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Colombia Is Pretty Fruity!
When we went to Colombia in February on our survey trip, one of the many things that stood out to us was the wide variety of fruits there. I just read this article this morning and thought I’d pass it along. Get to know 11 interesting fruits that you’ll find if you ever come visit us…
11 Exotic Tropical Fruits of Colombia
Colombia is best known for its wide variety of orchids, as well as its other species of flowers, birds and butterflies. What some people may fail to explore are all the exotic tropical fruits of Colombia.
The colors, smells, flavors and textures of the fruits that flourish in this rich area are not to be missed.
Here are some of my favorites:
Cherimoya
Cherimoya (Photo: little blue hen)
It has a green exterior that looks like it is covered with soft thumb prints, same interior as the guanabana. The fruit is fleshy and soft, sweet, white in color, with a sherbert-like texture.
Some characterize the flavor as a blend of banana, pineapple, papaya, peach and strawberry. Others describe it as tasting like commercial bubblegum. Mark Twain called the cherimoya “the most delicious fruit known to men.”
Granadilla
Granadilla (photo: quinet)
Hard, round, usually orange exterior best eaten by using your fingernails to crack the skin, then sucking the snot-like crunchy seeds out from the inside. If you can get past the visual, it’s incredible.
Guanabana
Guanabana (photo: clandestino_20)
Massive green fruit with soft thorn-like pieces covering it. The inside is a white fleshy substance with black/brown seeds.
Its flavor has been described as a combination of strawberry and pineapple with sour citrus flavor notes contrasting with an underlying creamy flavor reminiscent of coconut or banana. The Guanabana tree is a miraculous, natural, cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than Chemo.
Guava
Brazilian Guava (photo: keetr)
Guava fruit generally have a pronounced and typical fragrance, similar to lemon rind but less sharp.
Guava pulp may be sweet or sour, off-white to deep pink, with the seeds in the central pulp of variable number and hardness, depending on species.
Lulo
Lulo fruit and juice (photo: Luna sin estrellas)
Looks like and feels like a small orange tomato. The fruit has a citrus flavor, sometimes described as a combination of rhubarb and lime. The juice of the lulo is almost always used as a drink since it is usually too strong in flavor to eat.
Mamoncillo
Mamoncillo (photo: iguana_box)
The fruit, somewhat like a cross between a lychee and a lime, has a tight and thin, but rigid layer of skin, traditionally cracked by the teeth. They grow on a branch like grapes and are green in color.
Maracuya (aka Passion Fruit)
Maracuya (photo: Vic Lic)
Similar appearance to the granadilla, interior and exterior.
Pitahaya
Pitahaya (photo: pellesten)
Cactus fruit which are sour and refreshing with a juicier flesh and stronger taste. The fruit must be cut to get to the fleshy center which is eaten together with its black crunchy seeds.
Tomate de Arbol
Tomate de Arbol (photo: Luna sin estrellas)
An egg-shaped edible fruit that looks like a tomato. The flesh of the tomate de arbol is tangy and variably sweet, with a bold and complex flavor, and may be compared to kiwifruit, tomato, guave or passion fruit. The skin and the flesh near it have a bitter taste and are not usually eaten raw but in juices with cinnamon.
Uchuva
Uchuva (photo: Mataparda)
Its most notable feature is the inflated, papery calyx enclosing each berry. Inside the skin is the tart, tangy, cream pulp (technically the seed coat), which is sucked by putting the whole fruit inside the mouth. It is bright orange and sweet when ripe but can be extremely sour and face-puckering also.
Zapote
Zapotes (photo: leoncillo sabino)
This unusual fruit is round with a rough brown skin. The pale orange inside also has a slightly rough texture and a sweet, malty taste. There are a few large black seeds but they are easy to remove.
Head to any of the local fruit markets to get the freshest and cheapest variety of these exotic fruits, or try them in juice form from street vendors and restaurants. They are much more refreshing and revitalizing then coffee, or cheese bread.
Or, if you visit the coast, you can find many of these fruits hanging from the trees, waiting for you to pick and eat them fresh.
21 Political Candidates Assassinated in Colombia This Year Alone
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Murdered…
With about 3 months left until local elections in Colombia, at least 21 political candidates have been assassinated just this year by illegal armed groups. Perhaps they stood for issues that were against the group’s agenda. Perhaps they were vying for control over an area already controlled by these groups. Perhaps they were simply in their way. At this rate, I really don’t know why anybody would have a desire to be in the Colombian government!
It burdens me when I read headlines like these about Colombia or other parts of the world, knowing that they so desperately need Christ. If we could only get them the Gospel it would change everything!
Transformation…
Check out what Paul said in 1 Corinthians:
“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:9-10
If you are familiar with the story of the Apostle Paul, you’ll know that God really took him from one extreme to the other. He killed, imprisoned and persecuted God’s people until Christ became his Savior, upon which time he then became a catalyst for new church plants, leader training and early church edification. Not to mention God used him to pen at least 16 books of the New Testament portion of the Bible. Incredible.
Now, though the people who are responsible for the violence in Colombia aren’t necessarily targeting Christians (though they’ll take out whoever stands in their way), could you imagine what God could do with their lives if they ever became HIS disciples!? That passion that once was used for a violent political agenda would be channeled into a purpose for God’s glory! We would never know the full impact of a life that is won for Christ. As one man put it, “You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can never count the apples in a seed!”
Responsibility…
But what is standing in the way between these extremist groups and others becoming sold out for God and where they are now?
They don’t have the Gospel!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” 2 Corinthians 4:3-5
The Gospel is what changes people. It is the story of Christ’s undying, sacrificial love demonstrated for us on the Cross, paying for our sin. It is the truth that only He can save, only He can change, and only He can give us hope.
The Gospel is powerful.
The Gospel never changes.
The Gospel is our most effective weapon against the dark forces that have blinded the world.
The Gospel is what needs to be preached.
But, the Gospel is being hidden.
We haven’t taken them the hope we hold so dearly in our own lives. How shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach except they be sent?
Pray that we can get to Colombia soon. Will you pray about coming with us?
Colombia Celebrates 201 Years!
Today, all over the country of Colombia, people will be parading, celebrating, partying, and honoring its nation’s leaders and military because July 20th is their Independence Day!
If you’d like to read a brief history of how they gained independence from Spain 201 years ago, click here. It’s a very interesting story, no doubt. Here’s a hint: it involves a flower vase! 🙂
Colombia is a beautiful country with very kind people. But it is a country that needs the Gospel, just as much as the rest of the world! They don’t need more religion. They already have loads of that. They need the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They don’t need to hear more facts about Jesus, but they need to hear how they can be personally saved by His redemptive work on the cross.
It’s probably safe to say that 90-95% of all Colombians have never heard a true presentation of the Gospel. Will you pray that we can raise our support and get there soon? Will you pray that more laborers would surrender their lives to take this message to Colombia and around the world? How about you?
June Prayer Letter Update
Click Image To See Our Prayer Letter Full Size (With Pictures!)
June, 2011
Dear Pastor, Partners and Praying Friends,
Deputation Update
We sure have been blessed by the Lord’s goodness! The past couple months have been amazing and busy as we have started full-time deputation. My last day of secular work was May 6th, and he has continued to provide for us over and over. Our travels have taken us around GA, OH, TN and SC. We’ve met many new friends and were encouraged by the desire of several of them to partner with us financially. I have been doing my best to work at least 8-10 hours per day calling pastors to fill up the rest of our calendar for deputation. We know God has the meetings we need. Please pray that He opens the right doors for us.
I was recently able to preach a Spanish church fellowship hosted at the church I started in Dawsonville, GA. It was great to see our good friends and see that the work there has even grown! They’ve seen several saved and baptized, and had more families join the church. It’s great to know that Christ is still building His church.
Out Of The Mouth Of Babes
Amira (who is 14 months old) was sitting with Aubrie the other day while I was calling pastors downstairs, and she kept saying and signing “more dad, more dad, more dad.” Now, if that doesn’t make you want to take a 10-minute daddy-daughter break, I don’t know what will! ☺ She’s growing well, talking to anybody who will listen, and even starting to potty train! (That tidbit is for all the ladies out there).
Colombian Culture Corner
Colombia, just like many cultures, has quite a few sayings and idioms. One of these is “¡Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho!” (Translation: From what’s said to what’s done, there’s a big gap. Basically, it’s the same as our saying: “Easier said than done”). How true!
Prayer Requests
1. For more meetings to open up for deputation
2. For safety on the road as we travel to many different states this summer
3. For financial support to start coming in (now at around 10%)
4. For God to start preparing hearts in Colombia to receive the Gospel when we arrive.
5. For more people to surrender their lives to take the Gospel to the world. How about you?
For Christ and His Glory,
Aaron Aubrie and Amira Vance
“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Philippians 1:20-21
Colombia Rainy Season Death Toll at 93
Please be praying for Colombia, as the rainy season is just starting up again. In the past couple weeks thousands of people have been affected and many have dropped into eternity. We must reach them as quickly as we can! Will you pray for more laborers for Colombia?
Here is a news story on the flooding:
Ninety three Colombians have died and 12 are missing because of floods and landslides caused by this year’s first rainy season, said the Rad Cross Friday.The latest victims are two children who were buried under a landslide just north of Medellin.
According to the aid agency, the extreme weather has left 52 injured and has damaged the homes or lands of more than 130,000 Colombians.
24 of the country’s 32 departments have dealt with emergency situations following the torrential rains that began in February, only weeks after the disastrous rainy season of last year that killed more than 300 and left more than $5 billion in damages to private properties and infrastructure.
According to meteorologists, the extreme rains are the result of weather phenomenon La Niña, which also caused last year’s extreme rainy season. The meteorologists estimate warn that the worst of the rainy season is yet to come and may last until June.
The Red Cross expressed its concern about the water levels of the Magdalena river, which is the country’s largest rivers and goes from the south of the country to the Caribbean sea. Regions around other rivers are on high flood alert after torrential rains caused great parts of the cities Bogota and Cali to flood and are threatening to flood even larger areas particularly in the north where the Magdalena meets with the Cauca river.
Santos has already announced that the extreme rainfall has exhausted the capabilities of the State.
The Vance Family 