The past couple
of weeks in Puebla have been a whirlwind of heart, heat (from the abundant, diverse and spicy chiles), and holy moments. We've enjoyed countless hours walking around
the local Zócalo, Puebla's lively town square, where history and culture from
five major indigenous ethnic groups (Nahuas,Totonacs, Mixtecs, Popolocas, and
Otomi) pulses with its enchanting, colorful colonial buildings. The square
is packed with music, vendors calling out their wares, and the smell of
mole follows you like a holy incense.
It’s no wonder
Puebla is known as the gastronomic capital of Mexico—we have tried so many
unique dishes, both traditional Mexican dishes and fusion surprises. This is
clearly not the time to worry about counting calories, although our
waistlines will attest that we should! Walmart has become our backup closet (especially
since our actual closet is still stuck in customs purgatory). Prayers
appreciated that our luggage is released soon...
We’ve taken a deep dive into local history and art through several museum visits.
We also had a chiropractic misadventure where our Spanish wasn’t quite as
aligned as our spines. (Prayers for Pat’s out-of-whack back to heal up a bit so
he doesn’t have to rely on his cane.)
One important
high point: we received our Mexican green cards (1-year temporary residency!)
Cue the celebratory tacos and a happy dance in the immigration office—an
accomplishment after 3 visits! Along the way, we met David, a kind-hearted
Guatemalan college student who stepped in as our angel translator!
And then there
was dessert at Frenchie’s. Imagine BBQ ribs served in dog bowls (yes, seriously), a cellist
serenading the street below, and the bell towers of the Puebla Cathedral glowing in
the twilight. It was quirky, wonderful, and so very Puebla.
Another night
led us to Coyote Calavera, an open-air restaurant where we tried “pulque,”an
ancient, fermented agave drink. The space was drenched in culture, inclusivity,
and emotion—its pride flags hand-stitched in memory of LGBTQ+lives lost to
invisibility.
It was a sacred pause in our journey, a reminder of the power of being
seen and the ministry of presence.
Spiritually,
we’ve felt deeply nourished. Methodist services in Puebla and Tlancualpican have
wrapped us in joy, community, and song—despite our less-than-perfect-Spanish.
God’s grace is clearly multilingual!
My coworker Ivonne even welcomed us into
her home for a post-church meal that was nothing short of divine. Her
family’s hospitality (and those tacos!) filled us with joy and gratitude.
Also—we visited an active volcano! A tiny one, right in the middle of the city.
We also
connected with a vibrant group of expats—from the U.S., Canada, Belgium, France,
and Venezuela. Over good food and great conversation, we swapped stories,
cultural observations, and insider tips for life in Puebla—especially surviving
the rain.
Speaking of
rain... it doesn’t drizzle here. It dumps Monsoon-style! The kind of rain that
fills potholes until they resemble kiddie pools and serves as a target for the
buses to produce a wave of water drenching pedestrians. One day we got lost,
drenched, and utterly confused—until a sweet woman called her English-speaking
husband, Miguel, to guide us home. Angels in unexpected places.
Thanks to our
new Mexico cell phones (and Google Translate), we're less lost and more
adventurous. We're even braving the local mercado with the help of Tomás, who
walked us through the chaos of fresh fruits, meats, and mystery items we can't yet
identify. Our first trip to the store for a week was only $13!
We enjoyed a
traditional Mexican folk performance, sung our hearts out at karaoke bar (a
great way to practice our Spanish), and have learned how to do the running-man
dance, since the stop lights use him for the signal for pedestrians to cross
the streets (assuming the local drivers chose to not run the red light!)
We found a
modern, furnished, and affordable apartment to rent that is walking distance
between our office and church. There is plenty of space for visitors.... hint hint! We will move there in late August. (Thanks to
our amazing co-workers, we have figured out how to fill out a MX lease and
transfer funds for our deposit!)
And perhaps the
biggest thing: we started our six-week Spanish immersion program. We’re living
with Carmena, a sassy, hilarious abuela who might just be Puebla’s most loving
human. She and her entire family—kids, grandkids, and in-laws—welcomed us with
a laughter-filled Sunday feast that made us feel instantly at home—even though
we could barely understand what they were saying! Nothing like eating with 10
pairs of eyes on you!
In all of
this—the tacos, the thunderstorms, the tangled verbs and cultural curveballs—we
are seeing God’s hand. Sometimes in the big, beautiful, obvious ways. Sometimes
in the quiet kindness of a stranger.
Thanks for
journeying with us. Más aventuras to come!
On the docket for next week: driver's licenses, opening a bank account and finding a doctor/transfering our prescriptions. Fun stuff!
Comments
Post a Comment