Community Development

Last week, the MTSers learned a few 'community development' ideas. We devoted a day to learning about and how to use different tools and strategies which can be (and need to be) passed along to the indigenous peoples in many parts of the world. First we learned about a method of cooking which requires no electrical energy, no gas, and no real oven to speak of. It's called solar cooking, and it is aptly named as this method of cooking harnesses the energy of the sun, and uses a small device made of plastic to heat food  up to temperatures of 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Solar reflecting panels can be added to the sides to increase cooking temperatures up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The device is just a small black box with a clear plastic top. We, of course, tested this method with a chicken and vegetable pan and also a cake. Both cooked up in just a couple of hours, and tasted great, you'd never guess that they were not cooked in a conventional oven. We also learned of a few other fireless cooking options and techniques. Very interesting, and very appropriate and relevant among indigenous peoples and those living without most modern conveniences--since cooking over a fire is a certain health hazard. Some statistics claim that cooking over an open fire for 3 meals a day is the equivalent to smoking 15-20 packs of cigarettes per day! Along with lung problems, cataracts develop in the eyes of those who cook over an open fire long term, not to mention the great, and ever-present burn hazard. If anyone would like to look up the solar cooker we were using, you can find it online, it is called the SOS Sport Solar Cooker. They are marked up for sale in the States, so that they can be sold inexpensively to the people who are in real need of them. I, for one, think it's a great idea for people everywhere--it uses no electrical energy whatsoever, or gas, so it is environmentally friendly and "green." 

Prospero Año Neuvo Para Todos!

That means Happy New Year to all you non-Spanish speakers!  ;) 

I arrived back in Tlaxiaco at 1:30am Saturday night after three weeks in the States for Christmas break. Although, I have to say that it wasn't much of a 'break,' as we were so busy the entire time--although I don't mind, I enjoy busyness, and it was great seeing my family and catching up with them all! We had a wonderful, blessed Christmas and turn into 2009. It was hard to leave my family and John, but it was so great to get back into Mexico!

Now we are all re-adjusting and getting back into the swing of things. It was also great to be reunited with my GFM family here in Oaxaca! The girls I live with and I have a lot of fun in our room, and we've been missing the good times and togetherness! :) Today is Dia de los Reyes (Day of the Kings) which is just as big as Christmas in Mexico, it represents when the Wise Men found baby Jesus in the stable. So, the gringos threw a party for the Mexicans in the Colonia in which we live (Aldolpho Lopez Mateos) today! We made 350 tamales for the party (so that is the first authentic Mexican dish I know how to make), stuffed piñatas, made stove popcorn, and displayed Chronicles of Narnia in Spanish for the crowd. We had about one hundred people show up for the celebration; it was a success!