Dryness in Huejotzingo

The dead vegetation by a road near our house

The dirt road in front of our house

 In this part of Mexico, there are two seasons: dry and wet.  The wet season lasts from the end of April or beginning of May through the end of September or beginning of October.  Occasional showers may still fall towards the end of October.  During that season, rain arrives almost every day, usually in torrents with lightening and thunder.  All the plants turn green, weeds grow ceaselessly, and the roads become rivers -  muddy rivers if they aren't paved.

Not long after the rains taper off, the green begins to disappear.  Unpaved roads become powdery dust.  Brown swiftly fills the scene and stays for the remainder of the dry season.  A few hardy pines still show welcome green, but all the other vegetation dies.  The landscape transforms from the flowers, leaves, and grass of the wet season to bleakness.

In late December or early January, cold winds start to sweep down from the volcanoes.  They lift gritty dust in clouds, and the dirt flies into yards and homes and covers every surface in a fine layer.  How welcome is the refreshing, cleansing rain when it returns in its season.

The dry season is like the spiritual lives of many people in our neighborhood.  They continue in the dryness of rituals and traditions that cannot give them life.  The years are cycles of worship of a variety of saints and of Mary, but a life-giving relationship with Jesus does not exist.

Please pray that we will bring the living water to the people of Huejotzingo.