Ashes, Adventures & a Crowbar

We were so blessed to host my mom and my cousin Chris last week. There’s something special about showing the people you love the place you now call home. Getting to “show off” our life in Puebla and at the ranch was truly a gift!  We went full tourist — Lucha Libre wrestling with Cemitas, Talavera factory tour, museums, incredible food, artisan markets, and wandering the Zócalo. I think they were pleasantly surprised at just how safe, vibrant and beautiful this part of Mexico is.

One highlight was climbing the Great Pyramid in Cholula and heading up to the church on top to receive our ashes. Ancient stones beneath us, colonial church above us, and that quiet reminder: Remember you are dust. Perspective hits differently when you’re standing on centuries of history.

Chris, an amazing photographer, captured beautiful new photos for Give Ye Them To Eat — and some sweet ones of Mom and me, and Pat and me. Treasures for sure. 

   

It is so pretty and peaceful at the ranch, I think my mom enjoyed taking in nature.  I was surprised she wasn't as enamored with the baby goats as I am!

Chris and I helped finish the thatched roof for our new comedor with Angel and Arturo. It’s not brainsurgery to weave the palm frawns, but there is definitely an art to it! 

We also have been cleaning up the brush between our house and the creek.  Pictured here is a limon (lime) tree that will hopefully produce for us next year.

My mom said her favorite part of the trip was sharing meals with the whole team — long tables, laughter, stories in two languages. Ministry often looks like that: simple, joyful community.

One evening we drove up the hill in Tlancualpican for a sunset and some ice cream What a stunning sky it was!  And then the car starter died. With Mom’s limited mobility, walking down the mountain wasn’t an option. So we waited, prayed and practiced patience.  We were pretty excited with a motorcycle bread man came calling on us!

Then along came Manolo and Héctor the mechanic — true roadside angels. The problem? No starter available in our tiny village.  So for two days our system was to keep a crowbar handy; tap the starter to get it going; and someone always stays with the car once started for the day.  This made for some fun and games when we made restroom stops!  We eventually drove six traffic-filled hours (normally 3) to Mexico City for the part. By the end, we were deeply grateful to exit the car.  So much so we were a bit discombobulated when trying to find our hotel and had to circle the block 2 mores times—19 minutes each.  (One way streets with no way to exit are a specialty in Mexico City! 

Recent cartel disturbances in Puerto Vallarta sparked concern from friends and family. We’re grateful for that love; it means a lot to us.  Mexico is vast and regionally diverse. While certain areas experience cartel activity, our region does not. The state of Puebla carries a Level 2 advisory — the same as countries like France and United Kingdom.  Cartel activity is geographically concentrated, internally focused, and tied to trafficking routes.  We are safe. We live three states away from the recent disturbances.  Life was and continues to be “normal” throughout Mexico.

We finally found a local culture and entertainment calendar, and enjoyed the annual Kite Fest in Cholula: Festival Paplotes Volarte! Thousands of kites filled the air on a perfectly windy, spring day. It refreshed my soul!

Right now, we are at the ranch hosting another class of Community Health Workers who are completing their certification. This week focused on women’s health, pregnancy, family planning, heart health and cancer awareness and prevention.

These women — business owners, cosmetologists, teachers, lawyers, nursing students, volunteers — are stepping up to serve their villages across Puebla. Some will volunteer through their churches. Others will be paid.some will go onto medical supplies hool. All will become local bridges between their communities and medical care that may be hours away. Plus they know how to not only deliver a baby, but how to deliver interesting, possibly life-saving prevention classes around topics like diabetes and high blood pressure.  We even taught them to play horseshoes one night. They had never seen or heard of the game before!

Pat finished his PT and his back is cleared for all activity — which means he could help push my mom in the wheelchair!  It also means that we’re training to hike La Malinche, an inactive volcano that sits at 14,636 feet.  This is another example of how great Mexico is: an affordable, safe and successful surgery perfomed.  Healthcare in Puebla is second to none!

My new sport, birdwatching (lol) introduced me to this week’s favorite bird: the chachalaca — a loud, flock-loving, turkey-goose hybrid we hear more than we see—especially right when the sun is rising. In Mexican slang, a “chachalaca” is someone who talks too much. The bird earns that title honestly.

Also, check out this great pic of a woodpecker, courtesy of Chris!

At church we sang “Here I Am, Lord” in Spanish. I don’t understand every word yet — but I understand the heart.  Here I am, Lord.  On pyramids.  On mountain roads.  At long tables. In outdoor classrooms.  With a crowbar in hand.  God is good and we continue feel blessed and fortunate to live/work/thrive here. 

Thank you for journeying with us!