Iceland Needs Your PrayersEric St. Clair - 17 Apr 2010

Planes have been grounded across much of Europe for the last few days as a colossal cloud of volcanic ash drifts southward from Iceland. Eric StClair is part of an emerging 24-7 Community in Reykjavik and writes to ask us to pray for the country.

There is a phrase in Icelandic “þetta reddast”, that basically translates as 'everything will work out in the end'. Over the past 2 1⁄2 years here in Iceland I have come to realise that this is truly the national motto. What I find more often that not is a sense of hope. No matter what is thrown their way, and recently there has been a lot thrown Iceland ́s way, they still keep their heads up and keep on doing what needs to be done.

As most of the world knows Iceland has been in economic turmoil for the better part of two years now. This is the result of years of dishonest and underhanded banking practices that have left the country on the verge of bankruptcy. But still “þetta reddast” rules the day.

With the latest earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the southeast part of Iceland many farmers have been hit very hard by flooding and ash. Lost on Tuesday was the largest grain producer for Iceland and many of the countries dairy farms have been rendered useless. Our good friend Óli and his family had to evacuate their dairy farm very early Tuesday morning.Their farm sits just a few miles from the latest eruption. Leaving behind hundreds of cows and horses, and a life time of belongings, they now just wait and pray that the flood walls wont break and destroy their life ́s work. We as a country are also waiting and watching to see what happens. To see how the farmers will rebound and to see how the government rebuilds. Please pray for the nation as it rebuilds and for the church of Iceland that it can answer the call to love deeply and with incredible compassion.