Here
in Ecuador Christmas and New Years were enjoyable and interesting events. Christmas had a nine-day procession in the
streets with the children dressed up as either Joseph with painted on beards or
Maria with a doll in a shawl on her back.
Christmas Day Mass included ten baptisms.
The
priest had a special prayer for the mothers (ten women) and then for the
fathers (three men). This is very typical
here that there are many single mothers struggling to raise their
children. Many teen pregnancies
also. I was thinking that these women
asking to baptize their children on Christmas could easily relate to Mary´s societal
disgrace at being pregnant and criticized.
Another
tradition here is huge, very elaborate manger scenes. I have even seen some that have three figures
of the baby Jesus. All have many animals
(pigs, geese, lions, horses, sheep, giraffes, ect…) and many extra people
figures too. Mary and Joseph are moved
daily a little closer to the stable and the Magi are also slowly brought up. The photo below is of one such manger scene
in the convent of the Sisters here in Guadalupe with the children of a medical
volunteer working here.
New
Years celebrations are very different here.
The custom is to make a scarecrow type figure that they then dance
with. The group of dancers are dressed
as: devils, men dressed as women, women
dressed as old men, traditional Indian figures, etc…. Then the scarecrows are put in a pile to set
on fire and the kids try to jump over them to bring good luck for the year.
Then fireworks and dancing till dawn. As
I was sick and running a fever I only stayed out about an hour and watched the
fireworks from the comfort of my
room. The following photo is of the
group of dancers.
Due
to family needs I have decided to return to the USA in February to help out for
awhile. I am so very thankful for the
support (financial and personal) I have received from LMH. The support allowed me to continue working
here in Ecuador. Thank you to all of the
benefactors who have been supporting my misión work. It has been a blessing to
have been able to work here. I will miss
Ecuador, the people and the work here in the clinic. It has been a great 17 years. I pray for all the people and benefactors who
allow the mission work of LMH to continue.
