Lives Changed by Bees

This year we trained seven men in beekeeping. We equipped some as novices, and helped others to increase the size and productivity of their apiaries. (Spring begins in September, and Fall begins in March in Chile)

We could do this because American Baptist Women provide direct mission support for the beekeeping project through their White Cross gifts, and because so many of you participate in our ministries through your ongoing support and your prayers.

Here are the stories of three men whose lives are changing because of your partnership with this mission community in Chile.

Erwin

Erwin is a dynamic leader in Pilinhue, a Mapuche community. He started beekeeping with us two seasons ago. Erwin is married, with two young daughters, works as a caretaker for properties in the area, and helps his father on their small farm.

Pastor Francisco

Francisco is the pastor of the neighboring church in Llongahue. Now a grandfather, he has lived in the area all his life, selling vegetables from his gardens, raising goats and sheep, and growing wheat and potatoes. He is also in his second year as a beekeeper.

"A swarm in May is worth a load of hay,"

Erwin´s and Francisco´s apiaries have more than doubled in size, due to making divisions or catching swarms. Now that we are in the second stage of the harvest, they both marvel at the bounty of honey.

That honey will provide them with 2-4 months income. It should be more, since we will harvest again at the end of March.

In a world where cash is short and jobs are scarce, beekeeping is a sustainable rural enterprise, offering still more opportunities for value-added products.

Pastor Tomás

Tomás is a pastor in Lanco, a small town. He has had to carry the treasure of his pastoral vocation in the "clay jar" of economic distress for so long. Beekeeping offers him a way to generate income, and now he is the best example of bi-vocational I have ever seen, a pastor-beekeeper.

He started with three beehives five years ago, and now has over thirty. Tomás went beyond the basics we offered in the first year, studying continuously, and he is now sought after for his knowledge. He accompanies me making the rounds in the apiaries, providing training and support for the novice beekeepers.

What is Pastoral Apiculture?

Beekeepers learn good life-skills as they study bees and care for them, by planning, projecting costs, income, even losses, into the future.

Our work in the apiaries always ends with times of fellowship, breaking bread together over mate or chicha (homemade apple cider), with good conversation and prayer about our lives.

Thinking of this as "pastoral apiculture" changes everything. There is something "sweeter also than the honeycomb," which is the kingdom of God, Shalom.

What´s the Difference Between a “Bee-Haver” and a Bee-Keeper?

Not everyone who tries beekeeping sticks with it. It is not easy and it isn´t for everyone, but for those who come to love bees and don ´t mind getting stung now and then, it can change their lives.

We often joke about the difference between "bee-havers" and bee-keepers, abejeros y apicultores. True bee-keepers learn to care about what is good for the earth, the bees, and their neighbors.

How Your Gifts Keep Giving

The most gratifying thing for Dwight is that Erwin, Francisco, and Tomás take the initiative to pay back some of the costs of the beehives and equipment, enjoying the dignity of ownership.

They either donate honey to be sold or create new beehives by dividing an existing one to make two. We can help new beekeepers with these resources. The White Cross funds keep on giving in this way.

Write the Vision Down, and Run With It

The vision of our ministries is to help people discover their vocation as productive stewards of God´s creation.

Thank you for being such generous and helpful partners in God´s mission in Chile, through your support of White Cross and your ongoing support of our ministries.

May the Lord bless and keep you,

Dwight and Barb Bolick

Will You Partner With Us?

This year our goal is to raise 100% of our ongoing support. Our challenge is to increase our support by $1,000 a month. We invite you to join us if you are not already a partner.

If we could find thirty more monthly supporters, we could reach the goal!

Could you forward this newsletter to someone you know who would probably like to be part of this mission community?

So many good things that God is doing in people´s lives encourage and delight us, such as a re-opened rural clinic, growth of the Girls´Clubs, Berea Institute and the Mapudungun classes.

This ministry and our lives belong to God. Your prayers, friendship, and interest are ways that grace also comes to us.

This website will tell you how to contribute.

http://www.internationalministries.org/teams/49-bolick

Or, you may write to this address, and designate your gift to Ongoing Support: Barbara and Dwight Bolick

International Ministries

P.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482

Thank you!

What´s Next in Beekeeping

1. Winter classes from May-July
2. Research and build more top-bar beehives. (see the last photo on left, below)

Advantages:

• Less costly inputs
• No heavy lifting, better for women