Where do all the flowers grow?

20th April, 2010 - Posted by Nancy Winn -

“Kenya Loses $4 Million a Day On Canceled Flights” reports the Daily Nation. Kenya exports produce and flowers to Europe and those products are piling up in warehouses awaiting transport. Because they are perishable much will probably spoil before the planes resume flying. The recent Icelandic volcano eruption is having a terrible impact on the economy of Kenya. The news has kept us all aware of the inconvenienced travelers due to the ash cloud that has descended on Europe but we have yet to find out the total worldwide economic and social fallout.

We take for granted the movement of people and goods by air around the world. My family has a wedding this weekend and the bride’s father and maid of honor are still stuck on the wrong side of the pond. I pray that they will arrive in the US in time for the ceremony.

Two volunteer Open Arms missionaries who were to leave last week are eagerly awaiting rescheduled departures to Kenya. At least they are waiting in their homes and not stranded in an airport enroute.

It is easy to forget our world community’s interdependence when we are focused on the details of our daily life. Increasingly my daily life and my choices impact and are impacted by people half a world away. My Costco grapes are from Chili, the customer service representative that helped me with my software problem is in Singapore. My daughter is working in Rwanda.

Planning on sending mom flowers for Mother’s Day (hint). Where will they come from? How will they get to your mom?