Kathy's Blog: Final Bean Delivery Report for Compañeros and friends

Corozal

Corozal - way too cute!!

Santa Cruz

Casa de Zacate

Rio de los Bueyes

September 14, 2011

What a time it has been! We delivered the last of the beans to Colón and Las Delicias on Tuesday the 13^th of September. From here we are preparing the final financial reports and the data from all the deliveries. I will share in this general report the data – but not the financial information for each partner church. They will get that information privately. But there is still a lot I can share. I will give you the bottom line numbers – they amazed me. Due to the generosity of many – many families are planting right now!

San Francisco	65
El Recreo	78
Casa de Zinc	13
Casa de Zacate	23
Virginia	108
Muñoces	38
San Isidro	48
Tablón Centro	85
Tablón Cerna	44
San Felipe Arriba	18
Corozal	59
Delicias	35
La Llanes	16
San Felipe Pajuilar	44
El Guarumo	8
La Mediagua	38
San Lorenzo	13
El Jicaro (mujeres)	20
Alejandria	30
Santa Cruz	41
Las Perlitas (Grupo de mujeres)	10
Colón	60
Varios	20
Rio los Bueyes	56

This list has the names of each community or group receiving the beans.

This also lists the number of families who received a bean packet.

Not everyone received the same quantity of beans: it depended upon the funds that arrived, the quantity of families in each community and/or the average size of the land people have to work with in their community.

Here is a summary:

24 Communities/groups served

970 Families received beans from this effort

28,000 pounds of beans were purchased
91 cents per pound for the beans is $25,480

$1 per 100 pounds for transportation is $280
Equals a grand total of $25,760.00

Partner churches had funds in their accounts here and/or sent funds for this effort.
Many individuals and un-partnered churches sent funds for this effort.

We want to express our sincere gratitude on behalf of the families who have received the beans.

Here is what I call a God moment: I was literally typing this last sentence when Blanca walked in the office with a letter she had written. I think I will end this ‘report’ with that message from the Pastoral Team followed by some photos.

Spanish first:

Berlín 14 de septiembre, 2011
Cada uno de según lo que decidió personalmente y no de mala gana o la fuerza. Pues, Dios ama al que da con corazón alegre. (Segunda corta a los Corintios Capitulo 8, versículo 7).

Como nos hubiera gustado que todos los que dieran sus donaciones para la compra de frijoles pudiera haber estado durante la entrega a cada familia para que pudieran ver la felicidad, la alegría de cada personal que los recibía. En cada rostro podíamos ver al agradecimiento por este regalo.

Como mostrar nuestro agradecimiento a Dios en primer lugar y a ustedes hermanos y hermanas que con sus donaciones hicieran posible que muchas familias pobres pudieran tener frijoles para poder sembrar en ese año. De parte de cada familia beneficiaria; muchísimas gracias y que Dios les bendiga y le multiplique sus bienes materiales y espirituales ahora y siempre.

“El hambre compasivo será bendito: supo compartir su pan con el pobre.” (Proverbios 22:9)

Que importante en la vida sentirse parte de una misma familia, hijos de un mismo Dios en donde no hay envidias, mentiras, odias, desigualdades. Que hermosa cuando los hombres y mujeres, niños y jóvenes, ancianos – nos unimos nos solidarizamos con los que están tristes, con los que lloran, con los enfermos, con los que no tienen nada.

Todos somos importantes en la vida. Todos tenemos misiones diferentes pero con un mismo fin: construyen un mundo diferente donde reine la justicia, la igualdad, la libertad, el amor.

“Todos los que habían creído vivían unidos compartían todo lo que tenían. Vendían sus bienes y propiedades y repetían después el dinero entre todos según los necesidades de cada uno.” (Hechos 2:44-45)

A esta estamos llamados cada día a vivir como los primeras comunidades. Jesús espera por ti y por mí. Ya comenzamos, debemos continuar.

Saludos y abrazos de las comunidades de Berlín.
El Equipo Pastoral

Now in English:

Each one, according to his personal decision, and not reluctantly or with force for God loves a cheerful giver. (Shortened Corinthians Chapter 8, Verse 7).

We wished for each of you that gave donations for the purchase of beans that you could have been here during the delivery to each family so you could see the happiness and the joy of everyone who received them. In every face we could see the appreciation for this gift.

How to show our gratitude? To God first and then to you brothers and sisters with your donations that make it possible for many poor families to be able to plant beans for this year. On behalf of each beneficiary family, thank you very much and may God bless and multiply your material and spiritual wealth now and forever.

"A compassionate man shall be blessed; he knew how to share his bread with the poor." (Proverbs 22:9)

How important in life to feel as a part of a family, as children of one God where there is no envy, lies, hate, inequality. How beautiful when men and women, children and youth, the elderly – we join in solidarity with those who are sad, those who week, the sick, those who have nothing.

We are all important in life. We all have different missions but with a common goal: to build a different world where there is justice, equality, freedom, love.

“All who believed were together and shared everything they had. Selling their goods and properties, they gave to everyone all according to their need.” (Acts 2:44-45)

To this we are called to live each day as the first communities lived. Jesús waits for you and me. Since we started, we must continue.

Greetings and hugs from the communities of Berlín.
The Pastoral Team

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The Family Agriculture Plan gave away 95,000 bean packets the beginning of August. This number was cut from the 325,000 corn/fertilizer packets last April!

Considering about 40% of the 6.5 million (ish) inhabitants live and work in rural areas, that quantity does not nearly cover the needs of all the subsistent farmers. We’re talking conservatively 2 million subsistent level farmers.

So folks knew the Agricultural Packet of beans was coming the beginning of August. They were told they had to call the number (advertised on TV) and if their name was on the list, they had to go to Usulután to pick up the packet. This detail alone prevented many people from getting their beans even if they were on the list: losing a day of work as well as having to pay $5 transportation to/from and cost of food because it would be an all-day task. So some people may have been on the list, but in reality did not receive their bean packet from the government.

And as we learned … most people’s names were NOT on the list. WHY people were on the list and others not, well, there has been no answer. Speculation yes - everyone has their theory - it's all a political game says Blanca.