Sunday was such a day.
Cool and overcast, we journeyed out early for church in our big white van (aka the White Whale) to one of the poorest villages on the outskirts of Tuxtla. Ocuilapa was on a hilly mountainside, at the edge of civilization, literally within site of the countrys massive jungle reserve. We picked up Rev. Sebastian's wife, Nellie and their two children, Hassidy and Gael on the way, as they were to be our official "hosts" to this remote church community.
Our APTS student guide Greg Allen-Pickett maneuvered the big van well in the rainy, rutted, dirt roads. Although these village roads were being resurfaced, as promised by the government, they had taken their time - over 6 months - and the roads were in tough shape (being polite here). So.....when we stepped from the van, which was several blocks from church due to the road conditions, one and all were ankle deep in mud......wet, thick, brown, suck-your-sandals-off mud. And then it started to rain. So, clinging to each other and some gracious local folks, we slipped and slided our way up to church. And, thank God, not one of us fell down! Si, se puede!
When we reached the church:
dressed in mud (feet, lower legs, pant legs, hems of skirts, you name it) we were met with pails of well water to wash ourselves off before entering the service. The host church, Iglesia Presbiteriana de Ocuilapa, met us with smiles and laughter, helping us get clean(er)...it was truly a mud removal party for the Lord. When we entered the full (and patient) church we dispersed among the villagers in the pews and then joined them in worship. We were invited to share our hastily van-practiced hymn as their honored guests, and when our second hymn was in Spanish, everyone sang along. When we were invited to introduce ourselves at the end of the service every face was illuminated with love.
And then there was Dr. Cuellar's sermon. His sermon, translated by Greg Allen-Pickett, expressed a theme common to our trip, that of exile and return. This humble little church related to this theme. When Dr. Cuellar offered an altar call at his sermons conclusion, about two thirds of the church responded. Healing ensued among this body of Christ. It was amazing....but you will have to ask Dr. Cuellar to explain..... it would be safe to say that each of us experienced God's presence in our own way among our brothers and sisters in Christ.
APTS Student Liz Klar with congregation members
Fellowship with the Pastor, his wife, the congregants and their home made pan dulce (sweet bread) followed, and on our way out of town, we were invited to stop and visit two other families. More refreshments, more prayer together...such hospitality! And then Dr. Cuellar was invited to stay for the day with the church family, which is another story I invite you to ask him to relate. Grace abounds!
But, wait! Theres more! We had a grand lunch of roasted rabbit at a restaurant called _Cascada de los Conejos ("cascade of rabbits") before saying goodbye to our Tuxtla host, Rev. Sebastian and his family.
Then later in the evening we had the grand pleasure of travelling on the modern, mud-less Autopista toll highway over the beautiful mountains to San Cristobal for coffee with APTS alum (and middler Allie Utley's dad), the Rev. Carl Utley. Carl is on a Lilly Foundation sabbatical to study Spanish language for 3 months in San Cristobal. He had a great deal of enthusiasm explaining his love of the culture and mission work in Latin America. In closing I will quote Carl on Christian mission work from the indigenous perspective....."If you are here to help me, go home. If you are here because your salvation is bound up in mine, then welcome, and let's get to work."
-Beth Gleason, APTS M.Div., 2013
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