First Seeds Planted by Mary Gunderson

A few weeks back Micheal and I went over to Woodbrier Nursery and planted the first seeds for The Orchard Project. We used an assortment of seeds that were donated by Cheryl & Gary Hoover from Trinity UMC and Art from Woodbrier Nursery.

Art, who owns Woodbrier Nursery, donated soil, seeds, trays, and greenhouse space so we could get the plants started. He and his daughter, Nikki, taught us how to break up the soil and get it pre-moistened, which would help in watering the seeds later. Michael got the soil ready while I separated the trays and got the tags ready.

We used a wonderful seed machine that helped us place about a hundred small seeds in the cells of the tray...it saved us a lot of time!

We were not alone...under the table at which we worked were three kittens in one of the soil bags. We would take breaks to allow the timid Mommy Cat to be with her babys. In time she moved them from that place to a more private space.

It was wonderful to work with a wide variety of seeds. Some of them I was so amazed at how small they were, but knew they were going to grow into something big and beautiful.

There were some seeds we had to plant in rows than in cells. This took a little bit more time as we had to do it with our hands.

Here are all the trays and cells that hold the first seeds planted for the garden. They are growing beautifully. We have more seeds to plant that will bless the community and families participating in the family garden.

A Colorful and Sweet Trinity 6:34

We never know what the kitchen crew on Monday nights is going to surprise us with. Whether it be pancakes and corned beef hash or cabbage rolls and apple crumble.

One Monday evening though, Ray and Sarah spent a great deal of time decorating church-made cupcakes with beautiful shades of blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, and pink.

Everyone was stunned by the array of colors and how fancy the designs were. Each cupcake was unique and carefully designed! The community felt so special and loved. They brought such a life and joy to the evening! And they weren't just pretty either, they were absolutely sweet and delicious! Thank you so much, Ray and Sarah!

Hope in Guatemala by Karen Erskine Valentine

The last week in February 2009 I went with a group from the Frederick Conference of the UMC on a mission trip to Guatemala. It was an amazing journey that I hope to repeat.
We spent our week at a school by the name of Mi Refugio, “My Refuge”. The school was founded and is run by an amazing woman by the name of Kari Engen. Kari has been in the mission field in Guatemala for approximately thirty years. She is now a Guatemalan citizen.
Soon after her arrival in Guatemala, Kari was introduced to a community near Guatemala City. This community of about 1000 people lived in a landfill. Presently their homes are built on what was the dump which is now adjacent to the active landfill. The water is bad, the smell is bad, and the air is polluted. The people scavenge the landfill for things to sell and recycle. Resources are scarce and it is very difficult for a family in that kind of poverty to pull themselves out. It is difficult for them to see beyond the present moment when they do not know whether or not their children will eat that day. It is a place that seems to be void of hope. In the midst of that hopelessness God gave Kari a vision.
Kari had a vision of the children of the dump coming to her up a hill. They were coming to school and they were coming to her. The vision would not leave her and so Kari said to her parents and friends, “I think God wants me to start a school for the kids of the dump.” She moved onto the dump to spend time with the families there and gain their trust and then she started a school. At first her school was right there by the dump, but when that property was no longer available to her another property became available and so did the money to buy it. When she needed a van, a van became available and so did the money to buy it. When they needed a school bus, a bus became available and so did the money to buy it. This seems to be the way it is with Kari. She will tell you, God provides everything that they need.
The school is on a beautiful campus way up in the mountains. The air is clean, the ground is free of trash, the water is clear. The children are bused from the dump to the school where they wear their school uniforms and they look just as clean and beautiful as the children that come from the local village. They begin their day with a nutritious breakfast. They brush their teeth and wash their hands and faces; and then they go to their classrooms where they are ready to learn.
Mi Refugio is a grammar school educating children from Kindergarten to sixth grade, but there is so much more that happens there because Kari has the faith to move mountains. If a child completes 6th grade and wants to continue studying, Kari provides scholarships through university. Children and families receive medical and dental care. Children are given medication for parasites helping them to stay at a healthy weight. There are opportunities for locals to take sewing classes and woodworking classes. Kari’s ministry reaches out to so many with so much, it is nearly impossible to believe. Oh… and Kari provides all of this completely free of charge. These families would otherwise be unable to provide an education for their children. Education is officially paid for by the government, but uniforms and books and supplies and miscellaneous fees are beyond the reach of all of these families. And so… Kari takes children that are underfed and poorly clothed and without hope and she feeds them, rids them of their parasites, clothes them, gives them medical and dental care and then provides them with an education.
That dump may have seemed to be void of hope, but there is always hope. Because of Kari’s willingness to trust God and do God’s work there is a great deal of hope in that community. Several of the teachers at Mi Refugio were Kari’s former students. They have been through university and are now certified teachers. They are now providing an education to children who came from the same hopeless situation that they came from. They are passing on the hope.
At Mi Refugio the children learn Math and Reading and Writing, and Science and History, but they also learn that God is their refuge and strength. That in God all things are possible. They learn that there is hope.
If you want to learn more about Mi Refugio and Kari’s work you can go to http://www.mirefugio.org/.
Next entry… Our work and experience at Mi Refugio.