Samana Santa

Last week was Samana Santa (Holy Week) in Costa Rica. It's an interesting phenomenon...really a big deal, but not like one might guess. As early as Monday, you can feel it. There is an anticipation that this week is going to be different. Tuesday things are a little abnormal, because people are starting to leave town for the week, but business is still going on. Most stores are open. Buses are running on a normal schedule. But by Wednesday the differences are visible. Some businesses are closed, and there are fewer cars on the road. On Thursday you know you are in holidays. Many, in fact the majority, of the stores are closed and there is limited bus service. Friday the town is shut down. Virtually nothing is open. (We did eat out in an American restaurant.) Saturday is not back to normal, but more so than Friday. Easter Sunday is just a normal Sunday.

But remember, this is Samana Santa, Holy Week. Now, if Holy means "set apart" or "different", the name fits. But you would think Holy Week, preceding Easter Sunday, would have a lot of religious significance. Right? Maybe it did at some point. But it has "evolved" (devolved?) into more of a spring break type of holiday, although a family spring break. The schools are out for the week. Families go to the beach by the droves. It's a time to get out of town.

Oh, to be sure some of the Catholic churches have special processionals on Friday where they have sort of a parade and carry a glass case with a dead "Jesus" in it. There is a lot of emphasis on the suffering of Jesus on the cross, and about as much on the suffering of his mother, Mary. Processionals will have "Jesus" in the glass case followed by a statue of Mary dressed in her regal robes. And...that about does it. Very little, if anything, is said about the resurrection. The strange thing is that many evangelical churches don't make a big deal of Easter Sunday either. In fact, we are told that attendance is normally down on Easter Sunday. Many people are away on vacation for Samana Santa. Our church did have some "Easter" hymns, but the sermon was not about the resurrection at all. What probably was once intended as an emphasis on the passion of Christ, the crucifixion that paid for our sins, and the resurrection that demonstrated and promised us life, has become an opportunity to go away for the week and play at the beach.

OK. I don't know. Is that worse than it being only an excuse to get a new dress or tie? Have we gringo evangelicals lost the significance too? I hope not. But sometimes things do get a little mixed up. I heard yesterday a report of a man who was complaining that "they" were trying to dechristianize everything in America. "They" were even trying to take the "Christian" out of the easter bunny. Lord help us.

Just doing something nice

Below is a photo of a volunteer working on a new stove for a young pastor's wife. She had been cooking on a one burner hot plate. Sometimes we, and volunteers, deviate from pure missions and just do something nice for people who have needs. That's not really missions, but it is Christian. The group saw the need so bought and installed the new stove. Thank the Lord for generous hearts.

Installing a new stove.

  

By all means

Below are a couple of pictures of a recent event in the small town of Rio Grande. Volunteers from the USA and local believers spent a day of distributing portions of the Bible (The Gospel of John) and announcements about a movie to be shown in the local gym for the next two nights. An animated cartoon type of movie was shown..."Hermie, a common Caterpillar." We sang songs, then the movie was shown. Afterwards Jeremy, the pastor of a small church in a nearby town, gave a short message. The first night the turn-out was a little disappointing (about 40 people), but the word spread, and the second night there around 240 people there of all ages. After three days of work, the volunteers, under the direction of the Lord, left a nucleus for the beginnings of a new church in the village.

There are a lot of ways to attract people. It is our intention to use all means possible to get the Word out. The message is the same, but the methods vary.

Waiting for the movie

  

Hermie the Caterpillar

  

Get out of the way

Does God need us? No doubt we all like to think we are at least significant. Truth is, God just kind of lets us in on what He is doing. A few days ago one of our missionaries told me this story. He was at a service of one of the relatively new churches around Atenas. The pastor, who's manner is to sort of ramble and make a short story long, was preaching and Steve thought to himself, "I really need to teach Jose how to preach." The sermon went on for what seemed too long and then he gave an invitation to receive Christ as savior. Several people accepted that invitation and became Christians. Steve then thought, "OK. Maybe I better just leave him alone. Seems like God is using him pretty good."

Sometimes, as missionaries, if we aren't careful, we get into a "We have the answers" mentality and think everything has to be done our way, according to our plan, in our manner. Wrong! Looks like by now we would realize that God can use anyone, and does...who He wants to use, in whatever manner He chooses to use them. Plans are good. We should have a strategy. But sometimes when the Lord is working or is using someone, we need to just get out of the way and watch it happen.

Setbacks

Too often we forget we are in a war. There is an enemy who is hard at work combatting the advances that are made or have the potential for advancement of the kingdom. Unfortunately, sometimes a soldier is attacked and a front falls to the enemy. Such is the case in one of our work areas. Recently I found out that one of our helpers, a national brother, not a missionary, has been involved in an illicit relationship with a woman in his work area. Not only is the relationship bad, but it has become known to the residents of the area. Now we will have to do some damage control. Confidence in us and our message will be diminished, and it will take time to rebuild the relationships. I guess there is a good and a bad in this situation. It is always bad that anyone has an immoral relationship, and especially someone who is working in the name of the Lord. But, on the other hand, in Latin America, unfortunately it isn't all that unusual. Maybe that makes it even worse, because now the attitude will be, "Ok. These evangelicals aren't any different from the rest. You can't put any confidence in any of them."

Please pray for wisdom and for the Spirit of God to prevail.