Day 29: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Last day in Iquitos…for now.
Since my sleep has been quite limited lately, I tried to sleep in this morning so hopefully I won’t be completely miserable on my overnight flight.
The rest of the day was primarily spent packing and updating my blog – for y’all! Oh we did have a staff lunch to welcome Kerryn whose gonna be here for 6 months and to say goodbye to the interns (of which I’m the first to leave).
I was surprised when the boys (John and Daniel) said they wanted to take me to the airport too. They’re and interesting duo. In all, Sarah, Becky, and the guys all took me to the airport. I got to ride on Becky’s motorcycle one last time. There were a few people at the base that I didn’t get to say goodbye to, which made me a little sad.
My flight to Iquitos was delayed about an hour. Delayed an hour and a half from Lima. Sweet little fourteen year old next to me on the Lima-Miami flight thought I was sixteen. LOL! Sleep wasn’t great or plentiful but I got an inter-mitten few minutes of sleep even being next to the bathroom.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Day 28: Coming to a Close
Day 28: Monday, July 26, 2010
Something I eat or do when returning to Iquitos always seems to upset my stomach. This morning I woke up at 4 am and couldn’t go back to sleep (maybe I subconsciously missed the jungle noises. Ha!) So at 5:30 I decided it would be acceptable to rise since it was improbable that I would return to sleep. Although it was a foggy and overcast morning, I thoroughly enjoyed sipping my hot mug of café on the second story balcony. Just like those moments atop “the hill” in Parras de la Fuente, Mexico, I find it entertaining to watch the city come to life. There was even a man riding his ice cream “cycle” at that early hour. It was also one of the few times this month that I’ve been absolutely alone to spend time with the Lord.
Not long after I’d been out, the couple from Holland, Mark and Hannah, had to leave, so I was glad I was awake to send them off.
I was more than ready for the day when 8:00 came and we had breakfast. The Baltimore team was planning to go to a zoo in the city about 8:45. Sarah and I were planning to go (because it was a different tourist experience than the “river” zoo that I had been to) but they didn’t actually leave until nearly 10 and we had other plans for that afternoon.
As a “we’re all going home” lunch, John Short suggested that the interns and Beth and Clark all go eat saveche (a very Peruvian dish of raw fish). Since my stomach was already somewhat unsettled I went for a less adventurous dish similar to American stir fried rice. It was good.
After lunch, Beth, Sarah, and I had our nails done in Beth’s apartment. The lady will come to your house to do your nails and can paint beautiful designs on them for only s/10 each (about $3). I jokingly told Beth and Sarah that if I lived in Iquitos that I would get my nails done at least every two weeks, but I’d share the gospel and disciple the girl who did it. But seriously if she’ll come to you to do it, it’s an incredible ministry opportunity. I think Beth has started building a relationship with her, because we prayed specifically for a bad situation that Soma’d shared with Beth.
My last dinner at the base consisted of a fried weinny sandwich. Of course, on my last night we went to the Plaza. I finished all my souvenir shopping… I hope. To celebrate, Becky, Sarah, and I ordered a liter bucket of ice cream and put 7 different flavors in it.
I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but we finished our night by watching The Bachelorette. Between Sarah from England and Kerryn from Australia and myself, we mostly just made fun of the show, but enjoyed the entertainment, too!
This time tomorrow, I’ll be somewhere over South America on my way home. As much as I’m ready to see all my family and friends, ministering and living here has kinda become a way of life. I’m a little worried about how I’ll deal with the culture shock. I’m not sure I’m ready to handle rich, selfish Americans and I’m afraid I’ll return to being one.
This past month, I feel like the Lord has been stripping away parts of me that aren’t of Him and things that aren’t beneficial to the Kingdom. In an environment where you “make do” without luxurious things…or even things many Americans would consider absolutely necessary ( such as AC or hot water or even electricity or cars), it’s easier for me to realize that I put entirely too much emphasis on stuff and not people. So coming back to America where it’s “cultural” to always want and strive for more stuff…I guess I’m just realizing that I have to be more intentional about having a less materialistic mindset (by daily renewing my mind in Christ. Romans 12:1-2)
Something I eat or do when returning to Iquitos always seems to upset my stomach. This morning I woke up at 4 am and couldn’t go back to sleep (maybe I subconsciously missed the jungle noises. Ha!) So at 5:30 I decided it would be acceptable to rise since it was improbable that I would return to sleep. Although it was a foggy and overcast morning, I thoroughly enjoyed sipping my hot mug of café on the second story balcony. Just like those moments atop “the hill” in Parras de la Fuente, Mexico, I find it entertaining to watch the city come to life. There was even a man riding his ice cream “cycle” at that early hour. It was also one of the few times this month that I’ve been absolutely alone to spend time with the Lord.
Not long after I’d been out, the couple from Holland, Mark and Hannah, had to leave, so I was glad I was awake to send them off.
I was more than ready for the day when 8:00 came and we had breakfast. The Baltimore team was planning to go to a zoo in the city about 8:45. Sarah and I were planning to go (because it was a different tourist experience than the “river” zoo that I had been to) but they didn’t actually leave until nearly 10 and we had other plans for that afternoon.
As a “we’re all going home” lunch, John Short suggested that the interns and Beth and Clark all go eat saveche (a very Peruvian dish of raw fish). Since my stomach was already somewhat unsettled I went for a less adventurous dish similar to American stir fried rice. It was good.
After lunch, Beth, Sarah, and I had our nails done in Beth’s apartment. The lady will come to your house to do your nails and can paint beautiful designs on them for only s/10 each (about $3). I jokingly told Beth and Sarah that if I lived in Iquitos that I would get my nails done at least every two weeks, but I’d share the gospel and disciple the girl who did it. But seriously if she’ll come to you to do it, it’s an incredible ministry opportunity. I think Beth has started building a relationship with her, because we prayed specifically for a bad situation that Soma’d shared with Beth.
My last dinner at the base consisted of a fried weinny sandwich. Of course, on my last night we went to the Plaza. I finished all my souvenir shopping… I hope. To celebrate, Becky, Sarah, and I ordered a liter bucket of ice cream and put 7 different flavors in it.
I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but we finished our night by watching The Bachelorette. Between Sarah from England and Kerryn from Australia and myself, we mostly just made fun of the show, but enjoyed the entertainment, too!
This time tomorrow, I’ll be somewhere over South America on my way home. As much as I’m ready to see all my family and friends, ministering and living here has kinda become a way of life. I’m a little worried about how I’ll deal with the culture shock. I’m not sure I’m ready to handle rich, selfish Americans and I’m afraid I’ll return to being one.
This past month, I feel like the Lord has been stripping away parts of me that aren’t of Him and things that aren’t beneficial to the Kingdom. In an environment where you “make do” without luxurious things…or even things many Americans would consider absolutely necessary ( such as AC or hot water or even electricity or cars), it’s easier for me to realize that I put entirely too much emphasis on stuff and not people. So coming back to America where it’s “cultural” to always want and strive for more stuff…I guess I’m just realizing that I have to be more intentional about having a less materialistic mindset (by daily renewing my mind in Christ. Romans 12:1-2)
Day 27: Goodbye to the River
Day 27: Sunday, July 25, 2010
Let me begin by reassuring you that I am writing this today safely in Iquitos.
Last night after I wrote from atop the heap of luggage on the bank of Mira Flores, I went to rest in John’s hammock which he’d hung under a raised hostel.
When I woke up everyone was moving luggage onto a docked launcha. The owners had agreed to let us put all our luggage (and all the team’s bags ;) onboard and hang our hammock since the boat had to be painted and wouldn’t be departing again until Monday.
Just after, I’d hung my hammock over some of the team members sleeping on the floor, Julio returned with the rapido (speed boat). Because he was tired and the boat’s lights were quit working, along with the relatively high level of danger that comes with travelling rapidly on the Amazon River in darkness, he said we would be staying the night on the launcha. I would’ve pictured myself being dismayed but I was perfectly content to stay since I was so tired. Besides, I had my hammock and pillow and was more comfortable than I would have been riding in a boat into the wee hours of the morning.
Everyone started stirring at dawn and quickly packed up their stuff. The couple from Holland, Yola, Mallerin, Magly, Sarah, a mess full of luggage and I boarded the boat. John Short, Daniel, and Rob caught rides in peki-pekis until they could meet up with the returning rapido. Riding in such a fast boat was an exciting experience, a little hairy at times, but mostly just exciting.
In the taxi ride back to the base, we shared a Bimbo and an 8 pack of crackers (this was my only car ride while I was in Peru). At 10:00 or 10:30, we arrived nasty and exhausted in Iquitos.
After a shower, lunch, and a nap, Sarah and I went to eat with the team at the Yellow Rose of Texas, a restaurant in the Plaza that was actually established by a man from Texas. The food was ok, but this group was really fun to hang out with. Ice cream and crowded plaza later, we came back to the base and called it a day.
Let me begin by reassuring you that I am writing this today safely in Iquitos.
Last night after I wrote from atop the heap of luggage on the bank of Mira Flores, I went to rest in John’s hammock which he’d hung under a raised hostel.
When I woke up everyone was moving luggage onto a docked launcha. The owners had agreed to let us put all our luggage (and all the team’s bags ;) onboard and hang our hammock since the boat had to be painted and wouldn’t be departing again until Monday.
Just after, I’d hung my hammock over some of the team members sleeping on the floor, Julio returned with the rapido (speed boat). Because he was tired and the boat’s lights were quit working, along with the relatively high level of danger that comes with travelling rapidly on the Amazon River in darkness, he said we would be staying the night on the launcha. I would’ve pictured myself being dismayed but I was perfectly content to stay since I was so tired. Besides, I had my hammock and pillow and was more comfortable than I would have been riding in a boat into the wee hours of the morning.
Everyone started stirring at dawn and quickly packed up their stuff. The couple from Holland, Yola, Mallerin, Magly, Sarah, a mess full of luggage and I boarded the boat. John Short, Daniel, and Rob caught rides in peki-pekis until they could meet up with the returning rapido. Riding in such a fast boat was an exciting experience, a little hairy at times, but mostly just exciting.
In the taxi ride back to the base, we shared a Bimbo and an 8 pack of crackers (this was my only car ride while I was in Peru). At 10:00 or 10:30, we arrived nasty and exhausted in Iquitos.
After a shower, lunch, and a nap, Sarah and I went to eat with the team at the Yellow Rose of Texas, a restaurant in the Plaza that was actually established by a man from Texas. The food was ok, but this group was really fun to hang out with. Ice cream and crowded plaza later, we came back to the base and called it a day.
Day 26: A New Level of Faith
Day 26: Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sleep last night was minimal and quite elusive. As planned, the team got up about 5:45 am in order to pray as Julio, PR, and Cesar went to negotiate our passage across the barrier. We were just beginning to gather outside the school when they return, giving us the signal to pack up. So everyone begins to speedily get their things together, not knowing the brevity of the situation. As we load the Logos, I discovered that we had not yet gotten permission to pass the blockade. Instead of just sending our leaders, all of us went across to Paradiso to negotiate (they had told us yesterday that if we brought our boat back over that they wouldn’t let us leave and would confiscate the boat), help plead our cause, as well as prevent the boat from being overtaken while our leaders talking to their leaders.
By 7 a.m., we have packed the remainder of our stuff onto the Logos and docked at the village across the river. Already the climate of the village seemed volatile. Our leaders went to discuss matters. We could see the small group talking things over for awhile, but before long the entire mass of over 200 people gathered round them and the crowd continually grew louder. Several different people were allowed a turn on the mega speaker including some crazy woman, who so adamantly insisted that we not pass that she started chanting, “Take their boat!” in a terrifyingly unnatural Spanish voice. Julio continued to plead passage reminding them that the only reason we were there was to help them.
After significantly more arguments, shouts, and rallying, our leaders returned defeated. They simply would not allow us to pass the barricade. So Julio spent the next hour or more arranging boats for us to take from the nearest village down river from the blockade. Our plan was to carry our luggage off the logos into the next village, about a 15-20 minute walk.
So the pastor, PR, gets back to the boat saying rapidly, “Ok, we’re gonna attempt to walk through the blockade but they may stop us. So, we’re gonna go in teams of five. If people start talking or shouting at you, just ignore them and keep walking. Keep the same pace as the person leading you, don’t fall behind.” I waited to leave with the third team of five with my bags, keeping my eyes down as we pass through the crowd. We pass through the throng of people without major complications to continue our jungle excursion over rotting bridges and sidewalks (yes, a sidewalk trail through the jungle, I know, it doesn’t fit, but we were grateful to be able to roll our luggage). Alas, we board a small launcha and depart at 10:45 a.m. Thankfully, as we left the village, there were not guns or machetes pointed our direction.
I felt like a fugitive stowed in the underneath of the “two-story” boat. Because we were running out of food and water, we had an orange, a small package of crackers, and a slice of bread for lunch.
We arrived in Mira Flores at 6ish and as I write I’m still in the same place, sitting on my luggage amidst a pile bags. It’s 9 p.m. The Baltimore team left on the YWAM speedboat that met us here about 2 hours ago but it only holds a limited weight. So they left their luggage here for us to bring back, hopefully tonight, but probably tomorrow.
What an unbelievable day!
Sleep last night was minimal and quite elusive. As planned, the team got up about 5:45 am in order to pray as Julio, PR, and Cesar went to negotiate our passage across the barrier. We were just beginning to gather outside the school when they return, giving us the signal to pack up. So everyone begins to speedily get their things together, not knowing the brevity of the situation. As we load the Logos, I discovered that we had not yet gotten permission to pass the blockade. Instead of just sending our leaders, all of us went across to Paradiso to negotiate (they had told us yesterday that if we brought our boat back over that they wouldn’t let us leave and would confiscate the boat), help plead our cause, as well as prevent the boat from being overtaken while our leaders talking to their leaders.
By 7 a.m., we have packed the remainder of our stuff onto the Logos and docked at the village across the river. Already the climate of the village seemed volatile. Our leaders went to discuss matters. We could see the small group talking things over for awhile, but before long the entire mass of over 200 people gathered round them and the crowd continually grew louder. Several different people were allowed a turn on the mega speaker including some crazy woman, who so adamantly insisted that we not pass that she started chanting, “Take their boat!” in a terrifyingly unnatural Spanish voice. Julio continued to plead passage reminding them that the only reason we were there was to help them.
After significantly more arguments, shouts, and rallying, our leaders returned defeated. They simply would not allow us to pass the barricade. So Julio spent the next hour or more arranging boats for us to take from the nearest village down river from the blockade. Our plan was to carry our luggage off the logos into the next village, about a 15-20 minute walk.
So the pastor, PR, gets back to the boat saying rapidly, “Ok, we’re gonna attempt to walk through the blockade but they may stop us. So, we’re gonna go in teams of five. If people start talking or shouting at you, just ignore them and keep walking. Keep the same pace as the person leading you, don’t fall behind.” I waited to leave with the third team of five with my bags, keeping my eyes down as we pass through the crowd. We pass through the throng of people without major complications to continue our jungle excursion over rotting bridges and sidewalks (yes, a sidewalk trail through the jungle, I know, it doesn’t fit, but we were grateful to be able to roll our luggage). Alas, we board a small launcha and depart at 10:45 a.m. Thankfully, as we left the village, there were not guns or machetes pointed our direction.
I felt like a fugitive stowed in the underneath of the “two-story” boat. Because we were running out of food and water, we had an orange, a small package of crackers, and a slice of bread for lunch.
We arrived in Mira Flores at 6ish and as I write I’m still in the same place, sitting on my luggage amidst a pile bags. It’s 9 p.m. The Baltimore team left on the YWAM speedboat that met us here about 2 hours ago but it only holds a limited weight. So they left their luggage here for us to bring back, hopefully tonight, but probably tomorrow.
What an unbelievable day!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Day 25: Stranded in the Jungle
Day 25: Friday, July 23, 2010
It’s hard to even know where to begin divulging today’s events to you. Proverbs 16:9.
Because the well-digging equipment had not arrived and the issues across the river had prevented us from ministering there last night, our plan this morning was to pack up and head to Nueva York to continue evangelism and other kinds of outreach.
But, at breakfast, Clever arrived with the necessary well-digging equipment. Since we had promised this village a well, Julio convinced the team to stay another day in order to dig and build the well.
After we ate, the team split up – some to remain in San Jorge to dig and others to cross the river to minister in San Paradiso. I went across with the team on my first peki-peki (which is basically an enlarged canoe with a “motor”-if you’re lucky), where we were literally sitting along the rim of the boat. The village across the river is beautiful. The community sits on a large hill at a bend in the Tigre River. Coming along shore it was obvious that the village was hosting many visitors because there were tarps pitched as tents everywhere. However the atmosphere was not nearly as serious as it had appeared the previous night.
The team went up a hill off the shore and stopped just off the path to start singing. A girl from the team gave her testimony then we talked to some of the people. We spoke with a group of ladies and young men who claimed to be Christians and were from another village. They had clearly come for the blockade. We sang a few songs with them (some of them even joined in), told them we’d be back that evening to show the movie, then choked our way across the river (the pastor’s peki-peki literally died 3 times).
It was nearly lunch time and the team in San Jorge had already finished drilling the well and were waiting to install the pipes. So encouraging to see a well progress so quickly!
This afternoon we swam/bathed in the river, held a baptism for 4 guys, then like all good Baptists must do – we had a team meeting.
We left for San Paradiso about 5:30 pm. The community was very lively, people milling all around and an annoying man constantly muttering over a megaphone. We headed up to the top of the hill to set up our equipment at the school. I snuck off with Magly and Sarah to find a bodega with a cold drink, our mission was futile. As we walked about some guys said they wanted us to play the movie closer to the water (probably so the men could enjoy the movie AND watch the barricade). So we moved all our equipment down and set up.
The team first sang some Spanish songs, then performed “Shackles” (unfortunately not the same version I learned in high school). Marie shared her testimony before the team started the Narnia movie projected onto a white sheet hung over a dead electricity wire. The crowd was massive. 200 hundred plus, easy. No more than 15 minutes into the film we were forced to stop it because of the annoying man on the megaphone shouting constantly. Later we discovered that all the while he was telling the “barricaders” that they should no longer be watching a movie because it was distracting them from the “war.”
John quickly blurted out the gospel, while we packed up and began boarding the boat. Once we were all loaded, we moved just a little ways upriver to dock and distribute clothes and other necessities. While we sat there we heard loud cries and shouts from the center of the village shore. Then we see a laden peki-peki cruise by, followed quickly by a speed boat laden with armed and hot-tempered Latinos. They force the boat to return to the village. Apparently they were supporters from another village that wanted to go home before the strike had ended. Clearly that was not part of the deal since they were unable to leave the chaos.
Not long after we returned to San Jorge, we received word from Julio that the situation has intensified. We were told to pack all our stuff except our tents and hammocks and other essential stuff for tomorrow. The logos has to cross the blockade now then tomorrow we will hike through the jungle to a launcha (public boat).
So after we pack and load our non-essential items onto the boat, the majority of us gather outside the school and sing old school worship songs a cappella as we gaze at the low hanging stars and wait for Julio to return with news. We all knew there was a possibility that we might have no other choice but to leave immediately.
The team’s leader, PR, and translator, Cesar, return with “bad news, bad news, and more bad news.” Pastor Julio knew about the blockade when he brought the team but been promised safe passage by the pastor but apparently the situation has escalated and they are adamant about not letting anyone pass the blockade. Today is only day 2, so it’s looking like it’ll be Monday or Tuesday before it’s over.
Bad news #2: We can no longer take the Logos across to Paradiso or it may get confiscated.
#3: We have only 1 jug of clean water left.
Here are the options as they were explained:
#1 Coast the Logos to the line then gun it across and hope you don’t get caught.
#2 Take peki-pekis to Iquitos.
#3 Call for YWAM’s rapido boat to come to the border, carry luggage over and go – problem – it only holds 8 people without luggage and costs about $900 to fuel.
#4 Essentially bribe “the blockaders” with support and money for sage passage.
So literally we’re stuck in the jungle. =) Our plan is to pray and our leaders go talk them in the morning. Psalm 91.
It’s hard to even know where to begin divulging today’s events to you. Proverbs 16:9.
Because the well-digging equipment had not arrived and the issues across the river had prevented us from ministering there last night, our plan this morning was to pack up and head to Nueva York to continue evangelism and other kinds of outreach.
But, at breakfast, Clever arrived with the necessary well-digging equipment. Since we had promised this village a well, Julio convinced the team to stay another day in order to dig and build the well.
After we ate, the team split up – some to remain in San Jorge to dig and others to cross the river to minister in San Paradiso. I went across with the team on my first peki-peki (which is basically an enlarged canoe with a “motor”-if you’re lucky), where we were literally sitting along the rim of the boat. The village across the river is beautiful. The community sits on a large hill at a bend in the Tigre River. Coming along shore it was obvious that the village was hosting many visitors because there were tarps pitched as tents everywhere. However the atmosphere was not nearly as serious as it had appeared the previous night.
The team went up a hill off the shore and stopped just off the path to start singing. A girl from the team gave her testimony then we talked to some of the people. We spoke with a group of ladies and young men who claimed to be Christians and were from another village. They had clearly come for the blockade. We sang a few songs with them (some of them even joined in), told them we’d be back that evening to show the movie, then choked our way across the river (the pastor’s peki-peki literally died 3 times).
It was nearly lunch time and the team in San Jorge had already finished drilling the well and were waiting to install the pipes. So encouraging to see a well progress so quickly!
This afternoon we swam/bathed in the river, held a baptism for 4 guys, then like all good Baptists must do – we had a team meeting.
We left for San Paradiso about 5:30 pm. The community was very lively, people milling all around and an annoying man constantly muttering over a megaphone. We headed up to the top of the hill to set up our equipment at the school. I snuck off with Magly and Sarah to find a bodega with a cold drink, our mission was futile. As we walked about some guys said they wanted us to play the movie closer to the water (probably so the men could enjoy the movie AND watch the barricade). So we moved all our equipment down and set up.
The team first sang some Spanish songs, then performed “Shackles” (unfortunately not the same version I learned in high school). Marie shared her testimony before the team started the Narnia movie projected onto a white sheet hung over a dead electricity wire. The crowd was massive. 200 hundred plus, easy. No more than 15 minutes into the film we were forced to stop it because of the annoying man on the megaphone shouting constantly. Later we discovered that all the while he was telling the “barricaders” that they should no longer be watching a movie because it was distracting them from the “war.”
John quickly blurted out the gospel, while we packed up and began boarding the boat. Once we were all loaded, we moved just a little ways upriver to dock and distribute clothes and other necessities. While we sat there we heard loud cries and shouts from the center of the village shore. Then we see a laden peki-peki cruise by, followed quickly by a speed boat laden with armed and hot-tempered Latinos. They force the boat to return to the village. Apparently they were supporters from another village that wanted to go home before the strike had ended. Clearly that was not part of the deal since they were unable to leave the chaos.
Not long after we returned to San Jorge, we received word from Julio that the situation has intensified. We were told to pack all our stuff except our tents and hammocks and other essential stuff for tomorrow. The logos has to cross the blockade now then tomorrow we will hike through the jungle to a launcha (public boat).
So after we pack and load our non-essential items onto the boat, the majority of us gather outside the school and sing old school worship songs a cappella as we gaze at the low hanging stars and wait for Julio to return with news. We all knew there was a possibility that we might have no other choice but to leave immediately.
The team’s leader, PR, and translator, Cesar, return with “bad news, bad news, and more bad news.” Pastor Julio knew about the blockade when he brought the team but been promised safe passage by the pastor but apparently the situation has escalated and they are adamant about not letting anyone pass the blockade. Today is only day 2, so it’s looking like it’ll be Monday or Tuesday before it’s over.
Bad news #2: We can no longer take the Logos across to Paradiso or it may get confiscated.
#3: We have only 1 jug of clean water left.
Here are the options as they were explained:
#1 Coast the Logos to the line then gun it across and hope you don’t get caught.
#2 Take peki-pekis to Iquitos.
#3 Call for YWAM’s rapido boat to come to the border, carry luggage over and go – problem – it only holds 8 people without luggage and costs about $900 to fuel.
#4 Essentially bribe “the blockaders” with support and money for sage passage.
So literally we’re stuck in the jungle. =) Our plan is to pray and our leaders go talk them in the morning. Psalm 91.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)