MY HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE!

Josefina, Rosa, Joyce and Lloyd.

Mi casa es su casa!  My house is your house!  Mexican people are very hospitable and love to have people visit their homes.  Today we were invited to visit Florencio and Josephina, who live a few blocks away from our church in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico.  We were invited in, given the best seats and served cool pineapple drinks. Pastor Gerardo and Miriam accompanied us because we weren’t sure how to get to their house.

Florencio’s son and his daughter and her children live with them. Their son Elias works nearby and their daughter Rosa works across town. Their grandchildren go to school every day and they walk to and from school with either their mother or grandmother.  In the afternoons after school the sun is very hot which makes it uncomfortable for Josephina to walk the distance. But the children are never allowed to walk alone.

Lloyd and Florencio.

From left to right, Rosa, Florencio and his wife Josefina.

Sunday is Mothers’ Day, so Rosa bought a beautifully decorated cake for the occasion.  They had saved the cake for our visit, which was a great honor for us.

They brought out a glass table top and placed it on supports in front of the couch where we sat. Rosa brought out the Mothers’ Day cake and gave her mother the knife to cut the pieces to serve. One granddaughter brought out plates, forks and napkins.  It was a very special occasion.

We all enjoyed the very sweet layer cake that was topped with sugar flowers and had a jelly filling. In fact, there wasn’t much left of the cake when we finished.

Florencio told us his family has lived in that house for 23 years and they have seen many changes during that time. Originally their town was called Las Flores. Later when Nuevo Progreso was established along the border for the tourists, Las Flores became a part of that city. In their early days in Las Flores, horses and donkeys were used a lot instead of cars.  Florencio and Josefina walk to the church when the weather is good, but Pastor Gerardo or his son Gerson takes them home later in their car.

Today we really experienced Mexico’s hospitality at it’s best. And we know we’ll always be welcome at the home of Florencio.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  Psalm 133:1 KJV