Giving thanks

A local (Guayaquil) stake came to the temple this past week and 30 - 40 people attended the baptistry every day. Many of the young people came every day. At the beginning of a baptism session, a prayer is offered, usually by one of the youth. One prayer in particular caught my attention. Expressions of gratitude were given for the blessings of life, and the opportunity to attend the temple and provide a saving ordinance for the dead. Then an expression of gratitude was given for ..work. Here in Ecuador there is a very high unemployment rate. Estimates are as high as approaching fifty percent. Young people go through college and obtain training for professions such as engineering, architecture, etc. knowing that it will be difficult to find a job in their field. Work is a precious thing here. One young single mother we know has a job, but in order to keep it she has to work long hours and not request time off because she knows that there are a thousand people who would like her job. At construction projects, there are many more people working than are really needed. Every business seems to have a security person (or several). One brother goes to work every day at a restaurant. He directs cars to available parking spaces. It seems that many people have jobs that are menial and not very productive. There are people attempting to sell things as cars stop at traffic lights. Surprisingly not much begging is seen, but people are trying to sell all kinds of things even in the buses. I asked one of the temple workers what he does for a living. He told me he works "por la calle" (on the street). Now the economic situation is exacerbated because of the drought.
There has not been rain here for several months. Most of the electricity in this country comes from hydroelectic generators. Now the water in the reservoirs is too low to run the turbines and there are power outages every day. Fines are given if a person does not use his own generator (if he has one). One of the brothers in the temple told me that the situation was very difficult for him because of the power outages. He is a tailor and only has use of his sewing machines a few hours each day. Another brother arrived the other day and said that he had to make the decision to eat that day or attend the temple. He chose to come to the temple. One of our sister temple missionaries was chatting with the wife of one of the mission presidents the other day. She asked her if there were any needs of the latin missionaries. The mission president's wife began to cry and said that there were many needs. And so this good sister is looking into the situation to see what is needed and what can be done. All of this may be painting a picture of very dire circumstances here, of people in rags who are hungry all the time. This is not the case. People are normal, dress well and eat regular meals. Still there are those who do have needs.
Missionaries at the temple are concerned that people may not have enough for bus fare, clothing rental, and/or lunch. We hope that people are not kept from coming to the temple because of a few dollars. There are Ecuadoran couples who could serve as temple workers but lack the funds to pay their own expenses.
So thanks to those of you who are willing and able to help others as opportunities come. Whether it be in your own neightborhood or somewhere else in the world where the needs of people may be even greater, Your contribution is appreciated. There are many needs here. We have missionaries from our ward and stake who have recently entered the mission field. One family in our ward has two young men out with a third one preparing to go. The family has a bakery which requires long hours work for the male members of the family. They deliver bread to retail customers in an old pickup truck that barely runs. We heard today of another family with two missionaries out. They need some help on a short term basis. And so on. So please include us in your prayers and, pray for rain in Ecuador.