Day 7 - Nicaragua Cultural Experience

The team would like to recognize the extra efforts of Todd on this mission trip to Nicaragua. If you didn’t know, Sally Jo has been the leader of these trips to Enrich Missions for many years.  She has passed the leadership responsibility to Todd this year.  He has done an excellent job to plan the trip, bring us together as a team, ensure the our work was impactful, and make sure the overall trip was a huge success.  We also appreciate Amy’s support and helping behind the scenes.  Muy Bueno and Exellente!

Karen led this morning’s devotion.  She created a beautiful visual representation of our journey.  She used different colors to show each person.  The message was that each person has grown as we prepared for this mission trip and the lines come closer to show how the team got to know each other.  We each bring gifts, talents, and faith to this journey.  Our intense time here has also revealed how are lives are entwined in more ways than we can imagine.  The swirled colors show how this the mission experience has created a more stronger team bond and deeper relationship with God.  As the lines leave the circle, the colors are different for each person to show how we have grown and plan take on the next step journey.  

After our morning devotion, we began our day to experience the culture of Nicaragua.  It started with a trip into the mountains outside the city of Matagalpa.  What a gorgeous view we had of these mountain ranges.

Wayne showed us the potential expansion site for Enrich Missions as they look to reach out to other communities. This is not a great photo, but he described this as an area where people need help and Christ’s love.

Soon we arrived at our destination of Selva Negro Cloud Forest Reserve national park.  This coffee plantation is located at approximately at 3000 feet above sea level is over 1500 square areas.  This is a prime area to grow and process coffee due to the altitude, trees that provide shade, and soil composition.  

Shortly after our arrival we began our two-hour guided tour of this impressive organic coffee plantation.  Our tour guide was Jose and he was full of facts and some fun too.  He was born on this plantain and drinks at least 7 cups of coffee per day.  It is rumored he was given coffee in his bottle as a baby.

He explained many facts about growing, harvesting, and processing the coffee bean.  Here are some key points.  

• The plantation is 500 hectares in size and grows organic coffee free of chemicals
• The coffee bush takes 4 years to mature to produce coffee cherries which contain the beans
• Each coffee bush produces over 2000 cherries per year
• An average person picks 6 boxes of coffee cherries per day which is 120 lb.  These cherries are  then converted into 40 lb of coffee beans.
• The plantation normally has 250 people working and living here, but during the peak season his can grow to over 600 people. 
• Medium roast coffee is best because it has less roasting, keeping more parameters in the bean such as caffeine, antioxidants, and flavor.

A coffee bush pictured above

Here is Sally Jo holding the split open coffee cherry and the two coffee beans that were inside.

Coffee cherries are picked by hand as no machine has been created to be effective as a trained person.

This is a mountain side covered with coffee bean bushes.

After the coffee been is picked, three layers of shells and husks are removed and saved.

Here we see five millions very special worms from either California or Africa that breakdown the skins and create compost that is used to fertilize the coffee bushes.  Even the liquid collected from this process is used to create natural pesticide to deter beetles than can destroy many acres of bushes.

Here are a few pictures of the processing equipment used to prepare the coffee bean for sale to the buyer.

Enough about growing the coffee beans, it’s time to have some coffee.  The team had a freshly brewed cup of coffee and some cakes.  The coffee shops sits next to a beautiful pond full of tilapia fish.  Jon wished he had brought his fishing pole.  

Everyone enjoyed the coffee, except for Sam as you can tell by this picture.

A few of the team members took a hike through the national forest.  Here are some pics from the hike.

There was also a amazing chapel in the cloud forest used for the original German owner’s daughters wedding many years ago.  Today it can be used for wedding ceremonies.  

After the plantation tour the Tingles showed us the view from their home of the mountains and the city of Matagalpa.  The views were breath-taking and we watched as the rain clouds moved across the mountain tops.

Gloria and Ronald to took the team shopping in Matagalpa and gave us a chance to see the people and culture up close.  We spent time shopping and some bought some home-made gifts from some very nice Nicaraguans.  Some engraved bracelets were even made while we waited.  

We waited for the down pour of rain to pass before heading out for the team dinner.  We were treated to a delicious meal and enjoyed the groups company.  Many had authenic Nicaraguan food, but a lot of us had buffalo chicken wings (maybe we’re missing New York a little).    

It’s bittersweet this evening as we reflect back on a great week, but their is a longing to return home to our families, friends, and congregation.  Please keep us in your prayers for a safe journey tomorrow.  God bless and Good Night.