“We have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but today is overflowing with potential.” ~ Allan Lokos Hello!
Wow, what a beautiful time of year in West Michigan! It’s great being home. Mike and I got the sails on the boat, and we DELIGHTED in our first two trips out to the big lake. Small waves. Sweet winds. There’s something super special about sharing this experience with friends and family. Thanks to our niece and our neighbors who ventured out with us! Speaking of shared experiences, I’ve been reflecting about what it means to travel the way I have been for the past several months. Our merry band of coffee hunters travels to places that are GORGEOUS, and we meet the most amazing people. While I enjoy the vibrancy and the comforts of the cities we spend time in, my favorite moments are spent on the farms. Because coffee is grown at altitude, it often takes us hours of bumpy, windy roads to get where we want to be. At the farms, we are typically hosted by the families. 100% of the time we are spoiled. We are given bedrooms that clearly belong to someone else. We are fed three times a day, and I know we get the best of everything they have. Honestly? I am astounded by the generosity and the care. Most amazingly? The families are hosting us, while running farms and businesses, and not once have I seen someone flustered or hurried. People are caring, and present, and always want to ensure we have everything we need. And, the time spent on these farms can be uncomfortable. To get to the farms in Guatemala, several of us rode in the back of pick up trucks. I love the open air; it helps so I don’t get motion sick. And it was hot. And bouncy. And sometimes the air quality was wretched. While I am super thankful for the shared bedroom, it too was hot. With very little air movement, one outlet, and not much space for our luggage. The 10 of us who slept in the family house all shared one small bathroom. Then there are the farms themselves. I have walked many coffee farms, in all different parts of the world. I have never hiked a farm this steep. The terrain of Guatemala is really something. Here’s what I noticed this time around. When living differently than we typically do, without many of the usual comforts we are accustomed to, everything becomes a little (or a lot) more raw. The protections, the masks, that we might be able to easily maintain while at home? Well. They get pulled down and stripped away. In other words . . . things get very real, very quickly. For me? I find it all fascinating. I like to see the true essence of myself and others in less than ideal conditions. Sharing these experiences creates a bond, and a trust, that is profound. When I arrived home this time, I jumped right into Memorial Day weekend. Hosting. Celebrating. Working. So, I need more time to percolate and process. 🥰 However, a couple more things before signing off:
With light and love, ~m
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“I cannot tell the truth about anything unless I confess being a student, growing and learning something new every day.” ~ Sonia Sanchez Hello friends!
It’s great to be home this week. I cannot believe the difference in the trees and plants! Everything is so much more leafed out than when I left, and the perfumed air from the lilacs and lily of the valley? Wow! I love this time of year. The exuberance of nature reminds me of possibilities and growth. Folks are returning to town after a winter somewhere warm. And somehow, Mike managed to do all the hard work on our sailboat while I was away. I came home to Little Wing not only nestled into her slip, but she’s absolutely gleaming! Let the sailing season begin. 🥰 I have so much to share about my time in Sierra Leone. Being in West Africa for the first time was special for me. This is an area that was hugely transformational for Mike. After college graduation, he spent 2 1/2 years in the Peace Corps in Guinea Bissau. While I still hope to visit Guinea Bissau someday, I’m grateful for the opportunity to have visited the region. Sierra Leone does grow coffee. But, due to Civil War and Ebola, much of the knowledge base about how to care for coffee has been lost. Therefore, in the places where coffee is growing, the quality of that coffee is very poor and people are desperate for knowledge. Coffee can be a very important crop for a country because it is a commodity, and that means it brings in hard currency as an export. Kadiatu Allie (pictured above) is the Deputy Finance Minister of Sierra Leone, and she is one of the most amazing humans I have ever met. In addition to working tirelessly for her country, she wants to change lives in the villages where her family lives. So, she has purchased land and is starting a model coffee farm. This will provide much needed employment within the villages, and, hopefully someday, bring in that hard currency that Sierra Leone so desperately needs. Seeing the coffee nursery was nothing short of miraculous. Truly. It is so difficult to explain what it takes to get to these villages. But there they were. Healthy coffee seedlings and baby coffee plants. Wana Chipoya, a Zambian agronomist who specializes in coffee, was with us to help assess and support the new plants. Everyone was so eager to learn more, to do more, to make sure this all succeeds. We also spent hours walking Kadiatu’s new parcels of land . . . exploring where it might be best for the coffee once it's ready to be transplanted. Coffee is not a quick solution. If everything goes super well, it will be four years before there’s anything to harvest. And, coffee doesn’t often go according to plan. While we hope to buy coffee someday from this model farm, it remains a long shot. But you know what? I will take that bet. Why? Because of Kadiatu Allie. She has the vision. The focus. The grit. And the determination. I have so much more to share, but for now . . . a quick reminder: there’s yoga happening at the Yacht Club this Saturday!! Bring your mat. Bring your friends. Our hour together will leave us relaxed and revitalized. I hope to see you there. With light and love, ~m 
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead Hello, my friends!
I’m super excited about my trip to Sierra Leone. 🙌🏽 And, I’m a bit daunted by what it takes to get there. I’m downloading books and podcasts, making sure all my devices are fully charged, and trying to figure out the puzzle pieces of both my carry-on and my backpack. I really love getting out there in the world because it’s always expansive. I meet new people. Hear languages I’ve never experienced. Taste foods I’ve never encountered. And, I have the chance to learn from customs and cultures that are different than mine. Honestly? It’s incredible. In spite of all the uniqueness that’s evident when visiting someplace new? Turns out, we humans have FAR more in common than anything that differentiates us. No matter where you are, I hope you are well. And that you take some time for yourself each and every day. I hope we see one another on the mat soon. With love and gratitude, ~m |
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
June 2025
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