La Harranah

In between all of these interesting conversations, “La Harranah” was taking place! It all started at 4 o’clock in the morning with the squeal of two pigs. This is a traditional celebration in the state of Yucatan. A 6 piece band marched down the street & hand-made fireworks were set off to announce the fiesta. They ended up at casa #7, where they set 4 pots of “relleno negro” (a black sauce made of spices & chilies served with chicken and pork) into the underground pit. Men were stirring away, while the women added salt, and all the while, the band entertained us all. I enjoyed sitting back & observing the excitement on their faces, in their voices & laughter! The meal of the day was “chicharron” (deep fried pig fat) with refried beans. (Pass.) It was a cold rainy day; but that didn’t stop them from hanging a tarp across the street to dance under! Women wore their “huipeles” (embroidered dresses) and men wore their traditional white clothing & cowboy style sombreros. Lalo and I got up and snapped our fingers and kicked our feet like 2 outsiders trying to fit in on the dance floor! I’m not sure if those standing by were laughing at or with us! At about 10 a.m. the next morning, the band resumed their position at the pit, while they removed the pots from the “oven”! It was a bit spicy, and quite flavorful. Lalo wasn’t as brave as me.. (sorry Lalo ☺)! We escaped before the pig head was paraded through the center of the pueblo, marking the end of “La Harranah” until next December.

On our way out of town, I was asked to pray for Florencio. His family members said that, “he just isn’t right, although the doctors can’t explain why at any given moment he acts as if he is drunk”. They admitted going to brujas (witches) for “help”. He repented, asked Jesus to enter his heart, and broke all curses in His name! Please keep Florencio in your prayers.

Coming together

We had a conversation with Mario, a local, who is organizing the first dental mission from a University in Mexico City. Acting as the coordinator of these volunteers, Mario is arranging for their transportation, home-made meals, and overnight stay at “The Cabanas” (a rustic hotel in E.B., which is run by 12 local families). Next weekend, they will be using the 2 dental chairs that were donated by Eduardo & Alma, and compressor that was donated by a church in Oregon! It warms my heart to see people from E.B. doing their part to unite with outsiders & make it easier for them to donate their time and services. At the same time, it amazes me to see how God orchestrated so many people from so many different areas to make it all happen! I believe that new doors are opening.

That evening, we were blessed with home-made tortillas and garlic shrimp, by Luther & Mariam. Luther is from Mexico City while Miriam, his wife, is from Switzerland. About four years ago, they decided to build a palapa adorned with bamboo. They gave several villagers jobs in their bamboo factory. Not only did it help these families financially, but they discovered that they were created with artistic abilities! Over “hot cocoa de olla”, I found out that Luther would like to help other people in the village to discover their hidden talents! His vision is to see the primitive lifestyle of E.B. preserved, while helping to create an opportunity for families to offer their own handicraft or food products out of their palapas. This way, tourists will get a taste of living the simple life as they walk through the entire town, visiting & shopping! What a great way to help the people increase their economy while building them up on a personal level. I would like to encourage anyone who has a creative bone in their body to come and share your skills with the village.

In need of a doctor

I met Lalo on Thanksgiving Day at the Griggs’ casa. I had asked him to make “café de olla” (coffee prepared in a clay pot with cinnamon sticks and molasses - MMM!). Little did he know, he’d be asked to haul a dental chair to the village 5 weeks later. Lalo has a heart to lend a helping hand. He is the Coordinator of Volunteers at Angel Notion (A medical clinic, which is a non- profit organization in PDC).

Our first stop was to visit Alfredo, a 3 year old boy who is in need of medical attention. I wanted Lalo to meet the family to find out if a doctor at Angel Notion can help him. Lalo’s suggestion is for a General Doctor to come out to E.B. to see Alfredo, as well as others who are in need of a Doctor.

We arrived at casa #7 at dusk. Is there a doctor in the house?? I managed to walk into a clothesline, which happened to be a barbwire…OUCH! Actually, I didn’t feel much; but the blood dripping down my face called for some gauze and hydrogen peroxide. Thank God, I had recently brought some to casa #7! While Lalo gently cleaned the wound, I prayed for His peace. Everything that I experience in E.B. gives me a deeper understanding of the intensity of their needs. The closest doctor is 20 minutes away and costs $45 just for a consultation. If I had needed stitches, this would be do-able for me; but not as much for my Mayan friends. Although I already knew this, now I know how it feels to be in the situation. It’s a bit scary. Yes, perfect love casts out all fear… and, also, I was fortunate to be surrounded by 3 caring & comforting friends (Lalo, Lupe & Angel).

Let’s pray for a doctor to be willing to move out to E.B. or at least to make a monthly medical visit!

Rosa's Ropas

“Rosa’s Ropas”,the thrift store, is in business!! Rosa is becoming a real business woman with her enthusiasm, desire to learn, and level of responsibility. She decided to start a short term hold and lay-away option for the clients. All items are priced, inventory is in order, and accounts receivable are accurate. We now have an excel program backing up the books. I’m so proud of her! We have a lot of fun together and great conversations.

One day, the door opened for me to share my testimony. They asked me why I was so lost and empty and I told them it was because I didn’t have Jesus in my heart! Rosa’s husband was listening to all the details of my story very closely. Seeds were planted in fertile ground! Rosa showed me a new level of acts of service! At 6 months pregnant, she spent 6 hours preparing lunch for her husband one day! It started at 6 a.m. with searching for a pollo (chicken) to purchase for 15 pesos ($1.50). Of course, it was alive, so she had to kill it, remove the feathers, and de-gut it before boiling him up!! All that work for 1 meal!! That’s amor (love)!

Spirtual Growth

I was led back to live in casa # 7 with Gaudalupe (Lupe) and family (some of you may remember the story of how I was led there in the fall of 2008)! I believe that she and her husband, Andres, will become spiritual leaders in the village some day. They have commented that they like the perspectives and teachings that I share with them. It touches their spirits as truth! They pray with me before meals and bedtime. They do devotional reading and meditations with me. Their ears and eyes are wide open, as well as their hearts. They ask for prayer when in need. For example, Andres’ sister, who is 40 years old, had to spend the night in the hospital at 6 months pregnant with twins. After putting it in the Lord’s hands, they felt peace. They are hungry and thirsty to go deeper with their Heavenly Father.

During the Friday night bible study, Lupe said that they are like babies, learning and growing. We were discussing the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1. I shared a personal experience that night: A few nights ago, I was walking home to my palapa, crying over the fact that my IPOD was being charged and I’d not be able to sleep without my Christian music. I thought about finding comfort in food instead; until the Holy Spirit asked me what the TRUE source of comfort is! The tears stopped! I went to my bed (hammock) and felt His peace come over me, and fell into a deep sleep!! Lupe and Claudia said, “Wow, you can talk to God. You are much closer to Him than us!” I explained that they too can have this intimacy and conversations with the Living God! Some day Lupe will be leading this bible study!

The hammock/solar oven exchange got me into Almi’s casa, which led to her prayer request for a healthy pregnancy. She too is expecting and in her late 30’s. (Due in October!) She opened up to ask me about church and baptism. I shared my beliefs on water and Holy Spirit baptisms. We agreed that the church is the people versus a building! Later in the week, she hosted the solar cooking workshop. We cooked refried beans in about 5 hours… LISTO (ready)!!

Again, the relationships that God is building are so vital to the plan God has for Ek Balam.

Rosa's Ropas

A few months ago, Elaine had the brainstorm to start a thrift store with all the clothes that have been donated. One day, we set up a table under the gazebo in the town square park. Word spread like wild, holy fire and women were swarming in from all directions! In just 2 hours, we made enough money to pay for the dentists to fill up their gas tank to get back home after a day of pulling and cleaning lots of teeth!

The women knew that their purchases helped to make this dental mission possible. I believe that being part of a team gave them a sense of significance, and once again brought value to the services provided. Rosa turned into a shopping guide to all the women that day. Due to her passion shining through, we agreed to open the thrift store in her casa...And so began Rosa's Ropas!

We have had quite a few giggles while pricing the merchandise. It’s interesting to see her preference in styles. Only a few women will where shorts or pants due to their culture. Men rarely wear pants without pockets. “Hotch oots” (its good in Maya), she says as she tugs and pulls on some items. She pointed out the fact that the way they scrub clothes by hand, determines the quality of material. She has been selling quite well out of boxes and piles of clothes on garbage bags. I love to see the people lined up, waiting for us to finish the next batch of inventory so they can shop ‘til they drop just like women know how!! “Compralo” (buy it), Rosa says when she knows they really want it! She has started a lay-away plan for higher priced items. I am pleased with her accounting skills.

One of the highlights of this visit was painting the huacales (vegetable crates in Maya) to provide a way to organize the items. It turned into a family project. Alonzo, her husband; Modesto, her nephew; Pedro, her brother; all came with paintbrushes in hand. Doors opened, and they came out with some interesting questions for me about moral issues. I was surprised at how comfortable they felt to bring up these topics. It turned out to be a great opportunity to share!

Rosa's Ropas has been another confirmation of how well it works to build relationship and watch God move!

Please pray! Elaine will be bringing a group of ladies down next week! Pray for safe travels and lots of open doors!

Cooking Classes

Elaine Smith (my partner in this co-mission:) brought along 4 solar stoves with the last team from Oregon. The women exchanged a hammock for a stove. The good old fashioned way of “purchasing” an item adds value it. Introducing something new can be a bit challenging. There was quite a bit of doubt as to how the sun could cook up a meal in this crazy contraption! We remembered that a couple of years ago, several women said they would like to attend cooking classes. Perfect timing to convince them that this solar thing really works!

Dorotea, was thrilled to be the hostess of our first cooking class! A spanish women (who was working & visiting Ek Balam for a couple months) volunteered to team up with me on this project. Together, we women gathered up the chaya leaves (similar to spinach) in Dorotea’s backyard. A little bit of water, one bullion cube, a bag of arroz (rice) and a handful of leaves turned into quite the dish 4 hours later! Well, it was finished off on the open fire during the fifth hour due to an afternoon rain shower! Hey, it worked!!

These solar stoves will especially come in handy after a hurricane. It takes 3 days of sunshine for the leñas (logs) to dry out in order to cook on that fogata (campfire)! In the meantime, four families will be enjoying gourmet dishes while the rest of the village will be eating bread and cookies (which is what they ate after the last hurricane hit)!

For the second class, my Spanish friend taught a group of ten, how to preserve mango marmalade in a jar! If we can get them canning, that would make a difference and add variety to their usual meals of rice, beans and tortillas!

I plan to continue these classes because it provides an opportunity to teach about nutritional diets; as well as a social time for women to connect. Dorotea had once mentioned that she is home alone with 6 kids because her husband is a construction assistant in Playa Del Carmen. Since he only visits 2-4 nights a month, she gets pretty lonely out in the far corner of the village day after day! These classes provide the perfect environment her to connect with other during those lonely times.

Elaine is coming with a team to Ek Balam in the beginning of December and they will be bringing more solar stoves. If you would like to help this mission by purchasing a stove for the women of Ek Balam please contact elisa@thecause.org