Christmas traditions in abnormal times - lessons from bi-cultural living!

Over the last 12 years spent in Guatemala, my 'normal' Christmas has actually been different every year. 

When you live in a country that does Christmas differently to what you grew up with, and when you are far away from family, you have to rethink things. There are often others around who are far from family too, and each one comes with different ideas of the special food or events that make Christmas Christmas. So every year we have created and enjoyed new traditions that are a mixture of the different cultures and family rituals and activities of the people who are around. Favourite foods aren't necessarily available, and we have to create something similar from what is available or find an alternative. I'm not sure that this is quite how you might define a 'tradition' but in my book it's OK that these traditions are a onetime only event, never to be repeated as you'll never have the same combination of people and nationalities together again!. 

In fact it can be useful to help us remember that Christmas isn't about the gifts or the food or the rituals, but about celebrating the coming of Jesus, God with us, the greatest gift of all. 

So as we in the UK are reeling from the announcement of new and stricter rules that will limit Christmas plans for many of us, I'm remembering the lessons I've learnt through spending Christmasses abroad. 

Celebrate with the people around you, whoever they are. 

Adapt your rituals and traditions for the circumstances you find yourselves in. 

Be open to learn from others - and join in with their rituals and traditions. 

Be thankful for all the good gifts that we have been given - not the ones in sparkly wrapping paper, but the ones that are deeper and connect us with God and each other.

Connect with people in any way you can.

Meanwhile.... back in Guatemala

Not much of this has made it to international news, but Guatemala has faced some difficult weeks recently. 

Of course COVID-19 has created a backdrop of suffering this year. With a severe lockdown early on in the pandemic, millions of people struggled to feed themselves, as they weren't able to work. My colleague, working in Solola, a rural region, with a development project told me that they'd recently made contact with villages who had been surviving on bananas mashed with maize flour tortillas for weeks. These were the only things they could grow locally, and they weren't able to work. Even if people had had money (most didn't), the members of these isolated communities couldn't get to any large towns which had markets in order to buy food supplies, because of restrictions on travel and the rising costs of public transport. The government had promised help for those in need, but the system is woefully broken, and didn't reach these communities. 

With the health services struggling (staff not being paid, lack of protective gear and medicines) to cope with the increase of COVID-19 cases, the government lifted lockdowns, so that economic activity could begin again. Case statistics are regularly reported for most areas - although I don't know anyone who trusts them anymore. In many small communities in particular, there is a stigma attached to having had the virus, so illness is under-reported so that people can continue to work and earn money and to not face judgement from their neighbours.

Then in November two hurricanes (Eta and Iota) passed over Central America. Honduras and Nicaragua bore the brunt of the devastation with widespread flooding in many regions. The long term effect of that will be felt for the next year at least, as crops and livelihoods have been destroyed. In Guatemala the damage was felt in the east and north of the country, where landslides affected many small communities and over 50 people lost their lives. The government (from the relative safety of the capital) was reluctant to send support. 

Just two weeks after Eta, and with Iota predicted to make landfall, the government decided it was a good time to set next years budget. In a secret midnight session of parliament, a budget was approved. It took money away from health and education services, and emergency responses, and gave it to big infrastructure projects and increased funds for the actual government structures - including inflating the budget for food within parliament itself. 

The callousness of that move got a strong response from the population, thousands of whom took to the streets to protest. The protests were generally peaceful and called for the resignation of the President (he's been in power less than a year). In the midst of the peaceful protest police fired tear gas into crowds and this is now subject to an investigation. A small number of masked protesters vandalised and broke into the Congress to start a fire. It's uncertain whether they were really protesters, or were in fact planted (and given easy access to the building) by government insiders in order to discredit the protest and justify a heavy handed response. A dozen or so were arrested for damaging Congress, but after 48 hours the cases were thrown out by a judge who saw no evidence that they were the people responsible. Many vowed to return to protest the following weekend. For now, the budget seems to have been put on hold - although no-one is really sure what that means. 

For my politically active friends, there is a clear sense of dejavu. Regular anti-corruption protests back in 2015, led to the resignation of the then President and Vice-President and both are now in jail awaiting trial in corruption cases. But now they are asking themselves if anything has really changed. The names and faces at the top might change every 4 years, but eliminating the systemic corruption at this level and achieving changes to the system of government are a lot more difficult to reach. 

There are small signs of hope, but the situation continues to be a challenge, as the younger generations in particular stand up for a more just system. 

Learning and Growing

Yesterday I wrote about the different rhythms of nourishment of this year. Another aspect of this year is that for me it has been a period of learning and growing. There's a certain element of COVID restrictions which has made it easier to take a step back and reflect on a number of things. 

I'm definitely doing that in my work role and it's been a good time to take advantage of all sorts of courses and programmes that help me to do that, and to make changes to improve. I am part of a year long course about caring for cross-cultural workers, which has been great to understand more about the pressures and challenges that we face generally, as well as the extra challenges that this year has brought. 

I've been a part of a Women in Leadership Coaching programme over the last 6 months. I am culturally the odd one out in the group, so often need a bit of translation but we've talked about personality types and how they can affect our leadership styles and interactions with colleagues. We also assess our own ability in leading relationally, strategically, spiritually, and visionary, and talked through how to find a balance between each of these aspects. 

To be honest I've been a bit disappointed with the lack of depth involved in the programme (culture is definitely a factor in that) but simply by participating in the programme has made me look elsewhere for further reflection and input. I undertook a 360 degree evaluation, getting anonymous feedback from several different colleagues. The experience can be a bit sobering, as how other people perceive you comes into clearer focus, but in the long run, it's given me insight into how to adjust interactions so that people receive what I really intend to communicate. I'm really grateful to a few friends who have helped in that process, as I reflect on the feedback and weigh it up in the light of my calling and cultural expectations. 

And this year hasn't just been about growing in my work role. I've also really appreciated regularly being a part of a small group for great spiritual discussions and challenges. I have added in other short courses to 'lean into' the gifts that I've been given in a greater depth and confidence. In the process, I'm excited and intrigued to keep on stepping out of my comfort zone and to push myself further in trusting God and growing in him.

Nourishment

I read an article recently that said that reading a novel is a asignificant antidote to stress. They said that the process of immersing yourself in someone else´s world and story enables you to disconnect temporarily from the concerns, uncertainties and fears in your own situation. The article also said that reading fiction had significantly increased during 2020!

So here´s a quick look at some of what I've been reading lately.

 

Plus several classics that I've borrowed from Mum's bookshelves. 

I was also reflecting with some friends about the rhythms that are sustaining us through this year. Several people have asked me if I'm upset by being 'stuck' in the UK. I'm not. I guess it's one of the things I learnt early on in missionary life split between 2 very different countries was to always appreciate and take advantage of the things you can do, or see, or eat in the country you're in at the time, rather than pining for what you miss from the other country. 

So this year I have appreciated being able to buy books easier and quickly!, as well as regular connections with family and local friends, Devon countryside, British food (parsnips!!!!!) amongst many other things.

We also recognised that the rhythms that keep us sane and healthy don't have to last forever. They can  change and adapt as the circumstances and seasons change. So in the first lockdown, I created rhythms of countryside walks in wonderful spring weather, and sketching every day. Then there were a couple of months of daily swims. Now in this second lockdown (accompanied by decidedly colder and wetter weather), I've taken advantage of online ballet classes for exercise - rekindling my youthful enthusiasm for dance as well as my frustration with french terms!!

The important thing is to do things that nourish us. Being present where we are helps us to appreciate the blessing in each place and time. 

What rhythms do you have to keep yourself nourished at the moment?

A few Holiday pics!

I´ve had a great couple of weeks, mostly disconnected from the world wide web... but staying connected with the moment and the place .. and a few friends too. Here´s a few pictures.

 

We spent half an hour watching a seal watching us at this beach, but I didn´t manage a photo.

 

I've swum 82km!!!!

 This week, I finished my swim challenge - a day early even!! 

So that was 82km swum in open water over the last month. It's all in aid of Latin Link who are channeling funds to projects and churches in Latin America supporting families and communities badly affected by COVID-19 and the economic lockdowns. 

If you'd like to sponsor me, here's the link

https://www.latinlink.org.uk/fundraisers/suzannes-swim

And here's a few more photos and a map

I would have liked to have a bit more variety but tide times, and work and weather meant I repeated most of these a few times - especially the river Dart.

Still Swimming... and here's why....

 I'm now in my final week of the Swim-82km-in-a-month challenge, and I'm just about on target. I'm raising funds so that Latin Link can support local organisations in Latin America helping their communities badly effected by COVID-19 and the economic effects of lockdowns. 

This week, I received a newsletter from Rose, my friend and Latin Link colleague, working for one of the organisations we support in Solola, a rural part of Guatemala. She shares an example of the impact your donations and sponsorship can have on local people. 

Petronila is 35 years old and comes from the village of Pasajquim, San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala.  She and her husband have 5 children but they live with very little. During this time they have suffered to find ways to provide food for their children as her husband lost his job because of the pandemic. They have been able to find some work doing odd jobs, such as domestic jobs or selling firewood, but this is only once or twice a week, earning just £3.00 a day, which is not enough to cover the costs of providing for their family. “Sometimes we don’t have anything to feed our children and we do our best to find something so that the children can eat, but we don’t eat anything.” With the support of the food parcel from Latin Link, delivered through AMI San Lucas, they will be able to eat for another month, for which Petrolina expressed her gratitude.  “I feel truly very thankful for you, the support you have given is a great help to my family.  Thank the people who have given this support, my family is thankful for each person who has provided this support.” 

This is just one example of how sponsorship of my swim (or any of the Indoor Expeditions) have been supporting communities and individuals in Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Brazil and many other countries in Latin America. Thank you if you have already sponsored me. If you would like to here's the link.... 

https://www.latinlink.org.uk/fundraisers/suzannes-swim

And here's a few photos of my recent swims...It's definitely getting colder now, so I'm having to do shorter swims but sometimes a couple a day! 

Goodrington Sands - Broadsands - Elberry Cove

Start and finish of 5.5km down the river Avon from Aveton Gifford to Bantham beach.

The view back up the river Avon.

Back the other way.... Elberry Cove, Broadsands and Goodrington. 

Or.. 'we swam from other there to here!'

Blurry photo of a bit of my normal stretch along the river Dart (on a gloomy day!)

And various ups and downs around East Portlemouth, opposite Salcombe.

Another Expedition

 I am one week into a new challenge... to swim 82km (the equivalent of around Lake Atitlan in Guatemala) over a month. I'll be swimming around the beaches, coves and rivers of Devon in order to rack up the mileage. Here's a few pics of where I've swam so far...

This is part of Latin Link Indoor Expeditions campaign, which is raising money for vulnerable communities in Latin America who have been badly affected by COVID-19 and lockdowns. In Guatemala all the hospitals are full and the number of cases continue to grow, but the government has lifted a number of restrictions, as the lockdown had such a drastic effect on 80% of the population who were in informal work and were therefore now not able to work. Donations given to the Indoor Expeditions campaign have been able to support projects getting food and hygiene parcels to families who don't have any income because of the lockdown. Similar support has been given to churches and projects responding to the needs in their communities throughout Latin Link. If you would like to help, here's the link...

https://www.latinlink.org.uk/fundraisers/suzannes-swim