The First Work Week

(Boxes of strawberry plants.  So far I have helped plant over 20,000)

(One of the older strawberry fields)

(The backend of the tractor we sit in to plant)

(View of Bohringers fruit farm from Vroman’s Nose)

The Day Came

Photo credentials for some of these go to my sweet friend Pip.

(Heading up to the helicopter together)

(Loading up)

(Back on the ground)

(Aerial view of the village)

Budding Botanists

In honor of our final outdoor expedition for botany, here are some photos of my young scientists.  It has been a true blessing to watch them learn and grow and get excited about the world we have the privilege of living in!

Little Piggies

Honestly, there are so many pigs around here that you would think I'd be immune to the piglet cuteness.  I'm not. Not even a little.

Meanwhile, Adobo is massive.

In the Name of Fashion

(Me: Are you a ghost doing school?

B: No. I'm fashion.)

(A teenage water buffalo)

(Sitting on a mango tree, our morning walk destination.)

The People-less Pictures

 (Beautiful, beautiful sunset)

(A reminder that God clothes the flowers in splendor. What do we have to worry about?)

Another Walk

(S insisted on walking with water in her boots, even though it kept sloshing her dress, which she didn't want.  Sometimes you just have to smile and say "okay, sure.")

(A pomelo tree! I love this citrus fruit, especially when grapefruit is impossible to get.)

(To quote J: "Miss Vivian! What are you doing!")

Photographic Memories 3

 

(Lunch in a flower garden!)

 

 

Photographic Memories 2

 

(The boat ride across the lake to Taal)

 

(The view partway up.)

 

(At the top!)

 

(Looking back down part of the trail.)

Breathing Fresh Air

 

(Honestly, I don't know what the words mean, or why they're written here.)

 

(S and J cooling off in the river after a walk, both sporting braids by yours truly.)

 

(The view downstream.)

When Words Fail Me

 

(The river isn't visible in this picture, but during the flood, this entire area was submerged)

 

(Some of the damaged corn.  The men are attempting to salvage some of their damaged crop, but others had more than half of their harvest totally washed away in the raging water)

 

(Small beauty in the aftermath. A reminder that everything will grow again)

(A tiny glimpse of how high the river water rose) 

Picture This

 

(Just something from our walk)

 

(The blondies everyone can tell are vegan)

 

(Adobo is growing up!)

A Day Late and A Picture Short

 

(J's repaired bowl)

 

(Pretty sure this is called Biko in Tagalog.  No clue what they call it in the local language, but it's my favorite dessert by far.)

 

(Our daily helper and another lady making a new bread recipe together. Sorry for the poor lighting; I was trying to be artsy without being creepy.)

 

(Some pink foliage in the early morning sun. A few weeks old, but worth sharing.)

Did I Mention Callao Caves?

 

(This gentleman kindly ferried part of our group to a lovely spot along the river.)

 

(Yes, I did jump.  Thanks for asking!)

 

(Thanks for the breath of fresh air, God! I think we all needed it!)

 

(One last view)

Pictures that Aren't of Food

 

(Helping each other with flower crowns)

 

(Waiting for the helicopter)

 

(This week's artistic efforts, to be used as thank you cards)