Micah's Third Birthday

Our Attempt to Give Back

Micah turned three years old the end of July. Turning three here is a big deal because it means the child is expected to survive. We decided to adopt their tradition a throw a big fiesta (food, cake, piñatas and all). We continue to feel richly blessed and warmly welcomed into this culture in so many ways, with many invitations to people’s homes for meals, birthday parties, and festivals. It was now our turn to throw a fiesta and “give back” to people who have given so much to us.

Two days before the event, our neighbor Silvino came over and started working on the yard, cutting weeds and grass (remember, it’s the rainy season now). He also borrowed and set up two large tarps and 30 chairs. When a group of six women from the neighborhood heard the menu we had planned, they quickly took over.

One day before the party Martin started baking cakes (cheese cake, chocolate beet cake, and carrot cake – you know the ones) and bought 10 chickens. Liz went to the market and bought the rest of the ingredients on the list, as compiled by the neighborhood cooks. The morning of the party, the women came over and made two LARGE pots of chicken with salsa, avocado leaves, and onions wrapped in foil packets. It was incredible! Later in the afternoon they brought over two large pots of beans, tortillas and green salsa. We had a feast! More than 100 people came during a 6 hour period that evening. The group not only spent all day cooking, but they served everyone AND stayed to help clean up. We ended the evening behind in the overall generosity count once again, but feeling deeply loved.

Pictures 1 and 2 - neighborhood women preparing the chicken
Picture 3 - Friends enjoying the food
Picture 4 - Martin and Liz serving cake (Martin is now known for his baking abilities).
Picture 5 - Isaiah, Adrianna (neighbor), Micah