Elder Craig Shute of the Columbian Presbyterian Church gave his January break from college to go and help out in the Campechano Presbytery under the auspices of the partnership between our two presbyteries. His story follows.
I left Syracuse December thirty-first, arriving in Merida. This being my third visit, I had numerous friends and contacts I had to be sure to see. The first was a good friend, Pastor Francisco, who, along with his wife picked me up at the airport. During my first stay with them, we visited two nearby villages, Conchen and Ich Ek. The purpose was to distribute the children’s clothes my church and community had collected for me to take to these families. Instead of advertising a free-for-all, Francisco and Rafaela sought out the families they knew needed and would appreciate the clothing. While the mothers hunted for sizes among the pews, we played jump rope with the children, and got to know them better. On the third day, Francisco invited some neighborhood kids to the church and we bought some balloons and candy and had a little party. I started by teaching some English words, and then we played with the balloons and jump rope. During my stay with Pastor Francisco, we made visits at night to members of his congregation, congratulating new parents, bringing food staples to an elderly couple, and holding two worship services in homes.
The next day, the family took me to Campeche. Over the weekend, I was able to participate in Curando con el Corazon, Curing with the Heart. Most of you have not heard about this great work being done by a group of dedicated women in the presbytery there. About once a month, people with all sorts of ailments are brought to a small church hall for therapy. They range from young children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and autism to elderly men and women with arthritis and dementia. Each person is given therapy, a massage to prevent bedsores, to increase range of motion, and to make her feel better. Other patients come because they are in need of pastoral counseling or spiritual healing. These needs are attended to as well, with each such person receiving individual attention off to the side, in a private setting. During this time, I was able to help by carrying chairs, pushing wheelchairs, guiding patients to their destinations, and lifting patients from the mat to their wheelchairs. After therapy, lunch, prepared by the workers, was served to all the patients. At the end, in the honor of Los Tres Reyes Madrigals (The Three Kings), the ladies had prepared a box of small toys and treats for each child. I have been told that in addition to what I saw, Curando con el Corazon gives haircuts, cuts nails, and comforts families after deaths.
After church on Sunday (really, commencing halfway through it), I accompanied the women on three visits, which they conduct throughout each week. We visited a man who had fallen and injured his arm and was confined to a hospital bed in his house, giving his family money for a cab to the hospital the next day. We visited a lady who had fallen and broken her hip and was likewise confined to bed. Last, we visited a lady who only had one eye and was unable to walk. She too, was confined to her bed. However, this was especially hard for her because she had no family to take care of her. We gave her money for the week. Neighbors take turns stopping in to help her. At each stop, we prayed, sang hymns, and reminded the person that God was holding him in His hands. I cannot stress enough how impressed I was by how much good work these women are doing and how vital they are to their community.
During the week, I taught five two-hour English classes to a handful of students at the presbytery office. I am no teacher, but I think I did pretty well and they seemed to learn as much as I hoped they would. Pronunciation was my focus, because all their teachers are Mexican and cannot pronounce the English as an English-speaker would. I enjoyed my time with these students, who were not much younger than myself. In fact, one man was my age exactly and the first day, I also taught a number of adults well past traditional school age.
Before my last trip, my primary goal was to visit an orphanage. I did so, and this year I went back to visit the kids again and see how they were doing. Many remembered me, and I taught them Pato, Pato, Ganzo (Duck, Duck, Goose). They thought that was pretty cool. I really enjoyed my visit with them, and with the people who run El Hogar Casa Palomar el Rancho (these are the right words, but maybe not in the right order, we always just call it Palomar).
I will spare you the personal reminiscences of visits to dear friends and many a soccer and volleyball game that are only interesting to the person who lived them. I would like to sincerely thank LAMP for sending me for such a great experience, and would also like to thank the presbytery for its continued support of LAMP.
I left Syracuse December thirty-first, arriving in Merida. This being my third visit, I had numerous friends and contacts I had to be sure to see. The first was a good friend, Pastor Francisco, who, along with his wife picked me up at the airport. During my first stay with them, we visited two nearby villages, Conchen and Ich Ek. The purpose was to distribute the children’s clothes my church and community had collected for me to take to these families. Instead of advertising a free-for-all, Francisco and Rafaela sought out the families they knew needed and would appreciate the clothing. While the mothers hunted for sizes among the pews, we played jump rope with the children, and got to know them better. On the third day, Francisco invited some neighborhood kids to the church and we bought some balloons and candy and had a little party. I started by teaching some English words, and then we played with the balloons and jump rope. During my stay with Pastor Francisco, we made visits at night to members of his congregation, congratulating new parents, bringing food staples to an elderly couple, and holding two worship services in homes.