We spent Saturday and Sunday with the team in Guatemala and then flew to Costa Rica early Monday morning. We arrived about 10:30 and Pastor Rodolfo was there to pick us up and take us to the hotel. A walk to Subway for lunch was just what we needed; after which, we met with Pastor Steve to share info on the Guatemala trip and learn what had been happening in Costa Rica. He flew to Nicaragua about 3:30 p.m., but we were our paths crossed if even for a short time.
The team in Costa Rica is one person larger than Guatemala--47. They came from Murrels Inlet Baptist Church, Murrels Inlet, South Carolina; First Baptist Church, Foley, Alabama; Ridge Avenue Baptist Church, West Monroe, Louisiana and Woodland Park Baptist Church, Hammond, Louisiana. As always there were both familiar faces and new faces--just the way we like it.
Last year and again this year we spent August 1 handing out tracts and praying for all of the people who were making the journey to the national cathedral in Cartago, Costa Rica. Here's a recap of what this pilgrmage, called the Romeria, is all about:
In August the Basilica of our Lady of the Angeles is the object of extensive pilgrimage and visitation by about 2.5 million believers throughout Costa Rica and other surrounding countries, many of whom join in the celebrated 22-kilometer walk to the basilica during the Romería. Though many people start the pilgrimage from locations all over Costa Rica, some, as a demonstration of their piety, choose to crawl the 22 kilometers on their hands and knees. (Click here to read more about it.)
We started by forming small groups and praying together and then for thirty mintues we walked along with the group and passed out a tract called "The Words of Mary," after which we walked against the flow (still passing out tracts) until we returned to the park. Because we want to be sensitive to the event, we only stop and share the gospel with people who are not participating in the walk.
Instead of having a regular family festival on Saturday evening, Pastor Rodolfo explained that we were going to walk along with the people on their pilgrimage to the Catholic church in Cartago, Costa Rica. Here is a bit of information about the pilgrimage.
In August the Basilica of our Lady of the Angeles is the object of extensive pilgrimage and visitation by about 2.5 million believers throughout Costa Rica and other surrounding countries, many of whom join in the celebrated 22-kilometer walk to the basilica during the Romería. Though many people start the pilgrimage from locations all over Costa Rica, some, as a demonstration of their piety, choose to crawl the 22 kilometers on their hands and knees. (Click here to read more about it.)
We joined in with the walkers at a point inside the city and walked (and prayed) for a distance of about a mile and a half. We then turned around a walked back to the park where we started. While we were going against the flow, we passed out tracts called, "The Words of the Virgin Mary," to all who would take them. It was definitely a bit intimidating to be going the other direction.
I probably write a post about Sunday morning worship almost every time there are gringos around for a campaign. I think it's because it is so impactful to worship together. Sunday morning at IBVN San Jose was no different.
Depending upon who is leading the music, occasionally we sing the worship songs in both Spanish and English. However, this time it was a bit different. Instead of changing the slides from Spanish to English for each verse/chorus, where they were able to they put the Spanish words and the English words for each line of the song. As a result, the gringos were singing the English words while the rest were singing the Spanish words. It was very cool!
Pastor Chris Sprires from First Baptist Church, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, gave the message, with Vladimir translating.
