What is a Lutheran?

My first day with my new teacher, we went through the usual... name, where from, what is your occupation. I respond... soy pastora luterana. Granted I am not ordained but it is easier than explaining the I have graduated and after this year hope to receive a call... besides role wise... here I am in the role. Anyway... the next question is so what is a lutheran? So... on my sixth day of spanish study here in Xela... I get to confess! I managed to explain what lutherans believe and how we differ from Catholics. The twist comes during break time when my fellow students ask, in english, what a lutheran is? So for the second time in one day... I get to confess! Some of my classmates have been asking me a lot of questions about Christianity and Lutherans... especially one woman from Australia who really knows nothing about Christianity. So when we sit by eachother on the chicken buses invariably she will have another question.

Both of my teachers have also readily talked about their faith and faith practices. The first was a sweet old Catholic woman who enjoys the tranquility of the church. We would practice reading every day by reading from the bible. Her face would simply lite up when she read... she doesn´t have a bible of her own. At church the focus is the mass so she doesn´t hear much scripture read either. My teacher this week is evangelical... we had fun conversation about where Cain´s wife came from... just like I was in confirmation again.

My host family´s house doubles as an evangelical church on Saturday nights. I sat among them and listened to their prayers (very loud and all talking at once, with the leader talking loudest) and a sermon on James 3:1-10... I wonder if they knew a lutheran was in the room because the preacher was very firm that you cannot be simultaneously a saint and a sinner! I smiled to myself with that one.

Update on Padre Horacio Castillo. He has been home for a little over a week and is doing well. He has had some problems with the sitches but overall is healing beautifully. He is anxious to get back to work!

Take care all.