Back when we lived on the left coast, my sweet and adorable wifita occasionally visited a Trappist Abbey in the middle of Oregon wine country for periods of reflection and meditation. I would occasionally tag along, but it was really her thing. The monks there funded the abbey by also managing a vineyard, as well as producing and selling fantastic bread and lots of Catholic paraphernalia (candles, rosaries and the like). No monks speak, even to one another, with the exception of one selected to interface with the public, and his name was Brother Martin. Brother Martin was originally from Mexico, and he and my wife got along amazingly well, as they're both Catholic and native spanish speakers, despite being from totally different cultures. She would regularly consult him for words and advice of spiritual wisdom. Part of his ministry was to regularly go to local Mexican food stands/carts and lend his services cooking inexpensive meals for migrant workers, but of course anyone was welcome to dine at these stands. I believe they did this as a non-profit activity and used the profits to help support migrant families (so a twofer, both low cost meals and then the profits get returned to the community). Brother Martin was also a jokester and he often said that his job was to convert that part of Oregon to appreciate real Mexican food and culture. Of course, his real mission was to help spread the ministry, so he was mostly just kidding about the Mexican culture part. Anyway, he was a treasure, and I miss those visits to the abbey to see Brother Martin.
