Hail to the coffee

5/22/2019

We have had a great group from Christ's Church here this week. Thanks to their help in our coffee ministry, we have been able to grow quite a bit, in building our new raised drying beds, new wash plant (both in Las Botijas) and in starting a huge nursery to plant while they were with us this week.

It is hard to put into words what it is like to get to see guys being employed in all this, to see them eager to work, and to see our farm managers eager to use the opportunities to reach them, and help the mission overall do more all around Honduras.

But there are always setbacks...it is just a fact of life. This past week, while Rony was at a marriage seminar/retreat for pastors, there was a hail storm that came through in Las Botijas. It wiped out the beans he planted two months ago (one more month and they would have been harvested...about an acre's worth) and did considerable damage to many of the trees on the property all around...and especially to our nursery for the planting we were to do, losing around 2000 saplings to the pounding they took. We almost had enough for the property even with the damage, but that financial loss in those broken and damaged saplings hurts. But to talk to Oscar and Rony, they lament the loss but at the same time recognize it is normal and don't let it seem to bother them.

Just be praying for these hard workers, and for the opportunities to share Christ as they walk and work daily...and as well for opportunities for us to broaden exporting this great product to help us do even more of this!

On a positive note...those avocado trees in Sampedrana are coming along nicely enough...starting to send back fruit for use in the Milk Project, mission, and even for some group use!