Golden Pathways, Grateful Hearts

The Day of the Dead festivities have been in full swing throughout October and culminated last week.  And we tried to take in all the culture; I not going to lie, I was having FOMO!  It was a kaleidoscope of color and faith — heartwarming, vibrant, and full of life.

Cempasúchil (marigolds) formed golden pathways along streets, doorways, and markets, said to guide souls home. I couldn’t help but think how God, too, lines our paths with beauty and memory, reminding us that love never dies. One of my favorite pictures was from our drive out to the ranch with the farmers in the fields with the beautiful backdrop of Popo.

We joined thousands of people for the Puebla Parade — and it was every bit the joyful chaos you’d imagine! The crowd was so thick it reminded me of New Year’s Eve in New Orleans during the 80s, when my family literally floated away from each other in a sea of humanity. Thankfully, Pat and I held on tight — both to each other and to our sense of humor!  On another note, we loved the sugar skull souvenir glasses!

Of course, we had to sample the traditional “pan de muerto” (dead bread) — warm, sweet, and symbolic. Its round shape represents the circle of life, while the bone-shaped decorations honor those who’ve gone before us.  We ended the weekend with a fascinating art tour called “Secretos Coventuales” — exploring centuries-old convent secrets and sacred art. Creepy and cool all at the same time.

The GYTTE Leadership Team took a field trip this week to meet with our architect and eco-building expert, Alejandra — a true visionary in sustainable design. She lives on land her father purchased almost 75 years ago, and both share a deep respect for creation and resourceful living. Their home feels like a sacred space where faith, family, and stewardship meet. Alejandra’s brilliance shines not just in her designs, but in how she lives out her calling. She even founded a private school and recently transformed an old mercantile into a vegan café to teach locals about healthy cooking — less frying, more fresh veggies!

Pat and members of the Tree of Life Team spent Halloween on the road — not trick-or-treating, but treating families in two small pueblos to cleaning supplies and food.

Thanks to generous local donations, we were able to deliver 50 heavy bags of love (and rice and beans) to flood-affected homes.  Some areas saw water levels as high as six feet. The damage is heartbreaking, and recovery will take years — but their spirits are bright. God’s light truly shines through the resilience of those who have lost so much, yet still manage to smile, laugh, and pray together.

The GYTTE Team also picked up appreciation gifts at Talavera Carmen — a stunning shop full of hand-painted ceramics that test every ounce of self-control. Hint hint:  when you visit, you will be given a cool token of our appreciation!

We made a quick trip to the Ranch/Farm, dropping off household items and collecting succulents for our Puebla patio. Here’s a picture of our “lawn mowers” (aka goats) outside the bedroom window.  Every day these critters visit us for breakfast and I get just as excited as a Golden Retriever does when we come home after a long day at work.

For the record, this visit’s wildlife score was: snakes – 0, iguanas – 0, scorpions – 1. I’m calling that a win!

Next week, we’ll host a mission team from Pennsylvania & Maryland for nine days of eco-tourism, learning, and dry composting toilet building!  Stay tuned for updates. 

We even tried (again) to buy furniture for the Ranch (imagine us trying to explain “delivery to the middle of nowhere” aka “The Gringo Ranch”  in Spanish). After an  hour of negotiations  and help from 2 co-workers, and lots of laughter, our credit card got declined—which is a common occurrence-there is a strange block on certain items you try to buy in Mexico, that our friend Charles Schwab thinks is fraud.  Come on Chuck, this is getting frustrating!   With patchy internet and no way to call the bank, we left empty-handed. We were hoping to at least have a couch and kitchen table to entertain the mission team next week, but maybe next time.

Well next time happened sooner than we thought!  There was a store we had heard about, but hadn't yet visited, and we hit the jackpot!  I can’t decide what’s more exciting — the free toaster that came with our ranch furniture purchase, the furniture itself, the 40% discount, or the miracle of our credit card company approving our transaction on the first try! Or that the store offered free delivery to the ranch, which is 84 potholes and 2.5 hours away. It was a good day for some retail therapy, plus I am channeling my Grandma Kardinal who would have also been thrilled with the free toaster!

On a personal note, I joined a local gym, led by a cheerful but fierce trainer named Toro. Nothing like a 6am CrossFit class to test my endurance! Between the lunges and my limited Spanish, I’m learning to breathe deeply — in exercise and in faith.

I met our Board chair Alicia.  I told her I thought her purse was pretty.  Well, she emptied out the contents and gave it to me on the spot.  What a generous heart!

We’ve been blessed to share meals with friends Javiar and Naomi, and co-workers David and Manolo.

And to top it all off, it’s Pat’s birthday month! We celebrated with a Foreigner cover band that didn’t start until 10pm on a Wednesday. Staying awake was a miracle in itself, but we sang along to “I Want to Know What Love Is” like two teenagers.

Through it all — the marigolds, the mission work, the scorpion, and the sacred songs — we continue to see God’s hand guiding this wild, beautiful journey. Each day feels like a new chapter in the story of how love builds, feeds, and transforms.