Now that we have a little down time, I can get caught up on the blogging as promised. We left off last time with having dealt with all the chickens. The next morning, Ken picked us and Heidi up to go get the potatoes and the rice from the market. We bought two giant bags of potatoes and five 50kg bags of rice at the market and headed back to El Jordan. Job number one was to sort the potatoes into sizes and then wash them all and count out 3000 of the right size. We managed to get the potatoes sorted with and sorted out the 3000 that were intended to be prepared for including in the meals for the streets. Unfortunately, when we were washing the potatoes, the locals also washed the others that had been sorted out, so our family got the lucky job of resorting the potatoes and then guarding them to make sure we didn't have a repeat of the potato problem again.
Then we moved on to the bananas that had been donated. Lukas and Logan pitched in on this job by cutting the bananas off the stocks while I told them of the horrors of banana spiders. Then each banana was cut into two or three based on size so that we had one for each meal that was heading out.
Then the pigs arrived from the farm where they had recently given their lives for the good of others. The picture below shows how they arrived covered in leaves to prevent flies and drying out. The pigs were then taken to a "butcher" who cut them into what I would describe as "non-traditional" pieces that are not the same cuts as we would see in the stores in Canada. Frankly, none of the cuts that are used here look like what we see in the stores or butcher shops in Canada.
The pork and chicken were then cooked throughout the night in 8 propane ovens outside while 10 or more large pots of rice were and potatoes cooked throughout the night until all the food was cooked. Next to no pieces of pork go to waste as you can see in the picture above. Every bit is food and crispy skin is mighty tasty.
Each meal is packed with rice, one potato, one piece of banana, one piece of pork (whatever piece is next up), a piece of chicken, and a slice of beef. As the meals are put together by assembly line in the morning, they are packed into boxes for dissemination to each area of the city to be delivered.
Lukas and I went with Marco to some of the "rougher" areas where the long term addicts live in makeshift shacks in bushes behind the markets or behind the industrial area. These folks were not very trusting and sent out one person to see what the deal is. After the "guard" was sure we were legit, people started appearing out of the trees and bushes in bunches.
The gentleman in the picture below explained that he is 77 years old and wants to go to the addiction center. He was in good spirits thanks to the meal, and spoke to us in Spanish, Portuguese, French and a little English as well. What you see below is his house. He sleeps under an awning on a cardboard mattress and makes what little money he can by helping direct people to available parking spots for about 15 cents each time.
Melody, Logan and Jordan went with Heidi to deliver food to the groups of street people who live on the meridians between the bus depot and the Ramada Market. They were very welcoming of Heidi and our family because they know Corina and look forward to this day each year. We were warned that some of them are very good pick pockets, so we left all of our valuables at home. However, once Melody and the kids were among the people they felt very safe. Melody said they were actually very protective of her and the kids. Although most of them had bottles of glue that they were sniffing, one of the guys would not let them smoke marijuana in front of the kids. Logan and Jordan were somewhat of celebrities given their long blondish hair and everybody wanted their picture taken with them. Jordan said it was a little scary, but they both were happy to pass out meals, cutlery, juice and presents. All in all, a great experience.
Side story: We were in Hot Burger (a Bolivian fast food joint) getting lunch the other day and when we turned around, Logan had been surrounded by about 6 teenage Bolivian kids. We were initially concerned but quickly figured out that it was his hair they liked and they all pulled out their cellphones and took selfies with him like he was a Disney channel celebrity. A very surreal experience.
After delivering all the meals to the streets, we went home for a well deserved break, and to nurse my bright red sunburned arms. Then we were picked up by Ken to go prepare and serve food at Mision Timoteo. Ken's boys had cooked chickens and made salads while the staff at the children's home had cooked up some rice.
We were greeted in the kitchen by the Director of the home, and two very impressive cockroaches.
We dished out the food for all the waiting kids and served them. They were very excited and had their finest clothes on for the occassion.
After the meal, we blasted off some of the fireworks that Ken and I had bought in market and finished it of with having some of the older kids hold the Roman candles as a finale. Everybody had a great time.
It was then 9:00 so we headed back to Ken's place to cook the pork and the rest of the food for our own Christmas supper. I had made up some of my magic dust rub for the pork, and cooked it in a somewhat unreliable outdoor propane oven and it turned out great.
At midnight, the entire city lit up with fireworks as is the custom here. I had set aside a couple of hundred dollars for our own fireworks display which was awesome and very loud. We of course had to do the traditional stupid things with the firecrackers like blowing up apples, and throwing them in mud puddles so the mud sprays everywhere as well. Then we ate and got home around 2am.
We got to sleep in on Christmas day until about 10:30 and then we were back to Ken's boys place to cook a Canadian Christmas supper of two turkeys (a little hard to come by here), stuffing, mashed potatoes, salads, cranberries (canned here) and apple crisp with ice cream for dessert for 40 people. As a special treat, I found After Eight mints at the store and picked up two boxes for a ridiculous price because it just didn't feel like Christmas without some chocolates I am familiar with. The meal went over great.
I haven't had time to upload the pictures from Christmas day but I will do so in the next day or so since the bulk of our work is over for now. In case I didn't get a message out to you by email or some other messaging system. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Andersons.
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