La Esmerelda wedding

When our delegation arrived in La Esmerelda we were warmly welcomed. Part of our welcome was a brief service... in that service Matthew 28 (the great commission) was read. A catechist gave a message about how they cannot travel far but they can still teach, preach and baptize here in La Esmerelda.

Caterina and Santiago´s wedding was beautiful. She was dressed head to knee in an outfit that she had woven and embordered herself. A sheer vail was draped down her back... still allowing everyone to see the beautiful workmanship of her outfit. Santiago was well dressed only completed by his enormous smile. Janet and John accompianed the couple up the the front of the church to sit on wooden benches upon the concrete floor. This couple was married civily years ago... and already have 5 beautiful children. Santiago wants to study to be a catechist so they must be married in the church as well now.

Padre Horacio had a beautiful sermon... much of it about women´s contribution and importance in the community. How men should walk behind women not in front to support and catch them if they stumble. How love grows in the heart and how important and difficult understanding is. How when a man first likes a womean he tells her how beautiful she is... and that he should still be telling his wife that when they are old. How he shouldn´t be embarrassed to hold her hand in public.

In the wedding, Padre Horacio tied a white ribbon around the couple which bound them together the rest of the service. Sontiago also had coins taht he placed in Caterina´s hands-- as a promise to provide for her and their family. They met in the mountain during the war under a tree when they had no food. They spoke different languages but in the suffering... they were still able to understand eachother.