Our Lady of Guadalupe

We have been fortunate enough to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe day in Mexico several times.  This year's celebration took the cake.  We were asked to attend a celebration in La Manga, the little fishing village (ejido) west of San Carlos.  Thirteen years ago a cement statue of Guadalupe was found in the waters off Piedras Pintas Beach.  People from the village, hauled it out of the water and brought it to the church in the village, where it is today.  It is said to be a miracle, as surely it must be, as it had to be extremely heavy!

The story goes that  Mexican peasant, Juan Diego, was walking in an area of Mexico City, where he came across the image of the Virgin Mary, who asked to be called Guadalupe and who asked Juan Diego to speak to the Archbishop about erecting a church in her name on that site.  The Archbishop didn't believe Juan Diego.  He went back and saw the Virgin several more times.  He continued to tell the Archbishop who told him to ask her for a miraculous sign.  When last he returned to her, flowers appeared on the barren hill. He gathered them in his cloak and brought them to the Archbishop.  When he opened his cloak and displayed the flowers, the image of Guadalupe appeared on the fabric. Later, a Basilica was erected in Mexico City on the site where she appeared.

When we arrived at La Manga, the young girls of the village were singing canciones to Guadalupe and marching through the dirt streets to the church, where they brought a garland of flowers to lay upon the statue.  There were more songs and a short sermon by Father Jorge.

This is Monica and her older
daughter.  We first met her in
2013!

We then followed everyone down to the beach where they hopped into three pangas (Mexican small fishing boats).  We were asked to join them!

Today's haul by one of the villagers

Most of the girls were in the first boat and two carried the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe

This is Elena, mother of Monica, the
kindergarten teacher.  We helped in the effort
to build on to her house so Monica and her baby
could stay here in La Manga with her.  The baby
had Sickle Cell and needed a special place to be.

Our pilot and his baby

Look at the cute outfit on that cutie pie

Villagers in the quiet boat

This is Brenda, mother of one of the children.  She was
absolutely hilarious and kept us laughing the whole time.
She wanted our boat to race the others.

Leaving La Manga behind.  I wanted to write a song entitled, "A Panga from La Manga".  There is no electricity or running water here.  The houses are very, very basic but the people seem very happy.  They have a great location, that's for sure!

Passing a shrimp boat in the harbor

Mom and baby in our boat

My friend, Cheryl
I was freezing so she let me have that hat to put on my
chest to keep warm.

When we got to Pidras Pintas Playa, we tied all three boats together.  Father Jorge read something from his IPhone and
we all sung songs to the Virgin (even those of us who didn't know the words.)

I never knew who the man in the back was, but he talked for some time.
I wondered if he was one of the men who had found the statue in these waters.

The girls were given garlands of flowers to throw into the water
for the Virgin Mary.

We thought we were going to get out at Piedras Pintas but it turned out that we headed back to La Manga.  Poor Bill!  We had asked him to pick us up at the beach.  He was there but we were not.

Who says there are no crabs in San Carlos!?!

And, how about one of many Sting Rays for dinner.  They
were filleting them on the spot!  Yikes-not for me!