Wrapped in Prayer

Three days before we left for Ethiopia we attended a pancake supper at Tuscarora Church.  I had met a few of the Elders through various ways of working together in the Presbytery, but this was my first opportunity to be with the people of Tuscarora and to catch something of the spiritof that faith community. 

I was surprised at the end of the evening when they presented me with the gift of a prayer shawl and then prayed for God’s presence and for safe travel for our Ethiopia team.  The shawl was prayerfully made at Tuscarora in a group called “Knit one, Pray Too,” where the knitters pray as they are making the shawl for the person who will receive it.  The note that came with it told me that the shawl was blessed for me in worship at Tuscarora on February 12, 2012, and then it was placed at the door of the church where every worshipper could touch it with an additional word of prayer as they left the sanctuary.

I have that prayer shawl with me here in Ethiopia.  I have had it draped over my shoulders as I finished preparations for teaching the newly ordained pastors in Mettu, and for training the representatives gathered by the Department of Mission and Theology of the Mekane Yesus Church in Addis Ababa.  (The training classes from 9 to 5 every day this week and evenings with our hosts have left no time for new blogs until now.)  It has been very helpful for me to remember throughout this trip that our team and the people we are in relationship with here have been “wrapped in prayer” by people of God in Shenandoah.

We also have remembered and prayed for committees and mission communities that were meeting, as well as for the two work trips from Shenandoah mission communities that were going on during these three weeks.

This morning we were invited to join in the devotions of the national church staff at the headquarters office, and to bring greetings from Shenandoah.  I wore the prayer shawl over my shoulders as a visible illustration of being wrapped in prayer by churches and people in Shenandoah.  Our partners here have always affirmed that praying for each other is our most important connection and one of the greatest blessings of our relationship.

Because of the witness of more than 130 faithful people from Shenandoah who have contributed their time, energy and resources traveling to Ethiopia through the years of our partnership, the name of Shenandoah Presbytery is known and respected here.  You should know that Ethiopian Christians whom you may never meet are also wrapping you and your church in prayer as they pray for our congregations and for our Presbytery.

This too is a way that God is at work in Shenandoah.  Thank you Tuscarora for the gift of this shawl.  Thank you Shenandoah for your faithful prayer support.  And thank you God for binding us together through the gift and mystery of prayer that outdistances the miles and stretches over the time that we are apart.