Galapagos Islands – Marla

I’m a coffee drinker and today I’ve even found another way to appreciate coffee. Our Summer Abroad Ecuador Group from Eastern Illinois University is currently still doing studies in the Galapagos Island, San Cristobal to be exact, for 5 days. We’ve had the opportunity this afternoon to visit and tour the site of an organic coffee bean agricultural estate. Located in the mountains of San Cristobal is HACIENDA EL CAFÉTAL, the location toured and where coffee bean plants grew on about 300 hectares of land.(1 hectare = 2 ½ acres). The farm also had lime and orange trees too. All the coffee, we were told, is grown without the use of pesticides, which by the way makes the beans 100% organically grown coffee, and no pesticides are ever used on the coffee bean plants ever! How’s that for a healthy cup of coffee?

Another aspect I enjoyed was the ride to the coffee bean farm. We drove through a very small settlement of about 1000 people living in a very rural environment, passing papaya and banana trees, orange and lime trees all the way there. Dogs, donkeys, a few horses, and plenty of cows and goats were seen as well. I spotted an extremely old church on the side of a mountain, looking as if it had been sitting there for many years ,un kept and unattended by church goers. Our guide on the island, Sarah, let me know there were services held here on Sundays. As we proceeded up a really steep incline by bus, a breathtaking view of the island came into view and we all hopped off the bus to take pictures to capture what our eyes had beheld, as a light mist kissed our faces. Each time I am able to see the beauty of nature; I can’t help thinking about the Lord my God! What beauty He has made! As we boarded the bus, Sarah asked if I saw the rainbow, and as I turned, there it was, a reminder from God of His great and everlasting promise found in the Bible, between Him and all life on earth (GENESIS 9:13-17). The rainbow, as I stared and then took a picture, was both outstanding and comforting to me and gave me peace from knowing that the Lord is near!

EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Student- Marlalynn Yourell
Senior- Elementary Education Major
Study Abroad ECUADOR- Summer 2009