The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.
8 October 1990 - 8:00 AM - Resurrection Lutheran Church
Chris had the time of the service wrong, so we are sitting in an office of the Lutheran Church waiting for the students to end their 7:30 worship. The one that we will attend doesn't begin until 8:30. This church is an amazing shade of green - green for the Resurrection. We entered through a lovely enclosed and shaded courtyard. The room in which we are waiting has a beautifully painted Salvadoran cross, about 21" high, hanging on a wall against an excruciatingly tacky floral-patterned wall paper. Two-thirds of the adjoining wall, which is the first thing one sees upon entering, features a floor to ceiling photo mural of a fall scene in the U.S. or Canadian northwest. Cyril opines that it depicts the Cascades rather than the Rockies. The incongruity of such a scene here in tropical El Salvador is startling.
I learned this morning that most of the group was awake a good bit of last night. Helicopters were flying low overhead, and there were explosions in the distance and brilliant flashes lighting the sky. We heard several explanations of what was going on, but finally learned that a cadre of FMLN had attacked Mariona prison in an unsuccessful attempt to liberate some of the political prisoners.
One of the items which I had carried carefully through the airport is a letter of greetings and support from Lititz Moravian Congregation to Bishop Medardo Gomez and his congregation. It is written in Spanish, thanks to our Pastor David Sommers, and signed by all three pastors. Chris has advised me that it will be most useful if presented publicly within the context of today's service. That way the "ears" – that is, the government informers who watch him constantly – will be made aware that one more large U.S. congregation has an interest in Medardo's welfare.
Toward the end of the service space is made for announcements and presentations. Chris signals to Gail and to me, and we follow him to the front of the church. Gail introduces the PVC delegation and makes a few remarks of greeting, with Chris translating, this time from English to Spanish for the benefit of the congregation. Then the microphone is handed to me, and I bring greetings and best wishes from Lititz Moravian, handing Medardo the letter. Chris translates once more, then Medardo responds with kind comments about the Moravian Church's work in Nicaragua among the poor of the East Coast. He begins with the disclaimer that he has had little contact with Moravians, but he demonstrates wide knowledge of the Moravian presence in other Central American countries. I feel both proud that I have been an instrument of connection between his church and mine, and very humble to be the recipient of this great man's gracious words.
Copyright © 2022 Marian L. Shatto
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