Educational Bursaries in "México Profundo" in 2020

In 1987, a Mexican ethnologist and anthropologist named Guillermo Bonfil Batalla published a book called "Mexico Profundo: Reclaiming a Civilization." "México Profundo" could be translated as "Deep Mexico," "Profound Mexico"—perhaps even "Real Mexico." For the author, what unifies and distinguishes "México Profundo" from the rest of Mexican society "is that they are bearers of ways of understanding the world and of organizing human life that have their origins in Mesoamerican civilization and that have been forged here in Mexico through a long and complicated historical process."

Many of the bursary recipients are graduates of the Marist-run Champagnat High
School of the Mountain, a school constructed and maintained in partnership with MMEX

Such are the indigenous peoples in the Mountain of Guerrero. Such are the peoples with whom Mission Mexico partners in their efforts for justice, dignity, peace, life. Those who do not identify with "Mexico Profundo" are, in the opinion of the author, part of "Imaginary Mexico"—a Mexico that does not exist but whose ultimate project is to uphold the dominant civilizational program geared towards what we might call "Western" values and goals. 

Sharing clothes in the Mountain before the cold season begins in December

As the indigenous peoples here in the 700 villages of the Mountain from the Na'savi, Nahuatl, and Me'phaa cultures strive to survive and dream of flourishing in Mexico today, the challenges are many. Mission Mexico's solidarity with the peoples involves especially two areas: health and education.

Hopefully my friend Braulio will grow strong and continue his education someday...

I often wish that Guillermo Bonfil Batalla had not died in 1991. I would love to talk with him about the solidarity projects sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Calgary and ask him about what he might consider its pros and cons. I daresay that it is impossible to have a "perfect" relationship when the rich or privileged or better-off interact with the poor and marginalized and forgotten—but I daresay that it is possible to have a relationship that is based on respect, listening, reflection together, joint decision making, and working together. And this is the "culture" that Mission Mexico tries to promote in its interactions with the peoples here. And Mexican "partners" here that collaborate with Mission Mexico, every bit as informed and astute as Guillermo Bonfil Batalla, continually accompany us in our journeys of solidarity.

The lack of electricity doesn't mean that supper can't be an enjoyable experience.

I recently sent to the Mission Mexico committee in Calgary a list of project proposals for 2020. This committee is composed of volunteers from Calgary who, out of the goodness of their heart, work to raise funds for Mission Mexico and to coordinate the use of these funds so that they are put to the best use here in the mountains. I actually felt bad when I assembled the different requests for bursaries that different young people had submitted to study a university career and forwarded these to the Mission Mexico committee.

Elizabeth fell and fractured her spinal column in June, but someday she hopes
to be able to continue studying.

Last year, in 2018, there were 27 students who wished to renew for another year their Mission Mexico bursary, and there were 13 new requests for a Mission Mexico bursary. This year, in November of 2019, there are 39 bursary renewals, and there are 36 new requests for a bursary. In other words, the numbers jump from 40 bursaries in 2019 to 75 bursaries requested for 2020.

This is the home of José, one of the present bursary recipients.

I have visited, spoken with, and know these young people. The need is real. Without outside support, the dream of a university education and a professional career will be just that: a dream. 

My 91-year-old friend Reyna, deaf-mute all her life, died last week. 

I share these thoughts with you, the reader, because, unless the donations to Mission Mexico increase in the very near future, it will be impossible for Mission Mexico to award 75 bursaries. At the moment, only God knows what will happen. But please, if you can assist in helping these young people achieve their goal, please consider a donation for Mission Mexico. Thank you.

Maria receives a MMEX bursary; her parents died; when I last visited Maria,
her grandmother prepared me breakfast on this, her "kitchen stove."

If you enter Facebook and go to MissionMexicoRC, you can see videos of a couple of bursary recipients and see photos of the reality of the mountains of Mexico. God bless.

Seven of these children walk three kilometers to school and three kilometers
back home each day. They appreciate the sucker from MMEX.