Javier Santos with new trees for landsite
Today will be another busy day, just of a little different sort.
It has been an absolute whirlwind over the past couple of weeks trying to finish off work that needed to be completed, and to tie up all of the loose ends before we head up to Canada. Tomorrow morning early, the Lord willing, we turn the van steering wheel north and head for the border.
Diana and Nathan, our daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first baby – our first-ever-to-be granddaughter, any day. We are in a rush to be there for the baby’s birth, to help where we can, and of course, to dote over the new arrival. After a very healthy, very active, very handsome, and very wonderful string of five grandsons it will be a shift of gears to have a little granddaughter to spoil.
I, for my part have been extremely busy on the landsite. We have been fighting the clock in an attempt to finish off what needed to be done before I had to leave. Javier and I have been working like dogs to finish clearing and preparing for the cultivation of the newly cleared area – about a 1 ¾ acre area. We ended up hiring a young man to help us out for a week or so, knowing that it would not be possible to do all of the machete work that needed to be done ourselves before I left. We burnt the last brush and grass pile on Saturday night just before another three days of rain.
Knowing that the clock was against us, I decided to hire someone with a backhoe to remove the rest of the stumps.
Cristina and Elsa proudly displaying Cristina's latest sewing project - her first quilt top
Also, my reasoning was that to hire someone for a couple of hours with a heavier machine was cheaper in the long run than a major breakdown on the tractor due to pushing it too hard in the heavy work of stump removal. I did not relish having to change out the clutch, or God forbid, rebuild the transmission due to the torture that I was trying to put it (and myself) through. So, hopefully this coming week will see the new piece of land 100% free of stumps and completely cultivated and ready to be planted.
On Wednesday Javier and I headed to Huichihuayan, a town a little more than an hour south of Cd. Valles in order to purchase more trees for the landsite. The area of Huichihuayan is full of nurseries where one can buy plants of every sort and variety for much cheaper than here in Cd. Valles. Last year we put in somewhere around 25 – 30 trees and lost none. This year we purchased 35 more saplings which will be planted as soon as the land is cultivated and ready.
Sewing class students all smiles at the machines
We purchased several varieties of orange, mandarin, avocado, several types of limes and lemons, a whole variety of mangos, liche, chico zapote (sapodilla), and walnut saplings. Last year we purchased much of the same varieties, but with the addition of pistachio trees as well. We plan on planting the area that we are currently clearing – where the buildings will eventually be placed – into an orchard full of fruit, nut, and shade trees making it into an absolute Garden of Eden. The rest of the land will grow sugarcane. At present five hectares of it is in beautiful cane. In September or October we plan to clear, remove stumps, and place the remaining approximate ¾ hectares of uncleared land into sugar production. That will then utilize every square inch of the property placing it all under cultivation.
Theresa has been a going concern lately with her sewing students. Everyone, including Theresa, has been desperately trying to finish off their wish list items before we head north. She has some very sad students awaiting her return. No doubt things will pick up again as soon as we arrive back in the beginning of September.
I just arrived back at the house after giving Javier Santos some last minute training on the tractor before I leave so that
Theresa displaying the puppet head that she refurbished for the Vacation Bible School
he can take over while I am gone. It feels kind of funny handing over the keys to one’s baby and trusting that someone else will take care of it. But that is what is necessary in training, equipping, and letting go.
I have already handed over the audiovisual equipment and video ministry items to Javier as well. Last night Roberto, another wonderful Christian brother picked up another small power plant from me for ministry use as well while we are gone. I need to see Pastor Ezequiel to finish off some last minute items this afternoon. Then we need to pack and get the van ready (at present it is in the shop getting the front end repaired). Theresa is doing last minute laundry and house cleaning before she packs her personal items to go north. I can tell that this will be a long day, and no doubt a short night. But we will get it all done.
Theresa with Elsa, one of her proud students
Thank you for your prayers and love. We will remain in touch. We can still be emailed as per normal, and we will also have the MagicJack phone, so you can still contact us at the (702) 516-1478 phone number (a U.S. number). If we do not pick up, or don’t have the computer on just leave a message on the answering service. We will get the message when we get back to the computer.
Blessings,
Steven and Theresa
