September 9, 2023 Soon after midnight I knew that it could be a long day. My stomach started to cramp and I had diarrhea and nausea. The booms of the amplifiers and fireworks continued all night. I didn’t even notice the minor tremor during the night. I took an anti-diarrheal med around 3 am to …
September 8, 2023 It’s hard to say when September 8 began and when it ended, because the loud party atmosphere and religious events went all day and night continuously. The very loud ranchera band on a giant stage with stadium sized speakers stacked 30 feet tall was impressive. The band played on until 4 am, …
September 7, 2023. As I sit here this evening, competing bands an processions pass under one window and then another, punctuated by firecrackers. I’m waiting and resting to gout in an hour to see the biggest firework display and dancing. The morning started on a worrisome note. I had diarrhea, most likely from a street …
September 6, 2023 The fireworks started early in the morning to prepare people for the 5 am mass, which I did not get up for, but at 7 we had a delicious breakfast at our host family’s home. With all of our things ready, Stephen and i made our way up to the church’s sacristy. …
Second part of September 5, 2023 Around noon, the priest and bodyguards indicated it was time to load up and head for Zoquitlán, where we will spend the second part of our visit. we headed back out to the Panamerican highway that runs from near Ixtepec to Oaxaca. Only a few minutes after leaving the …
September 5, 2023 Stephen and I arose early to catch a ride back to the migrant shelter. Our driver arrived and we were back at the migrant shelter quickly. We had time to get to know more migrants and their stories. So many people have been put into an impossible situation and must choose to …
September 5, 2023. I got up with sunrise and checked out the town and its markets early. The downtown was bustling with trucks bringing in supplies from surrounding areas. Laborers voices filled the air as truks maneuvered, doors opened, boxes were quickly handed out and brought into stores. Managing the receiving in the market in …
September 4, 2023. Our hosts took us early to a beautiful breakfast in Oaxaca at the Merced market. We had bread, juice, hot chocolate and enchiladas. If I had known how unsettling the upcoming trip was going to be I would not have eaten so much. At 9, the the priest Alejandro Solavide and his …
Sept 3, 2023. Oaxaca, Mexico Once again it’s just one-half of the Red Tandem team this outing, but I promise that will be changing in October. Today, though I am heading back to Oaxaca for a dual purpose photographic project with retired priest Fr Stephen Dudek, as we explore one of Grand Rapids’ sister parishes, …
June 13, 2023. 3 miles. On Tuesday we planned to get in some hiking, and we both decided we didn’t want to drive an hour to get to one of our old favorites, the Jordan River Pathway. And also, the skies were looking rather threatening, but only slight mist so far. Reviewing our maps, we …
