El Limon

My dear friend Adela is in central Guatemala right now, applying her skills as an R.N. to the needs of a rural region and living at the Canticos de Gozo (Songs of Joy) Home for Children. Here's part of a recent report she sent to her prayer supporters:

Today we went to El Limon, a place where people from my church went last month. It was the first time that a medical group had gone with the word of God. This was the second group. Our coming had been announced by radio and by flyers, so they knew when to come. On the way up the mountain, a villager handed a note to the gal next to me. It was signed by about 10 people by thumbprints and had official looking stamps on it. The jist was that they do not want us to keep coming, they have enough free medicines from the public health, a doctor comes monthly, and they are not hungry or naked so don't come in with the word of God. It was from the Catholic council of the village. I was shocked! It was interesting that this spurred many conversations within the med students about the differences between Catholics and Evangelicals (the umbrella term for protestants here) and I had to explain the differences between Catholics from US and hispanic america. We have 2 Catholics in our group. One way to put it is that we are bringing the same message that the Catholics should have had, but have ignored and are not telling the people. Anyway, less people came. The control of the Catholic council over the people was evident, and the poverty was just as evident, more so than any village yet. The letter was a lie and it will not stop us from serving and aiding this people. So pastor Miguel talked with the leaders of the village. Four of the people whose thumbprints were on there were present and they said that they didn't know what the letter said! They were just told to come mark it. The "mayor" who is really from another aldea had them do it. So the leaders there said it's not true and that they want them there so much that they will give them the land to build a church. Hmmm, new tune.