The carnival

February 18th the internationally famous carnival of Huejotzingo began.  Tourists from Peru, Columbia, and other countries came to see the annual reenactment of the Battle of Cinco de Mayo and another local battle fought between a group of bandits and a magistrate and his army.  The carnival began in 1869 and has been celebrated every year since during the four days before Ash Wednesday.  Throughout the carnival, battalions of "warriors" - called huehues or zacapoaxtlas - fight mock battles, expending tons of gun powder, rocking the air with the constant explosions.  There are also dances, accompanied by lively music from local bands.  In addition, there is a "wedding" held between the daughter of the magistrate and the bandit, Agustin Lorenzo, and there are several parades.

Many of the participants also pass the days drinking heavily, often choosing cheap liquor.  Accidents and even deaths are common.  This year the low estimate of accidents recorded was 50, although other news sources report more than 60.  The excellent news is that no one died.

Although thousands of locals participate, and tourists also flock to see the mock battles and reenactments, Abraham and I decided to steer as clear as we could of the festivities.  The extreme noise, the danger of injury, and the amount of drunks wandering the streets with their loaded rifles helped us decide to stay out of the main part of the festival which was held in the town square (zocalo).  There was no way to avoid all of the commotion, because groups of costumed participants constantly passed the house, and we did go out every now and then. 

On the last day of the carnival, a group of huehues had brunch at a home near ours

Children often begin participating when they are very young

The huehues use masks and wigs along with their highly embroidered costumes

The cheapest costumes cost around 25,000 pesos, while more expensive ones cost around 50,000

In one day, around 10 tons of gun powder were exploded

Horses take part in the parades and battles

There are 5 different types of costumes: zapadores, turcos, zuavos, zacapoaxtlas and indios

 

The rifles are elaborately carved and hand painted

The schools let out during the carnival, although school bands join in parades

Love never fails

Happy dia de amor y amistad to everyone.  I like Mexico's emphasis on love which includes friendship and family in the celebration, rather than just the romantic love of couples.  I am daily thankful for my Valentine, the best friend and companion that God could have given me.  We will be celebrating with dinner at home today.  

Yesterday we had a wonderful blessing from one of the girls who has been coming on Sunday afternoons almost as long as the mission has been open.  Her home life is one of the most tragic I have personally seen, and sadly Abraham and I recently learned of a new tragedy in her immediate family.  She doesn't know about it yet, and we are praying for her and her family.  

Her heart has been very wounded by the problems she has suffered, and her attitude is often harsh and difficult.  She once told Six that she doesn't believe in God, because if he existed, she wouldn't have suffered as she has.  Up to this point, she continues to feel this way.  We have, however, seen some encouraging advances, and yesterday was one of those.

A couple months ago, we told the children that they could win a Bible if they memorized 1 Corinthians 13.  We offered to help them memorize if they came by the house during the week.  This girl and her cousin were the only ones who did, but they only came a few times, and then both decided they didn't want to keep memorizing.

After a time, Abraham set the deadline of February 14th for those who wanted to memorize the passage and win the Bible and another prize.  On Sunday I asked the girl if she was ready to say the chapter, and she said not really, that she had forgotten all she had previously memorized.  I told her that if she reviewed a few times at home, she would probably discover that she still remembered most of what she had learned.

Yesterday she came.  She reviewed the passage a few times, and then she was able to say the whole chapter from memory.  We discussed what the verses meant, and then she received her prize.  Our prayer is that this scripture will take root and grow in her heart, and that she can let go of her sorrow and bitterness to run to the arms of Love.  We also pray that other children will be encouraged by her example of success and that they too will commit scripture to memory.

...faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love!

Pregnant in Huejotzingo part 2

Baby Lechuga - rather hard to tell exactly what the images show...

The written report of the ultrasound

Monday was the medical day.  Abraham and I took the bus to Cholula, about 35 minutes away from Huejotzingo, in order for me to have a blood and urine test and then my first ultrasound.  The tests, of course, had to be fasting, so we went as early as possible in the morning.  During the ultrasound, the doctor confirmed that Baby Lechuga is growing well, and we saw and heard the heartbeat.  Abraham remembered to tell the doctor that we want Baby's gender to be a surprise.  As she moved the sensor around, the doctor said, "Are you sure you don't want to know?  I can see so clearly!"  When we affirmed that we do not want to know ahead of time, she good naturedly complained, "Couples come in, and they want to know, and the baby hides.  Yours is clear, and you don't want to know."

She estimated the due date to be May 1, about 2 weeks after what I had thought.  She told us that all is well, but I do have to be careful to notice if Baby either stops moving entirely or begins to move frantically, because the umbilical cord is wrapped one time around his/her neck.  There is still plenty of time for the baby to either dislodge the cord with gymnastics, or wind it up more with the same.

Abraham went for the other medical results yesterday afternoon, and the doctor said I'm in good health.  If everything continues well, I can have our baby at home.  Excellent news!

On Monday afternoon, after returning from Cholula, we still had the doctor's appointment at the general hospital in Huejotzingo.  Those appointments we schedule in order to have a record of my existence and the progress of the pregnancy should an emergency occur during our baby's birth.  Cholula is too far away.

We waited in line almost an hour for the nurse to take my weight, blood pressure, and pulse, and then we joined several others to wait for the general practitioner.  That wait was another 2 hours.  When it was our turn, the doctor checked baby's heartbeat and my ankles to look for swelling.  He said my due date is May 15th.  I think I prefer the due date given by the ultrasound doctor.

Thank you for your continued prayers.  We are blessed.

Pregnant in Huejotzingo

 I'm not entirely sure anymore how far along I am.  Yesterday Abraham and I went to a doctor that some friends had recommended, and he said maybe I was a bit less far along than I had thought.  He insisted that an ultrasound is necessary, along with routine blood work to see that I have no infections that I may not be aware of.  All standard practice in many countries in this day and age.  However, several things about this pregnancy haven't been according to the "normal" American pregnancy.  As I read What to Expect When You are Expecting and also the facebook posts of some friends who are also due about when I am, I sometimes chuckle and sometimes feel a nagging worry.

The book glibly talks about my "pregnancy team."  According to the book this team consists of my ob-gyn, general practitioner, and any specialists, as well, perhaps, as a fully licensed midwife.  In theory.  Until yesterday, Abraham and I hadn't even found a doctor, much less any specialists or ob-gyns.  My first doctor "visit" was at about 2 months pregnant in the home of my mother-in-law with a doctor friend of hers.  He, however, was not a good option for continued care, because traveling to see him requires a two hour bus ride.

Option number two was a gynecologist here in Huejotzingo who we visited shortly after seeing the first doctor.   She was kind and professional and ordered normal medical tests to be done.  The problem with her was that she then left the country, not to return until July. 

One of our choices all along was my Mexican grandmother who served as a midwife for more than twenty years (although she has no medical certificate).  Her experience is vast and varied, and she is not hesitant to send women to the hospital in case of an emergency.  Abraham, Six, and I traveled to the near-by city of San Martin to see her.  She is somewhere in her 80's, although no one knows for sure her exact age.  When we asked her if she would attend the birth of our child, she said no.  She is too old.

We were stymied for awhile.  We kept an eye out for gynecological practices in Huejotzingo, but we didn't see any.  We joined the Seguro Popular (socialized health insurance), and when I was about 5 months along, we went to my first appointment at the general hospital.

Abraham waited in line at the hospital from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. just to get the appointment time, and then he called me to say to hurry over.  Shortly after I arrived, a nurse began weighing, taking blood pressure, and measuring the height of all the people waiting for appointments.  That done, we were told where to wait for the doctor.  Turns out that no pregnant woman in Huejotzingo sees a gynecologist until her 8th month, or possibly up to the last week before her due date.  Until that time, her case is handled by a general practitioner.

After almost two hours of waiting, we passed into the doctor's office.  The medical check-up consisted of the doctor staying seated on his side of the desk while we sat on the other side and he asked questions.  He asked me if I had felt the baby move, and when I said I didn't know, that this is my first child, he laughed.  After about 15 minutes, he handed me the appointment card for a check-up in January, and we left.

Last week, Abraham and I decided to pay another visit to my Mexican grandmother.  She gently massaged my stomach, asked about the baby's movements (which I can now definitely feel), and expressed concern that the baby wasn't big enough for six months.  We talked with her some more, and she finally agreed to assist with the birth if she's still alive then.  

The doctor we saw yesterday inspired much more confidence than the doctor in Huejotzingo.  His office is in Cholula which takes between 30 and 40 minutes to get to by bus.  We will continue to go to his office for check-ups, and on Monday I will have my first ultrasound.  We will also continue to go to the general hospital in Huejotzingo, not because we intend to have the baby there, since we'd rather have him or her delivered at home, but just in case an emergency arises.  That hospital is the closest.

The adventure continues.  Please pray for the health and growth of our baby and for whatever medical care may be necessary.  Pray also for peace when worry threatens.

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.

Jan. 1, 2012

Snack time

Happy New Year!  Abraham and I brought in the year quietly with my mother- and brother-in-law at their house.  We ate pizza and watched Ever After, and then, shortly after midnight, we all went to bed.  We wouldn't have much opportunity to sleep in on Sunday.

Abraham was scheduled to give a short message in the church service, and the bus ride from Six's house is two hours to the church.  The attendance on Jan. 1 was sparse, being as most congregants were probably traveling.  The service was also much shorter, so we were able to get back to Huejotzingo in the afternoon without hurrying.

Most Sunday afternoons the number of children at the kids' club is between 12 and 15.  Yesterday afternoon however we had 21 children at the house.  Four of the children returned after an absence of four months.  Hopefully they will continue to come as they did before.

After our usual time of various games, puzzles, and coloring books, we played a game with everyone together involving the names of fruits.  Abraham used this game to introduce his lesson on how we should bear fruit throughout the year by means of maintaining a close relationship with Jesus.

Even after the lesson and snack, most of the kids stayed for awhile, enjoying more games and fun with us and their friends.  We are thankful for the participation of the children and the return of the three brothers and their sister yesterday.  It was an encouraging and blessed way to begin the new year.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The past two Sunday afternoons, the kids that come to Bible study helped to adorn the two rooms where we meet.  Some of the kids decorated the tree, while others clamored up on chairs to string tinsel.  Abraham let those who wanted to help him drill holes in the wall for the nails to hang decorations.

It isn't just the decorating that have brought Christmas to the rooms.  We have also been teaching about the true meaning of Christmas.  Abraham taught about the first Christmas from Joseph's perspective.  What changes in expectations and emotions Joseph must have gone through!  This past Sunday I compared two kings, Herod and Jesus, and concluded by asking the children which was the real king.

On the next two Sunday afternoons we will continue teaching of Jesus' birth and of the people involved.

There is an event that eclipses Christmas for many Mexicans.  Dec. 12th is the day Catholics set aside to celebrate and worship the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patroness.  Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims bike, drive, or walk to the Basilica in Mexico City.  Most carry images of the virgin with them.  Starting at 12:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the whole day in the Basilica and across Mexico, the people attend services, set off countless fireworks, and hold festivities.  Many stores remain closed throughout the day, since for the majority, Dec. 12th is a national holiday.  Celebrations on Dec. 24th and 25th never come close to the 12th.

Two of the young people who have attended Bible study on Sunday afternoons almost since the mission started will be receiving their first communion on Dec. 13th.  Flor and Daniel have heard many Bible stories with us, and Abraham and I visit their family every Thursday evening, often answering doctrinal questions that the parents bring up.  Some time ago, Flor prayed to accept Jesus into her heart, yet she continues, along with her family, to worship Guadalupe and other saints.  Please pray for the Alameda family and for Abraham and I as we share Christ with them.  We anticipate conflict for Flor and Daniel and perhaps their family after they have received their first communion.  From what we have seen in some other children who used to attend on Sunday afternoons, there is new pressure to stop attending Bible study after the communion.

Blessed Thanksgiving

I hope that you all passed a thankful time with friends and family this Nov. 24th.  Abraham and I certainly did.

About a month ago, we invited my mother- and brother-in-law to eat with us.  A little later we decided to also include a friend of Abraham's from childhood and the friend's girlfriend, both of whom had been to our house before.  A few days before Thanksgiving, we also invited another friend from seminary and his girlfriend.  The day before Thanksgiving, we talked over and decided to invite a family here in Huejotzingo that we visit every Thursday.  Several of the children of the Alameda family also come every Sunday afternoon for kids' club.  On the day of Thanksgiving Abraham asked if we could ask another seminary friend to join us as well.

At 9:30 Thursday morning, Abraham and I had just finished breakfast when two ladies who have had considerable difficulties lately knocked at our gate.  They stayed and talked with us for a couple hours and then took their leave.

It was almost 11, and nothing was prepared for the Thanksgiving feast that we had invited 16 people to attend.  Abraham and I went into high gear.  Turkey in the oven, more potatoes bought for the mashed potatoes, stuffing on the stove, lots of apples chopped, pumpkin pies added to the oven, corn...Oh, and the chocolate chip angel food cake as well in case two pies weren't enough.

At four my in-laws arrived, and not long after that several of the Alameda children came.  The turkey was being traditional and not cooking on time, but everything else was ready.  At 4:30ish the two seminary students showed up, and then our last two guests arrived at 5, because they had thought the invitation was for five.

Their timing was just fine, because by that time the turkey was actually ready.  It was time to dig in!  Our feast included salsa and tortillas, since a proper meal can't be without those items here.  Although most of the food was new to several of our guests, they dug in with gusto.

Once we'd finished eating, the Alameda children left to help with chores at home, but the other friends were ready for games.  We had wild rounds of Spoons and other good-naturedly stressful games.  I dropped out of the games for awhile to skype with my family in the States.

By about 10, the play had wound down, and everyone was ready to graze on left-overs.  We all agreed that we should organize another gathering, and soon.  Abraham and I were blessed to introduce the tradition of Thanksgiving to several people who had never had it before.

Single parents' event

Last night the second single parents' event at Dios es Amor took place.  Abraham and I organized the event, but a small army of volunteers helped make it a success. One teacher at Puebla Christian School sent out an email asking for donated items so that she could set up a very low-priced garage sale for the parents with proceeds benefiting a single mom who recently suffered a heart attack.  The PCS director and his wife attended the event to help in many different ways, including driving Abraham and I and three guests from Huejotzingo back home after the event.  The PCS administrator and his wife also attended, helping by playing the piano during the dinner and with set-up, the garage sale, and clean-up afterwards.  Some PCS parents donated money to offset the cost of food for the dinner, and another PCS family provided their chocolate fountain and bought the chocolate.  A group of seminary students and a PCS mom donated their time to give massages, manicures, facials, and light make-overs.  A PCS dad drove Abraham and I to the enormous Central de Abastos to buy most of the ingredients for the dinner and then drove us to the church to leave the food.  Another PCS teacher let us stay the night at her apartment in Puebla so that we could go to the market early on Tuesday.  The elementary students made tissue paper flowers and made vases out of bottles for the decorations at the event.

And then there was the team from the church.  One mother gave her time to take care of the kids brought by single parents.  Many junior high and high school youth group members arrived early Thursday afternoon to begin cleaning and chopping vegetables and fruits for the soup, salad, punch, and chocolate fountain.  They steadily chopped through mountains of onions, carrots, potatoes, apples, and more and then cleaned up to have room to prepare stuffed and breaded chicken breasts assembly-line style.  By the time the food was ready, the parents were seated at the table, ready to eat their dinner.  Now the youth group took up trays and served the tables.

In total, seventeen single parents attended.  When they arrived, Abraham lead some games while the kitchen crew continued to prepare dinner.  About an hour later, the PCS and seminary group arrived and set up the garage sale and beauty parlor.  Soon the parents were enjoying treatments, and then it was time for dinner.  As the parents finished dinner and began their dessert from the chocolate fountain, we held a small raffle, and then the evening had ended for the parents.

There was still plenty of clean-up to do, and again the crew pitched in.  By a little after ten, the last dish was washed and put away, and we left for home.  The team of helpers was larger than the group of parents that were at the event, but everyone stayed busy except for when they took time out to eat.

Until the next single parents' event...

The Days of the Dead

It's that time of year again.  Unlike last year, Abraham and I didn't go to a graveyard to investigate how people pass these days, but there are abundant signs just outside our door.

At first glance, the practices and traditions of the Day(s) of the Dead may seem innocent.  Families remember and honor their dead, and children learn from an early age not to fear death.  A closer look, however, shows that the majority don't simply remember the dead.

Cempazuchitl sold at a market

 

In front of many gates,  families form a cross from the petals of the marigold flower (called cempazuchitl) and also make a trail of petals leading up to the cross.  The marigold is used to guide the spirit of the dead, either because of its strong smell or because of its bright color. 

On a drive to another state on Saturday, we saw fields upon fields of cempazuchitl flowers being cut by families, and many trucks filled with bundles of the flowers passed on the road.

Incense

Candles

Small sugar figures for altars

Once the spirit has arrived at the home, guided by the flowers, candles, the smell of food on the altar, and the welcoming call of the families, the family has an altar prepared with food, candles, more flowers, and incense.  The families do not set up altars simply to carry on a tradition.  Most, if not all, truly believe that their loved ones return in spirit form during the days of the dead and that the spirit partakes of the offerings left at the altar.

A drama in the city square

In the schools across the nation, students are required to bring in offerings to the dead.  Those who do not bring offerings lose points on their grades. October 31st is a partial day of school, only for putting out the offerings on the altars.  November 1st and 2nd are non-school days.

Please continue to pray along with us that these practices of calling on spirits and celebrating death can end.  Pray that the people will be steeped in the life-giving power of Jesus.