If you were to stop in at the East Side Dinning Hall on a Wednesday morning, you would be greeted by a heavenly aroma of cookies baking along with the constant buzz of women chatting, something like the sound in a chicken coop.


For 2 hours we fall into our rolls, some scooping, some baking, some arranging.  It's a well oiled machine.  Everyone has a job, and all the work gets done.   Most weeks we make somewhere in the neighborhood of 1440 cookies.  Some oatmeal, some molasses, some chocolate chocolate chip.  And if you have been here on a weekend, you know how fast they all go!


We've learned a lot about the preparation that goes into getting ready to have retreats.  All that ooie gooie goodness is just a part of the cleaning, planning, and praying that goes on each week.  We are excited to take what we have learned here at Barakel to Manantial de Vida in Honduras.  Sure, the culture will be different, but people are people, and everyone likes a good cookie!  And everyone needs time away to better listen to what God might want to say to them.
 

Exciting News! We are currently at 33% of what LAM requires us to raise before we can leave for language school!  We would love to be at 70% by September.  Would you help us get to that goal?  You can check out more about giving by clicking here.


And since you have been staring at warm, yummy, fresh from the oven cookies for 5 minutes, here is a recipe, straight from the Barakel Kitchens.

Monster Cookies

1/2 c butter, softened
1 1/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 tsp vanilla
3/4 tsp corn syrup
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
4 1/2 cup quick oats
1/4 lb M &Ms
1/4 lb chocolate chips
1/4 lb butterscotch chips

Cream butter and peanut butter.  Add in vanilla, sugars, corn syrup, eggs, and soda.  Add in oats.  Add in candy and chips.  Place by spoonful on cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes.