Update

You guys remember Esperanza. She's the wonderful bible study I inherited from Beth. She is still doing great in her studies. She never misses and is a delight because she actually understands what she is learning. You may think that strange, but much of our work here is spent trying to go over simple points over and over again. With Esperanza she needs little coaching and applies what she learns.

She told me something very interesting a few studies ago. We were talking about how Jesus treated his disciples and was always loving. She commented to me on how different that attitude was from what she knows of the priests in her church. When she was 13 she went to confession which was obligatory. When she got in to the confessional, the priest told her she was too pretty to confess at that time and that she should come for a private confession in his quarters on the following Wednesday. This frightened her. She was too young to undertand why, but she decided not to go. Her father later commended her on her decision. Now she looks back and feels that the priest's motives were impure. Of course, we can't say for sure, but it does make one wonder.