Thou visitest the earth and blessest it, and blessest it.
(Maurice Greene)
As I write, the sugar cane harvest is in full swing. Batay Bombita is surrounded by sugar cane fields and the harvest is a sight to behold.
Prior to cutting the fields are burnt in preperation for harvesting. With the fields ablaze, the atmosphere becomes ethereal, the green of the fields turns first to red, then gold, with clouds of smoke billowing into the bluest of skies. To stand, watching this spectacle really is to be in the presence of the Creator, who
….Crowns the the year with goodness and gives us the fruits of the earth in their season
Once harvested, the cane is loaded onto the open carts of trains, which travel along the rickerty track to the factory. This is a sight from Casy Jones, for, although not a steam train, there is something beautiful and antiquated about the streams of trucks shunting along. At night, the last truck has a fire at the back and along the wayside, cane is strown, allowing cattle to graze on a sweet treat.
Superficially, this is a land of eternal summer, but after only a few months here, we are getting to grips with the changing seasons. This is particulaly evident in our weekly trips to the market in Barahona. Last week it was rich in herbs. Bunches of lemon grass, tarragon and the ubiquitous corianders were laid out in piles. Grapefruits have come into season, but melons, prolific only a few weeks ago, seem to be no linger avaliable. Bananas, likewise, come and go.
There are many fruits and vegetables, which are unknown both in name and in taste. I have bought and cooked a chayote. This fibrous vegetable is cooked in stews with meat or beans. Almost tastless on is own, it absorbs other flavours, making it a useful additon to the Mission House Kitchen, especially as it always seems to be in season.
The last week has been one of the most challanging since we arrived in October. There have been numerous problems with utilities and tempers have run as high as the temperature. Certainly, there have been more then a few tears shed. This being the case, I have been reminded of another harvest, one that is always in season and ready to nourish even the tiredest of missionaries!
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
Mas el fruto del Espiritu es amor, gozo, paz, longanimidad, benignidad, bondad, fidelidad, mansedumbre y dominio propio.
A Cup of Plenty 