elca hunger lent resources - meal nine - mexicodownload.elca.org/elca resource repository/elca...
TRANSCRIPT
Meal Nine - MexicoSpotlight on Mexico•Region: Latin America and Caribbean•Population: 113,724,226 (July 2011 estimate)•Area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
• Life expectancy: total population: 76.47 years• Urban population: 78% of total population (2010)
Printable Table TentPrint the table tent, designed for the Mexico meal. This table tent includes conversation starters and information about your gifts to ELCA World Hunger in action.
PlacematsPrint and use different placemats during your Lenten meals to raise awareness about hunger, poverty and related issues. Available in a separate PDF.
ProgramThis 30-minute program, specifically designed for the Mexico meal, contains a reading, litany, monologue, prayers and discussion questions.
Table PrayerTo those who have hunger, give bread. And to those who have bread, give the hunger for justice.
Story: EsperanzaEsperanza used to sell small goods door-to-door to make a living. On the outskirts of Mexico City, where millions of people live in extreme poverty, she struggled to provide for herself and two teenage children. When the price of tortillas and other staple foods skyrocketed, she feared that her children would go hungry...Read the full story.
Local RecipesPopular foods in Mexico include burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, beans and rice. We recommend beef tacos. Find these recipes and more at www.mexicanfoodrecipes.org.
ELCA World HungerLenten ResourcesLent is a time of prayer, service, and self-examination. During this time, many of us choose to live simpler lives, remembering those who do not have the food, money, or resources to simply live. Here are some resources to help your congregation remember those who are hungry and living in poverty this Lenten season.
Lenten Meal SeriesDoes your congregation host meals before Lenten services? Why not join together for a meal and help fight hunger at the same time? Enjoy global cuisine while learning about the world and how gifts to ELCA World Hunger are making a difference. Instead of charging for the meal, collect donations to support ELCA World Hunger. Complete plans for six meals are available on the following topics: Bolivia, Cambodia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Egypt, and South America.
Meet EsperanzaEsperanza used to sell small goods door-to-door to make a living. On the outskirts of Mexico City, where millions of people live in extreme poverty, she struggled to provide for herself and two teenage children. When the price of tortillas and other staple foods skyrocketed, she feared that her children would go hungry.Then Esperanza received a small loan from a microfinance association in her neighborhood that is supported by ELCA World Hunger. This microfinance program gave Esperanza an opportunity to become an entrepreneur. She started a small store in her home, which now generates enough income to support her family. Each week she hosts meetings on her patio with other members of the program.Members of the microfinance program are involved in all aspects of its operation, including administration of the loans. Members support each other in paying back the loans; the repayment rate is over 90 percent. Because of this
program, Esperanza sees real change in her community and is able to sustain her family.
ELCA World Hunger
ca
llin
g
Ch
ica
go
, IL
606
94-1
764.
Sup
po
rt E
LCA
Wo
rld H
un
ge
r by
visit
ing
w
ww
.elc
a.o
rg/h
un
ge
r/d
on
ate
, ca
llin
g
800-
638-
3522
, or m
aili
ng
a c
he
ck
to
ELC
A W
orld
Hu
ng
er,
P.O
. Bo
x 71
764,
C
hic
ag
o, I
L 6
0694
-176
4.
Sup
po
rt E
LCA
Wo
rld H
un
ge
r by
visit
ing
w
ww
.elc
a.o
rg/h
un
ge
r/d
on
ate
, ca
llin
g
800-
638-
3522
, or m
aili
ng
a c
he
ck
to
ELC
A W
orld
Hu
ng
er,
P.O
. Bo
x 71
764,
C
hic
ag
o, I
L 6
0694
-176
4.
Your
Gift
s to
ELC
A W
orld
Hun
ger
in A
ctio
n
CON
VER
SATI
ON
ST
ARTE
RS
Mex
ico
Mex
ico
Mex
ico
Mee
t Esp
eran
zaEs
pera
nza
used
to se
ll sm
all g
oods
doo
r-to
-doo
r to m
ake a
livin
g. O
n th
e out
skirt
s of
Mex
ico C
ity, w
here
mill
ions o
f peo
ple
live i
n ex
trem
e pov
erty,
she s
trugg
led
to p
rovid
e for
her
self
and
two t
eena
ge
child
ren.
Whe
n th
e pric
e of t
ortil
las
and
othe
r sta
ple f
oods
skyro
cket
ed, s
he
fear
ed th
at h
er ch
ildre
n wo
uld
go h
ungr
y.Th
en E
sper
anza
rece
ived
a sm
all l
oan
from
a m
icrofi
nanc
e ass
ocia
tion
in h
er
neig
hbor
hood
that
is su
ppor
ted
by E
LCA
World
Hun
ger.
This
micr
ofina
nce p
rogr
am
gave
Esp
eran
za a
n op
portu
nity
to b
ecom
e an
entre
pren
eur.
She
star
ted
a sm
all
stor
e in
her h
ome,
which
now
gen
erat
es
enou
gh in
com
e to s
uppo
rt he
r fam
ily.
Each
wee
k she
hos
ts m
eetin
gs on
her
pa
tio w
ith ot
her m
embe
rs of
the p
rogr
am.
Mem
bers
of th
e micr
ofina
nce p
rogr
am
are i
nvolv
ed in
all
aspe
cts o
f its
op
erat
ion, i
nclu
ding
adm
inist
ratio
n of
th
e loa
ns.
Mem
bers
supp
ort e
ach
othe
r in
pay
ing
back
the l
oans
; the
repa
ymen
t ra
te is
over
90
perc
ent.
Bec
ause
of th
is pr
ogra
m, E
sper
anza
sees
real
chan
ge in
he
r com
mun
ity a
nd is
abl
e to s
usta
in
her f
amily
.
ME
XI
CO
www.
elca.
org/
hung
er
Aaron Cooper/ELCA
Your
gift
s to E
LCA
World
Hun
ger s
uppo
rt m
icrofi
nanc
e pro
gram
s in
Mexic
o and
in m
any
othe
r cou
ntrie
s aro
und
the w
orld
. A g
ift o
f jus
t $1
25 is
eno
ugh
to p
rovi
de a
mic
rolo
an
to a
wom
an re
ady
to s
tart
her o
wn
smal
l bus
ines
s. W
ill yo
u m
ake a
gift
to h
elp
som
eone
like
Esp
eran
za? P
lease
give
toda
y.
YES!
I wo
uld
like t
o sup
port
ELCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r.
I h
ave i
nclu
ded
my g
ift of
$12
5.
Oth
er $
____
____
____
✁
Make
your
chec
k pay
able
to “E
LCA
World
Hu
nger.
” Pla
ce yo
ur g
ift in
your
co
ngre
gatio
n’s of
ferin
g pl
ate o
r m
ail i
t to:
ELCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r, P.O
. Box
717
64, C
hica
go, I
L 60
694.
To
give
onlin
e with
a cr
edit
card
, plea
se
visit
www.
elca.
org/
hung
erdo
nate
.
Mee
t Esp
eran
zaEs
pera
nza
used
to se
ll sm
all g
oods
doo
r-to
-doo
r to m
ake a
livin
g. O
n th
e out
skirt
s of
Mex
ico C
ity, w
here
mill
ions o
f peo
ple
live i
n ex
trem
e pov
erty,
she s
trugg
led
to p
rovid
e for
her
self
and
two t
eena
ge
child
ren.
Whe
n th
e pric
e of t
ortil
las
and
othe
r sta
ple f
oods
skyro
cket
ed, s
he
fear
ed th
at h
er ch
ildre
n wo
uld
go h
ungr
y.Th
en E
sper
anza
rece
ived
a sm
all l
oan
from
a m
icrofi
nanc
e ass
ocia
tion
in h
er
neig
hbor
hood
that
is su
ppor
ted
by E
LCA
World
Hun
ger.
This
micr
ofina
nce p
rogr
am
gave
Esp
eran
za a
n op
portu
nity
to b
ecom
e an
entre
pren
eur.
She
star
ted
a sm
all
stor
e in
her h
ome,
which
now
gen
erat
es
enou
gh in
com
e to s
uppo
rt he
r fam
ily.
Each
wee
k she
hos
ts m
eetin
gs on
her
pa
tio w
ith ot
her m
embe
rs of
the p
rogr
am.
Mem
bers
of th
e micr
ofina
nce p
rogr
am
are i
nvolv
ed in
all
aspe
cts o
f its
op
erat
ion, i
nclu
ding
adm
inist
ratio
n of
th
e loa
ns.
Mem
bers
supp
ort e
ach
othe
r in
pay
ing
back
the l
oans
; the
repa
ymen
t ra
te is
over
90
perc
ent.
Bec
ause
of th
is pr
ogra
m, E
sper
anza
sees
real
chan
ge in
he
r com
mun
ity a
nd is
abl
e to s
usta
in
her f
amily
.
ME
XI
CO
www.
elca.
org/
hung
er
Aaron Cooper/ELCA
Your
gift
s to E
LCA
World
Hun
ger s
uppo
rt m
icrofi
nanc
e pro
gram
s in
Mexic
o and
in m
any
othe
r cou
ntrie
s aro
und
the w
orld
. A g
ift o
f jus
t $1
25 is
eno
ugh
to p
rovi
de a
mic
rolo
an
to a
wom
an re
ady
to s
tart
her o
wn
smal
l bus
ines
s. W
ill yo
u m
ake a
gift
to h
elp
som
eone
like
Esp
eran
za? P
lease
give
toda
y.
YES!
I wo
uld
like t
o sup
port
ELCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r.
I h
ave i
nclu
ded
my g
ift of
$12
5.
Oth
er $
____
____
____
✁
Make
your
chec
k pay
able
to “E
LCA
World
Hu
nger.
” Pla
ce yo
ur g
ift in
your
co
ngre
gatio
n’s of
ferin
g pl
ate o
r m
ail i
t to:
ELCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r, P.O
. Box
717
64, C
hica
go, I
L 60
694.
To
give
onlin
e with
a cr
edit
card
, plea
se
visit
www.
elca.
org/
hung
erdo
nate
.
ORDER OF SERVICE
PRAYER:Lord, do we really have any idea how the rest of the world lives? Do we? Do we really know poverty? How many of us know real despair? The kind that seals us in and leaves us with dust in our mouth instead of food. How many of us have visited outside our comfort area? How many? What then should we do? How then shall we serve?
Move us into compassion. Cover us with your grace and move us beyond our guilt. Our little is so much. If we only knew. Amen.
READING: Luke 3:10-14 (NRSV)And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
MONOLOGUE: Esperanza (Pretend to close door) I’m having a meeting on my patio right now: members from the microfinance program here in Mexico City. (laugh) No, we are not bankers. Not really. We meet weekly to support each other in our new businesses. Who would ever think that I would be a business woman, much less running a meeting?
I use to go door-to-door selling odds and ends to bring in some money. Now people come to my door.
My name is Esperanza. I live on the outskirts of Mexico City. There are millions like me here in Mexico City. We work hard, but prices keep going up. Incomes do not. How many doors did I knock on? Not enough to provide for my children. I had dreams of starting my own store, but those were impossible dreams. I just kept knocking. Sometimes it wasn’t enough.
Do you know what a micro loan is? A small loan. A hundred dollars. Maybe less. I received a small loan from a microfinance association in my neighborhood that is supported by ELCA World Hunger. Through the microfinance program I became an (pause here to proudly enunciate) entrepreneur. I started a small store in my home just like I’d envisioned. My store generates enough income to support my family. Just a little has made so much possible. (open hands)
Through the program, we’ve not only been given a micro loan but the responsibility to operate it. That’s what we’re talking about tonight. We’re making it work. Our repayment rate is over 90 percent. Do you know the Bible story about the boy with a few fish who fed 3,000? Micro loans are like a few fish.
calling
Chicago, IL 60694-1764.
Mexico
continued on back...
Seed money to grow a whole village. It’s making a difference not only for me but for Mario, Juan, Abilia, Abram and Lena—others who have benefited from this program.
(Look back over shoulder at imaginary patio and laugh) I guess they heard their names. OK! I’m coming! (calling to friends)
(Returning to audience) I’d better get back to my meeting. But, don’t forget: Through your gifts, God’s love has been poured out upon us through the work of ELCA World Hunger. We are so grateful and so encouraged! Que Dios los bendiga!
LITANY:Leader: Do you know the Bible story about the boy and the fish and loaves?Congregation: We know it. Leader: Well then?Congregation: That’s fish and bread. We’re talking money here. Real money.Leader: Yes, I know. So what’s the problem?Congregation: I am the boy with the lunch, and I’m not sure I want to share it.Leader: It’s just two fish. Congregation: Can I keep the loaves of bread?Leader: That’s up to you. But you know ... Congregation: We know. Leader: There are a lot of hungry people out there. And there’s always Jesus waiting to bless it.
PRAYER: We get two messages, Lord. One says share. One says save. How do I listen to both? I open my closet and see more than two coats. Is my need that much greater? These are hard questions because the answer is so clear. Raise us up, Lord, so we can see beyond our own lifestyles. Show us through the ELCA World Hunger program that our little is a lot. Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is your understanding of how a micro loan works?
2. The ELCA says a lot about grace. We know we don’t earn our way to heaven. It’s a gift. However, A church leader once said, “Now that you don’t have to do anything, what are you going to do?” Reread the Scripture used in the service. Notice how many people asked the same question. What was that question? How might the ELCA World Hunger program become part of your “doing?
3. Are there places in your life where excess is dragging you down? How might you rid yourself of some of the burden of possession and lighten the load of another at the same time? Brainstorm fun activities your congregation could organize in order to support ELCA World Hunger and the micro-loan project.