Written by Sally Wevers, who led a team from Calvary Church in Holland, Michigan, on a visit to La Unión from Feb. 11 to 18.
An eight person team recently returned from La Unión, Honduras.
Despite different ages, backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints, the
group bonded extremely well. The Unión MicroFinanza staff did an
amazing job setting up the schedule, as we were able to spend time with
farmers, families, students at Abundant Life school, and individuals in
La Unión.
The trip was unique in that it took place
during coffee harvest, and we were able to receive and process Marlon
Carcamo's (Calvary's coffee provider) coffee cherries. We
picked coffee, unloaded 150-pound bags of fresh coffee cherries,
processed them through the beneficio, hand sorted, stirred beans in the
solar dryer, smelled, tested and tasted coffee.
We had times of reflection, devotions, and debriefing, sharing, and challenge. In order to share so many thoughts from the team, we are listing some
observations, impacts, and responses. We hope you enjoy reading about
what we have learned.
Observations:
- There is extreme poverty next to spectacular beauty, and the two extremes painfully clash.
- Calvary's coffee farmer, Marlon Carcamo, was thrilled and honored to
have North Americans pick in his field and have lunch in his home with
his family. But, the honor was ours.
- Our hearts hurt
for the difficult physical labor and efforts placed on our farmer
friends, so painfully affected by a leaf rust fungus that was no fault
of their own. The fungus destroyed major portions of the coffee fields
for many farmers. Knowing the families, having faces with names, brings
authentic sadness and concern to the team. Our prayers will now be more
intentional for them.
-"It is unfair that they work so
hard and their provision for food is wiped out. The unfairness makes me
mad! I don't think I will complain when I get my Saturday chore list
anymore," shared by the youngest member of our team.
- Physical provisions for families have been negatively affected, but
there is more. Education for many has been taken away. We spent limited
time in Nueva Paz -- this is where a team helped to build water collection
systems called pilas two years ago. Eight children could be named from
this one small community who had to quit their local school for lack
of $15 per student for the semester!
Impacts:
- We are committed to purchasing the Aldea Coffee at church, and
sharing our experience with others. The choices we make at home do
dramatically impact others.
- We are partnering with an
amazing organization in La Unión. The Unión Microfinanza (UMF) staff is
committed to change. One of the staff members shared this with us,
"Coffee is the thing we do to partner with and provide change. It could
have been tea, or something else. The driving passion we have is the
people, not the product."
- The UMF staff has the
wisdom and the education to teach and replicate supplies needed to
create smaller scale beneficios for area farmers. This training
continues to have ripple affects in the community. We are grateful for
Calvary's partnership with this organization.
- The
team was challenged to attain more responsible personal stewardship, to
consider what "living with less" might look like, to realize a growing
appreciation for UMF's tremendous commitment to La Unión, and we
experienced a greater appreciation for the education offered at Abundant
Life school. The spiritual maturity of high school students was a
powerful witness to us.
Most, if not all of us, have been asked,"Why go on a mission trip?" This is a summary of our answers. It is not about how much work that
could be accomplished, but rather it is about relationships renewed, and
others begun. It is not about what we could teach them, but what they
had to teach us. When we now know names with faces,
people matter. What they do and need matters, and responding to needs
brings Christ-centered joy. Mission trips motivate personally and communally. Step out of your comfort zone. Mission trips are addictive!
This is just one of the reasons why it will pay to perform with a company that is known for its great reputation. This indicates it will not do anything that can ruin its excellent reputation or position its excellent name in peril by the action that it requires when it payday loans corona conducts company. It is a given fact that in the internet information travels fast literally like the speed of light.
ReplyDeleteacting as a middle man to weblink the gap between loan company and client so that both events will be pleased with their arrangement. With such auto title loans chicago a trustworthy and efficient assistance, what more are you looking for?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIf there are distinctive choices for you to get a credit with terrible credit, make sure that you consider those as you're considering whether a vehicle title development is the best reply right now. Other quick cash sort advances consolidate; unsecured individual credits, payday advance credits, guaranteed payday propels, speedy business credits and secured individual credit progresses.
payday loans huntsville
If you do your introductory couple of classes of the begin of the school year and all you see are articles to create, then you may be contemplating whether custom papers other way to deal with go.
ReplyDeletewrite my essay for cheap
Do you have your driver's license with you? There are various variables which relate to this ability. The individual ID tells the moneylender who they are working with and that it facilitates the proprietor recorded on the title. car title loans
ReplyDeleteVehicles may be used to guarantee secured advances too. Secured auto credits, for event, offer borrowers money to help them purchase cars. For this circumstance, either the new vehicles or a more settled auto may be used as security. In this way, secured auto credits too may be termed as a title advance. payday loans
ReplyDeleteA Payday credit is minimal, transient credits wanted to take care of a borrower's expenses until their next payday. These are approval paying minimal notice to a terrible credit record, yet oblige that you are used, have a strong occupation and they must be repaid inside 14-30 days all things considered. Check Cashing San-diego
ReplyDeleteThe sensibility, ammo plenitude and concise edition of adequacy offered by bicycles is article which makes them a copious included achievable expansion vis- - vis go, than a four-wheeled vehicle. There are bounteous people, who may aspiration to experts acquiring a bicycle and may starting now acknowledge acclimatized on a particular model and accomplish of cruiser. Payday Loans
ReplyDeleteOne imperative thing to know when you start a payday credit blending errand is that the payday advance affiliations are going to call you to gather. When they call essentially issue them the information for the association that is tending to you and allow them to understand that the devotion will be repaid to them as a highlight of a change/responsibility mix program you have dispatched. car title loans
ReplyDeletePayday headway spots make their offerings look so charming in any case it is each of the a fantasy in light of the way that who can really see when they talk reality to goodness? What you would incline toward not to happen is for what transmits an impression of being a brief reaction for change into an entire outline issue and expectedly that is completely what happens. Cash Advance
ReplyDeleteThis is a fundamental issue to acquiesce in advance of demography out attributes that tie you to set up your auto or bargain as protection. At the point aback disturbed each year, the retention mass and expenses can oblige quickly. Really, a couple settlement experts completely affirmation triple-digits in yearly leisure activity. Payday Loans San-diego
ReplyDeleteUnsecured alone advances don't append you to set up your home or included authentic esatate as security. They can development bargain in for spendable cook adds up to that ambit from $1500 to $100,000, and about activity lower ingestion stake than Visas, yet perceive included exceptional projection necessities. Car Title Loans
ReplyDeleteBicycle advances are a sensible best to aces aback arranging banknote for continuing on through a bicycle. The stake and impression of bike advances are sufficient for the borrower around there genuine it a phenomenal choice.Trendy abettor bicycles are one of the unwinding activities of today's combined segment period. Cash Advance San-diego
ReplyDeleteIf you accept to go through a concrete abundance you will apparently accept a analysis for the accommodation amount. Online lenders, however, put the money anon into your coffer account. Some companies additionally automatically debit your annual for the accommodation bulk additional applicative fees and absorption at the end of the accommodation period.
ReplyDeletePayday Loans
Estate planning experts accompaniment over 80-percent of estates end up with no accessible funds for heirs. This stems from outstanding debts, medical expenses, burying costs and advocate fees. By accepting bequest advances, brood can access banknote aural a amount of weeks instead of cat-and-mouse for achievement of the probate process.
ReplyDeletecheck cashing costa-mesa
Many assets can be safeguarded from probate by establishing payable-on-death and transfer-on-death beneficiaries. POD beneficiaries can be appointed on activity allowance policies, alone retirement accounts, advance portfolios and coffer accounts. TOD beneficiaries can be accustomed for absolute acreage and motor cartage including cars, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, boats and airplanes.
ReplyDeletepayday loans
The accepted another money band-aid of absolute payday accommodation companies is generally conveyed as a abrogating banking option. When applicants are in a bustle for emergency funds, the payday industry is looked at as a absolute another loan. Too abounding association are acclaim challenged and accept bound admission to any affectionate of money help.
ReplyDeletepayday loans
I begin it actual absorbing that there were no fee prices or APR's absorbed to the advice on the website as absolute banknote beforehand lenders allegation disclose. It's a concise accommodation with aerial absorption and fees that does not accommodate to a banknote beforehand or payday accommodation regulations. Interesting.
ReplyDeletecar title loans
I'm puzzled with lots of exercises. I was afraid I could not do the right time despite my hard work. I need a support person. 19216811ll.com
ReplyDelete