Well, Christmas went off with another big bang this year, literally, as midnight was welcomed with lots of Roman candles and sparklers (plus a flower or two). Of course, it was a small show compared to a week later as the streets filled with life-size dolls burning away last year´s old to make room for this year´s new. But back to Christmas. My theater group opened Christmas Eve Mass with the nativity play, in which I starred one of Gabriel´s side-kicks in a white gown with hands folded in prayer and a smile on my face. It went well and the mass was nice-- it was the first Mass said by our new priest, but unfortunately he didn´t give the homily so we didn´t really get a good taste of him yet! After Mass we hung around for awhile, giving Christmas hugs to all our parish friends and taking pictures with the life-size nativity. Then we went home to prepare a delicious dinner of Velveeta macaroni and cheese shells with ketchup (a special treat for us!) until midnight, when we put baby Jesus in the nativity and went outside to light fireworks with all the neighbors. We mixed the Peruvians traditions with our own and waited til Christmas Day to open presents (by the way thank you for all the cards and gifts!) and lounge around.
But Christmas wasn´t all relaxing! Since I work in youth ministry in our parish, it was also an important time for activities. As has become tradition, the youth movement's biggest Christmas project this year was a chocolotada for about 60 of the poorest children in our parish. But unlike tradition, this year we decided to do it a little differently. They still received the signature panetón and hot chocolate, but the event was not advertised as a chocolotada. Instead, we designed it as a birthday party for Jesus. With animation similar to that typical of birthday parties here, each youth group presented a fun Christmas song or skit. I acted as Wendy in my theater group´s presentation of Peter Pan 2. The show culminated in a live representation of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and angels (featuring my very own housemate Katie doing her best to hold a crying, hair-pulling, very heavy baby Jesus). After circling the patio with the holy family, the kids re-entered the party room, where their gifts were arranged around a candle. Each child then received a paper heart with the explanation that Jesus doesn´t need us to gift him expensive things, just our hearts. One by one, they located their heart next to the candle, picked up a gift, and handed the gift to another child. Amazingly, their pacience lasted almost to the last child, when they did start getting a little ansy! It was a beautiful celebration (with very few flaws) in which the youth groups united together to give a clear message to the kids: Christmas isn´t about the gifts we receive but about sharing the love that Jesus came to give us. Perhaps the kids got more excited by the piñatas at the end, but Jesus´ love was very apparent in the laughter, sincerity and participation of the youth and children alike.
New Year´s was also wonderful with a visit from my brother, Scott! I think he got a good taste of Chimbote at New Years... fish smell, burning dolls and fireworks, and ceviche. Now it´s time to get into full summer mode-- hot weather, snow cones, beach, volleyball, home improvements, summer school at the parish, evening games at the youth center, etc. This week my community mates and I are cleansing our bodies. That means nothing but raw veggies, apples, vegetable broth, and juiced fruits! By the end of the seven days our insides should be thanking us for flushing out all the sugar and grease that has been consumed in the past month... though right now I really just want a big bowl of rice and a Reese´s!
Thanks for reading! I wish you a very happy new year as you embark anew on God´s mission for you in the world!
