Hello to All!
Sorry it has been so long since I have written. As you can imagine, things have been busy with the holidays and especially with me since I have been traveling. I would like to tell you about the awesome weekend I had in Miami before the holidays. Later, I will write about Midtown Community Church.
Sorry it has been so long since I have written. As you can imagine, things have been busy with the holidays and especially with me since I have been traveling. I would like to tell you about the awesome weekend I had in Miami before the holidays. Later, I will write about Midtown Community Church.
Last semester, I was invited by the family I will be ministering with to escort their daughter for her Quinceanera (Sweet 15 party). This party is a huge deal in the Latino culture. Every minute, I was suprised by what came next! I knew this was a very formal party with Tuxcedos and Fancy dresses. That is all I knew. The family had rented an entire Banquet Hall and invited around 100 people. Before the party, Art, Evan, Kenith and I went to go help finish setting up for the party. We all walked in and Evan and I (Being the two gringos), were totally amazed at all of the decorations and the elaborate details. After we finished helping to set up and took Michelle, Lizbeth and Michelle's friend to the salon, we left to return to the house to get ready. We all got ready and then a Limo showed up! That was a huge suprise! Thirty minutes before we left, I was told that I had to Waltz with michelle and interrupt her and her father dancing to do so!! I wasn't really nervous, but WOW....it was so special.
Okay...so after practicing, we got in the Limo and rode through Miami to the banquet hall. When we got there people were everywhere! A camera guy was outside and a photographer! I really felt like I was escorting a celebrity. People were shouting....Mis Quince (Miss 15)! We had to sneek her in from the back and put her in her carrage and close the curtian. She had to be revealed as a woman (coming of age), so noone could see her till then. Lizbeth then tells me that she did not tell anyone who was escorting Michelle. Basically, noone was informed about the "gringo" coming. Haha....it was so much fun. Then I found out that we had to be introduced and then walk down the banquet hall. Rose petals were layed by two lovely flower girls and then Michelle's parents walked down and then my name was called. People were starring and was like...Who is that Gringo????? Haha....I felt like I was being Evaluated. The ceremony lasted about 5 and a half hours. It was all in spanish and I loved it because I missed hearing spanish so much. Michelle's grandfather led the service and Michelle was given a Bible, two rings, high heal shoes (sign of her growing up), a watch and maybe something else, but I forget. Each one signified something special. Her grandfather spoke for a while and then it was time for her to come out of the carrage. Art went up to escort her down and then he gave her over to me. I then walked her down the esile and back down.
Later on, we waltzed and laughed and had a really good time. I promise I did not get married!! Towards the end of the evening, Michelle was suprised by the Mariachi band that came in and sang to her. I was shocked because I had no clue what to do there. I knew I could not stand there and do nothing. So...I started dancing with Michelle. It was so much fun. "La Cucaracha" was sung in a different version. It was hillarious. When I was dancing with Michelle, her grandfather shouted in spanish (everybody look, the North American is dancing the Waltz to La Cucaracha!) I had no clue what else to do.
Evan and I were continually being amazed at the festivities. It was such a good time!
