Saturday, February 24, 2007
Friday, the 23rd
One of the things I like about rural areas like this is how quiet it gets at night, except for occasional spasms of barking dogs and toward morning, the pastoral sound of a few roosters, and perhaps the distant horn of a bus on the PanAm Hwy trolling for passengers.
Usually.
This morning was a bit different. At 4:00am I was suddenly jarred awake by loud repetitive music. Sleeping was impossible It sounded like a large non-stop party going on in the next room. However, the occasional HalleLUUUUUUIAaaaaah was a clue. Then there was an occasional intermission, filled with angry screaming in K’iche’ with a few understandable words in Spanish – DiOOOS, and El SeñOOOrrr. Yes, it is the beginning of Cuaresma, the 40day period before Easter, celebrated with a two day festival by the nearby Charismatic Catholic Church. They have been hollering, blasting music and fiesta-ing all day long, later joined by the other six or seven Pentecostal and Evangelistic Churches in town.
I just wish they could keep their celebration among themselves, without the need to blast it all over town. But I guess that is what evangelism is all about. Still, the Moslem Imams wailing from their mosques in Dar es Salaam were far less obnoxious than this display. I hesitate to think about how long this will continue tonight, and when it will begin again tomorrow morning.
I plan to go to Xela tomorrow. Do some shopping, take in a movie, basically get out of Dodge City here for the day.
The small Charasmatic Catholic Church is all decked out for its celebration of Chauresma.
And their sound system doesn't LOOK very threatening, but the Church is on the hill above town, and the speaker is pointed directly at the house where I am staying.
Saturday, Feb 24
In all fairness, I have to confess that the Church didn't begin broadcastiong its fiesta until 8:00 this morning. It was a good night's sleep.
One of the things I like about rural areas like this is how quiet it gets at night, except for occasional spasms of barking dogs and toward morning, the pastoral sound of a few roosters, and perhaps the distant horn of a bus on the PanAm Hwy trolling for passengers.
Usually.
This morning was a bit different. At 4:00am I was suddenly jarred awake by loud repetitive music. Sleeping was impossible It sounded like a large non-stop party going on in the next room. However, the occasional HalleLUUUUUUIAaaaaah was a clue. Then there was an occasional intermission, filled with angry screaming in K’iche’ with a few understandable words in Spanish – DiOOOS, and El SeñOOOrrr. Yes, it is the beginning of Cuaresma, the 40day period before Easter, celebrated with a two day festival by the nearby Charismatic Catholic Church. They have been hollering, blasting music and fiesta-ing all day long, later joined by the other six or seven Pentecostal and Evangelistic Churches in town.
I just wish they could keep their celebration among themselves, without the need to blast it all over town. But I guess that is what evangelism is all about. Still, the Moslem Imams wailing from their mosques in Dar es Salaam were far less obnoxious than this display. I hesitate to think about how long this will continue tonight, and when it will begin again tomorrow morning.
I plan to go to Xela tomorrow. Do some shopping, take in a movie, basically get out of Dodge City here for the day.
The small Charasmatic Catholic Church is all decked out for its celebration of Chauresma.
And their sound system doesn't LOOK very threatening, but the Church is on the hill above town, and the speaker is pointed directly at the house where I am staying.
Saturday, Feb 24
In all fairness, I have to confess that the Church didn't begin broadcastiong its fiesta until 8:00 this morning. It was a good night's sleep.
