LAST DAY IN SAN ANTONIO. MISSION VISITS

This blog entry should have been yesterday but I didn't do it. Yesterday I took some time in the morning to go visit two of the missions. I already been to the Alamo the day before. I started off the main one which is San Jose Mission and visited Concepción Mission all so. The main one, San Jose Mission, offered a short documentary in their small theater. It was actually quite interesting and the perspective of it was from a Mexican girl who is now a multi generational American. She was recounting all the small tribes that had existed several centuries ago.  Not an unusual story, there were multiple small tribes all over this Southern Texas area. They were Indian cultures but small and independent of each other. Historically, their Extinction and demise was focused around exposure to other tribes from warring areas north who had been exposed to Western culture, Spaniards etcetera. All these small tribes who have never been exposed to common diseases had no defense and we're basically eliminated by natural selection. There is also the warring tribes that were trying to take over the best hunting and Gathering areas. Needless to say, the Spaniards culture and Catholic Church sent priests to convert the Indian tribes to Christianity in the 1700s. Though they had a great impact and a lot of the tribe members embraced the life that was offered to them, they still held on to some of their cultural practices and which peyote and having Spirit Quests were part of it. I believe they're a total of 5 missions. They were built In areas for the small towns to congregate and practice their religion. They built small but lovely churches and compound surrounding it for workers, priests, and visitors to stay and work within the community. I can't help but see how someone else's desire imposed on another always causes consequences. There is always gains and losses but it perspective is always positive for the imposed. Present day affirms that Christianity is well embedded in this part of the United States and Mexico. I will Attach pictures to the next log entry.