Newsletter - June, 2007

The Least of These My Brethren

June, 2007

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40

Published by the Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210

A Bakery Is Reborn

Society’s Baking Equipment

As many of you know, back in 2001, the Society of the Good Shepherd purchased some used commercial bakery equipment to establish a bakery in the Indian village of Guayaquira. The bakery was operated by the Lenca Indian sisters in the local evangelical church in the village. The bakery was a moderate success so long as the missionary pastor from El Salvador, Jorge Burgos, was there to provide supervision. However, when Jorge returned to El Salvador, the bakery faltered. None of the local sisters had any experience in running a business, and they just weren’t able to keep it going. Eventually, they returned the bakery equipment to the Society.

Rino & Miriam Fanconi

Meanwhile, as the bakery was operating and beginning to falter in Guayaquira, a Christian couple in Siguatepeque named Rino and Miriam Fanconi were praying to be able to start a family bakery. They prayed three years for such an opportunity, but the Society directors were not acquainted with them. Just when it seemed as though God was not going to grant the Fanconi’s petition, our paths crossed. It turned out that the answer to their prayer was also the answer to ours. They wanted a bakery. We had the bakery equipment on our hands, and we were anxious to find someone who wanted to start a bakery. It’s wonderful how God works things out.

Soon we arranged for a loan with Rino and Miriam to purchase the bakery equipment, and they set up the equipment on the back porch of their house. Before long, they were turning out a variety of breads, rolls and cookies. Running a bakery is not light work. Rino and Miriam begin mixing and baking at 7:00 p.m. at night and continue to work until 4:00 a.m. After a brief rest, they then head to the downtown plaza, where they sell their products out of baskets. They and their son, Gino, also sell some of their baked goods from house to house.

Some of the rolls and cookies

Unfortunately, none of the Society directors were able to give Rino and Miriam any training with the equipment, since we didn’t have any experience with it ourselves. However, we were able to obtain some information from Jorge in El Salvador, and we passed this information on to Rino and Miriam. However, to a large degree, Rino and Miriam have had to figure out things for themselves—and have done a superb job in doing so. In addition, Miriam has taught Rino everything that she knows about baking.

What about recipes for their baked products? The local flour company has provided them with a number of recipes, and Miriam uses some family recipes handed down from her mother. Miriam also has a German friend who has given her a number of recipes. Their most popular bread is coconut bread, and their most popular cookie is one from a family recipe using sesame seeds and raisins. Deborah and I sampled some of their baked goods, and we both agreed they were quite delicious.

More of the baking equipment

Rino is looking into the possibility of making whole wheat products to sell in the local health food stores. If things continue to work well for them and if their business grows, Rino and Miriam hope to eventually build a house and store on a small plot of land they own on the outskirts of town. DB

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