Lent 2008

Every Friday in Lent our churches gather after work and lift Christ upon their shoulders, processing through the neighborhood singing, praying and reading the passion story. Families who are not Lutheran contact us months ahead asking if we can bring the procession, bring Christ to their home too. On Easter morning, the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in El Tuerto will process in and out of two different ravines singing Alleluia. Our humble litters carried by four people can arrive to the homes of many that the larger Roman Catholic litters carried by 120 men will not even cast a shadow upon.

Our members are located almost entirely on the margins of society where it is far to easy to be forgotten or misunderstood. Frequently prey to “well intencioned Christians” who visit seeking to save the forsaken Lutherans from their incorrect path—our members respond with faith and listen to their visitors and confess to them in return their faith. To be a Lutheran in Guatemala one needs to know their identity, need to know the word to which we cling.

Our relationship as the ILAG with our two Companion Synods has been a great blessing. While in Southeastern Synod in January, Horacio and I realized our similarities of geographic distance between congregations, frequent misunderstanding of what a Lutheran is exactly and maintaining the critical balance between delivering Christ through Word and Sacrament and a holistic ministry of social justice—of loving and caring for our neighbor.

St. Paul Area Synod gifts us with the knowledge that there are many Lutherans in the world and the diversity within the Lutheran Confession as we proclaim to new generations who are not automatically Lutheran and the real struggle of outreach in which we are called to support the community without expectation of new members yet all the while sharing the gospel and inviting all to come without condition.

As our second delegation of 2008 left last week, we were once again left strengthened to continue our work of bearing Christ to all creation. Our members in El Mirador, El Tuerto and Israel all have been reminded that they are not alone in this call we share with Christ English and Shepherd of the Hills—and all of you.

We all share this call—it may be literally carrying the good news to the doorsteps of our neighbors or as Don Rosendo in Santa Elena is doing at nearly 80—taking the bible story coloring sheets he received at the National Council Meeting in January and calling all the children in his village to gather and learn about their Lord. No matter what form it takes we are called to confess who Christ is and who we are through Christ.

Blessed Lent to you all,

Amanda Olson de Castillo
Missionary and Pastor
Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala