For the Rev. Alex Montes-Vela, home is not defined by a single country or place. It is found in the familiar aroma of his mother’s cooking, the memories of childhood, and the love that accompanied his family through years of change.
Born in Huacho, Peru, Montes-Vela spent his early years living in different parts of the country before moving to Guatemala at age seven. Four years later, his family moved to the United States, where they continued building their lives in different places.
Throughout those moves, one thing remained constant: his mother’s rice.
As part of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas’ Hispanic Heritage Month series, “What Takes You Home?”, the Rev. Montes-Vela shares how a simple family dish became a lasting connection to his roots, his family, and the unconditional love that shaped his life.
A Taste That Traveled Across Borders
For Montes-Vela, growing up meant experiencing different countries, communities, and cultures. From Peru to Guatemala and eventually the United States, his family adapted to new surroundings while carrying familiar traditions with them.
Among those traditions was his mother’s rice.
He remembers returning home from school as a child, running toward the table, excited for whatever meal was waiting. There might have been several dishes to enjoy, but the rice was always the one thing he looked forward to most.
Without it, something seemed to be missing.
That familiar aroma and flavor became more than part of a daily meal. They created a sense of belonging that remained unchanged regardless of where his family lived.
Now approaching 60, Montes-Vela continues to associate that simple dish with the feeling of being home.
His experience reflects something familiar to many Hispanic families whose stories cross borders and generations: home is not always a fixed location. Sometimes, it is found in the traditions that travel with us.
More Than a Family Recipe
As Montes-Vela reflects on those memories, he recognizes that his connection to his mother’s rice has always been about something deeper than its taste.
It was about the person who prepared it.
He remembers the love, suffering, and sacrifices his mother experienced while caring for her family. Looking back, he believes those experiences were somehow present in every meal she made.
For him, the rice represented her unconditional love, a love that nourished his family in ways that went far beyond food.
Even as the children grew older, the tradition continued.
Whenever the family gathered, his mother was the one expected to bring the rice. It was something everyone wanted, a familiar part of being together that made those gatherings feel complete.
Over time, the dish became a reminder not only of childhood, but also of everything his mother had given to her family.
The Love We Carry With Us
There is something meaningful about the way ordinary traditions can shape our understanding of home.
A meal prepared with love, a familiar aroma, or a recipe shared across generations can become part of how families remember where they come from and who helped them become the people they are today.
For the Rev. Montes-Vela, his mother’s rice carries those connections.
He acknowledges that he has never been able to prepare it quite the way she did. Yet the memory of its flavor remains as powerful as ever.
What stays with him is not simply the food itself, but the unconditional love and sacrifices it represents. He describes how that love was something his family could taste and feel, something that helped transform each of them.
His reflection reminds us that heritage lives not only in our countries of origin, but also in the everyday expressions of love that connect families across time and distance.
For Montes-Vela, home can be found in memories of Peru, Guatemala, and the United States. It can be found in childhood afternoons, family gatherings, and the traditions that remained constant through every move.
But above all, it can be found in his mother’s rice, a simple dish filled with memories of the woman whose love helped make every place feel like home.
And as he shares with a smile, simply talking about those memories makes him think he might need to have some rice that very afternoon.
What takes you home?
