A Surprise Blessing

One of our mothers here at Project For Hope, Paty, made a discovery out in the field on our property while she was doing some yard work this week! She found dozens of giant squash-like vegetables (think long pumpkins that grow from hanging vines!) hanging from the wall, ripening in the sun and ready to be picked. They’re called chilacayotes and they’re used to make traditional candies and a drink they have during Holy Week (the week before Easter). To make them into a dessert, the insides are boiled with sugar until they become crystallized, chewy and very sweet. To make the traditional drink during Holy Week, it is boiled with other ingredients such as cinnamon and sugar and then chilled and served cold.

(Left to right) Brayan Miguel poses with a chilacayote next to his mom, Elizabeth and his little sister, Katherine. Amelia stands next to her youngest son, Benjamin Alexander.

Enrique, Jostin, and Diego who were excited to have their picture taken!

Catalina with two of her children: Jostin and Anderson (the one her back) while she holds a chilacayote twice the size of her baby!

Thanks to Paty’s discovery, all of our moms jumped on ladders and cut down their very own massive chilacayote during lunchtime and carried it home with them today! What a fun discovery and random blessing!

Carmelina showing us the “easier way” (or so she says!) of carrying it home!