It's a Battle

Saturday, August 15Have you ever sensed a spiritual darkness around you to the point that you could physically feel it? Today we went to a little town just outside San Cristobal called San Juan Chamula. The town where the Chamulan people live. They are very hostile to Christians. In fact they are some of the most hostile people to Christians in the western world. They have combined Catholicism with animistic paganism. The spiritual oppression is so intense here that I could feel the heaviness even in my breathing (either spiritual heaviness or people don't bathe in this town). I went from my normal demeanor to the much more vigilant and serious side of my personality.While one could be tempted to fear while in a town that has such a spiritual presence we are grateful to remember that the devil is a defeated foe whom we don't need to fear. While we walked the streets of this little pueblo (town) I couldn't help but pray for the people of the area who live in such blindness. It is an experience that I won't soon forget. I realize that even though we may not feel the same spiritual presence in our every day lives, we know the devil is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We are to do battle with him. Though we are to be battling every day in our Christian walk, we must remember that it is Jesus Christ with whom we identify and that we are not to focus on the enemy but on Christ.On a lighter note. That was not all we did today. Since it was our day off, we also went to downtown San Cristobal where we ate some amazing tacos. I know they were amazing because there wasn't much need for me to help eat anyone else's food. Afterward we went down the streets shopping for local wares. I think that everyone got a little something for themselves or someone in their family. Everyone had a really good time except for maybe Laura who started to not feel so good and went to Grace's and Gabriella's house to rest. We also got to go see the music shop that Grace's and Gabriella's mother owns. It was quite a cool little shop.In the evening we met up with Nathan and family for dinner. Finally the moment for which Elizabeth and Daniel had been waiting arrived. We went to a shop that is well known for its good coffee. Elizabeth, Daniel and I all purchased some whole bean coffee for our folks and friends. It was late when we finally decided that it was time to wind down and we went back to the Grace and Gabriella's house to get Laura (who was feeling rested and much better). We had some good discussions on what we had seen that day and were able to be encouraged about our identity that we have in Christ. All in all, it was a wonderful day of relaxation and getting to see more of the wonderful city of San Cristobal, but more than that, it was a good day of spending time with friends who are by now becoming more like family.For the team: Steven CurryTeam picture in downtown San Cristobal. Thanks for taking the picture for us, Steven!Catholic cathedral in San CristobalSan Cristobal is full of picturesque streets like this one.Another team picture, just for the fun of it!Trying all kinds of settings on our digital cameras, we practiced taking strange night shots downtown.What a fun day to share with a great group of people!