We're Baaack!

Fuentes escorted them to the church and closed the door behind them. Danny looked around at the beautiful place that surrounded them. “That old fox,” he said.
“Look around us, the place is more inspiring that Saint Peters in Rome. It’s soft, it’s gentle. . .”
“Are you saying it’s Godlike,” smiled Davy.
“I guess I am,” answered Danny.
The two sat there silently for a long while. “Damnit, Davy, blurted out Danny. Isn’t this what we wanted all along? When I was a Catholic I didn’t want to be a priest in Rome. When I became an Episcopalian, I didn’t aspire to be the Archbishop of Canterbury. Unless I miss my bet, you have never had one desire to be... wherever the top Baptist is.”
Davy smiled. “Wherever the top Baptist is?” He laughed. “No, I never had a desire to be the top Baptist.”
“Then, isn’t this what we wanted, to be surrounded by good people in a gentle place like this?”
“You can’t speak the language.”
“No, but I can learn.”
“You would have to leave your church.”
“What, a bunch of self-centered people whose only accomplishment in life was to be born to Episcopal parents? I promise you, that would not be a problem. You would have to leave your congregation.”
“Yes, Baptists are good people. They are the friendliest people in the world, but no matter who you are, there always seems to be a hand held up between you and them. Besides, what would you think of a good Baptist sermon in Spanish?”
“It might be interesting.”
Danny looked at Davy. “Have we made our decision?”
“No, I still can’t go with this thing of them giving us everything.”
“No, I forgot about that. No, that won’t work.”
“Why don’t we call Fuentes back in?”
“Okay, I’ll go get him.”
Danny went to the door. Fuentes was seated on the steps. “Mr. Fuentes, can we talk?”
Fuentes came inside and sat between Davy and Danny.
“Signor Fuentes, a couple of questions.”
“Si,” he nodded.
“I’m sure the people here were raised as Roman Catholics.”
“Si,” again responded Fuentes.”
“Neither of us are Roman Catholics.”
“This concerns you?” the old man asked.
“It would if it would concern your people.”
“Padre Danny, have you ever been outside on a clear summer night and looked into the sky?”
“Si,” answered Danny.
“You saw millions. . . billions of stars.”
“Si, I did.”
“Languages, rituals, vestments, even the hundreds of versions of the Bible itself are all contrivances of man. Do you really believe that anything capable of creating the magnificence you behold when you look into that night sky could care less about such things? As long as you speak of God with the love he deserves, that is all that matters.”
Danny looked at Davy, “Whew,” thought both of them.
“You said two questions,” smiled Fuentes in a gentle way.
“Yes, Pastor Davy and I may sometimes be gone for a while–“
”Helping others as you have helped us?”
Danny’s face jerked toward Davy. Both men’s eyes showed their total surprise. It took a second for Fuentes’ words to completely register before both men slowly nodded yes.
“This week, when you performed your miracle for us, it took time away from others, we know this. We thank the ones you couldn’t be with for understanding.”
“But sir, That was only a day, not even a full day. We may be talking about several days or weeks.”
“An hour, a day, a week. . . a year, does it really matter? Each morning, someone will step into the church and light a candle to let God know that you will return soon.”
“Whew,” whispered Danny to Davy, “did you just have a chill?”
“Oh yes.”
Davy looked at Danny. Danny’s face said all Davy needed to know. “Signor Fuentes, could we apply for the position of pastors of your church.”
“Why would you apply? The church, it is yours.”
“No, this we cannot accept. It is too much, just the salary you mentioned will be more than sufficient.”
“I did not mention an amount.”
“No, but it will be sufficient.”
“We have for years wanted the church and the camp to be the our gift to the Messiah,” he smiled, “the Messiah’s.”
“Unfortunately sir, we are not Messiahs. We are just men and would like to continue as that, men helping others.” Danny handed the deed back to Fuentes. Fuentes pushed it away.
“No, please keep it. It is where it should be.”
“Signor Fuentes, you are a hard man, and don’t think asking us to come into the church to talk went unnoticed.”
Fuentes smiled, stood and went to the back of the church. There, he grabbed a rope hanging through the ceiling and began pulling it. The sound of a bell peeled through the camp and through the countryside. Their church had found a pastor, no, pastors.
Davy pushed open the door and dozens of people were outside. They began to cheer.
“Why do I feel like white smoke is probably drifting over the Vatican?” whispered Danny.
Davy nodded and whispered, “Why do I feel like we just had a conversation with God?”