. Instill within me the same compassion and generosity that you have for your children so that I may express is outwards to others as well. Amen.
DISCUSSION
- Reflect on the basic privileges, such a clean drinking water, that you are granted. As you go about your day, give thanks to those things out loud.
- Discuss the ripple effects that access to safe water has on a child’s future. What are the connections between clean water and a successful future?
- Set aside some time to pray for Yamaru and where she might be today. Pray for other children around the world who are still waiting for their chance to have a brighter future that starts with safe water.
