Pass by Me

One of my favourite Grenadian turns of phrase is "pass by me"

meaning come and stop to see me on your way.

Today was Christmas and my neighbour had asked me to host some of the neighbours for lunch. So I invited my Cuso colleagues, Mr. Campbell from NEWLO and of course our neighbours. Everyone was going to bring something to put lunch together.

At 10:00 a.m. Meena arrived to say "What was it I was bringing?" That would be a Grenadian fish dish, rice and peas and drinks. Oh! I don't have that. Hmmm. My two tourtieres were in the oven, potatoes were on for a huge mashed potatoes and I had made a soup with the green bananas that Mrs. Douglas had given me on Tuesday. I was totally unconcerned about this turn of events. I am really learning to let go of everything that I cannot control . My mom was concerned. But I reminded her the worst that would happen is people might be hungry and that they would go home and eat a little more! Oh well.

Nancy and Myriam from Cuso arrived with veggies and crackers and cheese as well as cupcakes and the most heavenly dessert that Myriam had made. They were followed closely by Mr.Campbell and a friend of his daughter. Brent let us know Janice and Meena would be late so we started with the crackers and veggies and then on to soup. Just before I got my bowl a steel pan band on a flat bed came rolling by playing "Feliz Navidad". Everyone agreed that just made the day!

Then after Meena and Janice had arrived, I had a special visitor- Mrs. Douglas and her daughter, who had come to pick up her daughter's fiancé! I was so happy she passed by me, and stayed for some Sorel, the soup I had made with her bananas and some tourtiere. It was so lovely to sit out on the deck and be surrounded by all these new friends.

Me & Mrs Douglas at the far end

Meena did bring drinks and a rice dish and in the end there was plenty for everyone, including a plate for Mr. Douglas back in Grenville. Mr. Campbell held court, telling story after story of Grenada and thoroughly entertaining my guests. The poor man is lucky he is a vegetarian or his food would have gone cold, lucky for him it was already cold!

In the end 19 plates of food were consumed, although only 12 at our home, the rest were brought to others. And yet it was no stress, with everyone relaxed and comfortably fed.

At 3:00 p.m. we shooed everyone but our Cuso friends out and then we all headed to the beach for a swim.

It was lovely to have such good company, with laughter and hugs all around.

So when I get back there will need to be more people passing by me, as an unexpected friend is the best Christmas gift. (Although the soft plush slippers my sister gave me are a close second!)

A White Nativity

Sadly on Monday night we had to go to the IGA and get milk (one of the few places you can buy fresh milk). Lo and behold there was a live nativity play going on being hosted by the Mennonite church!

We got there just as Caesar was declaring a tax on the world- hooray the beginning. I thought my mom would LOVE to stay and watch it. After all there were carols, and bible readings, right up my mom's alley.

No absolutely not! She did not want to stay to see "this"!! What was the problem? There were even live animals, it was awesome! She did not want to see white people leading a service or a choir. Now Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus were all Grenadian, so I was a bit shocked by her response. As we were walking away I asked my mom what exactly her United Church missionaries were doing that was so different than this?

Mom stopped to think about it. Really not much. It is funny how when you are back home missionary work seems noble and valuable and then when you see it in another country it seems really colonizing and patronizing. I am not saying it always is but it just looks and feels that way when you see it.

I am actually really surprised the Mennonites are here, because I have trouble imagining a more Christian country than Grenada. Meetings start and often end in prayer. Religion is openly and warmly discussed in the workplace, on the street and in the news and radio. So there is really no need to convert anyone here- mission accomplished.

If anything Grenadians should be coming to Canada to convert our population back. But I think that ship has sailed, but the idea that they have more to offer us in this department is perhaps a wake up call about who has the moral authority to be missionaries.

Of course most Grenadians are also very humble and would never consider doing such a thing. They are content to praise their Lord Jesus Christ and are very tolerant of the various denominations and to a large extent other faiths.

I really admire their faith and I have learned so much about Catholicism and the Pope  since moving here  I feel like a more rounded person for my time here. I had not realized how separate Protestants and Catholics are in Canada, mainly because we don't discuss our faith. Apart from some Quebecois friends I have almost no Catholic friends and I really didn't realize it. I can only think of one of my mom's friends who is Catholic (love you Rosemary), so it runs in the family. In fact my grandfather once told my mom she could not marry a Catholic!!

Mrs. Douglas, Sister MaryAnn and Sister Margret have made me realize that I am really missing out, so when I get back to Canada I am going to try to expand my social circle a bit, as these three women are three of the most amazing women I know.

I also know they would have stayed to watch the nativity because God is good no matter what colour your skin or who is singing in the choir.