National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed in the United States every year from September 15 to October 15. It’s a time to reflect on the accomplishments Hispanics have achieved, and it is a great opportunity to get together with friends to celebrate. Over the years, a few people have asked me why those dates were chosen. The answer is simple: several significant dates for many Latin American countries fall during this period, including the independence days of seven countries.
These weeks are a wonderful opportunity to reach out to women who aren’t part of the women’s ministry at your church, or, if your church has a Hispanic congregation, to plan a celebration together. I know it can be hard to reach out—I’ve been there. I came to the United States twenty-five years ago, thinking it would be a six-month trip to learn English before I returned to my family in Chile. But after meeting a wonderful Tennessee man, falling in love, and getting married, I stayed and built my life here. The first few years, I struggled to fit in and find friends at church (in both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking congregations) for the same reason: I kept focusing on our differences.
And that was my mistake. I focused only on our differences, without looking at what we truly are: women created by God, image-bearers, and daughters saved by grace through the same Savior, Jesus. We are all one in Christ (Gal. 3:28). Once I understood that our unity in Christ mattered more than our differences, I made great friends everywhere I went. And after twenty-three years of marriage and two daughters, I have made this welcoming and generous country my earthly home.
According to the latest census, 20% of the total U.S. population is of Hispanic descent. So, it’s very likely that your church has a Spanish-speaking congregation, or that several of the women at your church are Hispanic.
As we arrive at National Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to encourage you to celebrate with your friends and sisters in Christ. Here are ten ideas for how to celebrate this month:
1. Try new food
There is no better way to celebrate this month than by trying different foods. If you get together with a group, have each person pick a recipe from a different country. Be adventurous—go beyond tacos and burritos! For example, try making chimichurri sauce from Argentina, or Brazilian brigadeiros. Both are easy to make and delicious.
2. Enjoy Latin or Spanish music
Latin America has so many genres of music. Salsa is fun, but there are also wonderful rhythms like Andean music or tango. You can also listen to the Spanish version of your favorite worship song—online you can find many traditional hymns in Spanish. I love worshiping alongside a large group of believers from all over God’s creation. It’s a foretaste of what our time in heaven will be like.
3. Read books by Hispanic authors
As an editor, you can imagine that I’d love for us to spend the whole month reading the classics of Spanish literature! But even one book would be enough. Last month B&H published a book by a young Guatemalan woman called Life in Devotion. Also, visit your local library for translations of literary classics in Spanish. You might discover a new favorite—the way I did with Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
4. Visit a mercado
Consider taking a trip to the closest Hispanic store or mercado near you. Gather some friends and explore together. There are all kinds of foods to discover! If I were there with you, I’d encourage you to pick up some plantains to fry or get a can of dulce de leche for those with a sweet tooth. If there’s no mercado nearby, Walmart has an aisle worth exploring—pick up a new condiment, or that dulce de leche I mentioned.
5. Learn something new about a country
Two-thirds of Hispanics attending churches today are first-generation immigrants (Lifeway Research). With more than twenty countries in Latin America, each with its own unique history, food, customs, and traditions, you’ll see just how culturally different Hispanics can be from one another. A great conversation starter is to learn something unique about the home country of someone you know. For example, the Dominican Republic is the only country in the world with a Bible verse on its flag. Right in the center it reads: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). What a striking reminder that gospel truth can sit at the very center of a nation’s identity.
6. Invite a guest speaker to your church or small group
If you’re planning a special event at church, a wonderful way to mark the month is by inviting a special speaker—a local pastor, or another member of the congregation who would like to share his or her testimony. What a beautiful way to display the unity of the church across cultures.
7. Practice the language
There are more than five hundred languages spoken in Latin America, but most people speak Spanish. Invite your friends to play a friendly game of bingo, calling the numbers in Spanish. If your Spanish is limited, don’t worry—you can make it bilingual and call each number in both languages! And when it’s time to call bingo, call it lotería since that’s what it’s called in many countries.
8. Support a charity
If you don’t yet know anyone at your church to celebrate with, consider donating to a charity or church instead. A great option is Operation Christmas Child—a soccer ball would be a wonderful gift for any boy. Or donate literature to a small local Hispanic church; Lifeway has a great selection of children’s books in Spanish and bilingual editions, and Bible studies for women.
9. Make a friend
If you don’t have a group or a friend to celebrate with, make one! After trying a few of the ideas on this list, you’ll have plenty of conversation starters to approach that sister you often smile at but haven’t spoken to yet. As Scripture reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” (Eccl. 4:9). Friendship is one of God’s great gifts to us.
10. Attend a local event
It’s always fun to visit a local event that brings together everything suggested here—you might see dances, hear music, and try delicious dishes, all in one place. Try something new!
I hope you’ll try at least two of these ideas this month. But if I had to pick just one for you, it would be to make a friend. There are not many gifts more wonderful than finding a friend and sharing life with her.
Remember that even when we think we might not have much in common, we do. At our core, we women are the same: we feel similar things, we struggle with the same issues, and we care about our families, our children, our friends, and our church family. And we are sisters in Christ, daughters of the one true God.
About Elizabeth Works
Elizabeth Works is the senior manager of Spanish Books at B&H Publishing. She is originally from Chile but has made her home in East Tennessee with her husband and two daughters. She is passionate about the local church and loves teaching Sunday School with her husband.
