The Space Between

On the last day of Messiah Lutheran Church 's trip to Guatemala, we traveled by van from Antigua to Guatemala City, following our hosts, The Reverends Amanda and Horacio Castillo, pastors with La Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG.) Our journey on this Sunday would carry us to one of ILAG’s congregations, the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. La Resurrección sits in one of the ravines that lie like deep opened graves across Guatemala City. This particular ravine is known as El Tuerto, a part of Zone 1 of the capital city. Parking our vans at the top of El Tuerto, we began our descent. On crumbled, narrow and mismatched steps we descended past cinder block homes with tin roofs rusted. Through narrow catacomb-like passageways we carefully maneuvered until suddenly we were at the church. Two large black metal doors, like those of a mausoleum were cracked open just enough beckoning. Through the opening emanated the light of La Resurrección. Inside we were welcomed by a c...