Zapote( Cuba)

Zapote is the name used for a delicious fruit in the area where Santiago is found in Cuba. The outside looks like a kiwi fruit without the fuzz, the inside is pinkish orange, has a big black pip and the flesh is almost like that of an avocado. The taste is reminiscent of a combination of mango, grapefruit, papaya and avocado but not quite. It has elements I can sort of reference but unlike anything I've ever had before and that for me was Cuba.
The streets, vibrant with life, people everywhere, horse carriages, scooters, public transportation trucks, vintage cars, castle like buildings and historical parks and museums, the contrasting modern fashion sense and street musicians some with vintage instruments the like of which I've only seen in books and absence of common fast food franchises like KFC and McDonald's.
The people so friendly and warm, I'd never seen such diversity in physical appearance and yet all Cuban and understanding one another in Spanish.
I was amazed by the stark contrast to where I'd grown up. Some of the things we consider a part of normal day to day living are luxuries and vice versa! The discovery of toilet paper at a store in Santiago was a cause for celebration and whilst the cheapest ice cream is not even 2 rand/pula, you find amazing ice cream for about 45 thebe/cents on almost every street. Some things were even harder to comprehend and would cause great conflict in other parts of the world, but Cuban people lead a more fulfilling life than most.
Our hosts humbled me continuously with their generosity, their constant availability in helping us, their open invitation into their homes, their very lives without hesitation and above all the love they showed. All this despite the language barrier most of the time. I truly experienced 1Peter 4:8-9 and John 13:34-35 in a new light through the love of God in them. In him we are truly different members, part of one body irrespective of all differences. Having had opportunity as a team to work with them and serve them in what seemed like too few ways I'm grateful for God's orchestration of our first country experience. For me they set an example and I hope and pray that we, the Hidden World team of 2014, travelling to all the places we are visiting may be a reflection of Christ's love in the same manner. Hints of familiarity but quite unlike anything ever beheld.