July 21, 2013
Domingo- there is nothing like it in El Paisnal. A Catholic church dominates the "downtown" corner of this small village with its tangerine edifice and scary looking blonde Jesus on the front doors. Apart from Sunday mass, the church serves as a place to pray and that's about it. Buenas Nuevas is the other iglesia (church) in El Paisnal.
Churches and its representatives, especially priests, have an interesting relationship in El Salvador. During the late 1970s before the civil war in El Salvador officially began, priests were falling into (choosing) two camps. One camp sided with the government and therefore the priests turned a blind eye to the oppression and violence occurring all around them and to their fellow countrymen. The others sided with the people, but these priests were few and far between because a) they didn't have the courage b) they were "disappeared" or c) they were killed. El Paisnal is a community that felt the daily suffering of the war which included many deaths and disappeared men and even families. Rutilio Grande was one such priest, prominent throughout the Catholic establishment but especially vocal against the atrocities of the government. He grew up in El Paisnal and often returned to celebrate mass at the church since their was no assigned priest at the time. So upon a trip home, snipers killed him and two others in 1977. From this time and into the war, the orange Catholic church shut its doors, wanting to reduce any fear or assumptions that it would be used by the government against the campasitas (country people). Buenas Nuevas church with Pastor Chema existed in a small capacity as far as a infrastructure was concerned, but to this day, he and the church people live church IN their community, supporting and uplifting the people from their suffering.
This Sunday was no different to the mission of the church. The new English teacher, Marvin, has really connected with the kids by taking them to the park on Sunday morning. According to him, no one takes the children to the park and for him to invest the time and energy to toss a Frisbee creates great bonds. Our group joined the kids and Marvin on a very hot and humid morning to throw Frisbees and play baseball. It was welcome recreation despite the heat (and my long skirt) especially since we had lunch quickly to follow. In the midst of being with people, meals and sitting become the norm.
Sunday service at 3pm could have been a real snore (hot and post lunch sitting) but our involvement singing/leading music (two songs in English and Spanish), Gregg's powerful sermon, prayer of blessing over our delegation and communion, the service ended up being very memorable. The experience of sharing the Lord's prayer no matter what the language or communion no matter what the denominational affiliation created a real bond between us.
This night Mac and I stayed at a different family's home. This family had 15 children, many living at home still or if not, replaced by grandchildren. Either way, we met a lot of people, showed pictures of our small families and sang songs in Spanish and English...kind of. Their home was one big room the size of a typical living room with 6 large raised straw mats for beds, oh and a hammock. They gave Mac and I each a bed while the small ones and a big one slept together. I think one double size bed had 3 or 4 people on it. The mom and 3 year old daughter slept in the hammock together from 8:30pm-4am. Mac and I didn't get up that early, but when we did, the others had already prepared meals and began the day. The "kitchen" consisted of a couple thin walls and tin roof adjacent to the cinder block home. With little to offer in way of morning prep contribution, we played with a jump rope, snaking it on the ground for the little ones to jump. Oh the glee was so beautiful to see. I want to bring joy to their life, and I think being able to host provided that despite the hardship it created. That's a testament of love- tangible and explicate this trip.
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