[Quick Update: I posted the pictures I have on my flickr account.]
Being at the school also means being at the church, for they share facilities. Actually, the church used to be in part of the current school, but now the templo is the church building and also serves as the chapel for the school. The school’s chaplain is one of the three pastors of the Lambaré church.
When talking about the church, they’re referring to the people who make up the Body. The services are called reuniones, which I think is fitting. It’s a reunion, a “joining again”, every time there are services at the church. The connotation for me is different than saying “church service”. The fact is, there isn’t a whole lot of serving going on at services, except for those who do the leading. It really is more of a reunion.
Entonces, the church there is really great, made up of lovely people who love having visitors and whose hearts are always open to anyone who wants to come and fellowship (as said to me by a pastor’s wife). I felt at home within days of being there and even had a chance to play for Worship on the one Saturday night I was there. That apparently impressed some people because it showed that I did feel totally comfortable and wanted to jump right in and serve with them. I’m glad they felt that they could consider me family.
Being in a completely foreign church where I almost literally didn’t know anyone (I knew three of them already, but none of them very well) showed me what real unity in Christ means. It means I can visit a country half-way around the world, show up at church, and play in their praise team. It means I can go to the pastor’s house for dinner, tell him I feel like family, and hear him tell me he feels like I’m family too. It means that we can share in each other’s joy and sadness even across language barriers. It means that right now I have dozens of people praying for me to come back because they love me so much after just two weeks. It has nothing to do what they did or I did but everything to do with what Christ has done in our lives and the fact that we share that bond, His blood.
They live their ministry every day there. Some of them have other jobs, but it seems like for each one their priority is what the church needs. Several of the members work at the school, so they’re always there. The templo doors are always open, literally. The school serves as a mission field for the city. Several of the members of the church came initially because their kids went to the school. Some of the testimonies of these people are really amazing. These people are amazing.
My favorite part is how you always have to greet everyone. Make eye contact, shake hands or give two kisses (Dios te bendiga!), and smile. I will admit that I didn’t do this every time, mostly because I had a hard time hearing and understanding everyone while I was in the building, but I tried to do it whenever I was outside. It’s a really nice practice that many of our churches in North America still keep to a large degree.
These are a praying bunch of people too. They essentially have the attitude of “Why shouldn’t I ask God for something?” They pray for *everything*. I love it. They’re thankful for the cold because it means the ground can get ready for planting season. They’re thankful for the heat after the cold because it reminds them that God is a God of order. If they need money to fix a car, they pray for it. If someone’s sick, they pray for healing. If someone has received some sort of blessing, they pray in thanks to God for His goodness. I’m almost afraid that they’ll pray me back to Paraguay permanently before I’m ready to go!
-j
I'm Jason, and I like to write.