A Mexican Funeral

Part of our job here in Pubela in the beginning is completing a series of assignments in order for us to get to know our city better. One of the assignments is attending a funeral. So we heard about one that was taking place in a small town near by. It took place in a town where there are chickens, horses, goats, and dogs randomly walking about. A town where mexican music was blaring from big speakers and no noise ordanance to stop it. A town where everyone knows your name if you live there. A town where the simplicity of life gets it's name. A town where you walk in and you instantly feel like family. The day started off by waiting until we get the word that it was time to start. We walked down the street from the church were there was a huge tent with about 100 people sitting and eating together. There was also a Christian Mariachi Band playing songs and reading scripture. We were served a watermelon juice with flavored rice, tortillas and a very spicy shrimp, potato and tomato based soup with a very "different" taste. The girls and I ate the rice and Aaron ate the soup. I did taste it but that was all I could do. It was way too spicy for me. Next thing we know people are getting up as four men pick up the casket and start the procession to the burial site. We walked for about a mile in the hot sun and finally we see on the hill the cemetary surrounded by a brick wall. And then we watched it pass by as we continued on up the mountain side to another cemetary in the process of being built. The worst part was Sherry and I had worn shoes with heels. So the rugged mountain side wasn't so kind to us. No wonder people were looking at us so weird. We finally arrived and stood as the preacher said a few words and prayed. Then the men slowly lowered the casket into the ground and other men began filling the hole back in with the dirt. The put rocks around the loose dirt and then put the flowers in buckets of water on top. All of the supplies were carried up by different people. The whole process took about 2 hours. In the mean time the girls played in the dirt, sat next to other kids and asked lots of questions. Mylee had the most because this was the first time she has been to a funeral. In one of the videos loaded with the pictures you hear her say "this is so sad." All in all our experience was a good one and we were able to learn quite a few cultural lessons like don't wear heels to a mountain side burial. After we walked back down we were invited to the Pastor's house of the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church. They served us Coca cola, while the girls were out playing with the other kids. Mylee even caught a little chick and held it for awhile. We were able to start new relationships and know we would be welcomed with open arms when we return. Below is the link to these pictures and more. Have a great week.

Mexican Funeral