Mules on the road.

On the road from San Gil to Barbosa, we noticed something on the road ahead and it was moving. It turned out to be these mules carrying sugar cane to the panela factory. The sugar cane is cut and loaded on the mules and they take it to be processed, or cooked, to be made into panela. Panela is a type of brown sugar that the Colombians love.

A busy day for the mules

This is a closer look at the mules carrying their load of sugar cane. No one was leading them or driving them. They are just turned lose on the road and they know right where to take their load to be unloaded.

Returning for another load of sugar cane.

When the mules are all finished with one load of sugar cane they return to the field to get another load. There are about twelve mules in this group. We saw many of these mule trains along the road. Each group is going to a different panela factory.

A Colombian Panela store.

We bought our panela to take home from this Colombian family. They had many different ways to buy the panela. I think we bought our year supply. They gave us a little give to take home. When we opened it is was panela candy with a anise or licorice flavor.

Yummy ants.

Elder Guerra is tempting us to eat one of his ants, but it didn't work. Some say it is like eating pop corn.

Oh those ants.

This is what the ants look like after their wings have been removed and they are cooked. I have not been brave enough to try them, but some of the Elders say they like them. I wonder if they are telling the truth.

The ladies of the street.

These lovely ladies were on their way to someplace, but we don't know where. They had lovely long dresses. These are not your everyday ladies of the street.

The Red Cross of Yopal.

We went to Yopal to make a presentation of 5 wheel chairs, 5 sets of crutches, 5 canes and 5 walkers to the Red Cross of Yopal. Sixteen Red Cross workers accepted our donation from the Church. Not all the workers are in the photo as the others arrived later.

The motos of Yopal.

The main mode of transportation in Yopal is the moto. I think they would be safer here in Yopal than in Bogota, because Bogota has so much traffic. We have seen many accidents with the motos.

Colors of the flag.

Bright colors are a part of the Colombian culture. This young lady is wearing the colors of the Colombian flag.

Peru here we come.

All five of our returning missionaries are returning home to Peru. They all went home on the same flight. We will miss all of them.

Our newest missionaries.

The day of new arrivals is always a wonderful day. We were very impressed with our missionaries. We have them from Argentina, Colombia and Bolivia. It was a good group.

Hostess for the day.

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant between San Gil and Bucaramanga, and this lady was our hostess. She played her part well, and the food was good too.

Christmas cactus.

This Christmas cactus is all confused. It thinks this is Christmas time. It has been really pretty and you can see there are many more buds on the way.