Modern Day Acts 16:11-15

Last Thursday, we took a day trip to El Quiche… we (Padre Horacio, Esther and myself) left about 4:30am and arrived at 8:30am… It is a trip that Padre Horacio has taken every year for five years now. His consistency and willingness to come has won the hearts and trust of many people. Passing onto a gravel road, we asked a community van driver if he know were the house we were looking for was… he told us to go straight at the fork in the road and that we would see the people waiting. And we did…waiting for us around a final curve in the dry dirt road were well over a hundred people among whom 69 people (mostly children) were waiting to be baptized. They had come from four different communities relatively close… but still some had to leave their homes at 6:30am to walk the nearly two hours to this particular house. Wow! There were even several Catholic catechists and their families present to have their children baptized because the priest has not had the time for the baptisms or the families could not pay (the Catholic church in much of Guatemala is charging for baptisms, and many cannot afford it)… and when they do they just go around sprinkling water in the general direction of the children, then individually put oil on their head, then tell the parents where to go to light the candle… not very personal. After having breakfast, Padre Horacio gave a short class on baptism and the church to those gathered. Teaching a bit about Lutherans, how we are Christian and how this baptism is valid regardless of what some might try to say because it is the work of Christ. He taught about the benefits of baptism, how we receive forgiveness, are welcomed as children of God, etc. Then we had the worship service. After the sermon and before Holy Communion, the baptisms began. Each had been given a number when they had written the name of the child and the sponsors down and they arranged themselves in order from the table/ altar around the house and into the garden… 69 waiting to be baptized… many held in the arms of parents, a few adults, and in one case a family of 8. One by one they were baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, they received the sign on of cross on their forehead and the light of Christ in their hands… each called by name. It took over an hour just for the baptisms… and each was beautiful as our family grew. After the baptisms, we continued with Holy Communion. Only a hand full went forward to receive… due to the piety (Catholic sacramental roots) that if they are living with their spouse but not married that they cannot receive Communion (once again many cannot afford the fee the Catholic church places on weddings, so cannot get married and therefore cannot commune). Padre Horacio commented on this saying… next time I come we will have weddings as well. Then joking, of course it must be with the same man or woman that you are now with… but your marriage nor your money should not separate you from the table, so we will have weddings.