Las Posadas

I suppose you may be wondering just exactly what a Posada is. Well let me explain to you the best I can what one is....

A Posada is a tradition of many Hispanic cultures, I think the word literally means Inn, like the place where there was no room for Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem when Jesus was born, but we use it to describe the event being held.

The Posada is a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph looking for lodging. What happens is the people are divided into one small group, that sings the part of inside, and everyone else sings the part of outside. To summarize the song that they sing, starts with the outside group asking for lodging, then inside sings there is no room, and this goes back and forth for several places until the doors are finally opened. These are sang at each "site" of the Posada, with traditional Christmas Carols sang in Spanish as the group walks from one place to the other. Some of the Carols sang are: Al Mundo Gozo (Joy To The World), Ve, Dilo en la Montana (Go Tell it on the Mountain), Noche de Paz (Silent Night), Feliz Navidad, and Gloria en las Alturas (Glory in the Highest), all accompanied by the Marachi Band.

After a few stops and the final house says yes to the request, the story of Jesus birth is read from Luke, and refreshments are served. Traditional Posada food is bunuelos (fried tortillas with cinnamon and sugar), champurrada (beverage similar to hot chocolate, thickened with masa (corn flour) which I don't much care for, but others like it), tamales, then a pinata and bollos (bags of nuts, candy and usually an orange.)

Each of the mission sites in Juarez, as well as San Pablo here hosted a Posada. Below you will find pictures from several of them. I didn't get to attend the ones at Sin Paredes or San Lucas in Anapra, so check out Erin's blog for pics of those. There are a couple videos on the bottom of the kids getting involved, enjoy those as well. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

El Pato at Cristo Rey

Cristo Rey kids as Mary, Joseph, and Angels

Singing through the streets near Cristo Rey

Looking at the "outside"group

Looking at the "inside"group that turns them away

At the door asking for shelter

Musicians and actors from Cristo Rey

Had to put this one in, apparently the Rockies donated a whole bunch of shirts that were passed out at their school, but I though they just had them at first and I was super excited. (We built a house for their grandma this past summer and they were around a lot)

San Pedro y San Pablo actors

Pastor Hernandez giving a short message

"Searching for shelter" at San Pedro y San Pablo

San Pedro y San Pablo

El Pato at San Pedro y San Pablo

Ninja and Bear enjoyed the Posada as it passed by their yard. Notice the holiday eye color (green and red)

San Pablo Posada

More from San Pablo here at YLM

Being turned away again :(

YES!!! Abrense las puertas

Mission San Francisco

San Francisco

Santisima Trinidad

The kids really got up to sing along after the Posada was over, and each year a winner is chosen by the Mariachi of the best singing group and this year it went to Santisima.

Santisima Trinidad singing and dancing El Sapo

San Pedro y San Pablo singing and dancing El Sapo

A Mariachi Christmas

Even though I live and work here at the mission, it is not all the time that I get to see Mariachi San Pablo perform. They rehearse every Tuesday, and I am always invited to go watch that, but as far as seeing them perform a concert? I think the last time I actually saw a full concert was at my home church in 2006 or so. Last Saturday, they had their Christmas concert here at San Pablo and to say it was amazing would be an understatement. 2 hours of Christmas songs and Mariachi favorites, followed by a menudo dinner (which I declined).

To our knowledge, Mariachi San Pablo is the only Lutheran Mariachi band in the world and if you have been able to see them, you know how great they are. Each year, they tour all over El Paso and even have Spring Break and Summer tours throughout the United States. I have posted some pictures and videos from the concert. Enjoy them and for more information or to buy their cd's please check out http://www.ylm.org/mariachi.html.

Please say an extra prayer for us as we are holding our annual Christmas distribution today with food, toys, blankets, and jackets for so many of those in need. Please consider helping us out by giving a gift to change a life at http://www.ylm.org/CG/christmasgiving.html.

Blessings on your week and look for blogs about the Posadas and the distribution later in the week.

Mariachi San Pablo Chrismas Concert

Miguel

Lizette

Guitars

Violins

Stephen

Ann's solo

Doesn't the Church look great

Vamos a Alabar Al Rey (We Are Going To Praise the King)

Tu Nombre Levantare (Lord I lift Your Name On High)

El Padrino

Translates to The Godfather. Although it is my favorite movie of all time, it is also now another name I can be called. Jorge and Elvira asked Erin and I if we would be the Godparents for their newest daughter Viviana. Of course I jumped at the opportunity. Ever since she was born, Viviana has always had a smile for me whenever I would see her or pick her up in the office. She even gets fussy when she is not being held, so sometimes I just have to go pick her up to get her to stop whining. You may have seen a few previous pics of her in my blog, but below are a few from the baptism that was held a the Thanksgiving service at San Pablo when both mine and Erin's families were here.

It snowed actual snow for the first time in a long time in El Paso yesterday and today, so I have gotten to work from home the last 2 days because the dogs will eat the house if I leave them alone too long, and there is a big lake in my yard from the rain and snow so I can't really leave them outside too long either. I figured the best way was to just work from my chair at the house where I can keep my eye on them. It is nice because there is no distractions, but kind of lonely because I don't get to see my office mates or Viviana. Hope everyone is planning on a great holiday season, I might go to Advent service with Erin tomorrow night, but I am not sure. Any thoughts?

Blessed to serve.....

…and that is what they did. This past Wednesday a group of 25 from my home church made their 15^th annual pilgrimage from Denver to El Paso. They joined up with Erin’s family from St. Louis to serve the Lord on the border. The theme for the week was blessed to serve. Not only did they cook, transport, and serve over 1200 Thanksgiving dinners consisting of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, beans, salsa, bread, and cake to their friends on both sides of the border, but they also prepared a meal for over 100 Saturday volunteers and left enough product prepared and frozen for Rosy to serve at the King's Table luncheon this Wednesday at Sin Paredes. Meals were served at the YLM campus, San Lucas in Anapra, Cristo Rey, and Santisima Trinidad.

To many, over 1200 dinners would be enough to keep everyone occupied for the three work days that were put in, but not for this group. Not only did they do all the foodservice, but they also painted building number 1 on the YLM campus, formerly leased to El Paso County and now home to the mariachi group and Sunday school classrooms. The colors are actually called Queen Anne’s Lace and Burgundy Wine, but for those of us who only see in like 16 colors, they are white and purplish red. The building really does look sharp. Hope is to paint the rest of the campus buildings this color as well.

Just in case that wasn’t enough, the servant event also helped “winterize” a trailer in Horizon City. The family basically lived in an 8 foot by 26 foot trailer that you would tow on the back of your truck when you went camping. Leaking roofs, a plywood floor and broken windows were all tackled by some members of the group. A new roof was built over the trailer and sealed to prevent water and cold air from getting in through the top, windows were sealed, and new tile was laid on the floor. Please pray that we will be able to build this family a new home in the coming months.

The rest of the time was spent with a trip to the market in Juarez and devotions/Bible studies that tied in a “minor” Bible character that was devoted and another who was saved in with their theme of the week which again was “blessed to serve.”

If you have a facebook account, please become a fan of the Ysleta Lutheran Mission Servant Events fan page. There you will find many more pictures of this week and many other groups in the future as well as fun discussions, links, and other information about the servant event program here at YLM.

The last exciting thing of this week was that I am now a godfather. J Viviana was baptized on Thanksgiving day and parents Jorge and Elvira asked Erin and I to stand up as godparents. I couldn’t be happier. Look for pics and a blog on that over the next couple days.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, and have a wonderful holiday season with your friends and family.

Turkey dinner at YLM

The people of Cristo Rey signed a special thank you note for me

and one for the group as well

The "kids" table at Cristo Rey

The group that went to Cristo Rey, the other half of the group served at San Lucas at the same time.

Team ready to serve at San Lucas

The kids coming through

Everyone got a plate first, and many took home to go boxes as well. The kids also left with a special treat bag.

Lining up at San Lucas

Someone had to feed the servants as well. Thanks Dad for heading up the breakfast and lunch crew each day.

The children's choir at Santisima Trinidad welcomed us with 3 songs, and then showed everyone their excellent skills at el pato (the duck) dance.

Serving line at Santisima Trinidad

Ruby, a young girl at Santisima that always runs to greet Erin and I with a hug whenever she sees one of us. Please excuse the apron. (She got A LOT of Cardinals stuff for her birthday.)

Lupe's granddaughters, Lizbeth and Karla, we built them a second story this past summer.

This nice lady, whose name we do not know, made mom a special tortilla cloth just as a thank you for 15 years of coming with the special turkey dinner service.

Painting building number 1

Doesn't it look sharp?

Erin supervising Mike putting on the roofing felt

She finally decided to help him.

Kecia and Bob putting in the new tile

This is the third picture I have of Erin threatening to eat construction adhesive. I think maybe I should try it.

Shouldn't this be the other way around with her giving him a ride? We tried, he only wanted to push.

Where we worked

The awesome group.