100 Posts

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!


Imagine the blue strobe light effects...here it is, ladies and gentleman, my 100th blog post.

I always knew I talked a lot, but wow.  100 posts.  It's actually kind of a cool milestone.  However, if I was a real blogger, like La Gringa or Madame Gumbeaux I would have hit that number long ago, but I'll take it, 100 is good.

We're ready to rock and roll at Mama Jo's Bagels.  Tomorrow we have our last meeting to iron out plans, then it's baking madness.  We plan to practice (meaning free treats for Micah and friends) for 3 weeks and then start the pre-order business on May 23rd.  For those of you living in Tegucigalpa, we want to get the word out as quickly as possible.  Let's make this thing go viral!  We are offering free "tastings" to groups of 5 or more in homes, offices, churches, ministries, etc.  Bagels, cinnamon rolls, scones, and coffee are on us; you bring your taste buds and invite some friends.  The website will be up before launch date, until then send me a message here if you want to schedule a tasting.

Some of you may be wondering about the name, Mama Jo's.  Jo Bewley was a woman that lived in Houston Texas.  She had such a heart for the mothers of the Micah boys and her desire was for them to find a way to financial independence.  Several years ago she began teaching them how to sew as a way to generate some income.  Sewing machines were bought, instructors were brought in, and the ladies enjoy their time together in Grupo Mama Jo, encouraging and supporting each other.

Grupo Mama Jo



Jo with Michael

Last October Jo went to be with our heavenly Father after a long battle with cancer.  Her legacy lives on, though, in that the women are all eager to make her proud by finding a way to make a steady income.  The hand sewn items are saleable but aren't good for a regular stream of income.  After considering several other options, the group decided to proceed with bagels and other American types of breads/pastries.  We basically looked at the supply and demand theory...several thousand North Americans live here, many thousands more visit annually for mission trips and other business, many Honduran businessmen were educated in the states and enjoy American type foods.  A few bakeries offer "bagels", but they are basically dinner rolls in the shape of a bagel, seriously lacking in that unique bagel chewy/crispy quality.  For cinnamon rolls, well you can get them at Cinnabon in the mall for 45 lempiras each.  And scones, I have yet to see one.

Is it going to work?  I don't know, but I sure hope it does.  Exceptional quality baked goods delivered fresh from the oven to your door, at a reasonable price.  That's our plan.

It's a little frightening, and very humbling, to walk into the path that Jo put these women on.  She loved them, I mean really loved each and every one of them.  Her dream was to see them raise up out of the poverty they have lived in all of their lives, to know that they are smart, valuable, worthy of love and respect.  With God's help I am trying to continue her work, to make her dream come true.

And so we are Mama Jo's Bagels.  Because if it weren't for Jo Bewley putting her love into action, none of this would be happening.

Speaking of bagels, I've got 2 batches just about ready for stage 2 so I need to run.  Peace and blessings to you all.

Natasha