One of the
things that stands out for me about my trip to El Salvador in 2018 was
worshiping in the Cristo Rey (Christ the King) Lutheran Church. I
had gone on the mission trip in 2014 – the year that we helped to build the
church. I must say that I decided to go
on that trip because I truly felt called due to Cristo Rey. I was inspired to help build a church that
had been destroyed in an earthquake so many years before so that our brothers
and sisters in faith in Santa Ana would have a place to worship as well as use
for a safe and loving place for the community.
The day
after we arrived in 2014, we attended worship with these brothers and sisters,
and I admit that I wept throughout most of the service. I thought Pastor Carlos must be wondering
about me and my emotional state! But I
knew that I was in the place that God wanted me to be at that time. That was a difficult and wonderful week! The work that we were to do included some of
the hardest physical labor that I had ever done. It was also some of the most important
physical labor that I had ever done. We
were preparing the ground upon which the floor of the church would be
placed. We needed to get it right!
During the
week, I was able to build relationships with other workers, some from our Good
Shepherd group, some from another Habitat group, and some with local people
from El Salvador. By going on that trip,
I was able to see and experience so much first hand. I saw the commitment of the local
workers. I saw the poverty of so
many. I saw the beauty in God’s
creation. I saw the dedication of the
local Habitat employees. I had heard of
all of this from groups who had gone before me, but like so many other things
in life, there is nothing that can compare to experiencing these things
personally.
The original baptismal font in the old church.
Now, fast forward
to the day after we arrived in El Salvador in 2018. We are going to attend worship at Cristo Rey
Church! I was so excited! As soon as I got off of the shuttle bus and
walked toward the church, my eyes again welled up with tears. So many memories came back to me as I walked
around the grounds and inside the beautiful building. I had heard stories of those who had been
able to visit the completed church, and I had seen photos of the building, but
nothing could compare to seeing it in person and worshiping there with the
beautiful members of the church.
The old church building, used because the original church had been destroyed by an earthquake.
The old church. We worshiped here in 2014.
I thought
about Pastor Wilma seeing me wipe my eyes throughout the service and wondered
if she (like her husband before) was curious about my tears. It is so hard for me to describe and explain. I simply felt so blessed to be a small part
of something like this. So many hands
worked so hard together, most of whom I will never meet in this lifetime. The Spirit was truly at work in the hearts of
these people. I am very thankful for
this opportunity and the experience to return to this beautiful place, and to
see some of the inspiring people that I had met before.
The old baptismal font in the new church.
Laurie next to the dedication plaque from January 2015.
The liturgical altar linens were donated by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church to Pastor Carlos.
Notice the familiar Good Shepherd on the center altar linen.
