Sampedrana

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Marvin went yesterday to Sampedrana to see how the clinic days are going, and talk to some of the patients that are coming.  Part of our ongoing efforts to improve our long term impact and spiritual growth of the churches is moving Marvin to this new Church development director role.  He has a big job ahead of him, that we knew, and that we are finding out as well...how are we developing the church body for future pastors, leaders, Sunday School teachers, Milk Project staff, coffee farm workers, etc.  It is the same, and of course different in some ways, in each location.  

He had a chance to talk to a couple of the patients, to hear from them what this once a month (currently) clinic means to them:

Maria Angela Martinez says she walks 30 minutes to get to the clinic.  "Before, we had to go to Comayagua because there is no health center here.  Now, we have the ease of just coming to consult in the clinic.  The care has been good because my daughter Aby Perez (six months old) got over her cold."​

Maria Azucena Andara says "having medical attention here is good because before you would have to go to Comayagua and get up before dawn and be there two days because if you didn't get in the first day."  

Exolina Moren lives close, she told Marvin "Travelling to Comayagua required a lot of time and more money because you had to pay for transportation and a hotel in Comayagua to get seen the next day."  Her son had pneumonia and recovered thanks to a brigade that came to Sampedrana.  

Marvin also shared that there were people there from Rio Blanco and El Horno...a three hour walk from the church.  

Harvest has begun, in the lower areas as well in Sampedrana (around 4,000'...our main farm is up at 5,600')

This starts the few months of the year where many can actually make money to try to get them by the rest of the year.  

The farmers themselves won't make much though...currently a pound of coffee at market goes for $.80 per pound.  

For us, selling at that price trying to do things well, would practically be a loss.  

That is why we are so grateful that we can do more with Hill Climber Coffee...providing employment, outreach opportunities, ways to invest in our community. 

But also with our direct trade with you, drinking our coffee, long term we can also do even more by actually generating positive revenue.  We aren't there yet...but every year, with more people getting on board drinking Hill Climber, we are getting closer.  

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