The drive to the town of Palanque was memorable. The landscape changed from sparse desert to lush green tropical forests gradually as we drove down the coast of Mexico.. From Villa Hermosa to Palanque the mountains grew in majesty and the shades of brown disappeared as the vines and grass consumed the trees and ground.. With the windows rolled down and the air playing with my hair I breathed in the early morning smell of due.. Try as I might I could not take in all the beauty at once, For as far as your eyes could see stretched untouched hills and mountains full of so many different kinds of tress and plants its impossible to name them all.. This had to be what the Garden of Eden looked like..
The town of Palaque is a happening little place, with the hustle and bustle of business and people but not like anything in the states… Women carrying sacks of sticks and men with wheel barrels are common.. Nestled in the valley, it is surrounded by green mountains…
We drove past Palanque to a village that im not sure of the name yet, although I asked a few times I still don’t understand what they are saying its called.. *laughs*
My words can not do justice to all I seen and im afraid pictures will not capture the feelings that arose in my spirit as I drove through this village to my new home…
The children ran around eager to see the Americans, random people stood still along the street to watch out car pass by, sense cars are not common in this village our presence was obvious..
We arrived at a little house well kept with a mother and her tow daughters outside to greet us, they showed us our rooms and we all have beds!!!!! That is a big deal sense I noticed most the residents of this village slept in hammocks.. The house was sparsely furnished with the bare necessities, not a mirror is found in this house( very common in southern Mexico it seems) and the walls were brightly colored with shades of yellow and pink… With only screen on our bedroom windows and a cloth for a door I felt right at home after a few hugs and smiles from our new family..
After chatting and getting to know all the neighbors we were invited to dinner at the church… As we walked to the church we passed fields of green grass and clouds lazily rolling across the tops of the huge mountain tops.. We entered the small church and see a makeshift banquet table set before us, with flowers and fresh squeezed orange juice.. The soft Spanish praise music played in the back ground as the Pastor served us his home made soup and rice and tortillas.. Im not sure what exactly it was, maybe it was the holy spirit showing up but we were overwhelmed with the moment and many of us felt tears well up as we sat there being served by these people.. Its humbling.. The pure beauty and love radiating from these people is hard to fathom…
On the way home we played with some children in a tree and found a kitten eager to chase our fingers.. Joy is abundant here.. Its also contagious..
When I got home I snuck off to give my new friend a bath.. Her name is Luna and she is the hunched backed skinny dog that lives outside our house.. Her eyes are light blue and her temperament is as gentle and unsure.. Someone had thrown soup or something on her and I just had to wash it off. There is another dog there but she is to shy to come near me, maybe by the end of the week I will be able to pet her.
I miss my family and loved ones a lot now… But as we were driving to palanque and I felt the warmth of the trees and air surround me I felt as if I was born to be here.. I have never felt so at peace in all my life… Now if I can just find a way to bring my whole family here I would be complete.. hehe
I cant wait to get back and steal a few moments alone with God, listening to his gentle whisper in the breeze as it tugs at my soul and frees my spirit…
