Mary plays a dominant role in the religious lives of the people in Cotacachi, Ecuador!
The Procession begins with a man depicting Jesus carrying his cross, and Roman soldiers whipping him as he stumbles through the street.
There were throngs of people, and even a policeman can be seen taking a picture of the man bearing his cross in full view of everyone.
One by one, people bore statues of how they depicted the role of Jesus and Mary on Good Friday.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, occupies an important role in the lives of these people. Her importance in their religion, is clearly seen by the size of this figure.
Some carried giant crosses through the streets.
Each float is led by women and young girls carrying brightly colored flags.
Every opportunity is used to encourage people to purchase items. Here someone is trying to sell a large piece of artwork depicting Jesus and His disciples at the Last Supper.
Each group of people goes to great lengths to honor Mary, Jesus’ mother. At times the sheer weight of the floats causes the men bearing them on their shoulders to stop and rest awhile.
These two teenage girls, were not part of the procession, but they certainly portray the love of Jesus in their lives. Ann and Ceci Heard, two of Pastor Bill and Sydney’s daughters got caught up in the crowds.
This float depicts Simon of Cyrene about to bear Jesus’ cross, as He stumbled under the weight, and as a result of His physical suffering from lack of food, stress, a traumatic beating in the face, thorns piercing His head and brow, and the cruel scouring of thirty-nine stripes that ripped His back, muscles and internal organs open.
Once again the orchestra appears, this time preceding the final float, the tallest of them all, of Mary, Jesus’ mother.
Easter Sunday was a day of attracting the crowds and affording the local people an opportunity to sell their wares. Food stalls . . . . .
Mysterious men suspended in the air . . . . .
Local Musicians – highly skilled and talented!
Items for children . . . . . .
Calle 10 Agosto (Leather Street to Gringos) appropriately called so, attracted large crowds to purchase leather goods. Cotacachi is famous for its manufacture of leather clothing, shoes and other items. In fact, this Easter week-end in Cotacachi was called, “Feria de la Produccion y el Cuero 2011” (22-24 Abril) – a fare displaying products and leather goods by the local people. This is an annual event over Easter.
While these festivities were taking place, a little band of Christians gathered at the Amigos en Cristo Church, where Pastor Bill heads the English community in Cotacachi, each Sunday.
Father and daughter serving the Lord. How precious! Pastor Bill accompanied his little cherub as she sang at the Easter Sunday worship service.
At the close of the church service Pastor Daniel Sick, from the Liebenzell Mission in Ibarra conducted a communion service, to commemorate the body of Jesus that was broken for us, and His blood that was shed for our sins.
After a time of personal and silent prayer, reflecting on our unconfessed sin and seeking Jesus’ forgiveness, Pastor Sick reassured us that, based on Scripture, God had cleared us of all of those sins. They were gone, and He would remember them no more.
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”
“And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20)
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