around the world with Jesus » coffee

Coffee is better than cow poop

Matt — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:56:58 +0000

In Armenia just over a year ago, we worked with some wonderful people in the plateaus of the Caucasus Mountains. These Yezide Kurds are amongst the poorest people groups of the region. Those we met are hard working, wonderful people who earn very, very little money. We felt bad knowing they heat their homes and cook their food with bricks made of dried cow poop. This photo shows a mound of hay which the animals can eat during the winter and mounds of cow poop to use in cooking/heating.

Their region provides very little wood for fires and they use the resources available to them.

A pastor with whom we worked said if he and the people of his church could help their neighbors utilize something besides the norm for their fuel it would make a huge difference.

Chad, one of Convoy of Hope’s former interns, is in Armenia right now. Among his various projects, he’s helping these Yezide Kurds use something much better than cow poop to use as fuel. Coffee.

Java Logs are bricks made of coffee ground. They’re not a new thing, but they are in the plateaus of the Caucas Mountains. Chad’s using local resources, including coffee grounds from area hotels and restaurants to test java logs with these great people.

He’s still working on the best local resource for the wax that helps keep the java logs together, but from what I’ve heard from him, overall things are going well. Pray for the right wax combination and source so the project can spread across the area…

I love innovation.

What are some innovative things you’ve seen to help people where you live or around the world?

OneHope, kingdom stuff, and old friends

Matt — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:18:28 +0000

Well…not old, but you know what I mean.  I loved being a part of the Book of Hope (now OneHope) team from ’02-’06.  Great years, great friends.  With a two night layover in S. Florida to pick up our team from Haiti and then head to other foreign lands, I was excited to reconnect with some great people, and stay in OneHope’s Forum.

I blogged yesterday about a call I got that changed our entire two weeks.  Kathryn from the OneHope team actually started helping us search for new flights, Paul prayed over us.  The administration team of OneHope helped in some cool ways too.  The change in plans threw off some of our transportation…and friends like Pat and Christine chipped in and helped in huge ways.  I love the Kingdom of God.

Along those lines, our Convoy of Hope Interns in Haiti did a Book of Hope distribution to children while serving with a King’s Castle team.  Working together.  I like that.  It’s very John 17ish.

Guatemala is beautiful.  Our spiritual retreat begins today. I may even purchase some coffee here, at my favorite place to buy whole bean coffee in the world (let me know by Friday afternoon if you want some).

We’re off to El Salvador on Saturday.

Enjoying the aeropress

Matt — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:49:43 +0000

Our french press broke. While researching which new one to purchase, I found this…http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm.

It’s pretty poor marketing, but it makes a great cup of coffee. I’ve been making an aeropress cup each morning. My friend at the Coffee Ethic in Springfield even said they may start carrying them someday. They just need better marketing…