We got up early and ate with Chonita and her family. We were not able to go to Diego's coffee farm the day before so decided to do it early today. We grabbed a pick up and loaded up. His farm is towards San Lucas Toliman. We all unloaded and started the steep climb to the coffee plants. It was a very narrow path and wound through the hills. The view of the lake was beautiful on the way. It was a lot further than I had thought, but a great adventure. There were beautiful plants on the way and there were coffee fields interspersed with corn fields. When we got to the field Diego explained how to grow organic coffee. He explained the process of the organic fertilizer/compost. He was quite interesting and amazing. I won't go into the long explanation here. We had a great time by the field, took a lot of photos of each others. Some sitting in different trees. I will include some of them. When it was time to go down Diego said we would go a different way. Of course we thought how nice to see a different area. The real explanation as Diego said is that if we go a different way we can avoid robbers if they saw us go up and are waiting for us.. That did spoil the party mood a little bit. We did make it down and except for 3 men working in their fields didn't see anyone.

Hiking to the coffee farm

Diego holding up Carisa and Kyle

When we got back to Chonita's the Elders were waiting for us. This is a project that gives the elders in the community who have no families some food. It is done once a month and the elders get corn, beans, coffee, sugar, matches, oil, eggs, and some other small items. They always get one extra thing. This month it was a big round bar of soap. We have 54 elders in the program and there are more who want to be involved. We have different sponsors in the states that sponsor them. It costs $10 per month if anyone is interested. When they all gathered we had introductions, thank yous, and prayers. The praying takes a long time as they all pray at once. They pray in their native language and they are all different religions so it is quite a thing to see. After this they start handing out the food. Every elder has a card that says Sharing the Dream on it with their name and a number. They come up according to their numbers, gather their food and leave. It is quite an experience to be involved in this. Since the room was full of elders we waited outside. It is fun seeing them come outside, put their loads on their heads and walk away. They are so friendly and love to have their pictures taken. One of the most touching parts was when an elderly woman was trying to put her bag on her head and it fell to the ground spreading corn all over. Kyle instantly bent down and started helping her. Between Kyle and the woman they picked up every piece of corn. Every kernel was important to the woman. Kyle said he thought she would just leave the corn and put the other things back but that was not so.. When she started picking up every kernel, he in turn started hunting for kernels. It was amazing.

Elders receiving corn

Kyle helping pick up corn

An elder

After the elders had left. Chonita wanted to dress up Kaye and John in traditional clothes. They looked great and we all thought it was a good thing they hadn't done it earlier or we might have mistaken them for one of the elders. We will enclose a photo of them.

John and Kaye dressed up in traditional dress

After the project was over we went to the Posada for lunch. This is a very nice place and we used the internet briefly and reflected on our morning experience. Some of the reflections had to do with our being able to go and have a nice lunch after seeing so much poverty.

When we returned to Chonita's we had a little time so Kaye taught Delores (Chonita's daughter) how to do infant message. Kaye had her doll along and Delores had her 5 month old son. It was such a joy to see Delores and Domingo's baby as they have had 3 miscarriages and this little boy is a real miracle. He is truly loved and someone is always packing him around.

Kaye and Delores doing infant massage

Around 2 some of the scholarship students came with their parents. We had a nice visit and we had a discussion about the importance of education. The parents seem to be very supportive of their children's education. When the children left we went down to the shops. We visited Humberto and bought some wood to bring back.

In the evening we worked with Domingo on new jewelry ideas and went over our order. Lots of jewelry coming up in the next several months. So volunteers on Monday night in Vermillion get ready to mark. (Jewelry is not their favorite thing to price)

Will close for now. I am sure we are forgetting lots of things but we are writing this from memory.

Diane

Quote of the day.. It is amazing how one kernel of corn can make such a difference in someone's life...Carisa

I am sorry I sent so many photos but there was so many great ones that day.  Lots more.  Will send them to be posted on the web site.