Today we went to a meeting with the director of Permatil: an NGO with a mission to assist farmers to set up sustainable operations (permaculture) on their farms.  Hector’s vision with the seed project is similar except he sees the ancient form of agriculture already here as highly sustainable and feels that they only need to return to that way.  Some of the farms still have the systems in place but they have just fallen into disrepair during the Indonesian occupation.  He feels for a much smaller amount of money and energy young Timorese can be trained to restore their ancient ways and be supplemented with a few new ideas.  Those people can then go out and instruct others in more effective and sustainable agriculture.  That’s one reason why it it’s called “The Gardener’s of Eden Seed Project.”   They already have what it takes in their land and in their history to have a successful agricultural system.  They only need to be aware of what they have and put it into motion.

Speaking of motion… before I finish writing this we’ll be going to the club that Hector and Colleen manage called “Motion.”  Tonight is a big night, Thursday, with a live band, about 200 people will show up.

Remember a few days ago when I wrote that I love the sound of this neighborhood?  I’m sitting on the porch now and I still hear the sound of community; babies crying, kids playing, people visiting and dogs barking but joined into the symphony now is a group of men singing.  It sounds like an anthem, or a folk song.  Beautiful.

After Permatil we went to the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture for another meeting.  They were called to another meeting and apologized saying they would call later if they could meet with us.  Colleen thought they were blowing us off Hector thought not.

But it was ok because it gave us time for to a great experience.  We visited the tai weavers who made the gifts for us that we received at the airport.  Remember, “Dan Clebers?”  Hector said it was his fault.  His lower case “g” looked like an “s.”  As we pulled into the neighborhood it made Hector and Coleen’s hood look like the upscale section of town.  This was a city neighborhood but reminded me of areas of my uncle’s farm but with little structures that people lived in.  We pulled up by one of the structures and were warmly welcomed by tai weaving women.  They showed us the girls working on several projects as well as many completed tais.  The charming woman described her life; her mother died, her step mom wouldn’t teach her tai weaving which meant she wouldn’t have a chance to get married (part of the process) so she taught herself.  Picked her own cotton like material, and  learned to spin and weave by watching and practicing on her own.  We bought a bunch of great stuff at “wholesale” prices and they gave each of us a gift.  The woman said, “Remember us when you go to sleep and God will bring us back together someday to work together hand in hand.”

I heard some music and noticed some young guys with a guitar.  I brought my camera over in hopes to get some music for the films soundtrack.  It’s been tricky finding soundtrack music.  All of the CDs in the stores are basically pop music.  I was hoping for something more traditional or folk, kind of more tied to the land.  I asked (in gesture) if I could film them. They were stoked. 

After the songs they struggled to speak a little bit of English.  We talked about our families, our music and we wrote each other’s birth dates in the dirt.  When it was time to leave I gave the each a dollar as a token  for the use of their music on the film. One of them said, “I will never forget you.”  Out of a habit formed with guys their age back home I reached out with knuckles.  Apparently that’s a thing here to because they came back with knuckles without a flinch.  I’ve fallen in love with these people.

Hector says there are two dangers in Timor Leste.  The first is falling in love with the people and the land and wanting to stay forever.  The second is getting hit by a UN Police truck.