Mexico Travelogue - Day 16

Our final day in Mexico!

In the morning I cooked up whatever fresh groceries remained in the frig, hoping home-style grub might be helpful for Fritz jr. to have on hand after our departure.  Nostalgia crept in as I gratefully recalled so many good times in this room that had become “home turf” during our visit. 

At 11:00 Victor and Deborah, our niece's parents-in-law, arrived from San Diego to join us for a few hours.  After a quick lunch, Fritz jr. drove us to the new house site where a few volunteers were finishing final touches: spreading stucco with a few concluding strokes, sweeping the interior, and wiping dust from windows.  Meanwhile others collected tools and equipment, and loaded the truck with every evidence that they'd been present.

Victor, Deborah, Fritz sr. and Zach (foreman) posed in one of the two rooms of the house for a documentary shot.

Father Nick's house blessing was spoken in Spanish, but written English translations helped us follow along.  Part of this formal ceremony involved his walking through and around the entire house three times, blessing it entirely with holy water (shaken from a switch of olive branches), oil (touched on the highest beams with his fingers), and incense (burned in the traditional censer).

The group of volunteers collectively presented the new homeowners with gifts: a Bible, an icon, and keys to the door.  The couple responded with personalized bracelets for each of the workers, crafted yesterday by the tender-hearted wife.  I also was surprised to be given one of these - evidence that perhaps she shared the sense of kinship I experienced with her earlier.  In any case, overwhelming emotion welled in my eyes, and when I glanced at Fritz sr., he was also fighting back tears.

Before leaving, the entire group posed before the house, and various volunteers spontaneously shared very moving words of love, blessing, and gratitude to the family.  

I snapped a couple of shots of the happy family as they stood gratefully beside their new house with their gifts.  

Our visiting friend Deborah, from San Diego, was born in Tijuiana.  She translated a final conversation with the dear woman who had crafted my bracelet.  I said, "I am so happy for you, and will always remember you and this day.  I treasure my bracelet - thank you so much for making it for me! I doubt we'll visit Mexico again, but if we do, I would love to see you settled in your new house."  

She looked deeply into my eyes and said, "My home will always be open to you, and I would welcome a visit anytime."

We were the very last to leave the site, which seemed quite tranquil after all the intense hustle and bustle of recent days. Fritz jr. entertained a last-minute, rousing game of soccer with the family's youngest son, and as we passed through the entryway, I snapped a quick shot of their "new normal."

* * *

And so it is time to close this travelogue, and yet I find myself balking. I can't, not quite yet, but will post one last summary after I'm home.  

For now, let me just say I've been changed in some core way. The concept of Christ’s light shining in darkness has taken on new meaning. "Need" is deeper.  So are "help" and "love."  I have witnessed the common humanity of humanity.  Examples of unabashed giving and receiving have redefined my definition of caring.  Openness has blossomed from an ideal or concept into a sincere, optimistic way of living everyday life.

I'm not sure of all the cumulative effects of our trip, but perhaps I am better equipped to recognize blessing in every situation - to focus on good, and be less quick to verbalize pessimism. Maybe I'm inspired to be a different kind of consistent, predictable light in the midst of the darkness of struggle and discouragement - both others' and my own.

In the most basic way, this seems a challenge to receive and share mercy...a call to redemption.