How they became Lutheran…

During their years in Mexico, they more or less maintained their native language… however they have forgotten the Quiche words for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit among other religious oriented words.

The members of Virgin del Rosario were originally Catholic. They had heard about Padre Horacio and the work he and the Lutheran Church were doing. They started to investigate where and how to reach this Padre Horacio and were told it was dangerous to look for this church. They were told among other things that the Lutheran Church worships a man instead of God. But thank God, they found Padre Horacio with a phone call. They needed him to come but he did not know where they were so they met in the nearest community of Chisec and then came to the community and met in Don Santo`s house. There Padre Horacio told them about the Lutheran Church and where the other communities in the ILAG were located. They decided to join the ILAG.

News got to the Catholic Bishop via other catechists. They have received mixed reactions from leaders in the Catholic church. Despite still being attacked at times by the Catholic Church, they are encouraged rather than fearful. When Padre Horacio came to buy the land for the Lutheran Church he came with tools to work the land with the people, so the members of this congregation know that they are not alone.

Pantelone finished by thanking us for visiting. He said that “the Bible talks about how Christ looked for the poor and not the rich, and you, the delegation, came looking for the poor not for the rich. Because of a calling from God you are coming here. You left your houses not to look for money but to look for community.”

They now, one year later for November 1st was their one year anniversary, have a wood church building and a kitchen for the church… and dreams for much more.
And after this meeting… we helped carry 25lb cement block from the road, over the stream, through the soccer field and up the hill to the church so that the church and 4 members of the church could have latrines. One man carried 12 blocks at once with a forehead strap… I managed one at a time =D