Greetings,

As many of you know, there was a devastating earthquake in Ecuador a few days ago.  Our friends in Quito and in the Amazon region are safe.  Peter Wigginton, Delicia Bravo and Jane and Jerrell Ross Richer report that they felt the earthquake, but they did not experience any damage in Quito or in the jungle.
 
The earthquake was on the coast which is about 6 hours from Quito.  There are a couple of congregations in the affected area that are connected to the Rosedale Mennonite Mission and Rosedale is sending $10,000 for relief.  We want to be in prayer for these churches on the coast related to Rosedale Mennonite Mission that are in the earthquake zone.
 
Also, MCC is sending former partnership worker David Shenk to Ecuador for two weeks to work with the churches there to form a plan to help the victims.  For more information, you can go to Peter Wigginton's blog at

https://wiggipe.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/pray-for-ecuador/

Peter is the Ecuador Partnership Coordinator in Quito. He received a call from Portoviejo informing us that a sister from one of the churches on the coast died in the earthquake and other families have lost their homes. Of course there is much suffering in the whole area. Peter has helped a lot with calls to church leaders, expressing concern for people, learning about the current situation and communicating with Rosedale Mennonite Mission and the CCM.

Information about Rosedale can be found at http://www.news.rmmweb.org/2016/04/ecuador_earthquake_relief.html

Blessings,
Don Kempf and David Boshart

Read the prayer letter here

Also see the Ross Richer Blog and photos here