more than palms

This weekend falls into one of those “Mission Accomplished” categories.  Well, without the political baggage of that phrase.


Ever since our church palapa burned last spring, the church members have been planning for this weekend.  Between board meetings, building plans, and the usual list of construction woes, the community has watched our little building grow from a pile of construction materials to an eye-pleasing worship hut -- as Kim so wittily put it.


On Saturday, the transition began.  Over the summer we met in the space where the restaurant Maya serves up some of the best food in Melaque.  But we needed to move our few belongings from the restaurant to the new property now that the northern tourist season has begun.


Several church members showed up with vehicles and aging backs.  In went our chairs and other worship accessories, and off we went to the new site.

Like all dreams, plenty of sweat went into its realization.  My friend, Lou, who is co-chair of the church board, took on the burden of acting as the brain and hands of the project.  He planned.  Coordinated.  Built.


In every organization there is a person of action.  For us, it is Lou -- the guy in the yellow shirt and farmer hat.

After we stored the items we moved, several of the men stayed behind to assist Lou in leveling and tamping the dirt that forms the base of our new floor.


And here is the result.  Our first Sunday morning service in our new building.

It is larger than our old worship space.  During the height of the tourist season, we had to hold two services to accommodate Sunday worshipers.


No more.  The new space should give us plenty of space to hold a single service.


This week, a brick floor will be installed, and we will all soon participate in creating a garden around the edges of the palapa.


But that is just the building.  Ron, our pastor, reiterated that point on Sunday.  As nice as the building is, it is just a building.  The church is the people.  And it is their hands outreached to the community that will show whether it is a house of love.