Monday in Buenavista

Today was a bit of a challenging day. Challenging, but rewarding. Sunday night, most of our team went to bed around two AM and got up at seven, so we could be out the door by eight. The small (air conditioned!) car picked us up at 8, and we were on our way to Buenavista. Pastor Omar and Zenia graciously welcomed us into their home, happy to see us. Soon after arriving, we left the house to visit the three missions, which are offshoots of Omar’s church. The missions are groups of people who live too far from the church to come to the services when they have no transportation. They are similar to small groups.

 We took a trailer hitched to a tractor, and rode hillbilly style down the potted, muddy road to the first mission. The group of people there was marvelously hospitable, happily talking and laughing with us. They were so happy to have us come from so far to be with them. They also served us fresh coconut juice, a straw stuck straight into the center of the coconut.

The next mission served us a beautiful array of native foods, complete with the ever-present mango juice and signature cup of strong coffee. Among the plates was a dish of goat. Cautiously, I took a bite, and was pleasantly surprised by its flavor; it is quite similar to carne asada. 

After a quick stop to cool off in the river, we returned to the cars, and the heat. To say we were hot, is an understatement. At the last mission, we conversed (Kristin and I half-guessing what was being said) and broke into joyous choruses of worship songs. After saying our goodbyes, we went home to rest and take COLD showers.        

Tonight was a special service for three lovely and elderly ladies who were to be baptized. The church was packed; all three missions road trucks into town, and the rest of the congregation was also present. We had to put chairs in the center isle and people began to form rows of seating outside on the porch! The service was beautiful. “Lively” is what Kristin accurately described it as; there is so much joy here. After the service Oscar, Rachel, Kristin, and I visited more with the people from the missions we had met earlier and the rest of the church family, bidding everyone goodnight and “God bless you” with a kiss on the cheek.


The people love to take pictures, and Kristin delighted an elderly woman by snapping a shot with her.

They quickly became good friends, speaking in broken English and Spanish, trying to find a mix of Spanglish that each could faintly understand, and smiling all the while. I too made a friend.


Spying and elderly gentleman across the room, I walked over and kissed his cheek and told him “God bless you” in Spanish. Excited, he began announcing to the crowd that he had found a new granddaughter; my Cuban Abuelo! Fantastico!

When the crowd left for the night, the team and Omar’s family retired to his house (which is connected to the church). Zenia knocked softly on the door as I was brushing my teeth and showed me a small bug in her hand; fireflies! So tonight we will rest while these small night lights are buzzing outside.

            -Emily