Profesora Pina

Throughout the school, I have had all sorts of different teachers, and I don't discriminate. BUT, I never thought I would be taught by pineapple. I'm not EVEN kidding. Two days ago I spent 3 hours alone weeding a patch of pineapples on a steep mountainside under the beautiful Honduran sun. As picturesque as this sounds, and it IS beautiful, there is one thing I never realized about pineapple plants. They have really intense spines. I didn't bring any long sleeve shirts, so my arms are covered in scratches from this experience. The word miserable could describe this experience, except that God, being God, chose to turn it around. He reminded me how much I love to sing, and how much patience I need to develop. It was actually ironic, because the day before I prayed that God would teach me more about patience.

It impossible to be a farmer, a good farmer, without patience. There are so many emotions that come along with agriculture, particularly at the subsistence level, that I didn't anticipate. For example, yesterday we found out that the seed Larry had saved from last year's corn harvest, was invaded by bugs and rats. Out of some 20 ears, I only found 5 untouched. The rest we have to sort through seed by seed. We have a cool trick though, where we put the seeds in water and the good ones float, but that's besides the point. We don't have enough seed to plant all the field. If we were real subsistence farmers without resources, this could be disastrous. It's a devestating feeling to know a source of food and income is ruined.

Patience is necessary for this. When you don't know what is coming around the corner, you have to hope in the work you have done and the time you have put in.

So, here I am in this field of pineapple, tired, sticky, and frustrated that I keep getting scratched (I'm not exaggerating when I say that my arms are covered in scratches). I am thinking, Jesus, why would I want to do this for the rest of my life? Why is this what you have called me to? WHY...WHY WHY...lalala. And then, I felt like I should start singing, so I did. A gospel song "Praise Him in Advance" came on. One line says "praise will confuse the enemy..." So that's what I did. I praised, and it was hard because part of me really didn't want to.

It reminds me of one time when I was babysitting for Dave and Margie Davis. When I arrived, Margie and I started getting Abby and Piper ready for a bath. As Margie is getting Piper's clothes off, Piper pees on her! I didn't know what to say or do, but Margie just looks at me and laughs and sincerely says, THIS IS GREAT! Ha. Talk about praise in the midst of trouble.

This is why I am here in Honduras. To learn strange things from God through pineapples.

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your days as I am!

Alex