Monday, November 11, 2013

Roughing it in San Francisco

Sunday, 11-10-13


Today was a tough day for us. We did a lot of walking and a lot of sweating. But first we went to the Sunday market in Berlin. I always enjoy walking around the market in Berlin. Sunday is the main market day here in Berlin. It’s when people from the surrounding cantons come into town to buy and sell things. People from Berlin set up their stalls inside a big building. You can buy almost anything you want at the market (within reason): food, clothes, shoes, medicine, jewelry, makeup, cooking supplies, etc. It’s always an adventure exploring the market in Berlin.  

Lots of fruit
 

 

 

 

 

 


We headed off for San Francisco around 8:15am. But first we stopped to pick up the 2 police officers. They were different from the ones who accompanied us yesterday; one woman and one man. They were incredibly friendly and pretty silly as well. We met up with several people from the community at the church and then began our door-to-door deliveries and census. This morning we were walking to the caserío of Los Jimenez in San Francisco.
Just like yesterday, all of the families were incredibly nice. Everyone greeted us warmly with handshakes or hugs. They were appreciative of the gifts we brought but even more appreciative that we made the walk to their house to get to know them as a family. At some of the houses, only a couple family members were present. This is typical any time you go door-to-door. People might be at the marktet, kids might be playing with friends somewhere, and the boys and men might be in the fields working on their crops. So we talk with and take of picture of whatever family members are present.
Maggy, amazing woman that she is, made it to most of the houses with us today. There were a couple times she stayed behind with one of the police officers. But they hit if off great and were able to communicate and goof around. I recognized even more families today than yesterday. I stayed a couple extra minutes with the families I knew well so we could chat. It was wonderful to see them again even if it was for only a short while.
 
 
Back in the truck we go
 

Picking up the police
 

Adorable!
 

 

Nice picture!
 

Water filter in use
 

 

Riding a horse and carrying a baby
 
 
Pushing Maggy up the hill
 

 

 

Beautiful!
 

Having fun
 

Baby coffee plants
 

Cool spider web
 

 
 
Climbing down using the cross
 

Maggy in the police officer's hat
(he put it on her)
 

Giant passionfruit
 

 

 

Chasing Maggy up the hill
 

Accompanying Maggy down the road
 
 
 

Walking back down from a house
 

What a view
 

With one of my friends from San Francisco
 

Veronica and her father
 

This woman lost her 12-year old daughter
about three years ago.
 

Giving Michelle a kiss
 
 
Giving Katherine a kiss
 

Adorable family
 

 

 

President of the Directiva and his wife
 

 

 
 
A "store" in someone's home
 

An oven for baking
 

A stove for cooking
 

 

 

 

 

This 85-year old man lives alone
 
 
We spent more time talking to him
 

With two lovely ladies
 

Greeting another man
 

 

 

Walking through a coffee farm
 

 

He didn't want to look at the camera
 
 
 

 

Papaya
 

Ready for Christmas
 

Dishes drying
 

The side of someone's house
 

Brothers
 

Reading the card
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

67 year old husband and 23 year old wife
And their two children
 

 
 
Handing off a package
 

 

Cuties!
 

 

 

Poinsettia
 

 

 
 
Noni fruit
 

Drawing on someone's house
 

 

 

A gift from Westminster several years ago
 

Saying goodbye

By the time lunch came around we were very hungry! I was ready to devour anything they put in front of me. Lunch was rice, pipian (kind of squash), 2 hamburgers, and tortillas. I ate everything and then debated eating a 3rd tortilla. But I decided it would probably be best to stop at 2. When lunch was over we were completely stuffed and ready for a nap. However, taking a nap in a hammock was not in the cards. Even though it would have been heavenly!
 
Almuerzo
 
In the afternoon we were visiting the caserío of Los Rosales in San Francisco. Though we only had 7 packages to deliver we were told that the walk was going to be very long. And the walk was indeed very, very long. Maggy stayed behind with her new police friend and chatted with some kids as well. Michelle, Katherine, and I plowed down the side of the mountain with the Pastoral Team and members of the community. Though no one actually fell down, several people came close. I know I slipped a couple times.
The families we visited were equally as welcoming as all the others. Most were even more grateful because they knew we’d made the trip down just to see them. I have to say that the trip down was definitely worth it, not only to see the families, but also because it provided us with some humility. And it’s always good to be reminded that most of the world lives in circumstances much worse than us.
After delivering all the packages it was time to make our way back up the hill. And let me tell you, it was INSANE!! Whoever said walking wasn’t a cardiovascular workout clearly has never walked this hill. I think my heart was beating about 200 beats per minute. By the time we reached the top everyone was sweating, red in the face, and very out of breath. But it was totally worth it!
 
Getting ready to make the long walk
 

 

 

Down they go
 

 
 
 

Bamboo
 

 

 

Cooking tamales. She gave us several!
 

Pretending to be asleep
 

With a beautiful older woman.
She also had blue eyes.
 

The cute couple
 
 
The man walked with us all day
 

 

Making our way back up the hill
 

 

Maggy making more friends
 

Another friend
 

We look pretty good considering we almost died
 

Meandering around
We finally got back to the church around 2:30pm. We were exhausted when we finally sat down. Thankfully, the lovely ladies of San Francisco had made us coffee and brought pan dulce as well. We hungrily ate the sweets and drank the coffee. Then it was time to head back to Berlin.
 
We need coffee!
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
Kissing my bird, Chiquita
 

With my little friends
 

The origami they made me
 

Dinner
 

Computers and iPads by candlelight
 

1 comment:

Matt said...

The pictures of the market are terrific. It's great that you got to see and visit with so many people that you knew.