Many of you have probably noticed on a calendar that Dec. 26th is called "Boxing day" and wondered what that is--I had decided it had to do with boxing matches. In the English speaking Caribbean it is frequently called "Christmas second day" and is also a holiday and day off. But why "boxing"?
Boxing day is of English origin and was the occasion of the rich sharing with those less fortunate than they. Christmas was (and still is) a family day, but the next day the children would "box" up old toys they were tired of and give them to the poor, frequently household servants, etc. Normally, they would take them to the home and visit as well as leave the toys. Today Christmas second day is the day you have friends over, or go to visit friends and family--a day for visiting others. I don't personally know anyone who "boxes up" toys, but many West Indians do visit friends then.
It's a nice custom, and is one of the few times throughout the year that people practice hospitality here. But the Christmas holidays were one of the few days in the year that slaves didn't have to work. In the former British islands the custom is go to midnight mass, then go home or to someone else's home to party until daybreak. Christmas second day is when you recieve visitors more "formally", if you will.
Tol
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Move over Santa Claus
Like every good American, we were at the mall on Dec. 26th spending money. Of course since Christmas is past, there would be no Santa Claus, right? Santa Claus was gone alright, but in his place were the 3 kings (magi) and children were taking their pictures with them, telling them what they wanted them to bring, etc.
In the Hispanic world Santa Claus is a newcomer--through the centuries the 3 kings were the ones who brought presents, just like they brought them to baby Jesus. Yes, there have been Christmas parades here in Puerto Rico, but the big parade is yet to come! It will be on 3 kings day, Jan. 6th. At least here, children are supposed to cut grass and put it under their bed (in a box) for the camels of the magi. No grass = no presents.
In the Hispanic cultures, whether Mexico, Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic, South America, or Central America Christmas is so tied to Catholicism--that's one of the 2 times a year you HAVE to go to church, that many Christians have trouble celebrating Christmas in any way--in their mind it's too closely associated with the error they left. Where Christmas is a very secular holiday for us in the States, it isn't in many parts of the world. Here Christmas is a a paradox--people go to Mass then go out to drink and party, often until dawn.
Tol Burk
In the Hispanic world Santa Claus is a newcomer--through the centuries the 3 kings were the ones who brought presents, just like they brought them to baby Jesus. Yes, there have been Christmas parades here in Puerto Rico, but the big parade is yet to come! It will be on 3 kings day, Jan. 6th. At least here, children are supposed to cut grass and put it under their bed (in a box) for the camels of the magi. No grass = no presents.
In the Hispanic cultures, whether Mexico, Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic, South America, or Central America Christmas is so tied to Catholicism--that's one of the 2 times a year you HAVE to go to church, that many Christians have trouble celebrating Christmas in any way--in their mind it's too closely associated with the error they left. Where Christmas is a very secular holiday for us in the States, it isn't in many parts of the world. Here Christmas is a a paradox--people go to Mass then go out to drink and party, often until dawn.
Tol Burk
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Spice Island
My plans for 2008 include a trip to Grenada in March. Since Grenada is the second largest producer of nutmeg, as well as the source of much of the world's supply of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and mace, it is known as the Spice Island. It's exciting the first time you go to see the nutmegs growing on trees everywhere--beside the road, in people's yards, everywhere.
My plan is to work with two churches--one in the capital, St. Georges, which you will find at the "bend" on the left side of the island, near the bottom and another in Mt. Granby, which is inland from Gouyave, on the same side of the island, but much higher up. Currently three of us are planning to go, but I would like to take at least a couple more. If we could have 4-6 men, we could preach in both St. Georges as well as Mt. Granby and also have Bible studies during the day. If you're interested, please let me know quickly, as we need to firm up airline resv., guest house, etc.
Ernest Roberts has recently moved back to Grenada and is working with both of these churches. He and his family lived here in the 80's, but have been in Dominica for more than 20 years. Now he and his wife Eden have moved back. I know the brethren are glad for him to be back and pray his labors this time will be as effective as they previously were.
Tol
Friday, December 14, 2007
"Life ain't easy, it's hard"
Probably 20 years ago I read an article in Nat. Geographic about Jamaica and it closed with the quote that is our title. They were talking to a lady who made a living by buying fruits and vegetables from the farmers and reselling them at the market--what they call a huckster in the British islands. That was her reply to a question about her life.
Here in Puerto Rico life can be a burden. One of the brethren here, when asked how he is will always reply "luchando la buena batalla de la fe"--fighting the good fight of the faith. That always struck me, but I thought it was only his answer. As I've lived here longer, I've come to realize that most people, especially on the phone, when asked what they're doing will reply, "luchando" fighting--fighting for life. And even though life here is good, very good compared to most Caribbean countries, it is still a struggle every day, in everything you do.
Traffic here has gotten much worse since Thanksgiving--there is not a time we leave our urbanization that the traffic is not backed up through the intersection. In order to get across you must force your way through whatever little hole you can find, trusting that the oncoming traffic will not hit you. It took me 20 minutes to go the 1.5 miles to Burger King across the street today, and that was at 2 PM. We have a check we need to deposit (the bank is just down from Burger King) but I just don't want to fight the traffic to the bank and back. (Did I mention we were rear-ended for the second time yesterday since we got here in May?) We still don't have Puerto Rican driver's licenses because we haven't felt like taking the half a day to go get it--you have to fill out a 4 page form, get a medical exam, 3 passport photos (don't worry you can get these two in an office across the hall), but the kicker is that if your social security card is laminated you have to go to the Soc. Security office (who knows how long that will take) and get a letter certifiying your social security number (is really yours).
We've been doing some painting and putting up trim, which of course has required 3 or 4 trips to Home Depot. Yesterday we stopped at Quizno's (on the way) for lunch, went to Home Depot to get the last few things we needed, and stopped to pick up some signs (also on the way)--we were gone 2 1/2 hours.
The terrible thing is that on other islands it's even worse--there are only 2 cities in Dominica where you will find banks, so even if the brethren deposit your check in the States and you can get access with your debit card, it still requires a 3/4 - 1 hour trip each way to get to the bank. Fresh vegetables require you to either grow themyourself or go to the market on Saturday morning--depending on what you want, you may be able to get them in your village or you may have to go all the way to Roseau, the capital.
Yet despite all this, brethren still find time to worship God--in many places 4 or more times a week. What about you? Are you "too busy" to attend all the services of the church? What about when there is a Gospel meeting? What else do you do because you are a Christian?
Tol
Here in Puerto Rico life can be a burden. One of the brethren here, when asked how he is will always reply "luchando la buena batalla de la fe"--fighting the good fight of the faith. That always struck me, but I thought it was only his answer. As I've lived here longer, I've come to realize that most people, especially on the phone, when asked what they're doing will reply, "luchando" fighting--fighting for life. And even though life here is good, very good compared to most Caribbean countries, it is still a struggle every day, in everything you do.
Traffic here has gotten much worse since Thanksgiving--there is not a time we leave our urbanization that the traffic is not backed up through the intersection. In order to get across you must force your way through whatever little hole you can find, trusting that the oncoming traffic will not hit you. It took me 20 minutes to go the 1.5 miles to Burger King across the street today, and that was at 2 PM. We have a check we need to deposit (the bank is just down from Burger King) but I just don't want to fight the traffic to the bank and back. (Did I mention we were rear-ended for the second time yesterday since we got here in May?) We still don't have Puerto Rican driver's licenses because we haven't felt like taking the half a day to go get it--you have to fill out a 4 page form, get a medical exam, 3 passport photos (don't worry you can get these two in an office across the hall), but the kicker is that if your social security card is laminated you have to go to the Soc. Security office (who knows how long that will take) and get a letter certifiying your social security number (is really yours).
We've been doing some painting and putting up trim, which of course has required 3 or 4 trips to Home Depot. Yesterday we stopped at Quizno's (on the way) for lunch, went to Home Depot to get the last few things we needed, and stopped to pick up some signs (also on the way)--we were gone 2 1/2 hours.
The terrible thing is that on other islands it's even worse--there are only 2 cities in Dominica where you will find banks, so even if the brethren deposit your check in the States and you can get access with your debit card, it still requires a 3/4 - 1 hour trip each way to get to the bank. Fresh vegetables require you to either grow themyourself or go to the market on Saturday morning--depending on what you want, you may be able to get them in your village or you may have to go all the way to Roseau, the capital.
Yet despite all this, brethren still find time to worship God--in many places 4 or more times a week. What about you? Are you "too busy" to attend all the services of the church? What about when there is a Gospel meeting? What else do you do because you are a Christian?
Tol
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Shivering in the ColdI
I read with interest stories about the ice storm in Oklahoma and the Midwest, thinking about people shivering in the cold--no power, no heat, etc. I'm sure a lot of that is because it is never cold here--it's 72 degrees right now and that's only because a tropical depression has settled in and it has rained all night and is still cloudy.
But strangely enough I am cold--my feet are like ice this morning. The windows are all closed (so rain won't blow in) and the fan is off, but I'm cold. It's strange how the body gets accustomed to whatever the climate is. I like to think about snow and cold weather now, but am not really sure I want to feel too much of it.
In the same way our minds get accustomed to sin. If we are surrounded by cursing and bad language, before we know it we are picking it up--if not saying it out loud, we are at least thinking it. If we are watching TV shows where people jump in and out of bed (lets call it what it is--fornication) all the time, we slowly accept this as "normal". If we re constantly told that the "gay" lifestyle is just an alternative way of living, before long we begin to accept that, usually before we're even aware of it consciously.
Brother, what are you getting accustomed to? Morally speaking, that is?
Tol
But strangely enough I am cold--my feet are like ice this morning. The windows are all closed (so rain won't blow in) and the fan is off, but I'm cold. It's strange how the body gets accustomed to whatever the climate is. I like to think about snow and cold weather now, but am not really sure I want to feel too much of it.
In the same way our minds get accustomed to sin. If we are surrounded by cursing and bad language, before we know it we are picking it up--if not saying it out loud, we are at least thinking it. If we are watching TV shows where people jump in and out of bed (lets call it what it is--fornication) all the time, we slowly accept this as "normal". If we re constantly told that the "gay" lifestyle is just an alternative way of living, before long we begin to accept that, usually before we're even aware of it consciously.
Brother, what are you getting accustomed to? Morally speaking, that is?
Tol
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Like building, like church
Someone has pointed out that church buildings often typify the church that meets there. If the building is ostentatious, frequently so are the brethren. If the church building is adequate, but plain, this is often true of those who meet there. If the building is well cared for, it generally belongs to an active group and on the other hand, one that is badly neglected is used by an inactive church.
That is at least true of us here. Our building used to be a duplex, so on either side of the auditorium are 2 classrooms and a bathroom--one side being used by the Spanish speaking church and the other being used by the English speaking church. Last week Ed and I hauled off 3 loads of junk from one side, most of which had been there for more than 25 years. The tracts were so old they were yellowed and brittle and much of it was just trash that no one had bothered to throw away.
Would it surprise you to know that this group has done very little more than meet on Sunday morning for many years? It shouldn't! The importance they gave to the church building was much the same as they gave to worshipping God in general. But I think part of the problem is one we all face in areas of our lives--we get accustomed to things the way they are. At first, a former preacher was going to send back for many of these things, but time passed and he didn't. By that time we were used to the clutter, mess, etc. And doesn't that happen to all of us? We KNOW the sink in the men's bathroom is rusty and ugly, but it's been that way for so long we don't even see it. But we forget that it positively jumps out at visitors.
Have you looked at the building you worship in lately? Have you honestly asked yourself what visitors see when they come in? Certainly, the emphasis should be on the Word, not the building, but non-Christians don't know that. Often times they're unable to look beyond the obvious neglect to hear the Word of God. "If these people don't even keep up their 'church', how important is God to them?" might be their thought.
Do some people spend too much on a church building? No doubt, but let's not go to the opposite extreme. What do you think?
Tol
That is at least true of us here. Our building used to be a duplex, so on either side of the auditorium are 2 classrooms and a bathroom--one side being used by the Spanish speaking church and the other being used by the English speaking church. Last week Ed and I hauled off 3 loads of junk from one side, most of which had been there for more than 25 years. The tracts were so old they were yellowed and brittle and much of it was just trash that no one had bothered to throw away.
Would it surprise you to know that this group has done very little more than meet on Sunday morning for many years? It shouldn't! The importance they gave to the church building was much the same as they gave to worshipping God in general. But I think part of the problem is one we all face in areas of our lives--we get accustomed to things the way they are. At first, a former preacher was going to send back for many of these things, but time passed and he didn't. By that time we were used to the clutter, mess, etc. And doesn't that happen to all of us? We KNOW the sink in the men's bathroom is rusty and ugly, but it's been that way for so long we don't even see it. But we forget that it positively jumps out at visitors.
Have you looked at the building you worship in lately? Have you honestly asked yourself what visitors see when they come in? Certainly, the emphasis should be on the Word, not the building, but non-Christians don't know that. Often times they're unable to look beyond the obvious neglect to hear the Word of God. "If these people don't even keep up their 'church', how important is God to them?" might be their thought.
Do some people spend too much on a church building? No doubt, but let's not go to the opposite extreme. What do you think?
Tol
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