Father's Day in the Caribbean

San Andrés is one of Colombia's islands half way to Jamaica. It takes 2 hours to get there by plane and is a popular holiday resort with its white beaches, warm seas and duty-free goods.

Historically, the area is connected with pirates, the rum trade and evangelicalism. One boat load of Pilgrim Fathers landed nearby after being blown off course and they called their island "Providence" which is still it's name today.

On Sunday we went into the interior and joined the indigenous population in the oldest Baptist church. Certain things took us by surprise:
  • The language used was Caribbean English ("De Laard es zo gud, man!") with asides in unintelligible, to us, Creole. Spanish culture, language and religion are foreign impositions.
  • Could this be the preachers' heaven? The 400 strong congregation applauded when a telling application or a good theological point was made. There were 3 preachers and 3 sermons in the one service and it didn't seem long
  • I noticed one defect. The offering plates couldn't adequately hold the money being placed in them. This is understandable for these are an unsophisticated people who haven't yet adopted the ideas in our first-world churches.
That Sunday was Father's Day: a nostalgic time for missionary dads. But in my Father's providence never have so many hands gripped mine and said the words, "Apee Fadurs Day!"

Comments

  1. Anonymous10:48 pm

    Apee Fadurs day, Dad

    ope uoore juurnie goos well.

    ee yu soon

    David

    ReplyDelete

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