February 14, 2017

On Saturday, we came home from the pastor’s conference and I realized that our neighbors, who had a white house, were in the process of painting it pinkish-purple. I think the color in the Crayola set is somewhere between Cerise and Wild Strawberry. My first thought was, “Wow! That is bold! Not really sure that I want to be looking out at that color every day.

Sunday, the painting and finishing work continued, many people were inside working on things, and a pig squealed much of the afternoon- the kind of squeal that means impending dome that is not quite completed.

Monday morning during my Spanish class, there was the loudest percussion of explosion that I have heard since I have been here; this is really saying something since we hear this most days of the year. It was the kind that struck me deaf in one ear momentarily, and caused my heart to race. This was followed by two more explosions, and then our neighbor went back in the house.

This morning the band started at 6:30, people have been visiting; fireworks continue to go off outside our door, with sulfur smoke filling out rooms. One of our cats ran to the cupboard to her favorite hiding place and the other is outside, probably fearful that he will not survive this ordeal.

A wooden box with the image of a saint was carried in with much adoration followed by a parade of people and upbeat band music. The music has gotten louder and more people have come to view the saint in the past few hours. A meal is being served, people are sitting around and admiring the shrine that was constructed in the front room in honor of this saint, and the band members are now seated, striking up a song every few minutes.

Throughout the last few days I have had two different conversations; one with a Catholic and the other with an evangelical. Both of these conversations have been in Spanish, so I am sure that I am not understanding everything, but here is what I do know:

People here in the Catholic church have the opportunity to pay to “receive” a saint in their house. This comes with great honor and blessing to their home. The typical practice is to paint your house the color of the clothes of the saint. Like the majority of Catholic celebrations, the expectation is for the family to provide food, fireworks, and music. The fireworks come from an old Spanish tradition that is an announcement of something happening at your home.

Both the Catholic and evangelical that I spoke with are saddened by this type of worship. Although it is very much a part of their culture they see the exploitation and the false hope that this gives. As well as great cost to families that do not have much money.

As I am writing this, I am in a surreal setting. Stephen has his headphones on and is trying to prepare for his classes tomorrow, and I am typing this blog with what sounds like sitting in the middle of high school band practice. Everything else in the house is neat and organized and ready for my parent’s arrival later this afternoon, but the noise and the musical chaos seems to throw off the whole scene. I wish they (and you) were here to experience this because there is really nothing in which to compare!