The Wonder of CreationSample

TAKING CARE OF THE WORLD

Imagine a land filled with elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas, hippos, leopards, lions, and hundreds of other animals. Over 1,000 species of birds flutter through the air, and over 10,000 different tropical plants grow here. The land is rich with rubber, timber, copper, diamonds, tin, and gold. And over 75 million people call this area home. What is this amazing place? The Congo Basin in Africa.

The Congo Basin is the area of land surrounding the Congo River, which is the world’s deepest river. At 720 feet deep, you could stack two Statues of Liberty on top of each other and still be underwater! The river is 2,920 miles long and crosses the equator twice. All that water so close to the hot, hot, hot temperatures of the equator creates the perfect environment for the world’s second largest rainforest. (The Amazon rainforest holds the number-one spot!)

But the Congo Basin is in danger. Poachers are killing too many animals, the rainforest is being cut down, and the frequent wars aren’t helping anyone.

God told us to take care of the Earth—even those parts halfway around the world (Genesis 2:15). How can you help the Congo? One way has to do with the foods grown in and near rainforests— foods like bananas and cocoa. Ask your parents to look for foods that are sustainably grown. That means the farming doesn’t hurt the forests. Little things can make a big difference when you work with those around you and with God to make the world a cleaner, happier place.

 

Prayer

God, show me what I can do today to make this world a better and more beautiful place. Amen.