His Eyes

So that is some uncomfortable growth there.  

In other news, we are praying for some more comfortable growth.

After a lot of work over many months, we are ready for some more fruit trees on the Tegucigalpa property.  More room for birds to perch, more shade, more oxygen, and maybe even some fruit eventually, presuming we can keep them alive and well.  

We put some money in the local economy buying nine clay pots to put around the property.  Big pots though, about a meter by meter.  Big enough to plant trees in them and maybe some plants eventually around the base.  

There is some other space we have though that have the rest of the trees without being in the way long term. 

I say long term because we will be meeting soon with an architect to see how we can plan for the next 5-20 years on the property with expansion of the clinic, probably big expansion over a couple decades,  a proper meeting area (for pastor's meetings, etc.) and a non-clinic office area for Oscar, and more parking, extra space.  

Should be interesting.  I am guessing there will be more to hear on this in the coming months as we work out a plan. 

The white Ford keeps taking a beating but keeps ticking up in Sampedrana on the farm.  One recent casualty was the back bumper which got a big dent in it.  But...we didn't need the seating area in the bed, so Pablo is "modifying" one of the seats to be a beefy strong replacement.  



We are experimenting with some leather projects with a friend in the USA, he might have a market for leather journal covers, etc.  During the experimenting, Maria had some bits of extra leather to make some key chains.​

Some of you know that Valerie and Felipe will be at Camp Allendale near Indianapolis this summer working with the camp/campers there and raising funds.  

But what not everyone knows is what that fundraising will be used for...
(short answer...Milk Project)

Expanded answer...
Part of our long term plan is to increase our impact in the geographical areas where we are already working.  So where we have Churches outside Tegucigalpa, can we also add the other things we do as a mission?  Not every community could support or make even close to cost feasible a clinic, nor can we do coffee planting everywhere, but we do look at each community.  

So, we will be focusing in 2021 trying to raise the up front funds we will need to do the construction for Milk Project buildings...

first... in Las Botijas, where we will have less to do (play area, kitchen, storage...we can use the classrooms already built to start)

second... in Talanga.  We will have to figure out with an architect how to build in Talanga, given we will want to add a clinic there as well.  We were going to buy property adjacent...but it is very expensive.  So maybe we can save the money and go second or third story with some new construction?

We won't raise enough at the camp to do all this...plus we will need sponsors to keep the project going when construction is done, but that is the plan...exciting stuff as to how it can help children in these communities, and the Churches as well to have these outreach possibilities.  

The coffee harvest continues.  It is almost over in Las Botijas, but still plenty to go in Sampedrana.  I chose this year to dream big and have a goal of holding back 10,000 pounds, hoping that we can find homes for all of it abroad.  

Well, not sure if the dream is possible yet, but we already have over 10,000 pounds green already.  And we are selling the rest we are harvesting as it comes.  

The raspberries we bought in October to plant on the farms are producing.

Not much for now, but Carlos sent the "first fruit" back with Oscar for us to see.  

Yet another way we are focusing on helping rather than just doing this as a business.  These raspberries won't be sold...they will be used for the Milk Project or juice for staff or people working on the farms, Churches.  

If we can find homes for this coffee though, we could actually end up doing a lot more for the ministry.  I shouldn't say if...but when.  All in God's timing.  

As always, if you are interested in joining us on the ride by drinking some, you can do that right here