Easter Sunday

The cross on the basketball court as the sun rises

At the seminary on Easter Sunday, there is an Ecumenical sunrise service. This tradition began in 1944 and is a big deal in Matanzas. At 5:30 am buses begin to collect people from the various churches in the city. We showed up at 6:15 (after rolling out of bed) and squeezed in. There were 500 people there.

(It was hard to get up as we had spent the previous evening at the house of my conducting teacher. We were excited to finally get to travel by horse and cart which in Matanzas is not a tourist ploy, but one of the many creative ways of getting around).

The dancers interpret  hymn "Tenemos Esperanza".

Everyone overlooks the basketball court where the service happens. As we listen to readings, pray and sing, the sun rises over the horizon.

On this occasion, there was a group of youth who danced - a project of the Kairos Centre - an ecumenical centre housed in the Baptist church.

Rector Reinerio Arce preached a sermon about hope and we finished off by dancing a big spiral dance to a Venezuelan song.

It was wonderful - a very fitting closure for a wonderful three month stay.

In the moment right after the dance.

Lately, people have been asking repeatedly when we are leaving. Thursday is coming so very fast!!

Just as the dance was breaking up nine year old Daniela tapped us on the shoulders. I anticipated the missing-ness of leaving and my eyes filled up (as my half Irish father would say).

After the service we all filed over to the comedor for hot chocolate and a biscuit.

Sunlight streams onto the basketball court after the service.

I spent the rest of the day finishing up my school work and starting to prepare for leaving. Emma wandered about squeezing in as many visits as possible.