Final Reflections

Hi everyone!

Our group is back in Erie safe and sound after a long day of travel!

Upon reflecting on the experience and new global world perspective that Chiapas gifted us on this trip, we are in awe of how important fair-trade is and how much work goes into our daily cups of coffee.  We think it is important to share the mission and importance behind Café Justo. After our reflections this week around the work of poverty reduction and migration, our whole group now has a deeper understanding of the world around us and how to go about our daily consumption in a more ethical way.  We believe all humans deserve a fair wage and not to be taken advantage of in the supply chain.

In all, this trip has been an inspiring experience, and we know we will never forget the coffee growers of Chiapas, Mexico. We will never forget their welcoming, open arms and complete hospitality when they themselves were living in poverty.  We will never forget the roosters crowing at night or seeing the volcano in the distance every morning.  We will never forget the sweet bread and the mangos, and the constant cups of coffee with a swirl of sugar in it.  We will never forget the twisting of our hearts at the migrant shelter and knowing how much human suffering was in one place, and not being able to alleviate it in that moment.  Mostly, we will never forget how much impact the simple decision of what coffee you will drink in the morning makes on one person’s life.  Thank you, Chiapas and Café Justo, for these imprints.

Mid-Week Update

Day #3

Our third day in Salvador Urbana began with learning about the process of patio drying with a local family. We not only learned about this process but also engaged in conversation about young people in society and their relationship with faith and seeing the true Christian message being portrayed with people fighting for economic justice.

Following the patio drying we had lunch with the family and then headed to the cabana to swim and relax for the afternoon.

Later, we met with the president of the Cafe Justo Coop and his family. Through that conversation we learned more about the infrastructure of the co-op and observed how the economy provided by Cafe Justo has allowed members more opportunities such as education.

Day 4:
Today we began by visiting a migrant shelter near the boarder of Mexico and Guatemala. We saw many people and families there looking for a safe place to stay until they could find safety either in Mexico or the United States. While this was very important for us all to witness it was difficult to see the situation so many people are in. In addition, it made a connection as to why fighting for economic justice is so important. With economic justice people would not have to flee their homes and we wouldn’t be seeing this problem.

We got to go to a local restaurant for dinner where we had virgin pina coladas in pineapples! We visited Mayan Ruins and learned a little bit about their history. To finish off the day, we went to a local coffee museum where we relaxed and had some deep reflection, focusing on migration issues and the root cause of the increasing migration rate, poverty and economic injustice.

Chiapas Update: Day 1 and 2

 Hello there followers! These past two days have been a delightful introduction to our ABST experience! Within this time we have met a series of growers in the Salvador Urbina community and have learned about the beginning stages of coffee farming! Some highlights have been visiting with farmers named David and Samuel, who taught our group about their lifelong craft of coffee farming, and the change that Cafe Justo has brought to the community.

In this time we have been able to learn about the harrowing economic difficulties that many face in communities across Mexico and the world. Just a decade ago, Salvador Urbina and the surrounding areas were mainly comprised of women, the elderly, and children. So many families couldn’t sustain themselves, and to try to keep afloat, so many men came to the United States to earn a sustainable wage. During this time, they worked tirelessly, paying taxes and social security that they would in many ways never tap into. But every cent they could, they would send home to support their family, including children that they had never met.

This struggle and sacrifice has been elevated by programs like Cafe Justo’s coffee co-op, providing a path for families to sustain themselves and earn equitable wages in their community. It has been transformational to see economic justice lived out, literally connecting families in the homes we are visiting.

Now, we are preparing to learn even more about the coffee growing process, and continue to connect it to migrant issues and the communities we are immersed within this week. Be sure to stay connected by reading our Facebook posts and blog as the week progresses!