the other staff of life...rice

There have been more than usual power outages here lately. We have been told that it is because the water levels are low. There hasn't been rain here all summer so this whole country is waiting with great expectations for the rainy season. Apparently some reservoirs are low and the water level isn't high enough to reach the generators. Jimmy Olvera told me that if people would come to the temple the Lord would bless them with water. He then refered to a scripture Haggai chapter one. He seems to have a scriptural answer for everything. The rain (or at least the season of rain) should begin about the end of this month but it will probably be nearer to the end of December. The temple routinely uses a large power generator in power outages and on certain other days so the power outages do not impact us here.
Brother Alfonso invited several of the brother missionaries to visit the rice farm he oversees. We climbed into his boss's pickup truck and headed northwest up along the Dauhle river. His boss, Antonio Navarette, took us to his rice fields and explained the process of growing rice to us. The seed rice is thrown by hand out over a field of an acre or more and allowed to grow to a seedling. Each seedling is then taken out and collected into a bag like a gunny sack. These bags are carried out onto a field covered with water and deposited for planting. Then each seedling is put into the ground by hand about ten inches apart. This gives each plant room to grow and expand. In preparation for the planting of these seedlings, a tractor with wide metal rear wheels drives over the ground to soften the earth below the water. So as not to miss the experience of planting, Elder Ripple took his shoes off and waded out into the water to plant some seedlings.
The water used for growing rice is pumped from the Dauhle river and moves through ditches to the fields as needed. After the rice plant reaches maturity, the field is drained of all water, allowed to dry then harvested by combine very similar to the wheat combines we have in our country.
Rice is the staple crop here. There is an abundance of rice and the prices are always very low so that everyone can afford it. In the cafeteria of the temple, rice is served with every meal. A heaping helping covering half the plate is served along with a little meat, a "salad" (composed of macaroni, potato, slices of radish, maybe a little whipped cream or something else) a bowl of soup, and a glass of fruit juice for $1.75. If you don't want the soup it is $1.25. It is really quite good. We usually eat at the temple a couple of times a week.
They grow all kinds of vegetables and fruits here. Most of them are available year round. We especially like granadilla, pineapple, mangos, apples, red bananas, and mangos (mentioned twice because we have always liked mangos). We also like to buy a coconut, break the shell by hitting it on the cement ground while in a plastic bag and then eat the meat as a snack. Carrots are shorter and thicker than what we have in the states, but they seem to be more tender and tastier. But rice is what keeps everyone fed, even if they can't afford the other foods.
Chicken and fish are the protein sources of the diet here. Fried shrimp with rice is especially good. Beef is available but is more expensive and not eaten very often. There is a restaurant that we like that serves a large piece of beef (for two people) that is brought to the table on a little charcoal grill. There you can cook it more if it is too rare and eat it fresh off the grill. We have eaten there a couple of times and always take home half of the meal for the next day.
Rulon and Jane Johnson completed their mission and returned to their home in Chandler, Az. this past week. We will miss them. Rulon had a degree in Spanish from BYU and communicated very well here. Our hope is that someone out there will fill the void that is here now in their absence. If you know of a senior couple who would be interested in serving in the best mission please let them know that they would be welcome. President Rojas, the temple president would like to hear from them.