by Emma Buckhout, IWM serving in Santa Fe (Mexico City), Mexico
Nicole already covered some of Thanksgiving from Zambia, but a week later I thought it would still be appropriate to share some of the events and thoughts from Thanksgiving in Mexico.
My Thanksgiving in Santa Fe took me by surprise. In a place where few people actually know what this day is, I found myself spending more hours and energy preparing for it than I ever have in the United States. Not only did I have the opportunity to remember the origins and meaning of Thanksgiving as I taught my class of five-year-olds about it at the guardería, but in the parish we helped to create a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (with a few Mexican twists!).
Thanksgiving plans actually started in August, believe it or not! Soon after Tara and I arrived, Father Salvador informed us that he had bought a turkey, which until recently lived in the corn garden behind the parish, to help us celebrate Thanksgiving in November. (Sidenote: Canadian Thanksgiving is at the end of October. Tara insists that it is infinitely superior timing because it spreads out the feast day from Christmas, but she obliged to go along with the November plans.)
So when the time finally came, we agreed to help cook the turkey and a few Thanksgiving staples, guided by Jessica (a former IW Missionary who lives in Santa Fe), and then planned a potluck dinner at the parish for friends from the church and neighborhood. On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Jessica and I went shopping for ingredients and chickens to supplement the turkey meat. On Wednesday evening after work at the guardería, a few friends at the parish, Tara, Jessica and I prepared the chickens and freshly killed turkey (Father completed the last rites and decapitation), and then made a pie from a pumpkin left from the Dia de los Muertos. I took Thursday off of work so that after finishing a couple batches of chocolate chip cookies for dessert, I could put the turkey in the oven and baste it by the hour, until Tara and Jessica arrived to make the potatoes and stuffing. Finally Thursday was upon us - an assortment of friends gathered around the big table at the parish. People said we looked a little tired, but it was delicious. Definitely worth the effort!
After all that activity, I wanted to take a few moments to reflect once more on the meaning behind the celebration and delicious food, and share just a few of the things for which I am most thankful right now.
First, I am thankful just for the opportunity to be here in Santa Fe in Mexico City. Life as a missionary continues to be challenging, rewarding, humbling, surprising, tiring, lifegiving, always educational, and full of great little things. I am thankful for the kids I get to teach at the guardería, and their hugs and screams and bright futures. After I taught them about Thanksgiving they had a blast drawing pictures of what they were thankful for and coloring turkeys. I am thankful that I can walk (and occasionally run) around this neighborhood with its landscape that never ceases to amaze me. The hills are insane! I am thankful for all the people that open their arms to me, and usually their food stocks as well. I will not get sick of tinga anytime soon, and we can buy avocados every week at the market! I am thankful for Santa Fe´s sunny and relatively warm, snowless weather as December starts. Even if it´s not always pleasant to breathe, the pollution and sunshine make beautiful sunsets. I am thankful that people put up with my Spanish and are always willing to teach me more.
Along with the opportunity to be here, more than anything, I am thankful for my community. I am thankful for my immediate community in Tara- her support, encouragement, love, friendship, talent for cooking, and good humor. My greater missionary community in Jessica, Miriam, the sisters, and the directors provides constant fellowship and support (as well as additional cooking talent as we saw last week!). I am extremetly grateful everyday for my local community and adopted “parish family.” The fact that they helped us to plan a Thanksgiving dinner when they knew we would be missing family and traditions from home is just one example of the loving welcome we receive everyday. And they didn't even complain when the turkey I was in charge of cooking did not finish in time! J Lastly, though they feel far away, my friends and family at home have been incredibly supportive as well. Their prayers and encouragement and willingness to talk to me over fuzzy skype connections and listen to all my stories and try to picture my verbal descriptions is a constant comfort.
Yes, it was different to be away for Thanksgiving, but there was great fellowship with new community, growth of experiences to share with those far away, and many reasons to thank God.
Emma, I have read about your service in Santa Fe, Mexico City.Your dedication to the people of Mexico is admirable. You have taught the children about the importance of Thanksgiving. This is important as many children aren't familiar with the true meaning of the celebration. I am glad that you were able to instill the meaning of Thanksgiving in them. You have taught them about Thanks and all the blessings that are given to us by God. I have enjoyed reading about your experiences especially because you have made sacrifices to impact the lives of others. They need you and you are there for them. It must be hard to be away from your loved ones and it is nice to know that they are very supportive of your work. Like Dorcas and Florence Nightingale, who have done kind things for other people, you too have done the same by dedicating yourself to the service of the less fortunate. Like Dorcas a follower of Christ who served the needy, the hungry, the sick and the poor, you too have been concerned with the care of others. God has provided you with a mission. Though you've faced challenges, you have managed to get through them. God has helped and guided you in this mission. You are in a country that is currently facing issues. Despite all the issues, you have had faith in your work and have kept an open mind just to help these people. You must recognize that you are also serving the Lord. May God bless you, keep you safe, focused, and give you the strength to continue.
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