God has used dancing to break down walls this week.
I’ll preface by letting you know that most churches here in
San Juan are very legalistic and do not allow dancing of any kind.
I am often asked by non-churchgoers if my “religion” allows me to dance.
I usually tell them I look to God’s word to see what He says about it.
On Monday morning I was spending time at my friend, Yadira’s house.
We were talking about life and she was opening up with me a little.
While we were standing in the kitchen a popular “bachata” song came on the radio.
I started moving my feet to the beat and Yadira got really excited and proceeded to teach me the Bachata, Salsa, and Merengue.
Picture a small kitchen, loud music, three kids playing all around us, and my friend in her nightgown and high heels, dancing with her white friend, Carrie.
She laughed and smiled a lot.
I felt some wall between us melting down.
Dancing seemed to melt down another wall on Saturday at our family evangelism ministry.
Our team prepared a “drime” (drama/mime performance that communicates a message about Christ), an explanation of the drime, worship songs, and a message about the love of Christ.
We “set up” in a street near our house and watched as about fifty Dominicans gathered around to watch.
It was neat to see how and engaged and interested everyone was.
I loved seeing Truth communicated to so many people.
After it was over we put on Merengue music.
No one was really dancing until Jonathan jumped in the middle of the street and “let loose.”
The crowds faces lit up with smiles and laughter.
I could see that wall melting down again like it did the morning I was dancing in Yadira’s kitchen.
Soon Dominicans joined in dancing in the street.
Others stayed around talking to each other and to people on our team.
I felt like we were really fitting into the culture.
I felt like God was at work as we met people where they were.
