We met up with the rest of the stateside team in Gila Bend...gathered and prayed in front of McDonald's ending with a huddle cry of "As one!" before moving out. There were a total of 15 who crossed the boarder.
After unloading and reloading the trailer for the boarder patrol we traveled to our hotel in Rocky Point and met up with our translator, Rubin, his wife Maria and two sons whom remained with us for the next six days. We quickly unloaded and changed clothes before heading to Pastor Adam's church in the barrio. The people (and the dogs) had already started to gather by the time we arrived. I don't think there was ever less than 5 dogs wandering among the people-although never the same five-the whole time we were there. We even had dogs that "danced" in the circle with us.
The young boys raced to help unload the 2,000 pounds of rice and beans from our vehicles into the church.
We made a mound of suitcases filled with clothing and a second mound of rice and beans that Pastor Adam will distribute to those in need.
As we set up flag and gathered chairs in the courtyard outside Pastor Adam's house and the church, the call went out through the barrio to invite people to come.
In each place we visited, we started off with the blowing of the shofar, a call to worship. After the shofar was the grand entry, we danced in with flags in full regalia native dress.
Ron lead the dance and pulled children out to dance with him...others followed until we had so many people we had to make two circles.
As the drummers beat the drum and sang...
the people danced and shook maracas.
Each meeting we held we practiced "protocol," honoring pastors and officials who attended the meeting. Introductions were made, gifts were given, and a formal request to "Come upon your land with our message of love" was delivered.
After praying for the pastors we began praying over others. Although we only had a couple of translators that didn't hinder our prayers. I had the privilege of praying over this beautiful woman, Carmen, and her husband.
After the prayer/alter time everyone received a plate of hot rice and tortilla's. I was amazed as I watched plate after steaming plate of food carried out from the crude kitchen quarters. The children waited so nicely in line for their plate of food, then the adults, then our team, until all were fed.
After dinner I found myself surrounded by little girls wanting to be close to me. The girl on my left, Anna, had attached herself to me when we were dancing earlier. Rather than stand around, unable able to speak to the girls, I decided I would dance with them. We made a small circle and did simple Jewish circle dance steps to the music cd playing over the sound system. Jay joined us in the dance and then taught the girls-without speaking the same language- the untangle the knot game were everyone grabs two different hands and then the group works together to make the tangle into a circle.
By the time we climbed back in our vehicles my feet were sore from dancing and my contacts gritty with sand but my heart was full of love and my spirit joyful.
1 comment:
yeah!
i've been anxiously waiting for an update!
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