Pat and I spent this past week at the ranch/farm with the Give Ye Them To Eat team, helping facilitate a week of training with a truly picturesque backdrop. Árbol Vida (Tree of Life) is always the perfect setting for an outdoor classroom—you simply can’t beat the beauty of God’s creation, fresh air, and the sense of peace that fills this sacred place. Alongside the training, we also carved out time to continue preparing the ranch house that we will begin calling home, part-time, starting in September. We both were indoctrinated with hornet stings (and learned several homeopathic remedies that work!) and visits from scorpions and tarantulas. We also have been learning how to do our laundry-ranch style. Let me know if you need any pro tips for outdoor washing to prevent sun streaks!) But back to the heart of the week—the Community and Family Health Program, Cou...
The past couple of weeks in Puebla have been a whirlwind of heart, heat (from the abundant, diverse and spicy chiles), and holy moments. We've enjoyed countless hours walking around the local Zócalo, Puebla's lively town square, where history and culture from five major indigenous ethnic groups (Nahuas,Totonacs, Mixtecs, Popolocas, and Otomi) pulses with its enchanting, colorful colonial buildings. The square is packed with music, vendors calling out their wares, and the smell of mole follows you like a holy incense. It’s no wonder Puebla is known as the gastronomic capital of Mexico—we have tried so many unique dishes, both traditional Mexican dishes and fusion surprises. This is clearly not the time to worry about counting calories, although our waistlines will attest that we should! Walmart has become our backup closet (especially since our actual ...
We officially wrapped up our Spanish classes last week! Each day we get a little braver with rolling our R’s and untangling verb conjugations. If we really concentrate (and maybe squint a little), we can carry on a conversation and understand most of what’s being said. My co-worker assures me that in six months we’ll be pros—which I think means we’ll at least stop accidentally asking for “soap” when we meant “soup.” Faith, patience, and a good Spanish translator are our daily companions! To celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary, we took a quick trip to the beaches of Veracruz. It was four hours each way on a bus, but every bumpy mile was worth it. My favorite café had a delightful system: you clank your fork against your glass to summon hot milk for your coffee, while a mariachi band plays just steps away. Toes in the sand, mariachi in the air, food that tasted like heaven—it was our littl...
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