I don't want to offend you but ...

Blanca said to me … ‘I don’t want to offend you … but your people (the people in the states) have no idea what it is to live in this reality.  You know more or less – but – you don’t REALLY know.  We live this.’ 

She is right.  I do know ‘more or less.’  But I will never truly know the struggles people have here – because I am typing this as I nibble on a mini-snickers bar in my clean and dry office knowing that my lunch will be healthy, plentiful and will undoubtedly be ready sometime between noon and one p.m.   And I can have a glass of pure water as well.  She is right.  And I was not offended. 

We were specifically talking about farming families.  And the fertilizer they need to produce a more or less decent harvest due to the seriously nutritionally depleted ‘soil’ here.  We had just finished delivering a gift of fertilizer to one our communities that has an Iowa church partner; each farming family received a 220# sack of fertilizer.  I was working on their report and also thinking about our last delegation a week ago where they were hearing their partner community members talk about (among other things) loans available for farmers.

And after almost 4 years here, I do know that families cannot afford to buy fertilizer.  Sure, some farmers can afford it.  Those with larger farms, those with family in the states … but many, many families rent their tiny piece of land. So they have to pay a landlord anywhere from $25-50 per manzana (which is about 1.6 acres).  They have to buy the seed if they used a hybrid rather than their ‘ancestral’ seed.  They have to buy the weed deterrent and insecticides.  They have to buy the fertilizer.  Most people do not have ready cash like that!  They have to sell any excess corn they harvested the prior year … or sell a chicken or 10.  Or sell whatever they might have that is marketable.

I was asking about the loans some organizations offer.  I was asking about their interest rates.  Some are in excess of 42%.

Good Lord.

Bank loans are at about 20%.

When people grow their corn and beans literally to be able to put a little food on their plates (and that food may just be a tortilla and a tablespoonful of beans once or twice a day) – at about $40 per sack of Sulfato or $60 per sack of Formula – how the heck can they afford fertilizer?

How would they ever get out of debt with interest rates such as that??  Especially if the weather does not cooperate and there is crop loss?

If a family member has work in someone’s fields they might earn $5 per day.  IF they are lucky enough to even have that kind of steady job, it would take them either 2 or 3 weeks of work for just that one sack of fertilizer.

This year, San Francisco, Virginia, Casa de Zinc, Casa de Zacate, San Isidro, Muñoces, Corozal and La Llanes received fertilizer assistance from their Iowa partner churches.    

We wish we had a ‘fund’ here to help those communities who do not get fertilizer assistance from their partner churches.

Some communities are small – 30 to 50 families.  For those, a purchase of the less expensive Sulfato would be an investment of about $1,200 to $2,000 – prices of fertilizer change weekly.  Some communities are a little larger – 60 to 80 families.  You can do the math.

Small to moderate sized Berlín communities we would love to buy fertilizer for:  San Felipe Abajo, Media Agua, Cerna, San Lorenzo, and Santa Cruz.  And we would love to help some of the other Berlín cantons but they are just too huge – some have in excess of 300 families:  Colón, Loma Alta, Las Delicias …

We have such dreams here to help those in the greatest need.  We are so blessed to have Iowa partner churches who are truly working hard on behalf of their partner communities.  But we feel sad for those without partners.  We do what we can – we help them with little projects with proceeds from the Don Justo Coffee with Dignity project – but those proceeds are minimal.  Definitely not enough to cover the cost of fertilizer.  Unless everyone starts drinking more!!  (hint).



5 San Francisco men came to help load their truck ... 110 sacks of Sulfato - each sack weighs 220#

The first of 3 trucks needed for San Francisco's fertlizer

Mirna - the President of San Francisco's Directiva getting ready to call names

Sign here ... Cecilia making sure no one gets left off the list

We forgot the inkpad for those who can't sign

Thankfully I had a marker in my bag!  I asked him to be in charge of painting pinkies

He helped download 220#  sacks for those who couldn't

Several folks from one of the more distant caserios within San Francisco awaiting a pick up truck

Fertilizer is such a necessary evil ...
without it - very little grows in the nutritionally depleted land. 
People put their hope in the harvest to feed their families all year round.
Blessings to all our Iowa Church partners

Don Justo Coffee with Dignity

I was recently asked to write a little ditty for our Don Justo Coffee with Dignity coordinator in Iowa.  I think I’d like to share it with you.  For those of you who know the coffee and already enjoy it but are not ‘in the loop’ of emails when it comes time to order, it might encourage you to drink more. 

For those of you who do NOT know the project – maybe it will motivate you to investigate and start purchasing and enjoying it yourself.

Briefly –Don Justo Coffee with Dignity is a project in support of the work of the Pastoral House – it is “fairly traded” – we cannot say we are a Fair Trade product because we are not actually certified as fair trade.   We do, however, follow the international standards of fair trade.  And take it a step beyond perhaps. 

Don Justo Coffee with Dignity is organic.  The producer receives more than the going rate for fair trade coffee.  In addition to the fair payment, the producer does not pay for bags, labels, shipping, etc.  The producer pays their workers more than the average price per pound than other coffee farms on the mountain.   There is only one modestly paid middle man (well – a married couple actually) who coordinate the promotion and sales in Iowa.  The proceeds from sales – after all those things are paid by the project (the bags, labels, shipping, etc.) come back to El Salvador to support community projects here.  In the past, those projects have included the purchase of water collection tanks for families, repair of community water tanks, fertilizer purchases, roof reparation for schools, community centers, and churches, food packets for a couple of groups of old folks, chair purchases for 4 different community leadership groups, donations to church committees for food and/or travel to church events, financial assistance for funeral expenses for several families throughout the year, roofing or heavy plastic to help ‘leak-proof’ a few homes, etc.

Our little slogan is:  It is not just a cup of coffee … it is a JUST cup of coffee.

Here is an excerpt from the most recent message sent to some of our clients.

“This is a new year – and we are already off and running in good directions.  Every New Year the Pastoral Team gathers to evaluate the old year and think about the new.  Always we think of ways to improve upon what we are trying to do.  None of us are perfect – and mission is an ever-evolving effort.  Thank God we are not stagnant!  And thank God we are not alone!  Thank God we have Him to guide us.  We pray for wisdom to hear His will for us: and how He sees our call to help build His kingdom.  After that we pray for strength to follow through!

This year we will be focusing on new efforts.  Not that the old efforts were bad mind you.    But we are concerned about the youth.  And work.  There simply is none. You would be saddened to hear how many young people only complete up to 4^th or 6^th grade because it is just too far to have to walk to 7^th grade – literally, it could be a 5 mile walk.  The youth who are lucky enough to succeed in obtaining a high school diploma often end up back in the fields with their cumas (like a curved machete).

So we want to focus more on self-development within the communities.  It is beautiful to give a tangible gift (a new church, a community house, fertilizer, a new fence for this or that, etc.) – but we would like to take advantage of all the different trainings and workshops that are being provided by NGO’s like InterVida, ProComes and ProVida.  With the training that some groups have, we want to encourage them to form again, become organized and begin to think about how they can put into practice what they have learned.  And if they can organize themselves – to then present us with a solicitude so we can then present that to their partner church who just might be able to support them with some start-up materials – which is the biggest hurdle.  The idea is – if a trained group can obtain start up materials – they can produce goods to sell and become self-sustaining in time.  We are hoping to help form mini-cooperatives.

So what does all this have to do with you – our beloved Don Justo coffee drinkers - and especially those of you who help promote it within your churches or businesses and friends? 

There are communities that we work with and support that DO NOT have a partner church to help them. 

You know that every time you buy yourself a pound of Don Justo – the proceeds from that purchase end up back here at the Pastoral House.  With those funds we are able to help out with the random needs of those un-partnered communities.  Their needs are actually greater than those who have partners – for obvious reasons. 

So drink up.  Your cup of coffee may be helping a youth group or women’s group with start-up funds for hammock making … or candy making … or a mini-bakery … or natural medicines … or … let your imagination soar.   It may not make people rich – but it will be cooperative work in groups – creating a little bit of income for their families and helping provide a little dignity and self-worth as these humble people see that they can begin to provide for themselves.  Sometimes all it takes is a wee bit of funds and a gentle push of encouragement.

Thank you for doing your part – helping with the funds by drinking and supporting Don Justo.  We will do our part by giving that gentle push of not just encouragement – but advice on how to begin and maintain such an endeavor.

Here in faith and with hope,
Kathy and the Pastoral Team”

If you want to order some please email Betty and Maurice at
donjustocoffee@gmail.com

They are the most delightful people you will ever meet and will do all they can to get some coffee to you!  They live in central Iowa, but they can ship to other states.  And if you want to get your church involved in supporting this, they can arrange a visit to your mission committee - or those who would be interested in becoming involved.  Several churches have a coffee kiosk in their foyers for their congregation members to make purchases easily! 

Drinking coffee is a really easy way to support mission. 

This and That

It has been a busy, busy couple of weeks since I got back.  Lots of the busy-ness has been of the organizational variety.  And report making … and meeting attendance …

But there have been some cool things thrown in the mix.

This:

We had a brief, one day visit from a youth group from St. Catherines.  They are always a delight.  Their working partnership is on the other side of the country, but they always make an effort to come up to meet the Pastoral Team, learn about their work and know the Berlín community a little.  This visit, we took them out to the coffee farm where the beans for Don Justo Coffee with Dignity are grown and had a wonderful learning experience.  Arquímedes was there waiting for us to explain the process from seed to cup.  He has gotten quite eloquent over the years: evolving from one word answers to our questions to fully embellished explanations without prompting.

Arquimedes explaining the nursery (center)

Explaining the drying process.  Don't worry ... footprints don't hurt the beans!

 

Trying on a basket!

After this, we came back to the Pastoral House and they spent time listening to the members of the Pastoral Team – a bit of their history, what they do and their motivation for doing what they do.  As always, they had good questions. 

Their visit was way too brief! 

That:

We went out to visit San Isidro – a recently partnered community.  The first ‘project’ with their partner church in Iowa was to develop a mini-cooperative.  After several lengthy conversations – with all sides throwing out ideas, questions, concerns, hopes … the (very organized) Youth Group decided they would like to learn artisan skills.  Some were interested in painting, some jewelry making – both macramé style and wire/bead designs.  We had teachers lined up for both of those and they had begun their training the first week of January.  We went out mid-way through their trainings to see how things were going.  We had heard good reports.  When we arrived, there were 7 young people painting in the church and 16 (I think) young men and women busily practicing their macramé skills.  When we arrived, they all started pulling their creations out of bags so we could see.  There was a big difference between their first efforts and what they are producing now.  There were some beautiful pieces!!  Julio (the jewelry teacher from Santa Ana) said between them, they have enough to fill a large table.  At least ¾ of the items – in my opinion – are sale worthy.  And that is something we are going out to talk to them about next.

Texture, subtle color variations ...

A group effort - work in progress on the wall of the church

Blanca checking out the work

Julio said this group learns quickly.  Motivation and interest is vital.

Some of the work of just 2 girls!  Very cool.  Anyone want to shop???

This is their final week of training.  Friday will be the “closure” – they are inviting their whole community as well as the Pastoral House folks to see what they’ve accomplished.  We are going to ask Fr. Cándido to come with us to bless the group. 

We plan to sit with them to reinforce the original concepts of ‘cooperative’ – one common cash box – making sure there are funds to purchase materials for future creations, all working as a group for the common good of the group.  There are a couple of adults working closely with the youth to help them and the youth have already formed a Directiva: a president, vice-president, secretary and 2 treasurers (better for transparency to have two people responsible for the funds).  They are on their way!  And this is an exciting venture which ultimately could be accomplished in other communities with other youth groups or women’s groups.  

Organization is key.  Cooperation is necessary.  Agreement. 

SUCH potential!

I would SO not have the patience for this work!! 

But I'd be happy to wear them!

Details ... exact work

Cecilia scrutinizing the work.  She approved!

Look what SHE has done! 

This is 'waxed' thread ... bracelets made with better than the usual materials you can get here

A funeral

We went out to La Llanes again yesterday.   We were just there for their Patron Saint celebration last Saturday.  And we had visited there with the Central Presbyterian Church delegation a couple of weeks ago – delivering large water tanks and getting to know them a little and visiting a few homes.

One of the homes we visited was a couple with 14 children.  They are poor … poor.  They live in a smallish house with minimal ‘furniture’ (‘furniture being  a relative term here).  Their little home is on a level-ish part of land with several hills surrounding it and a beautiful view of a valley below and a volcano in the distance.   They live smack in the middle of the land they farm for the owner who lives in San Salvador.  They ‘rent’ the land they farm – but he didn’t know how much he would have to pay that year.  The owner hadn’t said yet – but last year it was $24.  A fair price for all the land he was working! And it is a beautiful location.  When we were there, the corn was all planted and growing nicely – about 3 feet high.  The father of the family was answering our questions very graciously.  He seemed pleased by our interest in his work and our interest in his community. 

So yesterday we went out to La Llanes again.  But this time for something very sad.  The same man who was explaining about his crops and sharing his life with us – died.  He was 51.  He left behind a wife, 14 children and one grandchild.  Apparently he woke up one night with deep pain in his lower gut.  He didn’t go to the clinic right away – but eventually someone took him.  I’m not sure what the prognosis was – the family wasn’t sure.  They might never know. 

But we drove out to be with them for the first day of prayers.

The Pastoral Team helped out with all the pan dulce (sweet bread) they would need, a couple pounds of Don Justo Coffee, 12# of sugar, 100 cups and plates, misc food stuffs for the family themselves.  We gave them money to buy the funeral candles. And we paid for the transportation for the people to get home after the burial.   And we’re thinking of buying a couple hundred pounds of corn for the family.

We’re worried about the family.  How can we not worry?  How is she going to take care of all those children?  Their crops?

8 of Benigno's children, a grandson and his widow Maria

We found out about a beautiful thing – tomorrow (Saturday) – about 20 people from the community are going to go out to their fields and ‘clean’ it for them – to clear the weeds from the corn stalks.   This is a job that would normally take almost a week for one or two people to do.  And the widow would not be able to do it – her youngest is 3 years old!!  So the community is banding together to help her out.

And I bet they will help her through every step of the process all the way to harvest.

Community is something people do well here.  It is uplifting and inspiring in the midst of the great sadness.

Please pray for this family.  And all the families who struggle with life’s great challenges.

Looking back at their home from the edge of the slope at the end of Benigno's rented farmland

One of Benigno's sons perched on a stump in the field.  What a view!

June 1st 2010 - Santa Cruz Fertilizer Delivery

For anyone who doesn’t know Berlin (and for those who do … you can skip this paragraph!): There are 17 dirt floor communities within the Berlin municipality. Of these 17 smallish communities, 8 of them have a partnership with an Iowa Church. We call them ‘Hermanamientos.’ And the communities with church partners are taken care of – if we get a solicitude from one of them (for a retaining wall, a modest community building, help repairing a church, fertilizer, etc.) we communicate that need to their partner church in Iowa. And quite often that need gets taken care of. ** The relationships are way deeper than just the “things” that the Iowa churches help with! A great friendship and brotherhood develops over time.

The Pastoral Team tries to help the communities without a partner whenever they can. One community needed chairs for their committee meetings and church services. And we were able to help out. In another community, their church roof leaked – actually, it was an ‘organic’ roof made of large tree branches with large leaves which were propped up and resting on a tree trunk frame. They asked for Lamina (large 4x8 sheets of corrugated aluminum) to make a proper roof. We bought 18 lamina sheets to cover their church – and you need to know that this particular church has no walls and had just a compact dirt floor. They had raised enough money within the community for some cement for their floor - but could not come up with enough for a roof. And we were able to help.

We sometimes ask the Compañeros group if they can help (see the website of Our Sister Parish). But we usually try to provide assistance on our own. We have a coffee project you’ve probably heard of: Don Justo Coffee with Dignity. If you drink coffee, you need to be drinking Don Justo and giving it away as gifts to everyone you know and promoting the daylights out of this coffee because the proceeds from this project come back to the Pastoral Team to help those in need! For example:

Santa Cruz is a little community that has no church partner. A couple months ago, they presented us with a solicitude asking for a 20 gallon barrel for each family to collect rain water. There are 42 families. The barrels cost about $18 each. We searched and searched and called around quite a bit and could not locate 42 of these barrels. So Oscar, the Delegate of the Word in that community went back to the community and they talked it over. They said … well … how about a little sack of fertilizer - with the idea that with the extra crops they would have (God willing) from that help, they could each buy their own barrel in 4 months after the harvest.

Oscar brought this idea to the Team, and the Team agreed it was ok. So we made the arrangement to buy 42 – 100 pound sacks of fertilizer. We got to deliver them on Tuesday (see the photos below). THIS was paid for with Don Justo Coffee proceeds! So KEEP ENJOYING YOUR DON JUSTO!

We also decided to give each family on of the many 5 gallon water bottles we had left over from the Water Filter project. So they at least have that to store some extra water!

I like the people of this community. They work hard and are very humble. Some people were very surprised to see us. But not all. One lady asked me excitedly (like she was waiting for us!) … ‘Do you like atole’ (this is a hot and thick corn based “coffee”). I said I did. She pulled me inside her home … brushed off a chair for me and told me to wait… and she came out with some steaming hot atole. She cooled it down for me – see the photo below. It was sweet and quite delicious. It’s hard to describe the flavor. It’s very subtle. It doesn’t really taste like corn but it does. She then went back inside and scrounged for more cups so Otilia, Cecilia and Alejandro could have some. I drank mine all up and gave my cup back so Cecilia could use it because she only had 3 plastic cups.

A little bit of excitement. Although NOT very exciting. When we got to the fertilizer store one of the truck tires was flat. So we had to wait while Cruz (the driver) drove to El Triunfo to get it repaired. Luckily, the store owner let Cruz use his truck to drive it to El Triunfo (about 15 minutes away by car ... at least 45 minutes by moto-taxi!) We sat around for about 2 hours waiting for Cruz to return from getting the tire repaired. Not fun. But what can you do. I did a lot of people watching and chatting with the Directiva president of Santa Cruz who was helping to load. It’s fun to get to know people a little better. One walking belt/wallet salesman stopped and chatted a while. He had been in the states and seemed excited to be able to talk to someone from his old home. I love to hear people's stories.