We just completed our third week of language school. It is definitely one of the most difficult things we have ever done. Our heads are literally swimming with new verbs and vocabulary. We are very brave about using our limited Spanish with the locals when we are out and about. I'm sure we sound atrocious to them, but they smile and are ever so patient with us! Practice is the key to improving so we practice as much as we can. It is amazing how much we have picked up in just 3 weeks.
Last weekend, we took a bit of a study break to visit a local artisan market and tour a coffee plantation. The hand weaving here is absolutely beautiful. These woman are amazingly talented. The woman in the picture with me said that the girls in her village start learning how to weave and stitch when they are about 12 years old and within a few years are sewing their own clothes. The blouse in the picture took the woman SIX months to complete.
The coffee plantation was a very interesting place to visit. We got to observe the process from bean on the tree to ground coffee ready to brew. The beans from one tree yield approximately 1 lb of coffee per year. There must be a LOT of coffee trees in the world! Guatemala is the 8th largest producer of coffee and is said to have the 3rd best tasting coffee. Next time you're shopping for coffee in the store, grab a bag grown in Guatemala and give it a try!
We appreciate your continued prayers. Language school is TOUGH but we know it will be well worth all the hard work when we are fluent in Spanish and can effectively communicate with the people of Honduras.
We love you all! Blessings to you and Happy Thanksgiving!