Sunny Sunday afternoons provide the perfect opportunity to hit the trail with the young people here. Last Sunday afternoon we joined a group of 12-15-year-old boys to hike the mountain to our east we call Buena Vista. This is the third or fourth time we’ve undertaken this several hour hike.

Raw milk, homemade yogurt, cheese and ice cream. This is what we found in Siguatepeque, Honduras. As a school field trip, we (along with the Horsts) visited the Pilgrim Mennonite community in Siguatepeque and then traveled on to Lake Yojoa. About 3 ½ hours from La Finca, The Good Shepherd Children’s Home was located one km off the main road that connects Tegucigalpa with San Pedro Sula. The school, large equipment shed, chicken house, dairy processing building and U-shaped building that contained bedrooms, the dining hall and sewing/washing room were situated on a flat section of the 80 acres. The scattered pine trees, abundant amount of farm equipment shipped from the States, several loads of dresses and towels drying on wash lines and an almost temperate climate made us feel like we were on a farm in Lancaster, PA. Even the 20 Honduran children living in the home spoke Dutchified English well. Most of the volunteers didn’t know much Spanish, and the children learned English quickly by hearing it spoken. Not all volunteers were from PA, but the man who gave us a tour of the farm was from Berks, PA. Hearing a Pennsylvanian accent again was fun.

Angelica peering into cheese vat

Zack with homemade ice cream

The tour of the farm included cows, chickens, pigs, fish, a garden and corn fields. In front of the main building we met a group of women and children husking a truck load of corn. We were invited to join the group for lunch and were treated to a new dish for us – montuco. These were made from fresh corn, wrapped in the corn husk and cooked by boiling or steaming.
Upon arriving at Lake Yojoa we enjoyed an afternoon boat ride and a dip in the pool. The next day we drove to nearby Pulhapanzak, a waterfall.
In preparation for school beginning tomorrow, Dwain spent most of Saturday weed-whacking knee-high grass to create a cross-country path that we will use as part of P.E. class. Three laps around the outskirts of the garden area is one mile. Perhaps La Finca School will also use this measured running path.
This week we cut the first broccoli of the year and were amazed at the sweet flavor. We’d like to think this is a direct result of the compost and care we’ve given the plants. Dwain spent a day this week transplanting cabbage plants into plastic drinking cups so they can get a head start before subjecting them to the ants and rabbits in the garden.
The chicks exited our house on Monday to the main chicken house. Harlan, Javier and Dwain created a separate “room” for the little ones with wire. A couple of the boys helped with the process of vaccinating the chicks against Newcastle disease. The youngsters aren’t roosting yet and the nights are always chilly, so we have a secure, floor pen half covered with plastic and a layer of chicken wire to protect them overnight from the chill and any varmints that happen along.