Orange 911!
We had a cold spell last week and because of that our oranges had to be picked ASAP! Sr. Ramona put out an APB asking for any able sisters to help pick oranges today.
Lots of oranges to be picked...
Sister Lupita uses the long picker
Postulant Erma happily picking from the ladder
Sister Ramona picks up the fallen oranges
Sisters Anita and Mary Elizabeth sort the oranges by size -big ones to juice smaller ones to eat.
After they are sorted - into the amazing juicer they go!
Ah... the reward of our labor. We will freeze many gallons and enjoy it through out the year!
Today was such a great example of the blessing of living in community. There is always another set of hands to help me with hard projects. There is always someone to lend a willing ear or offer sage advice when I need it. And there are many women who pray with me and for me every day. What a gift!
I have to comment on our beautiful orange trees. We recently had some citrus experts from the University of Arizona come look at the trees to advise us. These trees were planted when we built the monastery SEVENTY years ago! The experts were AMAZED that the trees were still bearing fruit. They said this variety usually only bears fruit for 30 or so years. I couldn’t help but think of Psalm 92:14-15 “Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. Still bearing fruit when they are old, still full of sap still green.”
May we be like these lovely trees – bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God all the days of our lives!
