Day 2!

 Today we started our day with a breakfast that represented flavors of the region. Our host served us Huevos Rancheros, but with a mild spinach based sauce, and freshly pressed carrot juice. It has been such a blessing to have freshly prepared and locally sourced food! Good for the body and soul!

To break our fast together is a treat as we spend time getting to know each other and communally encourage each other in strengthening our faith in Christ. 

We had an awesome view of the towns and many coffee groves on the way to the church. We learned that because coffee is a valuable commodity, many plantations protect them from direct sunlight by planting trees, such as avocado, amongst the plants.

They also protect this resource with dogs and they border the property with a plant called chichacaste, that has similar properties to poison ivy. And, inside of that plant is barbed wire! 

 

Today, we served 88 people. The majority of the women in this region are tejadoras or weavers of cloth. Many wore clothing that they wove themselves. Beautiful.

This banner is an example of the weaving done for the church. 

Several of the men were campecinos or ranch workers, and constuccíon trabajeros or construction workers. We even had a gentleman tell us that he blew up dynamite as his main job!

In the afternoon, we had several school aged children and it was sometimes challenging because the children might tell us something different from what the parent tells us, but it always worked out.

On the way home we went to a macadamia plantation and walked on a trail filled with beautiful plants. 

I’ll admit that was a little scary walking back through this trail at night to get to our bus. There were lots of noises and barking dogs!

When the team returned to the guesthouse, we were treated to a view of the volcano erupting. It was very far away, but still exciting! Bruce played a joke and put this picture in our album and I thought he took it! This is a stock photo of Volcán de Fuego, but we really were able to view it spewing lava!

Blessings to all and good night:)