Here in Guatemala, there is no concept of “separation of church and state.” To my knowledge, there is no law saying you can’t pray in schools. So I have easily told my students that I am a Protestant Christian. Many of them are as well! Just about everyone is either Catholic or Protestant. We have talked about favorite Bible verses. They smile as I try to translate my favorite Scripture passages in my head. They have asked me to sing my favorite praise songs and listened intently even though I could only sing them in English.
Still, I wish to talk with them more about how salvation is a free gift. I want to make it clear that they can have a relationship with God. I want them to know that what Jesus did on the cross He did once and for all. I want them to understand that good works are a nice way to represent God’s love, but they do not save you. I want them to know they can be assured of their salvation, and the key is not how good of a person you are—the key is accepting the free gift of forgiveness and grace that God offers through Christ. Salvation is offered through Christ, not through the church. The universal “church” of believers all over the world is a wonderful blessing in the believer’s life, but being a member does not get you into Heaven. Oh, how I long to convey these concepts.
I have some plastic pearl beads to make necklaces with, and I would like to use them as a vehicle for conversation time that might address some of these aspects. I imagine making necklaces with the girls and telling them about how God carefully made them like they are making these necklaces and how Christ washes them clean and white like the pearls on their strings…all they have to do is accept that free gift.
The beads are extras from the camp my church put on here in Guatemala back in July, and I brought them to Antigua hoping that I would get to work with girls here. Well, it turns out I work with both girls and boys, and I don’t imagine boys would be interested in making pearl necklaces. Then it dawned on me: Wednesdays, I only have girls because the boys are in a class on sexuality. (Thursdays, it switches, and I have the boys.) I recently got excited and thought “Wednesday is perfect!” When I have the girls to myself, I’ll bring my beads, and we can sit and chat. But there’s now a kink in my wonderful plan: next Wednesday is Independence Day, and there’s no school! It’s my last Wednesday! So I won’t get my usual girl-time ever again. I’m so disappointed that I did not come up with the idea sooner, and now I’m out of Wednesdays.
I am now thinking maybe I’ll just invite some of my girls to join me during lunch one day. Others will see what we are up to and likely join. I won’t have control of the situation like I would during my usual English conversation time, but at least we could get some craft and discussion time.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
· That my last days in Guatemala would be spent wisely as an ambassador for Christ.
· For boldness in general conversations to speak of God’s grace, rather than just religious titles like “Protestant” or “Catholic.”
· For a time to make necklaces with the girls leading to deeper conversation about what matters.
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