Where did you go, November?

So what’s been going on lately? A lot.

FIRST, Sarah and I moved into a new apartment just up the street from where we were living before. It’s a cheerful, colorful place that lets in a lot of light and overlooks a steep barranca, or ravine. The view at night is breathtaking! With two gorgeous poinsettia flowers to start, we now face the task of decorating and making it “home.”

LAST MONTH I accompanied a woman and her daughter to Mexico City for a medical visit. This was definitely a day full of new things to learn - where the process was energizing and exhausting all at once. Some very kind strangers assisted us in navigating lines and waiting rooms, X-rays, and brief meetings with nurses and social workers. Being inexperienced at all this activity, there were a few high-anxiety moments where the kindness of these strangers reminded me to pause and not go about things alone, but instead rely on the goodness of the countless beings who care.

OUR FALL RETREAT was held November 16-20. We learned about globalization and food security and reflected on how these issues affect the people with whom we live and work. Not surprisingly, in Mexico the presence of multinational corporations and free trade agreements, such as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), are extremely visible.

Being placed in a rural setting, this is a reality I can’t ignore. Many families frequently leave the community to sell their palm baskets in nearby towns or even further away at tourist hot-spots like the beaches in Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta.

I was struck by a few situations that are specific to my placement site:

When a mother can’t afford to feed her children a nutritious meal because food prices have risen drastically, or when a campesino’s land was paved over so that the Coca-Cola, Pepsi and beer trucks can have a smooth drive into a town (as they do daily - with an armed guard!), or when fathers who were once chronically absent return home after yet another factory has closed - it’s no surprise then that many feel that their dignity and freedom has been robbed of them, pushing them even more into a cycle of despair and hopelessness.

Little by little, I’m learning from those who know first-hand the consequences of this kind of accelerated globalization, who tell me that something has to change and that, yes, in that struggle for transformation they want to have their voices heard.

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ON OUR FINAL DAY of the retreat we visited an organic, sustainable farm. There we saw flourishing lime and papaya trees, sheep and pigs, and learned about sustainable home construction like dry toilets and green roofs. It was a nice way to unpack the heavy topics we discussed and also reinvigorated me with a sense of trust that things will be right in the world; although it takes some persistence along with a healthy dose of self-reflection on how we as persons (and communities) act in the world.

Then it was play-time at the balnearios where we spent most of the afternoon swimming, laying in the warm sun, and jumping off a platform into the water. It was a lot of fun and probably the highlight of my week!

BACK TO WORK in Guerrero, in which every day is a challenge and a joy. Lately I’ve found it hard not to be distracted by the intensity of my work and all the little things that add up, so I’m trying to find more time for quiet as a way to process all that I experience. The needs are really pressing and at the end of the day I’ve found some good space in the company of my friend, Sarah, and among our team in the office. I’m so nurtured by the holistic environment that we work in, openly sharing the healing power of love and positive thoughts and, even on the good or not-so-good days, discussing how we have felt, seen or did not see God. 

LOOKING AHEAD to when I can hopefully squeeze in some travel and catch up on some much needed rest during Christmas vacation. We’ll be staying with some Mexican friends during their family’s celebrations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I know I’ll miss being home with my family but at the same time I am soooo looking forward to being part of how another family and another culture celebrates Christmas. This is another one of those wonderful moments when people have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome to their meaningful family times.

This form of hospitality constantly amazes me. A word that comes to mind is convivencia, or life together, and for me that’s the best way to describe it. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by people who willingly share who they are and I know that this year would not be the same without their presence. In the end, it stirs in me the sense that I too may not be the same because of the relationships I have formed with Mexicans.